Who are (were) the top 5 rock and roll guitar players of all time?

1. 59

   albertovichposted 13 years ago

   My first questions was kind of hard but I hope this one gets more players.

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   1. 57

      Fullerman5000posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hendrix, Kirk Hammet, Slash, Jimmy Page, and Eddie Van Halen

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   2. 76

      Shinkickerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Ritchie Blackmore, Keith Richards, Rory Gallagher, Neal Schon, Slash,

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   3. 78

      MickeySrposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      It is ludicrous that Clapton has not yet been listed here - I understand many think he's overrated or just don't care for his very specifically Blues-based playing, but it is impossible to over estimate his influence and sheer depth of playing when he's 'on'. As much as Benny Goodman, Bing Crosby, Elvis, and The Beatles there is a clear demarcation in popular music of before and after Eric Clapton.
      
      Considering where music was when they began playing and shmooshing together their significance (influence, etc), creativity, and simply mastery of the instrument, my list would be ~
      
      1. Eric Clapton
      2. Stevie Ray Vaughan
      3. Blind Willie McTell
      4. Carlos Santana
      5. Jimi Hendrix
      
      (with gigantic honorable mentions to Johnny Winter, Pete Townsend, Jeff Beck, Brian Setzer, Duane Allman, Kim Simmonds, Steve Marriott, Steve Cropper, Albert King, Dick Dale, Scotty Moore, George Harrison, James Burton, Freddie King, B.B.King, etc.
      
      . . . this whole song (below) is exceptionally powerful, but listen to Clapton's solo, his sound and the choices he makes - I dare you (whoever) to listen to this and not come back here and edit your list.
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjRI8LXChus

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      1. 78

         nemanjaboskovposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Man, I totally agree...
         And I cannot believe that people have actually put Slash on their lists... Also, I fail to see why Keith Richards has made it to some of the lists...

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2. 0

   klarawieckposted 13 years ago

   Here are my five (not in order) Hendrix, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, Jimmy Page, Robbie Robertson
   
   
   There are many others, but these are the top five in my list.

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3. 72

   Reality Bytesposted 13 years ago

   Satriani, Vai, Malmsteen, EddieVH, Dimebag not necessarily in order.

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4. 0

   will345davisposted 13 years ago

   First would have to be Hendrix. Then comes Tom Morello. The things he's done with a guitar are amazing. Slash, of course, would have to go on this list. VanHalen is an obvious choice. And although I can't say that I'm a huge fan of his music, Santana is a superior artist

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5. 61

   Jonathan Jancoposted 13 years ago

   Hendrix, Zappa, Fripp, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Tony Bourge

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6. 72

   earnestshubposted 13 years ago

   Leo Kotke has to be in there somewhere, and Tommy Emmanuel, Mark Knoffler, Angus Young.

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7. 70

   Billy Donahueposted 13 years ago

   My top five would be Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhodes, Glenn Tipton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and i must agree that Eric Clapton, he is a guitar god!

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   1. 78

      MickeySrposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      . . . yeah! - right!?

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8. 59

   trecords0posted 13 years ago

   Frank Zappa, Steve Vai (I've actually met him), Alex Lifeson, SRV (I know his cousin), Steve Howe, those would be the top 5 for rock in my book.

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9. 0

   TTC12posted 13 years ago

   Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Randy Rhoads.
   
   That is my list for the moment. I have far too many guitarists who influenced me, but these guys influenced me most when I was just starting to play guitar.

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10. 60

    acc12posted 13 years ago

    Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, Duane Allman, Stevie Ray Vaughn.

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11. 77

    Mighty Momposted 13 years ago

    Just to expand the options (not that I would replace any of the top vote getters here -- all top contenders!) I'd make my list be:
    1. Ritchie Blackmore
    2. David Gilmour
    3. The Edge
    4. Richard Thompson
    5. Kurt Cobain

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12. 61

    ChinaDanposted 13 years ago

    I don't want to just repeat what others have said so...Buddy Guy, Robert Frippe, SRV, Chet Atkins, Paco de Lucia

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