Top 5 technical guitar players?

Just curious what others think. I am trying to find new players to inspire my current technique.

For pure technique and teaching approach, I am liking Paul Gilbert. He is also a huge Alex Lifeson fan.

As a guitarist for 21 years, I have to say that technique really isn't that important and should never be your primary focus IMHO. Look at Steve Rothery or David Gilmour, it's not about technique for them. It's about expression and making every note count. I think one of the biggest problems facing guitarists these days is they worry about things that don't mean anything. Pat Metheny once said that he's forgotten more than he remembered. Every player is different of course and have their own set of goals they want to achieve. For me, just trying to play music always seemed more interesting than learning theory, although I did learn a bit of theory in my early days, but I've forgotten pretty much everything I've learned. Anyway, music was just more important than anything coming from a technical standpoint.

Edited by Mirror Image - July 21 2012 at 23:37

Mirror Image wrote: As a guitarist for 21 years, I have to say that technique really isn't that important and should never be your primary focus IMHO.

My feelings exactly. I admire players like Mark Knopfler and Keith Richards for their creativity and expression, and have never been terrible impressed with "technical" players like John McLaughlin or Yngwie Malmsteen.


Edited by thellama73 - July 21 2012 at 23:46

thellama73 wrote: Mirror Image wrote: As a guitarist for 21 years, I have to say that technique really isn't that important and should never be your primary focus IMHO. My feelings exactly. I admire players like Mark Knopfler and Keith Richards for there creativity and expression, and have never been terrible impressed with "technical" players like John McLaughlin or Yngwie Malmsteen.

I'm impressed with technicality insofar as it serves to enhance and contribute to the music instead of being merely superfluous.  Most of my favorite players lie somewhere in between the "technical" and "non-technical" players; guys like Alex Lifeson, Dave Bainbridge, Greg Massi, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, and Steve Howe are undoubtedly masters of their instruments and definitely get some quality show-off time but aren't given to the super-technical displays and exotic shred techniques of the guitarists commonly regarded as technical players.

Ambient Hurricanes wrote: I'm impressed with technicality insofar as it serves to enhance and contribute to the music instead of being merely superfluous.  Most of my favorite players lie somewhere in between the "technical" and "non-technical" players; guys like Alex Lifeson, Dave Bainbridge, Greg Massi, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, and Steve Howe are undoubtedly masters of their instruments and definitely get some quality show-off time but aren't given to the super-technical displays and exotic shred techniques of the guitarists commonly regarded as technical players.

Edited by Mirror Image - July 21 2012 at 23:53

Mirror Image wrote: Ambient Hurricanes wrote: I'm impressed with technicality insofar as it serves to enhance and contribute to the music instead of being merely superfluous.  Most of my favorite players lie somewhere in between the "technical" and "non-technical" players; guys like Alex Lifeson, Dave Bainbridge, Greg Massi, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, and Steve Howe are undoubtedly masters of their instruments and definitely get some quality show-off time but aren't given to the super-technical displays and exotic shred techniques of the guitarists commonly regarded as technical players. Kudos for mentioning Dave Bainbridge. What a great player! His work with Iona is quite special. Is he even capable of playing a bad note? Everything with Bainbridge is well-judged and he's not consumed with empty guitar pyrotechnics, although, like Hackett, he's got chops for days.

I love the melodic element of his playing; no matter how fast he's going, he always has a clear melody, and it's emotional impact is only increased by his speed and embellishment.  I also don't think he uses very many "shred" techniques (at least I haven't heard it), which makes the things he can play seem all the more impressive.  His acoustic work is great, too.

Ambient Hurricanes wrote: I love the melodic element of his playing; no matter how fast he's going, he always has a clear melody, and it's emotional impact is only increased by his speed and embellishment.  I also don't think he uses very many "shred" techniques (at least I haven't heard it), which makes the things he can play seem all the more impressive.  His acoustic work is great, too.

Edited by Mirror Image - July 22 2012 at 00:20

Why is the technical guitarist standing out in the yard?

He can't find the key and he doesn't know when to come in.

Atavachron wrote: Ambient Hurricanes wrote: Mirror Image wrote: Atavachron wrote: Pssh, who cares--  this thread is specifically about the top tech players, and no one said feeling and self-expression is unimportant.  Frankly the best players exhibit both; Jeff Beck, McLaughlin, Santana, John Abercrombie. And I do love me some Tech.  For me, no one is more impressive right now than Ron Jarzombek.  And there's Holdsworth of course. Who said that I said that feeling and self-expression was unimportant? Where did you get that from? All I gave was my opinion, which is what you and everyone else on this forum do on daily basis. Get over yourself. I think you're misunderstanding him.  He didn't insinuate that you thought feeling was unimportant, he just made the point that, since we're in a thread about technical players, we might as well appreciate their ability, since this is a venue made specifically for that purpose. Thanks--  and I'll get over myself if we can talk about tech guitarists in a tech guitarist thread.  But I guess tonight this is the wrong crowd for that, everyone wants to talk about how sensitive and wonderful Dave Gilmour is.  Suck my dick, and start a "Guitarists with Feeling" thread y' bunch of panzies.