Forum Home Forum Home > Progressive Music Lounges > Top 10s and lists
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Top 5 technical guitar players?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedTop 5 technical guitar players?
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234 6>
Author
Message
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Gerinski View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 10 2010
Location: Barcelona Spain
Status: Offline
Points: 5101 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2012 at 03:25
I agree that technique is far from being the most important.
But there are also guitarists who are technical yet at the same time soulful and far from being the typical metal shredder, Shawn Lane, Greg Howe, Ritchie Kotzen or Frank Gambale come to mind.
 
 
Back to Top
Dayvenkirq View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 25 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 10970 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2012 at 04:42
Fripp, McLaughlin, Howe, Hackett, Zappa ... so far. This list will probably change if some day I will be willing to dig more into some of the stuff from Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and John Petrucci.
Back to Top
Mirror Image View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 13 2011
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2111 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2012 at 09:43
 
Originally posted by Ambient Hurricanes Ambient Hurricanes wrote:


You mean Veil Of Gossamer, or does he have a new one out?  It's been a while since I've listened to his solo album but I remember enjoying it a lot; "The Everlasting Hills Part 1" particularly stood out to me (a 5 minute long song made up of one Dave Bainbridge solo?  Bring it on. Thumbs Up).


Yes, I meant Veil of Gossamer. Thanks for the correction. I guess I was thinking about a work by John Tavener. Cool Anyway, unfortunately Bainbridge doesn't have a new solo album out. A shame really. All of the musicians that played with Bainbridge on his solo album were excellent. I especially liked the guest appearance of bandmates Joanne Hogg, Troy Donockley (although he doesn't play with them anymore), and Frank Van Essen.


Edited by Mirror Image - July 22 2012 at 09:43
“Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov
Back to Top
Mirror Image View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 13 2011
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2111 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2012 at 09:50
Originally posted by Gerinski Gerinski wrote:

I agree that technique is far from being the most important.
But there are also guitarists who are technical yet at the same time soulful
 
 


I have got to agree with you about Lane. Everything he touched he poured his soul into and you can hear it. Interesting story that I had a chance to stay with Lane in Memphis but I couldn't because of some family obligations. Really a shame because I believe he passed away not too long after that. He was a virtuoso no question about it.
“Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov
Back to Top
Fox On The Rocks View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 10 2011
Location: Toronto, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 5012 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2012 at 13:17
Probably the one guitarist I know, that executes technical virtuosity, while still retaining a unique, tasteful style is Tosin Abasi of Animals As Leaders. The guy is very diverse and dynamic; playing extremely rapid passages, and the same time playing very unconventional chord progressions. And like I said, he's still very musical, often complimenting the musicians he's working with. Another guitarist that comes off the top of my head is Allan Holdsworth, but he needs no introduction - a legend. 
Back to Top
Gerinski View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 10 2010
Location: Barcelona Spain
Status: Offline
Points: 5101 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2012 at 13:19
Originally posted by Mirror Image Mirror Image wrote:


I have got to agree with you about Lane. Everything he touched he poured his soul into and you can hear it. Interesting story that I had a chance to stay with Lane in Memphis but I couldn't because of some family obligations. Really a shame because I believe he passed away not too long after that. He was a virtuoso no question about it.
 
 
Too bad you missed that chance, he got ill and passed away much too early, he was indeed a virtuoso (not only on the guitar but also on the piano / keyboards). A big loss for the music world, RIP Shawn Lane.
Back to Top
Fox On The Rocks View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 10 2011
Location: Toronto, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 5012 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2012 at 13:20
1. Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders)
2. Allan Holdsworth
3. John Petrucci
4. Paul Wagonner (Between The Buried And Me)
5. Misha Mansoor (Periphery)
Back to Top
Fox On The Rocks View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 10 2011
Location: Toronto, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 5012 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2012 at 13:38
Some of my favourites, who are quite technical, but excel just as much in other regions of guitar playing - emotion, style, musicality, etc:

- Alex Lifeson
- John McLaughlin
- Omar Rodriguez Lopez
- Steve Howe
- Ian Williams (Don Caballero, Battles)
- Robert Fripp
- Joe Andreoli (Giraffes? Giraffes!)
- Spencer Seim (Hella)
- Devin Townsend
- Toby Driver (maudlin Of The Well, Kayo Dot)
- The three guys from Explosions In The Sky
- Roine Stolt
- Al Di Meola
Back to Top
Bj-1 View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: June 04 2005
Location: No(r)Way
Status: Offline
Points: 31157 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2012 at 13:52
Ron Jarzombek (Watchtower, Spastic Ink, Blotted Science) gives Petrucci a run for his money, one of the most brilliant guitar wizards I have seen. Tosin Abasi from Animals as Leaders is another good call, the guitarist in the band I play in is obsessed with him and have acquired some of his chops. Mindboggling to watch and listen.
RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on!
EXERIOR Experimental tech/death/progmetal from Norway!
Back to Top
Atavachron View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
Status: Offline
Points: 64519 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2012 at 18:27
Originally posted by Bj-1 Bj-1 wrote:

Ron Jarzombek (Watchtower, Spastic Ink, Blotted Science) gives Petrucci a run for his money, one of the most brilliant guitar wizards I have seen.
makes Petrucci look like Mr. Rogers
Back to Top
Ytse_Jam View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 08 2011
Location: Italy
Status: Offline
Points: 502 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2012 at 18:30
John Petrucci
Steve Vai
Al Di Meola
Allan Holdsworth
Roine Stolt

Very influential for me.
Back to Top
dtguitarfan View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: June 24 2011
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Status: Offline
Points: 1708 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 22 2012 at 18:43
Tosin Abasi
John Petrucci
Steve Vai
Johan Liefvendahl
Alex Lifeson

I also like Roine Stolt very much, but never considered him to be greatly technical.  His style focuses more on the melody I think - not saying it's a bad thing, it's actually quite nice.
My 2012 List
Back to Top
richardh View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 26252 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 23 2012 at 10:42

Ignoring those that have been around since the seventies and are easy to list I would just have two on my list

Chris Fry (Magenta). Recently released a solo mainly acoustic album called Composed which is gorgeous.
 
Matt Bellamy (Muse) . Virtually sends up the rock star thing when he plays live. Able to do pretty much anything.
Back to Top
Jbird View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member


Joined: June 20 2011
Status: Offline
Points: 338 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 23 2012 at 21:25
Some guys that haven't been mentioned yet:
 
Guthrie Govan
 
 
Andy James
 
Kiko Loureiro
Back to Top
Atavachron View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
Status: Offline
Points: 64519 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 23 2012 at 21:34
  ^ Meh
Back to Top
Jbird View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member


Joined: June 20 2011
Status: Offline
Points: 338 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 23 2012 at 22:15
Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

  ^ Meh
Yeah, they're no Bireli Lagrene Unhappy
Back to Top
Mirror Image View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 13 2011
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2111 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 23 2012 at 22:36
Or Al Di Meola, Allan Holdsworth, Shawn Lane, etc...


Edited by Mirror Image - July 23 2012 at 23:12
“Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov
Back to Top
Dayvenkirq View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 25 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 10970 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 23 2012 at 22:54
^ Are you OK? Big smile

Originally posted by Jbird Jbird wrote:

Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

 ^ Meh
Yeah, they're no Bireli Lagrene

Meh. ... Smile


Edited by Dayvenkirq - July 23 2012 at 22:55
Back to Top
cstack3 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: July 20 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Status: Online
Points: 6777 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 23 2012 at 23:27
Since you specify "Technical," I proffer this list:

Robert Fripp....no better technician of wood & wire

John McLaughlin...not far from Fripp

Alan Holdsworth...amazing legato technique 

Steve Hackett....blends precision with emotion nearly perfectly

Steve Howe...a true pioneer who blends rock-a-billy into prog! 
Back to Top
dtguitarfan View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: June 24 2011
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Status: Offline
Points: 1708 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2012 at 06:41
Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

  ^ Meh

THERE'S the pretentious prog snob attitude - if you can't find any level of "wow, those guys are good" from those videos, then you need to open yourself up to the fact that there are more than one style of music out there, and people in styles you don't like may still be very skilled.
My 2012 List
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234 6>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.105 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.