I've never heard of Don Ross, but John Petrucci is definitely the best at speed, technic, and melody. He also has some pretty cool lyrics, most of which have a fantasy-type theme, like Water's Edge and Forsaken, both from their latest album, Systematic Chaos, the title of which pretty much sums up all of their music.:worship:
How about... Dixie Dregs Return to Forever Mahavishnu Orchestra Weather Report Frank Zappa Band Jean-Luc Pontey Group Rite of Strings Tribal Tech Bella Fleck And many many other bands with more original sounds. Let's compare them specifically to Return To Forever. Al Dimeola Plays more complicated licks than John Petrucci in every single song he plays. Stanley Clarke plays harder bass lines than Myung could dream of. Chick Corea makes Ruddess..or Moore...Sheridian look like children. Lenny White is way more original than the Human-Metronome Portnoy.
I have no idea who Return To Forever is, which brings up a good point: this thread would only be good if everyone knew all or a majority of the guitarists. I know all of DreamTheater's songs, have briefly heard Eric Johnson, Eric Clapton, and Joe Satriani, and probably the others, but didn't know it. All the others that weren't mentioned by name I have never even heard of.
The most relevant (from guitar music viewpoint) factoid I know about Weather Report is that Leo Kottke toured with them once, and they lifted one of his tunes - and simplified the guitar part, parceling it out among the other instruments. If the "acoustic" side of things is going to be included (with Don Ross, etc) and quality of music produced is a major criterion, another whole list of names opens up. Leo of course, and a slew of others.
David Gilmour and Jimmy Page are the best well known guitarists. Their technique never does anything but serve the music. Van Halen has more tricks...but music isnt about tricks.
...uh huh...and Jeff Beck, Mark Knophler and Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy)...oh and a another Australian, Angus Young (ACDC). get real
Don Ross He does compose hes own songs, he has the speed, technique, master of different styles and the skills beyond...but in acoustic guitar Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! How To Eat An Avalanche http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr5h6aq_y2Q Thin Air http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZx_ckGDa64&feature=related Blue Bear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-SWy-sU8cE Robot Monster http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3ODopN4XBw
yeah. I love Angus and all the guitar player in Thin Lizzy. I would also like to add: Mick Taylor Keith Richards.
What do you mean? Besides it is not how many notes you can play but how you play them and both guitar players in AC/DC played some of the best riffs in rock music. Plus the are\were real good live. You have to remember that all they were doing was playing blues riffs with their own hooks and style added. They were very original too.
The problem surfaces. What do you do about guys who are technically mediocre, not at all fast or smooth or transcendentally skilled, who are consistently playing better music than those who are ? Keith Richards, Mark Knopfler, electric. John Fahey, John Hurt, Joseph Spence, Robert Johnson, acoustic. John Fahey was perhaps the single most influential American guitarist of the twentieth century. Nobody played better music. And he was hands down the least adept, clumsiest, most technically awkward professional instrumentalist I have ever paid money to see. Or guys like Phil Heywood. Any number of guitarists can play fast, smooth, complicated, flashy, boring rings around him. He is capable of moving people - fascinating them emotionally. His sound is warm and rich, his better tunes have narrative flow and hypnotic affect. So is he, in his simple and calm way, a "better" guitarist ?
Yep these discussions often need clarification as to what means 'best'. There are technically brilliant players who can do anything but are quite boring to listen to and then there are those who write music which becomes a classic.
There is Mattias Eklhundh and where is Paul Gilbert, I say?? They're the greatest guitar troopers, you bet : ) Btw, the new Freak Kitchen album is on his way!
I wouldn't say Mark Knophler is technically mediocre. Anyway, Micheal Hedges was amazing. I got to see him about a year before he was killed.
