I'm wondering who you think is the best guitarist in the world, and why?

It's difficult but it's got to be between players like Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Michael Angelo Batio, Frank Gambale, maybe even George Lynch. I'd vote for Gary Moore too (although he's sadly no longer with us).

I like Vito Bratta of White Lion too - he could run rings round most other guitarists of the 80s rock scene. Shame he no longer plays.

This is kinda like asking who the best poet is by how fast they type.

The most technically proficient guitar player that ever lived was Shawn Lane. Unfortunately he passed away in 2003.

Arto Lindsay

living or dead?

Satriani, Gambale etc, soulless, toneless mannerisms. Technical impressive musically forgettable.

Also they are old. From that long bygone generation I’d take Lee Ranaldo, Robby Basho or Marc Ribot any day over Satriani.

Vai’s work with Zappa was fun, his first solo album Flex-Able is full of joy. Eat ‘em and Smile shows that he needs sometime telling him when he gets into the way of the music. Once he was on his own he sadly stopped making interesting music.

This is a meaningless question. The answer varies by whatever criteria are prioritized. Speed? Tone? Expression? Improvisational skill? Genre? I’ve heard many great players talk about guitar playing. Seldom do they say anyone is “the best.” And if you listen to great players talk about themselves, they often talk about what they can’t do.

One can have personal favorites. But personal favorites do not a hierarchy make.

But since you asked, here’s my answer: Ralph Macchio. After all, he played Steve Vai right off the stage.

Tony McCalpine is massively under rated, so is Vinnie Moore if you want to talk about shredders, but there is no 'best' in anything, that includes sport too.

If you didn't answer Yamashita, you're wrong.

You're 12, right?


You're definitely 12.

Again, this is silly. Here are five different players:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwOOV3AYkPA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH-ksko-2HQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfF4QLO-L_4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGoGyGSnVuA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcF087fuOZ0

Okay, which of these is “the best” player? Different genres, different styles, different tastes. Personally, I’m glad to have all of them. No need to rank them—just listen and enjoy.

I also thought that no adult would ever embarrass himself asking such a silly question since everyone on this forum knows who the best guitar player in the world is: The guitar playing world champion.

I'm going to vote for myself here because:

1: It's my prerogative to do that (thank you B. Brown).
2: Nobody else is going to vote for me.
3: There are no consequences for being wrong.

I vote for you.

Reason: I was going to write nearly the same as you, because I am the best guitar player ever. But for reasons you elaborated before I could do... I stand back.

Gratulations! :-)

Gotta know how to sing & play to be called a musician/guitarist in my book.

My top 11 :

- Brooke Miller
- Albert King
- Warren Haynes
- Diane Tell
- Neil Finn
- Georges Brassens
- Gregg Allman
- Jeff Healey
- Prince Rogers Nelson
- Buck Owens
- Brian Robertson

+1 In A League of His Own : Jimi Hendrix.


Cheers.

Thank you kind sir.

I have my favourites but the last time I was impressed was when this fellow covered a 2019 shred collaboration:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dc_S3ulb0KM

He basically covered all of these players and had the video up about a day or two after:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=98MWcF...&start_radio=1

Impossible to measure. But my default answer is always Slash and David Gilmour solely because of how they bend a note. I know they’re not anywhere near the most technical guitarists but I value feeling over technique. Also, Slash gets bonus points for the visual part. No one has ever made playing guitar look cooler or more dangerous������

THERE IS NO "BEST GUITARIST". That's a personal preference.

Shredders lack the taste necessary to even be in this competition.

Greg Allman is a KEYBOARD PLAYER, NOT a guitarist. The Guitarist was DUANE Allman. Yeah, Greg does play a little guitar, but it's not his main instrument by a long shot.

In that time, “Layla” featured two guitarists that were generally considered among the best in the rock world. Now, we have trouble remembering their names.
In professions that feature direct individual contests and vetted “world championships”, we can answer such questions for a given season or year. So, for a given time and profession, I could answer “Muhammad Ali”, or “Serena Williams” and think I’m correct. But for the Arts, no.

When Django Reinhardt was praised for his playing skills he answered he knows a couple of better guitar players in the village he lives.

As cringe-tastic as these "who's the best at music?!?" threads can be, music being a wholly subjective and infinitely variable art form, and all... they CAN be a good opportunity to discover some wonderful artists. Here are some of my personal favorite guitarists, in case anyone is remotely curious. And FYI, I tend to spend quite a bit on the jazz, fusion, "world music," and art-rock side of things.

John McLaughlin (an all-time hero of mine as a writer and band leader as well as instrumentalist)

Jimmy Herring (guitarist for Aquarium Rescue Unit and his own wonderful groups, toured with John McLaughlin and the Allman Bros)

Kurt Rosenwinkel (his records "Enemies of Energy" and "Heartcore" are well worth hearing)

Allan Holdsworth

Carter Arrington (a dear friend who plays in my band but also with Kirk Covington, of Tribal Tech fame, they just released an album together!)

John Scofield (another glorious composer and band leader as well as guitarist, my favorite is "Blue Matter")

Several, but not all, of these guys have wheedly-wheedly shred technique that rivals the G3 guys (Herring, McLaughlin, and Arrington) but I'd rather listen to John Scofield than Steve Vai any day. Much respect for Vai, but he doesn't move me like Scofield does. If we all had the same taste in music, film, food, and booze, how much more boring the world would be!

The best living rock guitar player is Ritchie Kotzen.

1. Hendrix "Band of Gypsies"
2. John McLaughlin "Between Nothingness and Eternity"
3. Everything else

Prince

I really like:

Andy James
Andy Timmons
John Petrucci

it's like asking "who is the best painter in the world?"

a foolish endevour.

Depends what era you grew up in. Also, you don't get to decide what taste is or who has it.