Technically speaking, I've never seen anyone better than Satriani. But, for style (which matters most), I've gotta go with Randy Rhoades.
It comes down to a matter of taste. Blues, metal, rock, jazz, country, classical, they all have their masters. A lot say Slash is one of the best, but I don't care that much for metal. Di Meola plays great jazz, as does Lee Ritenour. Joe Bonamassa does blues, but so does Clapton and Beck. Jerry Garcia is a favorite of the psychedelic crowd. Leo Kottke has his own flare. Micheal Hedges, what do you even call that kind of music? Frank Zappa was the mentor of Steve Vie and Satriani. But my favorites are Jake Cinninger and Jimmy Herring. Here's a sample.... [video=youtube;2ed_0MwtAsU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ed_0MwtAsU[/video] [video=youtube;xJza11h0H7Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJza11h0H7Y&feature=related[/video]
common debate but most people IMO make the mistake of comparing "rock" guitarists as the elite of guitarists...technically the best guitarists are classical guitarists, artists who are mostly unknown in popular culture (rock, blues, jazz)being discussed here... [video=youtube;MQ1YCKqBEN0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ1YCKqBEN0[/video]
Here's a picker...... [video=youtube;mtfXb1zUF9E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtfXb1zUF9E[/video] here's a couple more..... [video=youtube;5wTVLIZaxMk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wTVLIZaxMk[/video]
BB could and still can say more with two notes than most with ten and has influence as many guitar players as anyone out there including myself. He is all in the way of substance and phrasing and plays very very little rhythm guitar or chords.
There is no best as you cannot compare many. There are lots of greats and almost too many to mention. All three Kings, SRV, Clapton, Gallagher, Carlton, Ford, Hendrix, Van Halen (and I don't even listen to their music), Rhinehardt, Montgomery, Pass, and on and on and on and on. By what measure are you using to say who was the greatest?
Without his guitar he wouldn't have gotten all those awards which do require remarkable talent to accomplish.
Yes Eddie is certainly a pioneer. As with any electric guitar it is how one sets up the instrument and the amplifier/effects as well. Some of the fingering techniques run hand in hand with the increased touch sensitiveness that can be attained with electric guitars, effects, 'rectified' auto paths and over-driven input amplifier stages. There have been many pioneers however.....Robert Johnson (whose technique is hardly replicable even today) Charlie Christian (Early electric guitar artist), BB King (quintessential electric blues player). I tend to lean toward electric blues and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Let's not forget the powerhouse of overdrive and feedback Jimi Hendrix.
Let's show some respect for the man that made all of them possible. [video=youtube;AP7qI5RVtxw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP7qI5RVtxw[/video]
Can't see it. OK NOW I can see it...Yes Yes Yes...How could I forget? I have one of his instruments. Besides his guitar, he pioneered multi-tracking recording...And that man could PLAY. The is a great video...Thanks
I've never seen of the greats play like this....... [video=youtube;bqwMFE3spVQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqwMFE3spVQ[/video]
as pickers roy was weak, knopfler not much better, chet was ok but the music played wasn't as challenging as what Boyd used in her video..none appear to be at Boyd's level ...or was at boyds level, tendinitis has put her serious playing days behind her, up to 8 hours of practice per day takes it's toll... how does anyone measure who is best? by fame? name recognition? CD sales? I like Knopflers guitar skills but it's not at Boyds level, yet I don't have a single Boyd CD but I do have a Knoffler CD...I like rock and blues much more than classical guitar but technically classical players are better...
Herman Li from Dragonforce is pretty phenomenal. Their music is kind of built around his guitar work, and to be honest, it does feel a bit pretentious at times, but there's no denying the man burns up the guitar.
I am no expert, but just came across this joint performance of les Paul and Chet Atkins They are not rock guitarists, but dang good