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The greatest electric guitarplayer alive is not... Slash, Yngwie, Buckethead, Lenny Kravitz, Prince, Satriani, Vai, J. Beck, Page, Clapton, Santana as some of you people here seem to believe. If you're talking about rock I may accept some of the names above, but if you include jazz/fusion those cats above has little to come up with compared to the likes of
George Benson Wes Montgomery Pat Metheny etc But there is one guy that stands above all those guys, Allan Holdsworh. There is nobody that can compete with him when it comes to technique, ability to improvise over fast chord changes and ability to mix incredible soulful and melodic parts with "out" and advanced runs. He never plays licks like almost every other guitarplayer and always improvise his solos. But not only that he is the most evolutionary guitarist since Jimi Hendrix. He uses the guitar like no one else. In fact most jazz experts compare him to John Coltrane or jazzpianists rather than other quitarplayers because he can play runs on the guitar that people didn't think possible. He has this legato technique and unbelievable reach that makes it possible for him to use the guitar more like a piano or saxophone. Allan himself has said he developed this uniqe approach because he didn't like the guitar to begin with because he thaugt the instrument was so limited. [Edited 11/20/05 17:12pm] | |
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I thought you were going to say Phil Keaggy. He does all that while missing a finger.
He's so good, there's a Hendrix rumor about that man... | |
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What about the ability to translate ability into to actual songs or for that matter albums, is that part of the equation? If so than somebody like George Benson and Prince are unmatched. The only Holdsworth album I've heard is Metal Fatigue. | |
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what rumor? | |
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manthevan said: Slash
yes it is | |
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Road Games is a great Holdsworth CD also.
Don't forget to listen to Shawn Lane even though he isn't with us. http://donniebshawn.com/v.../index.php [Edited 11/20/05 21:11pm] "The first time I saw the cover of Dirty Mind in the early 80s I thought, 'Is this some drag queen ripping on Freddie Prinze?'" - Some guy on The Gear Page | |
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manthevan said: Slash, Yngwie, Buckethead, Lenny Kravitz, Prince, Satriani, Vai, J. Beck, Page, Clapton, Santana as some of you people here seem to believe. If you're talking about rock I may accept some of the names above, but if you include jazz/fusion those cats above has little to come up with compared to the likes of
George Benson Wes Montgomery Pat Metheny etc But there is one guy that stands above all those guys, Allan Holdsworh. There is nobody that can compete with him when it comes to technique, ability to improvise over fast chord changes and ability to mix incredible soulful and melodic parts with "out" and advanced runs. He never plays licks like almost every other guitarplayer and always improvise his solos. But not only that he is the most evolutionary guitarist since Jimi Hendrix. He uses the guitar like no one else. In fact most jazz experts compare him to John Coltrane or jazzpianists rather than other quitarplayers because he can play runs on the guitar that people didn't think possible. He has this legato technique and unbelievable reach that makes it possible for him to use the guitar more like a piano or saxophone. Allan himself has said he developed this uniqe approach because he didn't like the guitar to begin with because he thaugt the instrument was so limited. [Edited 11/20/05 17:12pm] none of the guys u mentioned would say they're the best as they've all mentioned time and time again, that they're constantly learnin. there's no way you can talk about fusion and leave santana, beck, and prince out of the mix. and as 4 cats that can imporvise listen 2... buddy guy, al mckay, johnny graham, earl klugh, roger troutman, larry carlton, steve luthaker, eddie hazel, leroy "sugarfoot" bonner, patrick simmons,john mcfee,jay graydon, eric gales, norman brown, lee rittenhour, george johnson,.... these guys continue to baffle and innovate with every note they play . [Edited 11/20/05 21:24pm] [Edited 11/20/05 21:27pm] | |
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ThreadBare said: I thought you were going to say Phil Keaggy. He does all that while missing a finger.
If usable digit-count is a criteria, then... 
..."The Gypsy" has gotta win...fingers down. 
tA  Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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lilgish said: What about the ability to translate ability into to actual songs or for that matter albums, is that part of the equation? If so than somebody like George Benson and Prince are unmatched. The only Holdsworth album I've heard is Metal Fatigue.
Allan Holdsworth is definitely an innovative badass. I give him extra points for being a very humble badass. The cat doesn't think he's as good as he really is. His solo work goes without saying. But at this point, i'm more impressed by his chord work. To me, he's always been compositionally very sound. The difference is that Prince and George Benson (at this point in his career) are POP artists and their material reflects that. That's all Prince has ever been about. However, George Benson's pre-Breezin' Jazz albums are legendary. Allan has no POP aspirations. His writing style is more Classical/Jazz based with a heavy emphasis on improvisation. Btw, he's got many releases beyond Metal Fatigue worth checking out. Someone I think that really needs more attention in the fusion arena is... 
...Greg Howe Serious chops, but with a more earthy Jazz/Funk base. tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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theAudience said: ThreadBare said: I thought you were going to say Phil Keaggy. He does all that while missing a finger.
If usable digit-count is a criteria, then...
..."The Gypsy" has gotta win...fingers down.
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 Yeah, I knew someone would mention Django the moment I brought up digits.... Django was a bad, bad man. I tend to think of Phil Keaggy as a COMPLETE guitarist. His albums touch upon so many facets of playing: jazz, (relative) funk, rock, blues, country, acoustic fingerstyle... He does this contemporary jazz reading of "Silent Night" that just blows me away. | |
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ThreadBare said: theAudience said: If usable digit-count is a criteria, then...
..."The Gypsy" has gotta win...fingers down.
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 Yeah, I knew someone would mention Django the moment I brought up digits.... Django was a bad, bad man. I tend to think of Phil Keaggy as a COMPLETE guitarist. His albums touch upon so many facets of playing: jazz, (relative) funk, rock, blues, country, acoustic fingerstyle... He does this contemporary jazz reading of "Silent Night" that just blows me away. Django is one of my favorites although I prefer his acoustic style of guitar. If you like Django than check out my friend Andreas Öberg. Click on "music" and choose sample! http://www.andreas-oberg....ndex2.html He is my great friend and one of Sweden's best guitarists. He displays many different styles in the samples, Gypsy Swing is in the Djangogenre. [Edited 11/22/05 18:09pm] | |
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My list wasn't meant to be complete I just randomly emphasized some of my favorites. Of course there were many I din't mention like
Bireli Lagrene Scott Henderson John Scofield Frank Gambale Django Reinhart John Mclaughlin etc | |
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lilgish said: The only Holdsworth album I've heard is Metal Fatigue.
Not one of his best IMO Check out the songs City Nights from his amazing album Secrets if you want a view of what he is capable of  | |
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hellomoto said: manthevan said: Slash
yes it is What a joke, I love MJ he is one of my favourites but I suspect you think he is the greatest based on his work with Michael. If that is the case than at least pice Eddie Van Halen IMO No offense to Slash though who is a very good rock guitarplayer | |
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