guitarist

creativity

If you can't make a good melody, then all your skill is worthless. That's why I like Joe Satriani so much! great playing and melodies.

Creativity in making melodies is important for a musician, or more specifically for a composer. Musicianship in that regard is good to have for a guitarist - after all, it's a definite boon for improvisation - but skill IS of primary concern. I don't know about the rest of you, but I would far rather listen to a highly skilled guitarist bringing life to a composed piece, than some fumbling beyond which can be discerned a creative melody. The key question is what constitutes skill, and of course the answer is a frantic waving of the arms and the imploration, 'NOT SPEED!' Skill is the ability to execute a melody - whether a result of your own creativity or some other's - with a variation of sound and pace, with a texture appropriate to each note, which completes the emotion that otherwise can only be partially present in a well-conceived melody.

Royalist wrote: Which leg do you want to have: a)left b)right

Definetly left

Steve Hackett is a perfect example for this poll. He can create amazing melodies, but for some reason he has never learned how to bend properly.

Vi0LaToR wrote: i think is most important the creativity to make melodies like david gilmour or Fripp, howe has the two qualities  but steve vai i think only has skill to play for example

you can know how to play every song in the book

Both are preferable, but creativity over technical skill in the end.

without melodies, skill is nothing. Why do you suppose the majority of shredders like Rusty Cooley do little except make instructional DVDs? Because they suck at making actual MUSIC.

You need Both!