Greatest Prog Guitarists - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Author

Message

Topic Search

Topic Options

Ruby900

Forum Senior Member

Joined: April 03 2009
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 739

Posted: July 13 2011 at 07:52

Mclaughlin

Fripp

Howe

Hackett

Gilmour

Hillage

Di Meola

Frank Zappa

"I always say that it’s about breaking the rules. But the secret of breaking rules in a way that works is understanding what the rules are in the first place". Rick Wakeman

DavetheSlave View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: May 23 2007
Location: South Africa
Status: Offline
Points: 492

Posted: July 13 2011 at 08:05

Although he is prog related I think that Tony Iommi deserves a mention for overcoming the accident to his fret hand - something that would have crippled the career of most methinks.

vakir

Forum Newbie

Joined: July 13 2011
Location: Ukraine
Status: Offline
Points: 2

Posted: July 13 2011 at 08:41

1. Andy Latimer

2. Steve Howe

3. Jan Akkerman

4. Robert Fripp

5. David Gilmour

himtroy

Forum Senior Member

Joined: January 20 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 1601

Posted: July 13 2011 at 09:55

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

My list:

Steve Hackett: The most emotional, he's as technical as the best ones and by far the more versatile.
David Gilmour: His solos were aggressive and emotional.
Jan Akkerman: Brilliant, and dramatic
Steve Howe: Hard to beat, but IMO not the best.
Carlos Santana: The perfect balance between technique and emotion.
John Mc'Loughlin: More technical than all the previous, but a bit soulless IMHO.
Yngwee Malmsteen: I believe he's Prog Related at the worst, and incredibly skilled
Rich Williams: Criminally underrated
Robert Fripp: Great but not the god many believe (IMO of course)
Brian May: Unique

Iván

Robert Fripp is more of a god than that entire list of people however. Most certainly towers over the depths of Yngwee Malmsteen.....eww...

And I used to like Tony Iommi, but he's a pretty cliche' rock guitarist.....theres just too many people that sound exactly like that for me to care about many blues guitarists anymore.

Edited by himtroy - July 13 2011 at 09:56

Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance.

ghost_of_morphy View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

Joined: March 08 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2755

Posted: July 13 2011 at 19:48

No order here,.

Hackettt

Howe

Holdsworth

Fripp

Stolt

John Curulewski (Styx)

Blackmore

Gilmour

Oldfield

Hendrix

Zappa

Some of these guys get mentioned from sheer talent. Some get mentioned because of the tastiness of their playing.

Edited by ghost_of_morphy - July 13 2011 at 19:49

Crimzonite View Drop Down

Forum Newbie

Joined: July 13 2011
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 6

Posted: July 13 2011 at 22:32

1: Robert Fripp - Incredible style, technique, and dedication to the music industry.
2: Michael Romeo - Romeo made Symphony X famous, with those ripping, sweeping solos, and complex riffs.

I only have two favourites..I know there are many many more great guitarists, though.

MillsLayne View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: September 14 2010
Location: East Bay, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 2504

Posted: July 13 2011 at 23:39

My favorites in no order:

David Gilmour
Piotr Grudzinski (Reminds me a lot of Gilmour at times)
Steven Wilson (Not too complex, but creative with interesting ideas)
Steve Howe
Alex Lifeson (Guy doesn't get nearly enough credit next to Geddy and Neil)
Mike Vennart, Gambler and Steve Durose (as a trio)

KingCrInuYasha View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: September 26 2010
Location: USA
Status: Offline
Points: 1281

Posted: July 13 2011 at 23:55

Jimi Hendrix
Robert Fripp
Adrian Belew
Steve Howe
David Gilmour
Martin Barre
John Du Cann
Steve Hackett
Jimmy Page
Brian May

He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball!

Buddyman

Forum Newbie

Joined: September 14 2007
Location: Slovakia
Status: Offline
Points: 4

Posted: August 02 2011 at 17:32

Ok.
What about a few from Central Europe?

Dežo Ursiny - Slovak guitarist vocalist and composer. Great bluesy type of playing, long notes.
Check

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgi3NFeyy-g                      lightweight and airy,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCYFS06vEJg                    short solo at the end - very simple yet atmospheric
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8i-vwY5ThQ                      faster and more agressive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXlWkh60dIE                     another faster and more agressive one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xooPWEYOcd4                  no his best track, but one of his best solos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDYagM8TpYg                   very melodic and soothing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IMkXb5GFHs                   bluesy

Radim Hladík of Blue Effect       I suppose most peope here know him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkUWk_MUSVI                his best solo in my opinion

Gyorgy Molnár of the band Omega from Hungary
Antimos Apostolis of Polish band Niemen ( 1971 - 1973) and SBB
Tamás Bárta of Hungarian band Omega (the first albums only, up to cca 1975 - these are the best anyway
Michal Pavlíček of Czech Pražský výběr, Stromboli, etc.
Luboš Andršt Czech guitarist of    Jazz Q and Energit
Slawomir Piwowar of     polish band SBB and also Aerolit (Niemen)
František Griglák of slovak Collegium Musicum and Fermáta

clarkpegasus4001 View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: January 13 2011
Location: Nottingham
Status: Offline
Points: 635

Posted: August 02 2011 at 18:58

presdoug wrote:

i had also meant to mention Tony Bourge of Budgie-awesome!

He's the reason i'm playing at all...my hero.
Others I like in no order
Steve Howe
Jan Akkerman
Alex Lifeson
Paul Macdonnell

Tony C.

mongofa

Forum Senior Member

Joined: September 26 2011
Location: Zanzibar
Status: Offline
Points: 410

Posted: September 26 2011 at 22:42

Steve Howe

Robert Fripp

Steve Hackett

David Gilmor

Jan Akkerman

40footwolf View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: March 08 2010
Status: Offline
Points: 651

Posted: September 27 2011 at 02:21

1. Robert Fripp

2. Steve Hackett

3. David Gilmour

4. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

5. Paul Masvidal

6. Steve Howe

7. Chuck Schuldiner

8. Brent Hinds/Bill Kelliher

9. Aaron Turner

10. John McLaughlin

Edited by 40footwolf - September 27 2011 at 02:23

Heaven's made a cesspool of us all.

awaken77

Forum Senior Member

Joined: December 25 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 374

Posted: September 27 2011 at 02:53

Steve Howe
Andrew Latimer
Robert Fripp
David Gilmour
Phil Miller (canterbury bands)
Mick Rogers (of Manfred Mann's fame)
Gary Moore (Colosseum II years)

By--Tor

Forum Newbie

Joined: February 06 2011
Location: Las Vegas
Status: Offline
Points: 29

Posted: September 30 2011 at 01:29

Robert Fripp

John McLaughlin

Alex Lifeson

Steve Vai

Tony Iomi

Jimmy Page

David Gilmour

Steve Howe

Ritchie Blackmore

Omar Rodriquez Lopez

Jimi Hendrix

Brian May

Carlos Santana

PinkfloydgenesisELP View Drop Down

Forum Newbie

Joined: June 22 2011
Location: UK, England
Status: Offline
Points: 3

Posted: October 02 2011 at 09:10

My Top 5 Prog Rock Guitarists

1. Jan Akkerman (Focus)

2. Steve Hackett (Genesis, solo)

3. Steve Howe (Yes, Asia)

4. Robert Fripp (King Crimson)

5. Frank Zappa (Solo, The Mothers of Invention)

PinkYesGongMachine View Drop Down

Forum Newbie

Joined: May 02 2012
Location: Cirrus Minor
Status: Offline
Points: 13

Posted: May 03 2012 at 10:33

STEVE HOWE - Should be named "Steve Wow"
DAVID GILMOUR - Who can get more emotion out of ONE chord or string bend???
ROBERT FRIPP - Technical wizard.
STEVE HACKETT - Technical wizard.
JOHN PETRUCCI - Chameleon and technical wizard.

dtguitarfan View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: June 24 2011
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Status: Offline
Points: 1708

Posted: May 03 2012 at 11:22

Tosin Abasi (seriously, YouTube this guy, but be careful - you might have to reattach your jaw)
Steve Vai (he gets progressive sometimes...)
John Petrucci
Johan Liefvendahl
Mats Haugen

My 2012 List

Horizons

Collaborator

Honorary Collaborator

Joined: January 20 2011
Location: Somewhere Else
Status: Offline
Points: 16952

Posted: May 03 2012 at 15:08

It's really sad how underrated Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is as a guitarist. He is by far my favorite guitarist of all time.

Versatile, unique, interesting, and doesn't come off as pompous. He is the perfect hybrid.

Televators, Cassandra Gemini, Drunkship of Lanterns, Goliath, Tetragrammaton. Great exposure to some of his material that pops into my head instantly.

Crushed like a rose in the riverflow.

Fox On The Rocks View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: February 10 2011
Location: Toronto, Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 5012

Posted: May 03 2012 at 20:54

My all time favourites!:
Alex Lifeson
Steve Howe
Stephen Hackett
Robert Fripp
John McLaughlin
Frank Zappa
Gary Green
Allan Holdsworth
David Gilmour
Al Di Meola
Omar Rodriguez Lopez
John Petrucci
Mike Oldfield
Steve Rothery
Jan Akkerman
Andrew Latimer
Kim Mitchell (Max Webster)
Ian Williams (Don Caballero)
Paul Wagonner (Between The Buried And Me)
Robby Krieger
Billy Corgan

Edited by Fox On The Rocks - May 13 2012 at 18:16

Ambient Hurricanes View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: December 25 2011
Location: internet
Status: Offline
Points: 2549

Posted: May 03 2012 at 21:09

Horizons wrote:

It's really sad how underrated Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is as a guitarist. He is by far my favorite guitarist of all time.

Versatile, unique, interesting, and doesn't come off as pompous. He is the perfect hybrid.

Televators, Cassandra Gemini, Drunkship of Lanterns, Goliath, Tetragrammaton. Great exposure to some of his material that pops into my head instantly.

From the two Mars Volta albums I've heard, I've been really impressed with his guitar work. Maybe he's not the greatest technical guitar player of all time, but I would much rather have him in a band than Petrucci or Yngwie or any of those type of players. Lots of people can play fast and interesting parts but few can compose guitar music like Omar can.

I love dogs, I've always loved dogs