Does anyone remember the time when Phil Collins was considered the best drummer? Sounds pretty funny but there was a time when people were talking about it.
As far as best guitarist, if you like shred, then Yngwie Malmsteen or Steve Vai by far are pretty damn good. It’s so hard to tell who is the best guitarist since musical tastes varies among different people.
“It’s so hard to tell who is the best guitarist since musical tastes varies among different people.”
Good point, reesh.
It’s all subjective, but when I look at how talented I think a guitarist is, I look at how fast he can hit individual notes and still keep the melody, the variations in the different tempos and chord structures - just playing music that flows together while changing it up all the time, yet keeping it the same.
Yeah, that made no sense to me either.
David Gilmour on the guitar sends me to a different place…Not a hendrix fan, too sloppy for me
Drums would havta be Bonham cuz he did more than keep the beat when thats all drums were used for.
Drummers:
Guitarists (that I like the sound of, not necessarily the most technical, etc.)
When I look at guitarists…I look at all the styles they have played over the span of their albums in addition to their shreds or talent. And I also consider their songwriting overall. If you look at Joe Satriani and Steve Vai…they both are GREAT COMPOSERS! as well as awesome guitarists…thats what seperates them from many of the others. Joe and Steve write all the bass…rhythm and keyboards for all their songs…NOT just the guitar.
You would also have to put Ronnie Montrose in that category as well. And someone that is overlooked frequently is ALEX LIFESON. No one swings an Ax like Big Al and if you listen to the over 20 albums Rush has put out…you will appreciate the variations…chords…and all the types of structures he has mastered.
I saw John Petrucci with Joe and Steve…and he was great!!..and I also saw Dream Theatre with Joe last year…and they were good also. Its interesting that Dream Theatre did a tribute to one of their main influences…RUSH…by playing a few of their songs at the end of the set!! (see the comments about Alex Lifeson!)
For drummers…there are many…but Professor Peart is unbeatable! and so was Cozzy Powell…Tommy Aldrich…Jeff Campetelli…Bisonette…and the great Keith Moon!..who inspired Peart. Its interesting how the masters like Peart have continued to get tutoring from other masters…like Peart did with Paul Gruber.
scrub,
bottom line is kenny wayne just blows his load too much and he decided to surround himself with musicians (namely lead singer) that were subpar. he toured with double trouble for a while, but i think his biggest problem is he completely idolized stevie ray, thus he plays nearly just like him…but not as real. if you want an srv clone, go with chris duarte.
prince is a very talented guitarist and underrated. i’m surprised that no one’s mentioned zakk wylde yet, that guy can do it all…download farm fiddlin or his version of white christmas…most beautiful thing i’ve ever heard.
someone else mentioned slash, that makes me happy.
Good point, BiffRadbone. I think the most influential rock guitarist is Jimmy Page.
I remember reading that the most influential guitairist in the 80’s was Eddie. Satriani was 2nd.
larryalavender, Satch was also heavily influenced by Alen Holdsworth.
That’s an interesting take, Mike. I guess you like the “shred” guys from the 80’s?
I guess I look at how technically profiencient some is at their instrument. That along with the ability to relate emostions through their playing. A good tone helps, too!
John Petrucci
Joe Satriani
Steve Vai
Eric Johnson
Gary Hoey
Stanley Jordan
Victor Wooten
Michael Manring
Victor Bailey
Stuart Hamm
Flea
Les Claypool
Dennis Chambers (NOBODY can touch this guy. Not Neil Peart or Carter Beauford. All of the drummers I’ve played with worship this guy.)
Mike Portnoy
Virgil Donati
Neil Peart
Chad Sexton
My night job is teaching bass and guitar privately at a local music store. I love listening to all these guys and their respective bands.
bassmills,
I was at a Dennis Chambers clinic a few years ago and someone shouted out to Dennis that he was the best drummer on the planet. Dennis replied to the audience that Vinnie Colaiuta was the best drummer around.
Dennis is a bad man, I seen him a bunch of times, but Vinnie takes the cake.
I didn’t know there were that many Dream Theatre fans around here.
Hey D-lo thanks for the description of that show.
I had tickets to go see Dream Theatre last year, but that night my son was born.
I admit, I haven’t heard a lot of Vinnie’s stuff. I’ve seen an instructional
video with him and he’s good, but it didn’t impress me that much. I still
think Chambers is better. Chambers was probably just being modest
about Vinnine being the best. However, I’ll be sure to check out more
of Vinnie’s stuff though. I saw Chambers with CAB and Niacin and both
times were INCREDIBLE. He never did any solos (my drummer was
disappointed at the time) but overall his playing was tight and creative.
He started playing for Parliament Funkadelic when he was just 14 years
old and then left when he turned 21. He’s played with almost everyone
at one point or another. He gigs more than 300 days out of the year
and I think the last big tour he was doing was with Santana. He’s so
good it’s ridiculous.
You all should be ashamed no one has mentioned Dwayne Allman. Amazing guitarist.
Also (from the same “camp”) Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, and Dickey Betts.
Drummers: Carter Beauford is my boy.
No doubt Dennis Chambers is amoung the super elite.
I thought he was a little older than 14 when he began playing with P-Funk, more like 16 - splitting hairs really. Either way he is incredible. I have a P-Funk all stars live album with Dennis on it. Truely mind blowing stuff.
Bassmills: no mention of billy sheehan on best bassists? Definatly very talented. Also, billy dickens.
Also, being a bassist, I find some of dream theater’s bass riffs to be kinda difficult (James Myung). Probably not as fast as sheehan, but pretty good nonetheless.
Can’t believe all these posts and no mention of Jason Becker or Eliot Fisk? Has anyone heard their renditions of the Paganini caprices? And I thought Steve Vai did a good job on the 5th in Crossroads. Do yourselves a favor and check these guys out.
Others missing: George Lynch and the guy from Loudness, Akira Takasaki.
If we’re going into bassists, Les Claypool is an obvious choice but nobody has mentioned Flea yet.
He’s one funky sonofabitch.
I like Zak Wild (sp?) From Black Lable Society and Ozzy Osborne’s guitarist
OK, i forgot to mention the late great Randy Rhoads. I wish we could have been able to hear what direction he would have taken his talent… the classical influences with his song writing ability would have been incredible.
If ther are any Jason Becker fans out there you MUST read his inspirational 20 questions on www.metal-sludge.com. His battle with ALS is beyond inspiring.
Forgot possibly the most underrated guitarist around…Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme.
I will give that Becker interview a looksie. I have never heard anything on electric guitar so beautiful and flawless as his full version of Paganini’s 5th. He did another one of the caprices as well that was great but I can’t remember which one that it was.
Yes, Duane Alman and Prince are good mentions.
Has anyone heard Clarence White?