the 10 most influential guitarists on YOU.

[66blues]

I noticed in only one list the name Joe Bonamassa I might suggest those of you having not ever heard of him check him out. jbonamassa.com He has shot his way up on my list since I happened to catch him a couple of years ago live.

The most powerfull live guitarist I've ever seen perform he will pin your ears back and have you gripping your chair the entire set.

He plays through two Mashall cabinets stereo with Two Marshall Silver Anniversary 100 watters and two Budhas. Eric Johnsonish with some balls and he can sing. Blues on Steroids.

66

[waxnsteel]

Joe Buonamassa has technique and licks galore. When I heard him in Bloodline, I was blown away. Now, not so much. His new blues thing is boring and repetetive. Since you're gone and Dixie peach were great tunes withe great guitar action. Recommended listening.

[blind_willy]

1. Jerry Garcia
gets a bad rap because because he was a junkie by the 80's and the dead were mainly broke during their prime (and they insisited on doing the majority of their own engineering while they learned the process). i've never heard a more soulful or unique approach to the instrument, jerry improvised so many live passages that i can close my eyes and hear note for note... as to technical proficiency, give the song 'slipknot' ('blues for allah' release) a listen, not to mention the gift the man had for melody and chord progression... and remember, it's impolite to speak ill of the dead
2. Mark Knopfler
that level of musical creativity, soul AND precision just isn't fair.
3. Frank Vignola
saw him with mark o'connor and the hot swing trio at this year's telluride bluegrass festival... wonderfully humbling experience. if he can play like that at nearly 9000 feet above sea level... wow.
4. Pete Townshend
taught me not to be boring with tempo and attack... the man plays with a beautiful fury.
5. Walter Becker
if i could sound like any one of these guys, it'd be walter.
6. Waddy Wachtel
warren zevon's axe man... subtlety (and a good crunch tone) is powerful too.
7. Frank Zappa
(along with trey anastasio) remind me that skill + weird = a really good time... and that my lyrics have an audience out there somewhere
8. Mike McCready
pure rock guitar guy extraordinaire... the lead in ten's 'alive' should carry a warning for cheap stereo systems.
9. Joe Walsh
the patron saint of 'drawl' as a musical expression... reminds me that after all that tightening up and practice, it's best to play it loose groove...
10. David Gilmour
plays the guitar like he's channeling billie holiday on mescaline

wrote down over 50 inspiring names originally... this was a fun list to get into... great post

[Machine8828]

Although I could pick one fav. I wouldn't do that to the rest of em, so I'll just list mine starting with who first inspired me to want to play, to who I listen to the most now...

1 ~ Allen Collins...Lynyrd Skynyrd (in case you're wondering, he's the one who actually wrote Freebird, and did the whole solo thing)

2 ~ Steve Clark...Def Leppard. He auditioned for Lep, playing what else...Freebird, you have to know he was good.

3 ~ Slash...Guns N Roses. Just plays with all the emotion that can be squeezed out of a guitar.

4 ~ Steven Curtis Chapman...He's a contemporary christian artist, but made me really get into playing acoustic.

5 ~ Jimmy Page...Led Zeppelin. He basically became God like to me.

6 ~ David Gilmour...Pink Floyd. If Page was God, David would be Jesus.

7 ~ Don Felder...Eagles. He wrote Hotel California, and watching him play it acoustically on Hell Freezes Over, I just watch in awe.

8 ~ Mark Tremonti...Creed. Ok the band's done now, and I wasn't thrilled by Alter Bridge, but Creed had a handful of really good rockin tunes.

9 ~ Zakk Wylde...BLS/Ozzy. Actually I got into Zakk well before this, but I put him at the back simply because out of all on my list, he's the one making the most music, and I'd consider him the Holy Spirit of the aforementioned trinity.

10 ~ Randy Rhoads...Ozzy. Listening to Zakk, made me want to dig up some RR stuff, because he was a main influence on Zakk. And Diary of a Madman just kicks my ass.

There have been others along the way, EVH, Ace Frehely, Satch, Vai, SRV, Hendrix, Clapton, but these 10 are the ones who appeal to me enough to make me want to pick up a guitar and "TRY" to play along.

[BlueHeaven]

Well here goes.

Pete Townshend (made my fingers bleed )
Joe Perry
Slash
Page
Hendrix
Gilmore
Tony Iomi
Eric Johnson
Malstien
Rhodes

[6thstring1505]

Angus Young( how come no ones mentioning this guy?)
Jimi hendrix
Zakk Wylde
Jimmy Page
Curt Cobain
Eric Clapton
B.B.King
Kerry KIng(not for his band!!!! for his riffs)
Pink Floyd
Kirk Hammet

glad 2 see just about everyones got hendrix down

[TheO]

Keziah Jones
beautiful rhythm playing on nylonsting Chet Atkins through Marshall Stacks

Jeff Buckley
Oh why did he leave so soon?

Pat Metheney

Leni Stern
married to another great guitarist

John McLaughlin

Charlie Hunter
how does he do that?!?!

Jimi Hendrix
anybody that plays guitar and says he/she is not influenced by Mr. Hendrix is just plain wrong!!
Even if you had never heard of him, you would have heard guitarrists that are influenced by him!

Al DiMeola
David Torn
Robert Fripp
Andy Summers
Bill Frisell
Ani DiFranco
Steve Lukather

ALSO, my german influences:

Alex Gunia (of Matalex)
Franz Holzman (of Triton)
Alexander Danullis (teacher)

[zepfan5150]

1. Jimmy Page
2. Eddie Van Halen
3. Slash
4. Angus Young
5. Pete Townshend
6. Randy Rhoads
7. Malcolm Young
8. Jimi Hendrix
9. John Something (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
10.Billie Joe Armstrong

[Bluesman48]

Here's mine in no particular order
1. My Dad
2. Merle Travis
3. Chet Atkins
4. James Burton
5. BB King
6. Steve Cropper
7. Duane Eddy
8.John Lee Hooker
9. Nokie Edwards
10. SRV

[JazzMan]

What? Como? No teinde Meeester Steve Lukather? I can't beleeve he no make use guys leest. Go on; check out hees website. Oh no... Ya no the guy he play for Toto and on like everbodees albums; like Boz Skaggs, Michael Jackson (before hees Wacko Jacko) He like won agrammy for it...That "Thriller" album.. Oh and ya no the a group; how you say Steely Dan and on & on & on & on like 400times.

[61 gibson]

Well, I have several faves, but only a few inspirations.

1. Angus Young
2. Malcolm Young
3. EVH
4. Eric Johnson
5. Jimi Hendrix
6. Rik Emmit
7. Glenn Tipton & KK Downing
8. Tony Iommi
9. Randy Rhoads
10. Joe Satriani

I have to admit, this is a hard list to give just 10 guys credit. BB King, T-Bone Walker, Albert King and Muddy Waters are the base of what we have today in R&R. And if any of you are wondering about Malcolm Young, well he is probably one of the most under-rated and greatest rhythm players in Rock history! Let There Be Rock!

[Bdogg]

1. Lenny Breau
2. Andres Segovia
3. John Williams
4. Wes Montgomery
5. Grant Green
6. Rory Gallagher
7. Al McKay
8. Earl Klugh
9. David Gilmour
10. Fred Sokolow

[wfhscoyotes]

You probably wont know some of these:

1. Steven Curtis Chapman - (self) his guitar knows what love and hope are

2. Noah Henson - (Pillar) perfect rock feel that makes you want to just get up and move

3. Jon Foreman - (Switchfoot) amazing ability to sing and play at the same time, not just chords either

4. Steve Vai - (self) I dont like him overall, but the guy knows how to hold a note and make it move

5. Paul Reed Smith - (self) not only makes awesome guitars, but knows how to make em scream

6. Chris Rohman - (Sanctus Real) I just like his style of writing

7. Joey Fino - (the band i'm in) best rhythm guitarist i've ever gotten to play with.

8. Jason Crabb - (the Crabb Family) the guy can play anything

9. Joe Satriani - (self) idk, just like him.

10. me - i listen to my own stuff and i'm influenced to not suck as bad.

[drewbert666]

1.kurt cobain
2.mickey thompson(slipknot)
3.frank zappa
4.dimebag darryl
5.kerry king(slayer)
6.k. hammet
7.dave mustaine
8.ryan waste(municipal waste)
9.john lennon
10.gene ween

[rokgod]

1. Steve Vai
2. Stevie Ray Vaughan
3. Yngwie Malmsteen
4. John Petrucci
5. Joe Satriani
6. Hendrix
7. John Frusciante
8. Jimmy Page
9. David Gilmour
10. Kirk Hammet