The Great Guitarist Debate

[Ron Jeremy]

not bias RJ ?

neither am I

how many people here have heard Jeff Beck play ?

Twizzle, you prove me wrong then, what made Beck better then Vai?

I'm not being biased, it's as clear as f**king day that Vai is light years ahead in talent.

Vai is one of the most influential guitarists of our time, hell he was playing with Zappa barely out of his teens, same with at the time Whitesnake who were at the Zenith.

Beck was good in his day and age, but since then the guitar has evolved so much and technically players are far more advanced that offcourse todays guitarists are better!

 

[Ron Jeremy]

word. like i can understand vai getting so many votes if you're into that kinda wankery, but jeff beck deserves better than 2 votes ffs.

Vai's wankery is more of an art then some pissy 2 second hammer-on. Vai's repitore of skills completely own anything that Beck and everyother guitarists apart from a select few.

 

[Twizzle]

Twizzle, you prove me wrong then, what made Beck better then Vai?

I'm not being biased, it's as clear as f**king day that Vai is light years ahead in talent.

Vai is one of the most influential guitarists of our time, hell he was playing with Zappa barely out of his teens, same with at the time Whitesnake who were at the Zenith.

Beck was good in his day and age, but since then the guitar has evolved so much and technically players are far more advanced that offcourse todays guitarists are better!

playing with Zappa was no great feat, not really known for dynamic lead breaks, more of a novelty act, and I should know I can recite Billy the Mountain and it goes for 15 minutes

I was sort of being sarcastic because I am bias especially when it comes to Page or Hendrix, my band played most of their songs

but since we are debating the matter, how can Beck possibly be more advanced than the evolution of the guitar, you can only compare him to who was around in his day, he was also attributed with teaching the like of Clapton

speaking of evolution of the guitarist, I cant believe Tom Morello hasn't been nominated

 

[madunit]

In all honesty Unit, May couldn't do half the stuf on the guitar that Vai could do, honestly. May is a great distinctive guitarist with some nice lead stuff but the reality it is a pop gun compared to what Vai could do:lol:

That's a load of horsesh*t.

Vai is so far ahead of the rest it is incredible, if you knew the technical side of playing you'd realise how much better he is, however naturally peoples bias will make them select their favourites.

I know the techinical side very well, have played some guitar, have written a lot of music for guitars (bass included) and have listened to all guitarists in this group, and I can say catagorically without any bias, that May is a hell of a lot better than you care to give him credit for, and is quite easily the best guitarist in this group.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

That's a load of horsesh*t.

No that's fact, May's lead didn't have the variety, speed or skill required to that of Vai's music. Vai's brillance is well documented and has played under and influenced millions.

I know the techinical side very well, have played some guitar, have written a lot of music for guitars (bass included) and have listened to all guitarists in this group, and I can say catagorically without any bias, that May is a hell of a lot better than you care to give him credit for, and is quite easily the best guitarist in this group.

As do I, and without doubt the most comlex pieces of music have come from guitarists such as Vai, Satch, Malm and offcourse EVH. May's guitar is pretty basic, and anyone with a general understanding of the instrument can virtually play his/like him.

Unit, you prove me why May was better then Vai you bitch;-)

 

[Ron Jeremy]

playing with Zappa was no great feat, not really known for dynamic lead breaks, more of a novelty act, and I should know I can recite Billy the Mountain and it goes for 15 minutes

I was sort of being sarcastic because I am bias especially when it comes to Page or Hendrix, my band played most of their songs

but since we are debating the matter, how can Beck possibly be more advanced than the evolution of the guitar, you can only compare him to who was around in his day, he was also attributed with teaching the like of Clapton

speaking of evolution of the guitarist, I cant believe Tom Morello hasn't been nominated

I understand your point Twizz, and as i said beck in his day would be right up there, but since then the guitar has evolved soo much, that modern players just players have too much variety of older players, they know so much more and play alot faster ( skill in itself)

It's like comparing a Sabre with a F'22, great in there day but planes have evolved that they're now out of date.

Beck or Hendrix wouldn't even know a sweep pick, argurably the hardest trick on the guitar. I learnt Hendrix when i first started guitar, and at the time i thought wow, not bad, however when i was introduced too EVH and satch i thought? 'oh my god, is Hendrix that great? this sh*t is light years ahead of it'

my opinion anyway

as for Morello? he's distinctive but he's also a guy that relies on foot pedals way too much.

 

[magpie_man]

Vai's wankery is more of an art then some pissy 2 second hammer-on. Vai's repitore of skills completely own anything that Beck and everyother guitarists apart from a select few.

there's no doubt that vai's a freakishly skilled guitarist, and as a guitarist myself i certainly have an appreciation for his talents. but there's only so much of vai i can listen too, to me all his tricks and skills don't translate overly well into listenability which is what music is about. to me vai is gimmicky and a showpony, just my opinion, but jeff beck could do more with one note than vai with the entire fretboard.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

there's no doubt that vai's a freakishly skilled guitarist, and as a guitarist myself i certainly have an appreciation for his talents. but there's only so much of vai i can listen too, to me all his tricks and skills don't translate overly well into listenability which is what music is about. to me vai is gimmicky and a showpony, just my opinion, but jeff beck could do more with one note than vai with the entire fretboard.

But that's Vai's style, i listen to it often and admire it for what its worth. Some tunes are easier too listen to, but that's what makes everybody different, i would ratherlisten to surfing with the alien whilst driving then something by Nirvana.

As for the showpony? he was, and don't blame him, with all those skills and limelight i'd be showing of too, actually i use to with my mates, they'd come over and play Purple Haze, Voodoo chile etc thinking they're gods, i'd then get on and blow them away with Eruption etc, the next day they'd be asking to borrow my tabs:lol:

 

[carcharias]

So you think that by introducing a new poll with a voting scale as you put it wil stop people from voting for their favourite? Ron will still vote for EVH, the Queen fans will still have May at number one, Led Zep fans with Page etc. etc. etc.

The Greatest Movie of All Time thread had Toy Story up against Full Metal Jacket, where were you then? Christ this is just a bit of fun, does it have to be taken so seriously, or did your favourite (read best) get eliminated too early for your liking?

ok

At least with my idea, people that do vote for their favourites would have to justify certain area's of the guitarist ability.
Vai is unbelievable ...but how many people can truly give the bloke 10/10 for writing memorable classic guitar riffs?

Maybe you should take it onboard instead of blocking the thread.
..as far as I can tell I didn't actually do anything that warranted it to be locked.
Difference of opinion is not a reason.

FTR
Toy Story - everyday of the week.

 

[HevyDevy]

Freddy?

 

[madunit]

No, Roger

 

[HevyDevy]

Yes but you seem to have forgotten Freddy

 

[madunit]

not at all.

He had a great voice, but as far as playing sh*tloads of different instruments goes, he wasn't as skilled as May or Taylor.

 

[Nuke]

Freddie was an incredible, incomparable singer, a highly talented, very rythemic piano player (even with his odd playing style), incredibly gifted writer and composer, and could play a little bit of guitar (the main riff of Crazy Little Thing Called Love is actually him -he recorded it before Brian had even entered the studio that day!), but Brian May was (and is still) more musically talented. Brian -apart from being able to play a wide range of instruments- has also been more orchestral with his writing than the other members of Queen and moreso than most -if not all- rock guitarists. His famous layered guitar sound, a large number of Queen's vocal harmonies, and also organising the actual orchestral pieces on such songs as Who Wants To Live Forever are testament to that.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

How much of Queen's and Brian May's music have you actually listened too (Apart from whats on the greatest hits albums?). Any guitarists work is basic to a sufficiently talented guitarist.

Enough to realise that he doesn't have anywhere the ability of somone like Vai, Satch etc.

His guitar playing is not hard to do Unit, his formula was quite simple actually, play in key and improvise around a scale, well from many of the songs i've heard they were his key ingredients.

May's ability to master many different forms of stringed instruments is testament to how good he is. How many guitarists are also able to play, and record songs on top selling albums, instruments such as harp, banjo, ukelele, sitar, banjolele and even a toy mini koto as well as playing bass guitar, piano, organ, synthesizer and able to do lead vocals, write and produce songs as well.

We're talking about the guitar here, i couldn't give a sh*t if he farted the tune to stairway to heaven through a Didgeridoo. Also on that topic, are you certain that their are other guitarists fluent in other instruments?

He is quite possibly the most versatile, talented and musically gifted person ever to record music.

bitch

Hahahah remember a guy called John Lennon;-)

 

[HevyDevy]

Ironically I just watched a documentary on Bohemiam Rhapsody on Ovation - finished about 5 mins ago. All good.

Freddy's voice was an instrument, he was a fine pianist and a stunning composer.

At the end of the day they were just a stunning band.

But Vai has more licks!!

:crazy:

 

[Ron Jeremy]

There may be an argument for him to be best musician but I don't think anyone can compare May's guitar work to Vai's.

I find the likes of Vai and Satriani boring as bat sh*t but I can appreciate their skill with a guitar.

Thats what i'm talking about!! you don't have to like it, just appreciate it for whats it's worth!

Some people like to emphasize chords, some like to emphasize lead, everyones different, however lead is a far difficult challenge then playing chords, well that's just commonsense actually.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Ironically I just watched a documentary on Bohemiam Rhapsody on Ovation - finished about 5 mins ago. All good.

Freddy's voice was an instrument, he was a fine pianist and a stunning composer.

At the end of the day they were just a stunning band.

But Vai has more licks!!

:crazy:

agreed, as a band they were brillant, freddie was an amazing musician up there with lennon etc, but comparing May to Vai is like comparing You am I to Van Halen.

 

[JB]

If this poll was for the greatest technical guitarist, then yes Saatch and Vai would be top of the heap. Its not though. It's for the best guitarist. The best can mean many different things to different people, in the end it'll just come down to what people enjoy listening to the most. Incidently EVH, Vai and Saatch have sited May as their guitar god and major influence (Saatch even built Bri a custom made guitar. Can be heard on his solo record "Back to the Light"). EVH played on Bri's "Starfleet" record. While both Vai and Saatch jumped at the chance to play with their hero on the "Guitar legends in Seville concert". Meanwhile May has stated on numerous times that these guys have taken the guitar to a new level, and technically can do things he cant. So theres a mutual respect there.

For mine, Saatch and Vai's (excellent guitarists they may be) start to bore me after a while. I much prefer guys like May, Page, Slash, Gilmour and co, who create legendary riffs and solo's to complement both the great songs they wrote, and the legendary ensembles they were part of. It's that creativity (not necessarily technicality) that imo leaves Vai, Saatch and other instrumentalists forever staring up at them. But that's just me. Each to their own.

 

[simmo1]

For mine, Saatch and Vai's (excellent guitarists they may be) start to bore me after a while. I much prefer guys like May, Page, Slash, Gilmour and co, who create legendary riffs and solo's to complement both the great songs they wrote, and the legendary ensembles they were part of. It's that creativity (not necessarily technicality) that imo leaves Vai, Saatch and other instrumentalists forever staring up at them. But that's just me. Each to their own.

Completely agree. You think in 50 years time, when its all said and done, what will be remembered more: Vai's freakish talent, or Blackmore's riff for Smoke on the Water? Yeah, its all well and good having insane technical skill, but it means nothing if you can't write good music.