Guitarists on Their Guitar Heroes & Influences

[@AntonXul]

My personal favorites are Tony Iommi, Eddie Van Halen, Ritchie Blackmore & Brian May. I just can’t get enough of their playing. That’s my Mount Rushmore of favorite guitarists.

[@b2tall239]

I'm nobody's idea of a guitarist but Jimmy Page was my first guitar hero, followed by Hendrix and David Gilmour.

[@Sithslayer10]

Great choices

[@russellmorgan5611]

Got to respect the pioneers.👍 everything else was built on that.

[@timbaker4253]

Those are in my top 5 (along with Mark Knopfler and with a host of others competing for the 5th spot). You have excellent taste!

[@Dan-zq5wt]

Page is my all time musical hero beyond just his playing. When I listen to Zep my jaw still drops when I hear the musical choices, production and composition of those songs. Even for those who are critical of his playing, he was one of the world’s tastemakers on guitar. So many of Zep songs leave you with the thought: “how did he come up with that idea”?

[@clivewinter8321]

Django reinhardt john mayall eric clapton and jimmy page were the greatest guitar players as well as Elmore James and Robert Johnson

[@Prossdog]

Interesting that BB King was pushed to play by Django Reinhardt. Such difference players.

[@EvanDander]

He was Willie’s favorite too. Still is as a matter of fact

[@stevehall6526]

Rory Gallagher is mine . Just pure talent… The other two are Micheal Schenker & Bill Gibbons… Wow

[@davidrhodes7655]

Rory Gallagher #1

[@PedrSion]

Blackmore, Schenker and Gary Moore

[@trevorgwelch7412]

For what it's worth my favourite guitarist ( Mid 1970's to Mid 80's is ROBIN TROWER . ✨✨✨🎸✨✨✨🏆☮️ )

[@whoarethebrainpigs]

would rather listen to Zappa than most of these players ....and Zappa had huge respect for Allan Holdsworth,,an unheralded genius ,,checkout Rick Beato's tribute to him..

[@kevingill648]

My favourites are Dave Gilmour, Peter Green, Gary Moore, Richie Blackmore and Jimmy Page.

[@Jamestheguitarman]

Reason I started to play. Clapton, Blackmore and Gilmore

[@markfriedmann1670]

As a teen, for me it was Jimmy Page. But now it’s Eric Johnson for rhythm and Robben Ford for lead. Although Jeff Beck is my favorite but I find him impossible to emulate.

[@56music64]

Surrounded by music, yes it is the same as a kid who plays soccer because his dad played it or loved it. My husband, my son's stepfather has been in his life since age 3 and both my husband and myself are music fans, music playing all the time. Our son is now a self taught punk drummer, has been in a couple of bands continuously throughout the past 25 years. Very proud of him, as not an easy thing to do, be a drummer and a fast one at that.

[@Dan-zq5wt]

Hendrix, Clapton (early era), Chuck Berry, Page, EVH are probably the all time most emulated players for various reasons, and then all the Blues guys who laid the foundation.

[@TheIllaman]

SRV as well

[@suzie9874]

@@TheIllaman As much as i love SRV. I have to say no. Tony Iommi did more to advance music than SRV did. And no matter how good you are. If you do very little to advance music. Then you can not be considered one of the elites of music. And SRV as great as he was. All he did and was. Was pretty much a cover band. Look at his greatest hits album. Perfect example. More than half the songs were cover songs. Where as Iommi, Who i do not think could play nearly as well as SRV. He did start a whole new style of music. Whether you like that style or not. So when you get to this level of musician. You have to look at other things that go into all of it. And that is. How did you push music. How did you make it different than what was already out there. Or did you simply do what others were already doing and do it maybe a little better than they were. And to sum up SRV. Go listen to Hendrix Georgia blues. That one Hendrix song sums up SRV sound. The way Hendrix plays it. You will think you are listening to SRV. As bad as the new Rolling Stones top 250 guitarist list is. The one thing they did get pretty right is the bands i have always said changed music. 1. Hendrix 2. Chuck Berry 4. EVH and 13. Toni Iommi. Those 4 changed music. They did not take what was being done at the time and copy it. They changed it.

[@TheIllaman]

@@suzie9874 I see your point. I was referring to the comment above mine. If you count Clapton among the “innovators”, then SRV must be there as well IMHO. Anyways, they are all guitar gods and I love them all :)

[@suzie9874]

@@TheIllaman In the end. That is the great thing about music. What i like is not what others like. So on and so on. There is something for everyone to like in music.

[@Dan-zq5wt]

@@suzie9874 I agree with you. I love SRV, and he should get credited with refreshing the blues but and he was a fantastic player but a little one dimensional and I don’t think super influential in the long term. Might as well then add Blackmore - no 80s shredding without him - and I think you have to include Page. The rock world as we know it would be different without him.

[@kayakchrispy]

Brian may … heartfelt … ❤ for jimi

[@JohnDoe-jp8fx]

Johnny Winter was the man!

[@audieconrad8995]

When I hear J.W. play, I am filled with joy.

[@brushfuller330]

@@audieconrad8995 I worked at a bar way up in the Santa Cruz mts and John would come up once in a while. Among the many guitars he played he had a 57 Melody Maker

[@jimlemaster7532]

The late Terry Kath was my guitar hero, but I could never play like him because no one could ... Jimi even stated that Terry was better.

[@JohnDoe-jp8fx]

@@jimlemaster7532 if you can play like Johnny let me know I will show up.

[@audieconrad8995]

@jimlemaster7532 Terry Kath had a unique style & sound for sure. Like JW, he could sing as well as he played...

[@pedroramirez5846]

John Mayer is a darn good player, such a shame that the pop star label hides this.

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

There are lots of "darn good" guitar players and I see more John Mayer fans than critics.

[@NisseOhlsen]

yes. But he's nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, he's bland. He is no Carlos Santana. He's no Buddy Guy. His playing is predictable. He is unimaginative.

[@bruceharrison8160]

Blackmore 😊

[@ron88303]

For me it's Phil Keaggy, Pierre Bensusan, Leo Kottke, and Michael Hedges.

[@user-bl5jr5vz6i]

Bill Nelson of Be Bop Deluxe. Genius on the guitar and musical composition.

[@anc1741]

Couldn’t agree more. I’ve been a fan of Bill Nelson since 1976! A fabulously gifted musician who doesn’t just follow the record label’s instructions for more sales. An absolute hero.

[@1minutecomicswalahollywood648]

Hello Enter the Jam, I am a new subscriber. ❤

[@fenderstratocastertelecast8479]

Steve Howe, steve Lukather, carlos Santana, eric Clapton, steve hackett, mark knopler, neil schon, Lindsey Buckingham, gary moore, tony iomi, tom.schulz, alex lifeson, guthrie govan, elliot randall, sam coulson, david gilmour, robert fripp

[@ggghhhbbnjjjbb2330]

Jimi was undoubtably the best rythem guitarist, with that relaxed feel even when playing hard. Melodically he wasn't so strong. Townshend wasn't far behind him. Mark Knopfler at his best would be my choice. He rarely played straight rythem but when he did on some album tracks it was amazingly good and under-stated. Some of his melodic phrasings are beautifully constructed and executed so cleanly and effortlessly. Sequences of short question-answer phrases - love that stuff. He did do some dodgy stuff too unfortunately, but at his best...

[@lynby6231]

There’s lots of guitarists who could stand Hendrix on his head technically, however he was a pioneer of the modern lead guitarist with a loose maverick instinctive style that influenced many who followed.

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

At the end of the day, I'm not sure there's another guitarist out there as revolutionary as jimi... I'd argue Jeff beck is better, but I'm not sure he revolutionized the instrument and influenced as many as Jiminy did

[@jackvelut1427]

Page, Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen!

[@Kasino80]

Every time I see EVH in his older years, I always think it's John Prine.

[@GtrPknMama]

Man, it’s a big candy store and so much to choose from…. Lol ✨🎶✨❤️✨🎶✨👍🏼

[@unorthodoxretreat5]

Mayer, BB, SRV, Jimi, Buddy Guy.

[@wolfgangmarkusgstrein8522]

Page, sorry... hahaha! Albert Lee, JJ Cale, Joe Pass, Paco De Lucia, Ritchie Blackmore, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, David Gilmour, Ian Bairnson, Malcolm Young and Friedrich Lauerbach, my former teacher.

[@kayakchrispy]

John Mayer snuck up on us Amazing

[@csnide6702]

he sucks

[@jasonzoellner7547]

B.B. KING... straight up!!!

[@sotiristsallis]

My first guitar hero was Angus Young.... my last is Django Reinhardt..

[@paulkelly154]

Duane Allman, Jeff Beck, Roy Buchanan, Clapton, Page, Jimi, BB

[@casedismissed8581]

duane allman was the COMPLETE guitarist!!! any sound any style

[@seanalroy6919]

John Mayer is an amazing guitar player he's so talented. In one interview I saw of Eric Clapton talking about John Mayer Clapton says, ' I don't think John Mayer knows how good he is . He's a master' I mean if Clapton gives anyone a complement like that you know you are a blady good guitar player.

[@RickSmith-z6n]

Tommy bolin, Roy Buchanan, Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter

[@Movingforward2000]

Bolin? 😄😆He would hardly have made it on to the best 50 list @ all.

[@RickSmith-z6n]

@@Movingforward2000 I've got a spare minute tell me everything you know

[@neilphelan145]

Bravo for mentioning Roy and Rory!

[@fungiformenow]

I loved the playin* of Blind Apple Wilmington. Then there was Stevie Zoonfardt. It don’t get much better than those two.

[@whoarethebrainpigs]

I preferred Blind Melon Chitlins..

[@inigobj]

There is Paco de Lucía and quite far behind the others mentioned here

[@matthewclark8373]

Jeff beck always number one! Richie blackmore, and the incomparable SRV! Duane allman. Buck Dharma (boc) derek trucks

[@billbeliakoff5589]

Clapton plugged straight into the amp ? I saw him 3 times and there were peddles in front of him.

[@afro-mencomarshal-guitaris9433]

He particularly mentioned during his days with CREAM

[@NIKONKRILLE]

Yngwie J Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt & Vito Bratta

[@JerseyTom26]

Top 5 for me in no order Django Jerry Duane Hendrix Zappa

[@brushfuller330]

Tiny Tim😊

[@whoarethebrainpigs]

yep. and he only had four strings!!

[@RichWards-Wins]

Brian May. Billy duffy. Jerry Cantrell And zakk wylde.

[@leehambleton9919]

Mine is Rory Gallagher Gary Moore SRV

[@yeptoo1148]

Allan holdsworth 🔥🎸

[@stavrosk.2868]

Django Reinhard was a Belgian gypsy.

[@mrjw6701]

Born in Belgium to French parents, his father was from the manouche Romani.

[@Movingforward2000]

Inspiration of Toni Iommi.

[@richardwright2743]

MARK KNOFFLER, DAVE GILMOUR, BRIAN MAY & GREG LAKE.

[@venderstrat]

George for me.

[@wiliamdubois5037]

Danny Gatton.....

[@golfhound]

definitely Danny Gatton and Allan Holdsworth.

[@wiliamdubois5037]

@@golfhound Roy bucchanan etait pas mauvais non plus.. bonjour de France..

[@whoarethebrainpigs]

@@golfhound cant believe how many guitar enthusiasts have never heard of Allan Holdsworth...a true unique, innovative genius player,,,EVH was in awe of him,

[@daveyvane9431]

Link Wray

[@richardmorley4223]

Srv best feeling

[@GedTheRed]

Richard Thompson

[@samlawrence4670]

Marj Knopfler and roy harper for me, not that I can play a note myself.

[@audieconrad8995]

Johnny Winter. Frank Marino.

[@halifaxmayor]

There's no way Gary Clark Jr wasn't influenced by Hendrix, as well as SRV and Eric Johnson being from Austin

[@philipbrackpool-bk1bm]

What would jimi have done if he’d lived? Personally I think he’d have joined weather report.

[@galifry1]

Robin trower and Rory Gallagher

[@greenmanalishi6963]

Peter Green

[@ronwood7029]

Peter green

[@oullahtakanbghikhbibadialiawil]

eric clapton is the best period !!

[@edljnehan2811]

There's nobody better than Jeff Beck. Next would be Jan akkerman of focus followed by Joe Satriani Steve h o w e Allan Holdsworth Steve Vai Al Di Meola Ritchie Blackmore Michael Schenker Martin Pugh😮

[@edljnehan2811]

I forgot one my honorable mention Steve Morse😊

[@rezzaakbar7236]

Chuck Berry's hero: George McFly

[@Snake-1312]

Marty

[@johnturner1042]

Danny gatton

[@jamespanter6768]

James hetfield of metallica

[@donbladsoe]

GATTON

[@gouqiqiqiqi]

David Gilmour

[@julienmarquet8612]

Number 1 Jimi HENDRIX, number 2Jimmy PAGE, ARE THE BESTS! UNMATCHABLE....😂Sorry, for the fans of other guitarists! I worked as a roadie, in France, i saw them all! I love all guitarists, musicians, instruments, genres, etc... I play guitar, since 30 years! Those 2 guys were really different, sorry! Same level as Mozart, Bach, Chopin, or Beethoven..... There's no debat😂THE 2 JIMMY'S ARE COMING FROM ANOTHER GALAXY!

[@golfhound]

I would also add Allan Holdsworth and Danny Gatton to that list. I don't know if you've seen either of them play live. Allan sounded just like his records. Even EVH found him incomprehensible. I used to live in Washington DC and got to see Danny Gatton often. He was as magical on his telecaster as Chopin on piano. I was a big Johnny Winter fan who is why I started playing guitar. But Gatton would blow him away playing blues. Even SRV was second rate blues player compared to Gatton or Winter. Gatton, like Holdsworth played chords I'd never conceived of, and I've been playing guitar since 1975. I agree with your two "Jimmy's." But like them, Danny and Allan had that equal command of the guitar.

[@doctorskull8197]

Not a fan.

[@whoarethebrainpigs]

you were making sense there until you started making comparisons with the greatest composers/musicians of all time...those guitarists are great but not in the same league.

[@Movingforward2000]

Its mostly americans that idolize Hendrix europeans don`t think he was that fantastic.

[@julienmarquet8612]

@@Movingforward2000 😅😅😅😅👎RIDICULOUS! IT'S THE OPPOSITE POOR PERSON

[@johneasler9967]

Mark Farner

[@johnboy4969]

i wish brian may would make his mind up, he says hank marvin was on when he did other shows ffs

[@SandraMoore-d6j]

Stevie Ray Vaughan was the Goat

[@symbiosisai]

He was alright, no Allan Holdsworth

[@donjohn2695]

All a matter of opinion SRV had no where near the impact Jimi Hendrix had

[@hesch-tag]

Not even close to Jimi.

[@wiliamdubois5037]

faut remettre ces 2 guitaristes dans leur contexte historique.. tu en as un, qui a revolutionne' la musique par le son tire depuis sa guitare a une rpoque bien particuliere et tu as le secon, SRV, qui a ramene le blues a une periode ou cette musique ne faisait plus recette... pour ma part, SEV etait un tueur au niveau jeu... pas trop d effet, du blues Brut de decoffrage... mais globalement, ils sont tous bons... ca depend ce qu on recherche....

[@casedismissed8581]

@@donjohn2695 and neither one could put a pimple on duane's ass!!

[@rustygoldfanatic8830]

Clapton idolized JJ Cale,even tried to steal his band eing the douce he is.

[@dalegallacher7074]

Mark knopfler all the way

[@markhill9275]

All the complete fools here that say so and so is the best, they are so full of shit. It's all subjective. No one can give me a set of metrics by which you can measure this! There are quite a few extraordinary guitarists, none are "better". We just all have favs

[@lesart3446]

Few mention Rory Gallagher. I mention this because it was Hendrix who said he was the best…

[@AntonXul]

Exactly right. That’s why I just listed who I liked. I didn’t say they were the best, just my favorites. Have a like on me!

[@doctorskull8197]

Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) 🎸👍🔥

[@Itelkner]

Something unique in Steve's touch that just makes it so powerful, full and fluid even though his vocab is fairly basic rock 'n' roll. Just hits the spot. His note choices are tasty too. And then there's that tone.

[@klauslangner]

Jimi is the Best....

[@mattlapper]

Don't know if you noticed, but none of these musicians say who's "the best". They talk about their heroes and influences. Calling someone "the best" is very subjective because it's your opinion. And you know what they say about opinions...

[@ruelitocayamanda8162]

And your best had the opinion that Terry Kath from Chicago was better than him.

[@whoarethebrainpigs]

@@ruelitocayamanda8162 Kath may have been a great player ,,but that prologue piece on the Chicago 72? double album was indulgent vomit..listened to it a few weeks back,,couldn't grab the remote quick enough..

[@mlwilliam213]

John Mayer shows everyone what his guitar heroes would sound like if they grew up privileged and put no emotion into their playing.

[@granitesevan6243]

So, Mayer is just a pretty boy who dines out on other people's talent. The end of culture

[@Dan-zq5wt]

I dunno, he’s a pretty good player in his own right

[@anc1741]

Seriously?! Eric Clapton - “I was gobsmacked. Really. I mean, new respect for John. ‘Cos he’s extremely gifted. His facility is phenomenal. He is a master. I don’t even think he knows how good he is. He nailed Magnolia. He is so sensitive”. Clapton? I mean, who is he, what would he know? Perhaps just a wee bit more than quite a lot of people? Maybe. 🤔

[@granitesevan6243]

@@anc1741 So I'm not entitled to my opinion? By the way, Clapton is one of my absolute favourites, so I'm totally respectful of his opinion (on music... 😬)

[@brandonterzic]

Mayer is a talented boy. But supremely annoying without question.

[@Dan-zq5wt]

@@brandonterzic that’s a good assessment

[@mellowado6184]

It does make laugh when Santana refers to his Jazz influences, when he has clearly never had a Jazz harmony lesson in his life. Maybe he should just go the whole hog and state he's influenced by Bach's fugues. Wanker.

[@bradc32]

from hanging with Miles.went to his head

[@mikeb5372]

Lol.. He does have a unique and recognizable style. What would you say about your own demonstrations of playing? Kinda bar band mediocre and definitely not unique.

[@mellowado6184]

@mikeb5372 It's not jazz, though is it? Clearly. Try understanding the point before typing. I've had harmony lessons, It shows both in the bedroom and in bars.

[@mikeb5372]

@@mellowado6184 I've been influenced by musicians for who's music my music bares no resemblance, that doesn't mean they didn't influence me. You've had training in harmony? So what?

[@mellowado6184]

@mikeb5372 Jazz musicians are harmonists. Ask a friend who plays jazz if you need more help.

[@johncarlo7395]

Terrible choice of guitarists.

[@Movingforward2000]

💯I`ve never heard of any of them.

[@greenmanalishi6963]

@@Movingforward2000don’t feel bad. if I was retarded I probably wouldn’t either

[@giorgosboyrnoykas2338]

Rory❤Gallagher

[@andrasczehlarik9180]

+ Alvin Lee🍉

[@adriantrusca1245]

I thought guitarists would talk about their mandolin heroes.