I am very surprised he did not mention Rory Galllagher who was above all but maybe beck and certainly technique wise was on par with Hendrix and Jimi could not do what Rory did slide wise or acoustically !
@@greghenderson4856 From a business standpoint, its not in your best interest to draw your customers attention to another product superior to your own! Secretly, however, he probably wished he was Rory right along with rest of those big names. None of them ever mentioned Rory when he was still alive only after his death did they come out the woodwork with the praise.
I had the good fortune of seeing Terry 8 times and I have to tell ya, it was a mystical experience. I went to many concerts back in the day and Terry was the best I ever saw.
and there are countless great guitarists who don't shred at all. shredding doesn't prove you're a musician; its proves you have a certain type of dexterity.
It’s very cool when people don’t say anything about anyone on his list. Instead they try to make the list for him. Excellent job, man. Idk maybe read the video description again… 🤷🏻♂️
The thing is, these are Page’s picks not yours. Jimmy didn’t put anyone down, like others do, he named a handful he admires. It wasn’t a list of Jimmy Page picks top 50 guitarists.
I agree that Gary was one of the greats. I don't agree though that because I rate him highly then Jimmy Page (or anyone else) should then be obliged to include him among his shortlist of favourite guitarists
saw Page/Clapton/Beck at the Forum in Inglewood in 1983 at the Research For Multiple Sclerosis benefit concert. Peoples heads were on the verge of exploding as if extras in 'Scanners'
Yeah, I agree. Some, albeit a very select few are anointed from birth. Clark is one. Campbell another. I don't recall who was being interviewed by Jim Ladd decades ago, but it went something like "there is nothing we can do that Campbell cannot and if not as good then better - but there's a lot he can do the we can't". Could've been Knopfler. The guy pulled off 12 string shreds like an entity possessed.
@@1956tojo When you tour 300+ days a year, improvise huge chunks of your set each night, and get drunk or high regularly, then footage of "sloppy" playing is not just expected, its inevitable.
I FIND IT ODD, that most artists of those days hate Richie Blackmore so much they never mention him. I hate guitar solos and over produced guitars in sing and Richie Blackmore in the 70’s(all times but mainly) is the only time i can sit for 12 min and hear a pure guitar solo. Of course they all amazing but the old OG’s of black America are way more raw and original. Jimmy is amazing too. And as much as people cannot handle Richie Blackmore in a band or personally,HE IS A GENIUS.
Blackmore is something of a Marmite figure, but he's made some great music alongside great musicians. Ann interview with him is always worth watching/listening, he has an immense knowledge about music.
In an interview, Blackmore dismisses his reputation as a guitar god and said the guitarists in Nashville “just tear me apart.” Nice to hear them get the recognition they deserve.
@@atlasgunther8947 Gilmour could do whatever he wanted to. His works stands on it's on. Of all the people mentioned here how many people have a bigger fan base than David Gilmour?
As an aspiring guitarist, David Gilmour is the rock guitarist I would most like to emulate. As he does, I'd like to be able to play with feeling not just speed.
@highwaystar3780 I'm a 74 year old Scotsman and I saw Ritchie Blackmore before he was even famous live on stage and I stood there totally mesmerised as he did everything apart from making his guitar talk and it totally blew me away, I knew then that I had witnessed a genius at work - truly Amazing ! 😊❤️👍🏴
@@user-ux9zg5oz7f There are countless great guitarists. Thers Only One Blackmore. Any Kid that ever picked up a guitar played the most famous 4 Chords 1st. His Solos are Compositions in themselves. Hendrix is in a class by himself but the Hillbilies mentioned here and frankly All the rest piled together Don't equal One of Ritchies fingernails. I dont expect everyone to feel the same way, but I know there are Enough of us who understand. When I hear the Solo from 'Comfortably Numb' or even 'Stairway'....I say think to myself, Wow, I wish Ritchie had Done that! But then I realize. He has So many Memorable Ones...it's hard to keep track. There will Never be another Man in Black. I don't care who comes and goes! "When it comes to Solos I Can't even come close as Ritchie is on another level" --Jimmy Page
I thought I read in a guitar magazine interview that Jimmy Page was very fond of Buck Dharma from BOC. And for good reason Buck Dharma was, and still is, an exceptional guitar player.
I have and always been a fan of Alvin Lee, such a great guitatist, his style was unique..Started with Ten Years After his Woodstock is considered one of the best performance by a band at Woodstock, his version of Hey Joe ,WOW! RIP
Lee was great at more than just fast blues runs, too. Excellent writer as well as player. Cool trippy psychedelic songs and desolate ballads on the TYA Lps (and single flipside, "The Sounds").
Yeah, I don’t understand why Terry Kath is rarely mentioned whenever “best guitarists” are being talked about. Hendrix himself said Terry Kath was better than he was.
@@paddymeboy: If you wanted to hear the best guitar player that played music, everyone in the business knew it was Kath. If you wanted to just hear noise and very little music, you would go to Hendrix.
The question I always ask myself when talking about GOAT's is if subject "A" can do everything subject "B, "C" & "D" can do. And vice versa. So using that criteria the answer here is simple the GOAT is Eddie Van Halen. He could do anything all the rest could do and would just struggle to stay awake while doing so. Where no one could do what he could do. Therefore the conversation starts and ends there. Eddie Van Halen is the GOAT.
I agree with Jimmy about "genius" being overused. Most so-called "geniuses" in popular are gifted, but not geniuses. I only consider two guitarists to be geniuses - Frank Zappa and Pat Metheny - and that's not just their guitar playing but their compositions, arrangements, unbelievable work output, technical innovations, mentoring of other musicians and musical imaginations.
Zappa wrote a lot of crap for a supposed genius, and you have to separate what he composed from his guitar playing. Zappa was great, but there are better guitar players.
@@johnhitz1185 Everyone writes crap at times. Not all ideas work out. But when you produce as much music as Zappa did (even the volume of his output is amazing) there will will be more crap as well, especially the juvenile sexual titillation rubbish. As a composer, though, Zappa is astonishing. Sure, there are many better guitarists, but listen to Fifty-Fifty again. Frank followed George Duke and Jean-Luc Ponty's outstanding solos on Fifty-fifty and did not sound out of place, and he provided the track's strongest climaxes. No slouch there either, but he was mainly a composer.
The unparalleled virtuosity of Rory Gallagher is a joy to behold. In 1973 this was recognised and he was voted by a music magazine as the number 1rock guitarist in the world. Unfortunately, his early death in 1995 and his unassuming and quiet modesty leaves him slightly forgotten by some now.
His quote every player brings something to music so true. His band mate Jeff Beck Duane Almon, Neil shoan, Glen Campbell, Jerry Reed, the Amazing Roy Clark, don't forget Peter Frampton. Frank Zappa. Plus many more. Just give us more players Twang!!!😊
Great to see Clarence White mentioned. That guy was pure class and died far too young. My favourite guitarists are Joseph Spence and Hans Reichel. I also like Sonny Sharrock, Lonnie Johnson and Derek Bailey.
The title of this video should use the phrase "greatest rock guitarists" because the guitar existed for centuries before it became electrified. Classical and flamenco playing is far more technically demanding because fingers of the right hand are used rather than a pick. The reason why so many use a flat pick is because they don't have what it takes to fully develop the very rigorous right hand technique needed for playing flamenco and classical guitar music. There are great rock players but their skill level does not rise to that of a great classical or flamenco player. If you doubt this, just put down the plectrum and try picking the strings with your fingers. The difficulty of playing with fingers rather than a flat pick is 4 or 5 times more difficult.
The thing is Michael that the fretting hand is always less than half the equation. Note execution technique varies depending on what you're trying to play; some music would actually require a plectrum .. some music demands fingerstyle.. if you really want to be a good guitar player, you have to be diversified for the different styles of playing.
That whole difficulty thing doesn’t necessarily hold up. Plenty of people prefer to fingerpick not myself necessarily but there are plenty George Thorogood is merely one example
Also how much have Flamenco guitarists or classical guitarists shaped our cultural landscape? or had such an impact as Jimmy Page? You want to say it’s “technically harder” which I totally agree but how relevant is your point? Like hordes of Zeppelin fans will read your comment and burn all their records and CDs and then only listen to Carlos Montoya from this day on. 🙄
I know almost nothing about the rock scene. I do however play guitar, and a few other instruments. It is great that Jimmy, acknowledges musicians from other music scenes. For those of you, who it would seem from your comments, have never ventured outside the Rock and Americana scene. There are and were many amazing jazz guitarists. My personal Favorite has to be Joe Pass. Classical guitar, the father of modern classical guitar was of course Segovia. He was followed by the likes of Williams, Bream, Yepes etc etc. There are now a huge number of extremely good new younger players. Many of the gorgeous young women. My favorite is a Chinese woman Xuefei Yang. Flamenco has always produced some amazing guitarists. The very well known one was the late Paco Pena. If you are into Brazilian music. Particularly Choro and are prepared to have your mind blown. Yomandu Costa is incredible. I wonder what Jimmy Paige would think about these musicians?
Carlos Santana is the best IMO. I also think Keith Richards gets overlooked many times-he came up with so many recognizable riffs with the Stones. Lindsay Buckingham is Terrific too. Also Don Felder of the Eagles doesn't ever get mentioned and without him the Eagles were never the same.
For anyone to proclaim who the (best guitarists) were/are is a fallacy in my opinion. It is purely subjective to every individual to proclaim what guitarists move us emotionally.
Hendrix was the best and most creative guitarist of the peace and love generation. His song-writing and melodies were a revelation to the rock musicians of the time.
Hendrix was a class apart, because with him it's not about technique - he was just working on a higher plane than other guitarists, a cosmic plane. And I include Page in that although I love Zep.
Correct! Debating basketball there's WILT and there is everyone else you might want to argue about. With guitars there is Danny Gatton and everyone else! He doesn't move me as much as my top favorites-- Rory, Albert King, Lonnie Mack,Gerry McGee, Andy Powell, Dave Hole -- but he is the untouchable master of technique of all styles.
These great guitarists pretty much all say it was Jimi, don't they? (IMO, since we all seem to be taking the opportunity to toss in our own two cents, Steve Howe deserves a mention IMO)
Saw Hendrix in 1969 at San Diego Sports Arena and his live performance sounded every bit as good as a controlled studio recording. Hendrix was a genius.
You're damn right! Page is way off the mark on the question of genius in rock and roll. Hendrix is to be ranked as one of the most gifted musicians in world history, any genre.
Surprised...but delightedthat he mentioned 'Clarence White'....one of my all time favourites...tragically killed while loading amps into his car after a gig by a drunk driver.
I also like the players mentioned. It was Eddie Van Halen that was a true revolutionary. All the greats before were hendrix/blues oriented. EVH totally changed rock guitar with his groundwork from the past.
BEST EVER were DANNY GATTON, Lenny Breau, Scotty Anderson, Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery. Next would be Johny Smith, Hank Garland, Jeff Beck, Allan Holdsworth, SRV. As a picker Jerry Reed was one of the best along with Gatton, Scotty. Best player today Matteo Mancuso. Steve Morse is top 15 ever.
In the studio's hush, where legends reside, Jimmy Page, with guitar in stride, Picks his favorites, with discerning ear, In the realm of music, where stars appear. From fingertips that blaze with fire, To melodies that never tire, Jimmy's choices, a symphony rare, Echo through the cosmic air. Hendrix's magic, wild and free, In his hands, the guitar's decree. Clapton's soul, in every note, A timeless sound, with depths remote. Beck's finesse, a master's touch, In the strings, his genius clutch. And Gilmour's grace, like rivers flow, In melodies that ebb and grow. In the tapestry of guitar's embrace, Jimmy Page finds his sacred place. Each player a legend, a virtuoso's call, In the studio's echo, they enthrall. So let us listen, let us hear, The music that transcends all fear. For in Jimmy's picks, we find, The essence of guitar's divine.
Kinda funny that the first illustration given of Page's guitar genius shows him miming to a track that Jeff Beck played (Heart Full of Soul). 🙂 But hey, that's okay; good effort.
I've always heard a lot of Grady Martin's influence in Page's playing and tone... Especially from the Rockabilly stuff he did for guys like Johnny Burnette in the mid Fifties...TRAIN KEPT A ROLLIN/ Honey Hush, etc...
Picking the best at anything is subjective everyone has different tastes. When I pick a certain beat I always say in my opinion because there will be many who will disagree with my pick. I personally like the Southern rock guitarists.SRV, Dickie Betts, etc.
Page seems for speed and technical skills I prefer more nuanced players Jerry Garcia Dave Gilmour Guitarists with steely Dan Baxter and Carlton and others
The guitar established itself.... largely to innovative playing ? For starters it was amplification that changed things. I the old days, guitars were relegated to band rhythm instruments because they couldn't be heard over a band of horns, particularly with solo notes. It was the electrification that allowed amplification, that allowed the guitar to move to the forefront. It was TECHNOLOGY that allowed the guitar to come to prominence. The second factor is that it is a polyphonic instrument: It can play more than one note at a time. It can play chords. A trumpet can't do that because its a one note instrument (one note at a time.) This polyphonic reality allows guitar to be used an an accompanyment instrument for singers. With amplification, with the ability for solo notes to be heard, and with the ability to be used to accompany singers, the tecnology pushed the guitar forward. The guitar had been popular in country , folk, blues, etc., before amplification. But after amplification, and being a polyphonic instrument, that could now be heard loudly: It could replace horn sections, where two or three trumpets were required to make a chord (and to be heard loudly). With amplification, the guitar simply could be a mini orchestra. And THAT is what pushed the guitar forward. Yes, different effects that were now possible with the electrification of a guitar, like distortion, chorus, flangers, etc, Combined with talented players, this accerlerated the guitar's popularity even further. But this was only made possible by the electrification of the guitar, and the polyphonic nature of the instrument. Also playing into this are cultural factors. Young people, culturally, took to the sound of the guitar, en masse. Horns were very very popular with older people at the time. This older generation took to horns, culturally in the same manner. But it's only technology that allow these things to take place. Without the science of metalurgy, horn never could have been invented. Without the science of electricity, the guitar could never have move to the forefront. And, without the technology distortion boxes, chours, etc. could never have been made possible. Technology is really responsible for the guitar moving to the forefront.
There’s so many Guitarists to consider. Best way probably to put together a list would be by Decade of influence! Django, Christian, T Bone-1940s/50s. --Buddy guy,Doc Watson,Reed, Winter, White,Hendrix, Clapton, Lee, 1960s--Allman,Betts,Lenny Breau, Dimeola, Pass, Montgomery,Caldwell, Burton 1970s. This is just a short list and not even getting into the 1980s and forward as in last few Decades the incredible talent has hit the stratosphere beginning with Vaughn,And the list is endless
Sure, there are great guitarists, such as Yngwie Malmsteem, but I far more appreciate ones, such Ritchie Blackmore, who can write great songs with memorable solos.
Yes you’re right, and I can never understand why Ritchie Blackmore name is never mentioned… he was from the same era as Page, Beck, Clapton and so on…. Hendrix once attended a show where deep purple opened for cream and he went backstage and told Clapton that Ritchie just blew you off stage…. That was the end for deep purple… Clapton and cream chose another band to open for them…. True story….
It is mentioned. Even if You Die without ever knowing who Blackmore Is/was...you will have Died knowing the most famous 4 Chords in Rock history! It's the 1st thing Any Kid ever learned on guitar. When another guy comes along to Compose a Solo that even approaches just One of His Solos which are Compositions in themselves , then All these Overrated Hacks can say something. All these Hillbilly Hippies including Page Don't come close to one of his fingernails! "When it comes to Solos I Don't Even come Close as Ritchie is on a totally different level" --Jimmy Page
This list is about his favourite gutarists, not the best or the greatest. And most of the quotes are from the seventies. So how can Stevie Ray Vaughn be on this list.
I seen Page with the Yardbirds in 1966 when he was on bass, Beck on guitar. I also saw Hendeix(with the original experience ) and again more then once and on a good night he was pretty amazing. I have nothing against Page but most kids i grew up with couldn't stand another air play of Stairway To Heaven. Just say'n
Jimmy Page also said that Steve Martin is one of the best banjo players ever and that “Weird Al” Yankovic’s accordion skills are unmatched. Or maybe he didn’t. You never actually hear Jimmy Page say anything in this video.
I guess that's why this guy has a successful youtube channel. He knows how to slap a few clips together and throw in a title and narrative that draws clicks
we all have our favorites don’t we. Mine are Duane Allman, Jeff Beck, Derek Trucks, Terry Kath, Alvin Lee, Peter Green, Stevie Ray Vaughn and of course Hendrix❤
There are so many significant guitarists that can be listed that are not mentioned, which I’m sure Jimmy Page would have mentioned, if he was interviewed today in a longer podcast. This really comes from one brief 1975 interview.
Jimmy Patrick Page, Rory Gallagher, Scott Gorham, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, George Harris, Roy & Dave Davis James Hetfield are just a few of the very great guitar players that were all of very Irish stock and yes Elvis played guitar very well in his early years
There are fine admirable guitarists then there is Jimi Hendrix. Mitch Mitchell's drumming meshed in so well with him to make these unbelievable classics.
The guitar has been a popular musical instrument for centuries so it’s only reasonable to expect that there have been more great guitarists than you could every catalogue. But I’ll start with the first great guitarist that I can think of: Thank you Mr. Paganini!
Lol, there are a bunch of greats listed in these comments. I feel nobody is wrong. The names keep popping up are the ones that impressed / moved and or excited these individuals. That is exactly what most performers were trying to do. This comment list shows most succeeded at that. I bet Roy Clark would put a smile on SRV just as Jeff could put one on Jimmy's.
Beck, Page, and Clapton were the "Holy Trinity" of British guitarists coming out of the Sixties, but others like Pete Townsend and "Lord" Blackmore were just as influential in their own way. And Hendrix could also be placed into that distinguished group in that he had to go to England to be discovered. Amazing how much greatness came out of that island at about the same time!
Jimmy Page was asked, around 1981, "What do you think of the new guitar heroes like Michael Schenker?" Page said: "This is awkward, because I've never heard any of his music, but I've heard he's good!" He's probably heard some Schenker by now. Mick Ralphs said he liked jamming with Jimmy, because he didn't insist on playing faster, etc.
Rory gallagher always and forever
Totally.
Agree
I am very surprised he did not mention Rory Galllagher who was above all but maybe beck and certainly technique wise was on par with Hendrix and Jimi could not do what Rory did slide wise or acoustically !
I did have a Dog I named Rory . after Him .
@@greghenderson4856 From a business standpoint, its not in your best interest to draw your customers attention to another product superior to your own! Secretly, however, he probably wished he was Rory right along with rest of those big names. None of them ever mentioned Rory when he was still alive only after his death did they come out the woodwork with the praise.
Terry Kath, beast of a guitar player.
Right on🥁🥁🥁
He was great but his death but his own gun destroyed his greatness.
Wish he could Him seen doctor to help his demons like we all have.
The late Terry Kath of Chicago.
Live in Tanglewood!
@@LukasFin Yes!
I had the good fortune of seeing Terry 8 times and I have to tell ya, it was a mystical experience. I went to many concerts back in the day and Terry was the best I ever saw.
Hendrix asked Chicago to tour with his band because he said Terry Kath was a better guitarist than
he was. (25or6to4)
@@thomasbeasley5567 That's true...! Jimi really admired Kath...
Nice to see him recognize Alvin Lee as one of the greatest.
Fantastic player!
Agreed = Alvin has been overlooked for many,.many years. One of the best but also one of the least recognised.
ALVIN WAS A GIFT FROM GOD. R.I.P. Cheers
Alvin Lee was great and even clapton acknowledged him as such
Saw you, TEN YEARS AFTER - LIVE AT WINTERLAND 1975 AUG.4. EXCELLENT. Cheers.🍉
Just today listened in my car audio TYA's recorded live 1990. There was "I can't keep from crying." That guitar solo raised my hair -literally!
Peter Green, Mark Knopfler, Malcolm Jones, David Gilmour, Rory Gallagher, etc.
Yes! Blackmore is a much better player than Page.
You should listen to Radomir Mihajlović Točak from Serbia(former Yugoslavia) Band is called Smak. Check that out.
Jerry Garcia also has to be mentioned. Talk about creative genius. All of the above bring something tasty to the table
@@user-xf9dm9ci8g Yes I agree.
Brian May, Hank Marvin
Johnny Winter was a great one.
Rory and Johnny were the best slide guitar players I've ever heard.
There are countless studio guitarists, that could shred with the best, tha we'll never hear about.
and there are countless great guitarists who don't shred at all. shredding doesn't prove you're a musician; its proves you have a certain type of dexterity.
It's a big planet.
I was driving with a friend today and the song ‘Nashville Cats’ came on the radio. I commented pretty much the same thing you mentioned here.
It says favorites, not the best
Very true…
Stevie Ray Vaughn⭐️ & Joe Walsh⭐️
Joe Walsh my First concert with James Gang / & Black Oak Arkansas
@@gutterfalcon2912 LOVED James Gang in high school.
@@msmc2685 67 and love it!
Among the pickers who aren’t on this list are Chet Atkins, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, and Jerry Reed.
It’s very cool when people don’t say anything about anyone on his list. Instead they try to make the list for him. Excellent job, man. Idk maybe read the video description again… 🤷🏻♂️
@@JasonLumbatis comment warrior over here
@@procarpenter1788 I know my music
@@JasonLumbatis But not your manners
He doesn't mention Andrés Segovia either. I guess he's only talking about rock & roll and some pop-rock guitarists.
Gary Moore should be way up in this group of greats. He's my favorite....so much passion and feeling.
I don't think Moore was from Page's era.
The thing is, these are Page’s picks not yours. Jimmy didn’t put anyone down, like others do, he named a handful he admires. It wasn’t a list of Jimmy Page picks top 50 guitarists.
I agree that Gary was one of the greats. I don't agree though that because I rate him highly then Jimmy Page (or anyone else) should then be obliged to include him among his shortlist of favourite guitarists
Moore is a bit overrated.
At one time, Page said one of his favorite electric guitar solos was Elliott Randall's on Steely Dan's "Reelin' in the Years."
Who now lives near Lot Long land.
Rory Gallagher too!
Leslie West .David Gilmour Jeff Beck .Ritchie Blackmore
saw Page/Clapton/Beck at the Forum in Inglewood in 1983 at the Research For Multiple Sclerosis benefit concert. Peoples heads were on the verge of exploding as if extras in 'Scanners'
Roy Clark could play many instruments with amazing perfection
Yeah, I agree. Some, albeit a very select few are anointed from birth. Clark is one. Campbell another. I don't recall who was being interviewed by Jim Ladd decades ago, but it went something like "there is nothing we can do that Campbell cannot and if not as good then better - but there's a lot he can do the we can't". Could've been Knopfler. The guy pulled off 12 string shreds like an entity possessed.
He was great!
Yes! check out Roy on The Odd Couple show in the 70s. He was doing Eddie Van Halen hammer ons back then.
@@johnbemis1245 I remember it!
So does Flea from the RHCP
Alvin Lee is still one of the best ever!!!
Snowy white mick taylor
Alvin Lee was really good. He did good acoustic stuff too.
@@12Radius SEE ALSO The Bluest Blues
Alvin definitely was very underrated according to guitarist lists.
@@atlasgunther8947 him and Thorogood both have pretty quick fingers
He was a great admirer of Peter Green and Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher was sloppy just like Jimmy Page gets...
@@1956tojo When you tour 300+ days a year, improvise huge chunks of your set each night, and get drunk or high regularly, then footage of "sloppy" playing is not just expected, its inevitable.
@1956tojo and your name shows your level of intelligence. Your mummy warned you doing that would fry your brain and damage your appendage.
yes waited until the end to see if they both got a shout.
Roy Buchanan was also an influence to Page and Beck. Check out 'Pete's Blues and Five String Blues
I FIND IT ODD, that most artists of those days hate Richie Blackmore so much they never mention him. I hate guitar solos and over produced guitars in sing and Richie Blackmore in the 70’s(all times but mainly) is the only time i can sit for 12 min and hear a pure guitar solo. Of course they all amazing but the old OG’s of black
America are way more raw and original. Jimmy is amazing too. And as much as people cannot handle Richie Blackmore in a band or personally,HE IS A GENIUS.
Blackmore is something of a Marmite figure, but he's made some great music alongside great musicians. Ann interview with him is always worth watching/listening, he has an immense knowledge about music.
I read an interview by Jimmy regarding Richie, and Page said the Richie was yards ahead of most every Rock guitarist regarding solos at that time.
Ritchie B. and Frank Marino are 2 of my favs.
He said in an interview that he learned and his admiration for John Mclaughlin also ! 😉👍🎸🎶
Martin Barre of Tull as good as any mentioned, beck , clapton, hendrix , blackmore ect...
Richie Blackmore
He's amazing!!!
Blackmore is so good and they never say his name .. he’s like Voldemort of guitar
In an interview, Blackmore dismisses his reputation as a guitar god and said the guitarists in Nashville “just tear me apart.” Nice to hear them get the recognition they deserve.
Saw him live - Blew me away ! ❤️❤️❤️🏴
When it comes to Solos ...I can't Even come Close to Blackmore as He's on a totally different level!
--Jimmy Page
My favourite guitar hero is Dick Taylor from The Pretty Things! Very talented musician and still on the road and playing at the age of 81.
So nice to see Alvin Lee get a mention. He was always my favorite from that era, but rarely get mentioned in top 5 or top 10 lists
Dave Gilmour for me, but I guess that's a different kind of music.
Gilmour always put "feeling" above glitz and glammer playing ... art from the heart
@@atlasgunther8947 Gilmour could do whatever he wanted to. His works stands on it's on. Of all the people mentioned here how many people have a bigger fan base than David Gilmour?
As an aspiring guitarist, David Gilmour is the rock guitarist I would most like to emulate. As he does, I'd like to be able to play with feeling not just speed.
Gilmour is maybe the best electric rock guitarist
Agreed. Beck too has/had a wonderful emotional feel to his playing.
Ritchie Blackmore - Gotta be up there ! ❤️🙏
Everybody Else is Way on the Bottom!!
@highwaystar3780 I'm a 74 year old Scotsman and I saw Ritchie Blackmore before he was even famous live on stage and I stood there totally mesmerised as he did everything apart from making his guitar talk and it totally blew me away, I knew then that I had witnessed a genius at work - truly Amazing ! 😊❤️👍🏴
@@user-ux9zg5oz7f There are countless great guitarists. Thers Only One Blackmore. Any Kid that ever picked up a guitar played the most famous 4 Chords 1st. His Solos are Compositions in themselves. Hendrix is in a class by himself but the Hillbilies mentioned here and frankly All the rest piled together Don't equal One of Ritchies fingernails. I dont expect everyone to feel the same way, but I know there are Enough of us who understand. When I hear the Solo from 'Comfortably Numb' or even 'Stairway'....I say think to myself, Wow, I wish Ritchie had Done that! But then I realize. He has So many Memorable Ones...it's hard to keep track. There will Never be another Man in Black. I don't care who comes and goes!
"When it comes to Solos I Can't even come close as Ritchie is on another level"
--Jimmy Page
@highwaystar3780 You certainly know your stuff dude, and I'm delighted that somebody feels the same way I do - Respect 🙏🏴
@@user-ux9zg5oz7f Thers plenty of us Out There. Ritchie is a Larger than life figure! God Bless!!
Rory Gallagher, Allen Collins, Mark Knopfler, Albert Lee Joe Walsh.
David Gilmour
Come on - Bert Jansch surely needs a mention
He stole his riff. White summer. Bert even says in an interview that page wouldn't look him in the eye.
Lol, just what i was thinking.
Jansch was the shit, man. His debut is almost flawless.
@@mars_Hall1986 No, what he stole from Jansch was Black Mountainside and Bron Yr Aur Stomp. White Summer came from Davy Graham.
@@paddymeboyskip to 3:50 and on
czcams.com/video/EZUAfMq4kdQ/video.htmlsi=-17WdqiFSQiyfaba
I thought I read in a guitar magazine interview that Jimmy Page was very fond of Buck Dharma from BOC. And for good reason Buck Dharma was, and still is, an exceptional guitar player.
I have and always been a fan of Alvin Lee, such a great guitatist, his style was unique..Started with Ten Years After his Woodstock is considered one of the best performance by a band at Woodstock, his version of Hey Joe ,WOW! RIP
I agree. ALVIN IS GOD no Clapton. cheers.
Lee was great at more than just fast blues runs, too. Excellent writer as well as player. Cool trippy psychedelic songs and desolate ballads on the TYA Lps (and single flipside, "The Sounds").
@@STPfuzzDemon I agree.
Yeah, I don’t understand why Terry Kath is rarely mentioned whenever “best guitarists” are being talked about. Hendrix himself said Terry Kath was better than he was.
Yeah...he's not, though, is he? Page is absolutely right that Hendrix is the GOAT on electric guitar. Kath is just a pentatonic widdler.
@@paddymeboy: If you wanted to hear the best guitar player that played music, everyone in the business knew it was Kath. If you wanted to just hear noise and very little music, you would go to Hendrix.
He only allegedly said that, according to one of Kath's bandmates.
@@pocopico7409Best ever? Gary Moore, Jeff Healey, Frank Marino, Jeff Beck, to name only a few, were a long way ahead of Kath.
If you think that your argument was comprehensively dismantled by a bot then you obviously have a very low opinion of yourself. Sad.
Chet Atkins and Roy Clark. 2 of the best acoustic players in the history of 6 strings.
How about Glen Campbell, Jerry Reed, Roy Clarke, Grady Martin and Chet Atkins?
Nobody could do with the guitar as Roy Clark did. Incredibly fast hands.
My apologies for spelling Clark with an 'e.'
What about them, the video is Pages favorite Guitar players.
Justin Johnson
Totally agree. Add Danny Gatton to that list and put him at the top
The question I always ask myself when talking about GOAT's is if subject "A" can do everything subject "B, "C" & "D" can do. And vice versa. So using that criteria the answer here is simple the GOAT is Eddie Van Halen. He could do anything all the rest could do and would just struggle to stay awake while doing so. Where no one could do what he could do. Therefore the conversation starts and ends there. Eddie Van Halen is the GOAT.
I agree with Jimmy about "genius" being overused. Most so-called "geniuses" in popular are gifted, but not geniuses. I only consider two guitarists to be geniuses - Frank Zappa and Pat Metheny - and that's not just their guitar playing but their compositions, arrangements, unbelievable work output, technical innovations, mentoring of other musicians and musical imaginations.
Zappa wrote a lot of crap for a supposed genius, and you have to separate what he composed from his guitar playing. Zappa was great, but there are better guitar players.
@@johnhitz1185 Everyone writes crap at times. Not all ideas work out. But when you produce as much music as Zappa did (even the volume of his output is amazing) there will will be more crap as well, especially the juvenile sexual titillation rubbish.
As a composer, though, Zappa is astonishing. Sure, there are many better guitarists, but listen to Fifty-Fifty again. Frank followed George Duke and Jean-Luc Ponty's outstanding solos on Fifty-fifty and did not sound out of place, and he provided the track's strongest climaxes. No slouch there either, but he was mainly a composer.
The unparalleled virtuosity of Rory Gallagher is a joy to behold.
In 1973 this was recognised and he was voted by a music magazine as the number 1rock guitarist in the world.
Unfortunately, his early death in 1995 and his unassuming and quiet modesty leaves him slightly forgotten by some now.
If we limit it ro rock then
Jeff beck, Srv, Steve vai, Eddie van halen, Roy Buchanan, honorable mentions to hendrix, page, knofler and zappa
Finally someone mentioned Roy Buchanan Personally he's my favorite guitarist of all time
His quote every player brings something to music so true.
His band mate Jeff Beck Duane Almon, Neil shoan, Glen Campbell, Jerry Reed, the Amazing Roy Clark, don't forget Peter Frampton. Frank Zappa.
Plus many more.
Just give us more players Twang!!!😊
Finally someone mentioned Duane Allman 😁
Great to see Clarence White mentioned. That guy was pure class and died far too young.
My favourite guitarists are Joseph Spence and Hans Reichel. I also like Sonny Sharrock, Lonnie Johnson and Derek Bailey.
Just saw Slash this week in Berlin. He was fantastic from start to finish.
Very happy he recognized Clarence White!
What a fantastic video have a wonderful day ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊
The title of this video should use the phrase "greatest rock guitarists" because the guitar existed for centuries before it became electrified. Classical and flamenco playing is far more technically demanding because fingers of the right hand are used rather than a pick. The reason why so many use a flat pick is because they don't have what it takes to fully develop the very rigorous right hand technique needed for playing flamenco and classical guitar music.
There are great rock players but their skill level does not rise to that of a great classical or flamenco player. If you doubt this, just put down the plectrum and try picking the strings with your fingers. The difficulty of playing with fingers rather than a flat pick is 4 or 5 times more difficult.
This video about Kazuhito Yamashita has me believing what you say. czcams.com/video/6iB9zkEq4VA/video.html
The thing is Michael that the fretting hand is always less than half the equation. Note execution technique varies depending on what you're trying to play; some music would actually require a plectrum .. some music demands fingerstyle.. if you really want to be a good guitar player, you have to be diversified for the different styles of playing.
That whole difficulty thing doesn’t necessarily hold up. Plenty of people prefer to fingerpick not myself necessarily but there are plenty George Thorogood is merely one example
Also how much have Flamenco guitarists or classical guitarists shaped our cultural landscape? or had such an impact as Jimmy Page? You want to say it’s “technically harder” which I totally agree but how relevant is your point? Like hordes of Zeppelin fans will read your comment and burn all their records and CDs and then only listen to Carlos Montoya from this day on. 🙄
@@JasonLumbatis
Jason, I was referring to diversity of technique, not the popularity of specific styles.
I know almost nothing about the rock scene. I do however play guitar, and a few other instruments. It is great that Jimmy, acknowledges musicians from other music scenes. For those of you, who it would seem from your comments, have never ventured outside the Rock and Americana scene. There are and were many amazing jazz guitarists. My personal Favorite has to be Joe Pass. Classical guitar, the father of modern classical guitar was of course Segovia. He was followed by the likes of Williams, Bream, Yepes etc etc. There are now a huge number of extremely good new younger players. Many of the gorgeous young women. My favorite is a Chinese woman Xuefei Yang. Flamenco has always produced some amazing guitarists. The very well known one was the late Paco Pena. If you are into Brazilian music. Particularly Choro and are prepared to have your mind blown. Yomandu Costa is incredible. I wonder what Jimmy Paige would think about these musicians?
I was sure he would have mentioned Link Wray as he's paid him compliments and mentioned how he was influenced by Wray.
Yep I remember that clip of Rumble that Page had said was a inspiration
Carlos Santana is the best IMO. I also think Keith Richards gets overlooked many times-he came up with so many recognizable riffs with the Stones. Lindsay Buckingham is Terrific too. Also Don Felder of the Eagles doesn't ever get mentioned and without him the Eagles were never the same.
At no point in time was Keith Richards even the best guitarist in the Rolling Stones. We like him as a character, as a guitarist he was good enough.
@@endthisnonsense7202 One might be the greatest player but could that player write a good song?
@@dwaynemcallister7231 How's that relevant to a discussion about skills of player rather then skills of song writers?
Charo....yes the gootichie gootichie girl. Massive talent.
For anyone to proclaim who the (best guitarists) were/are is a fallacy in my opinion. It is purely subjective to every individual to proclaim what guitarists move us emotionally.
Hendrix was the best and most creative guitarist of the peace and love generation. His song-writing and melodies were a revelation to the rock musicians of the time.
Exactly. Even Page knows no one is better than Hendrix.
Overrated
@@user-wx2cq8ey7y Undereducated
Hendrix was a class apart, because with him it's not about technique - he was just working on a higher plane than other guitarists, a cosmic plane. And I include Page in that although I love Zep.
@@paddymeboy AGAIN… finally someone else knows their music on here. 🤜🏻
From just a technical standpoint. Danny Gatton, end of that story. BUT writing a song, creating riffs. Keith Richards or Jimmy Page.
Correct! Debating basketball there's WILT and there is everyone else you might want to argue about. With guitars there is Danny Gatton and everyone else! He doesn't move me as much as my top favorites-- Rory, Albert King, Lonnie Mack,Gerry McGee, Andy Powell, Dave Hole -- but he is the untouchable master of technique of all styles.
These great guitarists pretty much all say it was Jimi, don't they? (IMO, since we all seem to be taking the opportunity to toss in our own two cents, Steve Howe deserves a mention IMO)
I am surprised he hasn't,t mentioned Django Reinhardt who I know he is in awe of he has even played Djangos cherished selmer 501 at Les Paul's House
Saw Hendrix in 1969 at San Diego Sports Arena and his live performance sounded every bit as good as a controlled studio recording.
Hendrix was a genius.
You're damn right! Page is way off the mark on the question of genius in rock and roll. Hendrix is to be ranked as one of the most gifted musicians in world history, any genre.
The live albums released by the Byrds in recent years highlight Clarence White's playing in a rock context.
I saw him live with the Byrds and he was as fluid and fast as anyone, whether in a Rock or Country style music.
@@mark9058 Shame he died so young.
Not one Steve Hackett fan here? I certainly am.
Hackett, Beck and Gilmour are my favourite three. Don't worry most of these know it all's in the comments wouldn't know who he is.
Big fan of Steve Hackett, Ollie Halsall, and Harvey Mandel.
Steve Howe as well.
Dickey Betts ,Duane Allman,Roy Clark and everyone else that can play Anything from Rock,Blues,Country,etc .
Surprised...but delightedthat he mentioned 'Clarence White'....one of my all time favourites...tragically killed while loading amps into his car after a gig by a drunk driver.
Buck Dharma aka Donald Rosier is one among many who hardly ever gets a notion. So I did it here.
I also like the players mentioned. It was Eddie Van Halen that was a true revolutionary. All the greats before were hendrix/blues oriented. EVH totally changed rock guitar with his groundwork from the past.
Steve Howe "YES". Glen Campbell, James Burton, Eddie Van Halen. Tommy Emmanuelle, SRV,
My favorite hard rock guitarist is Rex Carrol of the Christian band Whitecross. Tony Palacios is also great
Eddie Van Halen had one way of playing but Page had many different ways of playing guitar being an experienced studio musician before Zep.
All of the Van Halen types are like nails on a chalkboard to me. Dweedle-dweedle horsey neigh.
Page is sloppy.
BEST EVER were DANNY GATTON, Lenny Breau, Scotty Anderson, Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery. Next would be Johny Smith, Hank Garland, Jeff Beck, Allan Holdsworth, SRV. As a picker Jerry Reed was one of the best along with Gatton, Scotty. Best player today Matteo Mancuso. Steve Morse is top 15 ever.
@user-if6xb5uh7z - It's all subjective, but that is a great list. You've obviously been paying attention! Be Cool.
Finally someone that knows guitar players! Danny hands down!
So many great guitarist. Dickey Betts & Brian Setzer 11-20-84 late night TV performance. Check it out!
In the studio's hush, where legends reside,
Jimmy Page, with guitar in stride,
Picks his favorites, with discerning ear,
In the realm of music, where stars appear.
From fingertips that blaze with fire,
To melodies that never tire,
Jimmy's choices, a symphony rare,
Echo through the cosmic air.
Hendrix's magic, wild and free,
In his hands, the guitar's decree.
Clapton's soul, in every note,
A timeless sound, with depths remote.
Beck's finesse, a master's touch,
In the strings, his genius clutch.
And Gilmour's grace, like rivers flow,
In melodies that ebb and grow.
In the tapestry of guitar's embrace,
Jimmy Page finds his sacred place.
Each player a legend, a virtuoso's call,
In the studio's echo, they enthrall.
So let us listen, let us hear,
The music that transcends all fear.
For in Jimmy's picks, we find,
The essence of guitar's divine.
Kinda funny that the first illustration given of Page's guitar genius shows him miming to a track that Jeff Beck played (Heart Full of Soul). 🙂 But hey, that's okay; good effort.
I've always heard a lot of Grady Martin's influence in Page's playing and tone...
Especially from the Rockabilly stuff he did for guys like Johnny Burnette in the mid Fifties...TRAIN KEPT A ROLLIN/ Honey Hush, etc...
❤
Most of the brits from the 50/60s owe a debt of gratitude to Bert weedon Jeff beck stevie ray Vaughan Don felder very underrated there are many
So far, no mention in the video or in the comments of BB King.
Yeah the fact that many of their songs strongly borrowed from blues tunes, it’s crazy that Jimi was the closest to a blue guitarist on the list.
I saw Alvin Lee and Roy Buchanan and both blue me away. Some guitarists never make it big.
Picking the best at anything is subjective everyone has different tastes. When I pick a certain beat I always say in my opinion because there will be many who will disagree with my pick. I personally like the Southern rock guitarists.SRV, Dickie Betts, etc.
Cool! I'm the only one to notice Johnny "Guitar Watson"1
I hoped to see mention of Roy Buchanan.
Page seems for speed and technical skills I prefer more nuanced players Jerry Garcia Dave Gilmour Guitarists with steely Dan Baxter and Carlton and others
Nary a mention of Roy Buchanan.
Roy was also an influence for Jeff Beck.
@@TheHumbuckerboy czcams.com/video/nYEcQzcI-FA/video.html
The guitar established itself.... largely to innovative playing ? For starters it was amplification that changed things. I the old days, guitars were relegated to band rhythm instruments because they couldn't be heard over a band of horns, particularly with solo notes. It was the electrification that allowed amplification, that allowed the guitar to move to the forefront. It was TECHNOLOGY that allowed the guitar to come to prominence. The second factor is that it is a polyphonic instrument: It can play more than one note at a time. It can play chords. A trumpet can't do that because its a one note instrument (one note at a time.) This polyphonic reality allows guitar to be used an an accompanyment instrument for singers. With amplification, with the ability for solo notes to be heard, and with the ability to be used to accompany singers, the tecnology pushed the guitar forward. The guitar had been popular in country , folk, blues, etc., before amplification. But after amplification, and being a polyphonic instrument, that could now be heard loudly: It could replace horn sections, where two or three trumpets were required to make a chord (and to be heard loudly). With amplification, the guitar simply could be a mini orchestra. And THAT is what pushed the guitar forward. Yes, different effects that were now possible with the electrification of a guitar, like distortion, chorus, flangers, etc, Combined with talented players, this accerlerated the guitar's popularity even further. But this was only made possible by the electrification of the guitar, and the polyphonic nature of the instrument. Also playing into this are cultural factors. Young people, culturally, took to the sound of the guitar, en masse. Horns were very very popular with older people at the time. This older generation took to horns, culturally in the same manner. But it's only technology that allow these things to take place. Without the science of metalurgy, horn never could have been invented. Without the science of electricity, the guitar could never have move to the forefront. And, without the technology distortion boxes, chours, etc. could never have been made possible. Technology is really responsible for the guitar moving to the forefront.
There’s so many Guitarists to consider. Best way probably to put together a list would be by Decade of influence! Django, Christian, T Bone-1940s/50s. --Buddy guy,Doc Watson,Reed, Winter, White,Hendrix, Clapton, Lee, 1960s--Allman,Betts,Lenny Breau, Dimeola, Pass, Montgomery,Caldwell, Burton 1970s. This is just a short list and not even getting into the 1980s and forward as in last few Decades the incredible talent has hit the stratosphere beginning with Vaughn,And the list is endless
I assume this opinion by Page was outed 50 years ago.
Sure, there are great guitarists, such as Yngwie Malmsteem, but I far more appreciate ones, such Ritchie Blackmore, who can write great songs with memorable solos.
Yes you’re right, and I can never understand why Ritchie Blackmore name is never mentioned… he was from the same era as Page, Beck, Clapton and so on…. Hendrix once attended a show where deep purple opened for cream and he went backstage and told Clapton that Ritchie just blew you off stage…. That was the end for deep purple… Clapton and cream chose another band to open for them…. True story….
It is mentioned. Even if You Die without ever knowing who Blackmore Is/was...you will have Died knowing the most famous 4 Chords in Rock history! It's the 1st thing Any Kid ever learned on guitar. When another guy comes along to Compose a Solo that even approaches just One of His Solos which are Compositions in themselves , then All these Overrated Hacks can say something. All these Hillbilly Hippies including Page Don't come close to one of his fingernails!
"When it comes to Solos I Don't Even come Close as Ritchie is on a totally different level"
--Jimmy Page
What about Stevie Ray Vaughn? How was he not on the list?
This list is about his favourite gutarists, not the best or the greatest. And most of the quotes are from the seventies. So how can Stevie Ray Vaughn be on this list.
@@MullewarpSo many styles. Hard to pick top 10 but SRV probably wouldn't be on it ahyhow. Maybe top 20...
@@Mullewarpexactly, before seeing your comment I pretty much said the same thing.
Carlos Santana? I was surprised he didn’t mention him…
Mike Bloomfield--my favorite of all!
The fact is that 95% of rock guitarists couldn't, even if their life depended on it, play pieces like Bach's lute works. Page recognizes this fact.
I seen Page with the Yardbirds in 1966 when he was on bass, Beck on guitar. I also saw Hendeix(with the original experience ) and again more then once and on a good night he was pretty amazing.
I have nothing against Page but most kids i grew up with couldn't stand another air play of Stairway To Heaven.
Just say'n
Jimmy Page also said that Steve Martin is one of the best banjo players ever and that “Weird Al” Yankovic’s accordion skills are unmatched.
Or maybe he didn’t. You never actually hear Jimmy Page say anything in this video.
I guess that's why this guy has a successful youtube channel. He knows how to slap a few clips together and throw in a title and narrative that draws clicks
Can't even spell Jimmy what a tool.
Steve Martin actually is a pretty good banjo player...fair point though.
Duane Allman....Paul Kossoff.....Gary Moore ....Joe Bonamassa...
I like this fad which comes up from time to time where ppl think Jimmy Page “sucks”, lmao. He sounds damn good to me, what do I know.
In a Radio 2 interview around 2015 Page stated that it was Lonnie Donegan that he and all his peers wanted to emulate in those early days.
Andres Segovia, John Williams, Ana Vidovic......
we all have our favorites don’t we. Mine are Duane Allman, Jeff Beck, Derek Trucks, Terry Kath, Alvin Lee, Peter Green, Stevie Ray Vaughn and of course Hendrix❤
There are so many significant guitarists that can be listed that are not mentioned, which I’m sure Jimmy Page would have mentioned, if he was interviewed today in a longer podcast. This really comes from one brief 1975 interview.
Listen to John McLaughlin for 3 minutes and you will hear the Pageyness. I believe Page worshipped him, but could never be half as accurate
Jimmy Patrick Page, Rory Gallagher, Scott Gorham, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, George Harris, Roy & Dave Davis James Hetfield are just a few of the very great guitar players that were all of very Irish stock and yes Elvis played guitar very well in his early years
Allan Holdsworth, Hank Garland, and Paco de Lucia are amongst my favourite musicians. Link Wray is another.
There are fine admirable guitarists then there is Jimi Hendrix. Mitch Mitchell's drumming meshed in so well with him to make these unbelievable classics.
The guitar has been a popular musical instrument for centuries so it’s only reasonable to expect that there have been more great guitarists than you could every catalogue.
But I’ll start with the first great guitarist that I can think of: Thank you Mr. Paganini!
Richard Thompson, overlooked amazing guitarist!
I'm surprized he didnt mention Rory Gallagher , who he stole so many of his licks from.
Lol, there are a bunch of greats listed in these comments. I feel nobody is wrong. The names keep popping up are the ones that impressed / moved and or excited these individuals. That is exactly what most performers were trying to do. This comment list shows most succeeded at that. I bet Roy Clark would put a smile on SRV just as Jeff could put one on Jimmy's.
Frank Zappa should be near the top of the list.
Beck, Page, and Clapton were the "Holy Trinity" of British guitarists coming out of the Sixties, but others like Pete Townsend and "Lord" Blackmore were just as influential in their own way. And Hendrix could also be placed into that distinguished group in that he had to go to England to be discovered. Amazing how much greatness came out of that island at about the same time!
Jimmy Page was asked, around 1981, "What do you think of the new guitar heroes like Michael Schenker?" Page said: "This is awkward, because I've never heard any of his music, but I've heard he's good!" He's probably heard some Schenker by now. Mick Ralphs said he liked jamming with Jimmy, because he didn't insist on playing faster, etc.