Top 10 Reasons There is No Such Thing as "The Best Guitarist"
Hi, it's been so long. I haven't made any lists in a while, so I thought of making one.I am not saying there are no great guitarists. All I am saying is that there is no single best guitarist. There are guitarists who fall into the top tier, and there are also many guitarists who fall into the lower tiers.
The tier system is more accurate than the individual ranking system. For example:
- Tier 1: Jimi Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, etc.
- Tier 2: Kurt Cobain, Billie Joe Armstrong, Johnny Ramone, etc.
Every guitarist was inspired by a guitarist before them. There would be no great guitarist if he or she weren't inspired by someone. Jimi Hendrix is considered the greatest guitarist of all time, but if guitarists like Buddy Guy, Robert Johnson, or Howlin' Wolf didn't exist, he couldn't have become the Jimi Hendrix we know today. The same goes for many guitarists. Every great guitarist gathers something from the past.
It's all a matter of personal taste, anyway.
Yes, and popularity doesn't mean the best. Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath is more popular than Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple, but Ritchie Blackmore is much better. Also, many incredible guitarists remain almost completely underground.
Some guitarists become famous, and some don't. Page or Hendrix became famous, but Rory Gallagher or Mike Bloomfield didn't. However, they were very talented. Many guitarists become mainstream and start gaining popularity, but good guitarists remain in the shadows and don't get the attention they deserve.
No guitarist is perfect. Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore, etc. Many great guitarists have some weaknesses. Some of them are sloppy, or some of them are technically restricted. Others may not be as melodic as some can be. For example, Jimi Hendrix was quite sloppy on stage, as was Jimmy Page. On the other hand, Joe Satriani is very technical, but many of his songs are written based on random techniques or notes.
Genre is very important. Classical, blues, metal, or jazz - many guitarists focus on specific genres. Classical guitarists are very talented but rarely focus on electric guitar. On the other hand, jazz guitarists don't typically use high amps or distorted sounds.
Each great guitarist has his or her own special ability. Jimi Hendrix was skilled in many techniques, but he wasn't the best at everything. He couldn't fingerpick like Mark Knopfler or Tommy Emmanuel. Meanwhile, Mark Knopfler can't achieve the same effects as David Gilmour.
I have an idea for a detailed comparison of guitarists. You can make a list of the most important aspects of guitar playing and compare the guitarists by these aspects. This way, you can get a more objective and comprehensive idea of their skills. For example:
Shawn Lane vs. Michael Angelo Batio breakdown:
1. Alternate picking - Shawn Lane
2. Speed - Michael Angelo Batio
3. Sweep picking - Michael Angelo Batio
4. Technical versatility (how many techniques they use) - Michael Angelo Batio
5. Improvisation - ?
Many guitarists never had the opportunity to showcase their talent. There are many guitarists who never saw an electric guitar in their lives because they were born before its invention. What would happen if they had access to electric guitars?
Many critics make lists based on other lists, and those ranking systems usually include influence, popularity, and technical ability. But, as I said, no guitarist is perfect, and not every time can you compare guitarists. So, ranking lists are not always accurate. What would happen if there was a rule of "less sloppy"? Would Hendrix still rank so high?
Many guitarists like Randy Rhoads, Buddy Holly, or Hendrix passed away quickly. What would have happened if they had lived longer? Could they have become even greater (except Hendrix) and surpassed other guitarists?
For example, Buckethead is a very talented guitarist, but he is not included in many ranking charts because not everyone listens to his music. Even if some do, they can't fully appreciate his music. As a result, they don't rank guitarists like him, especially instrumental guitarists.
Yes, for example, metal guitarists are usually ignored and underrated.