The Best Guitar Picker Ever

 JBH Wonders, February 2012

Recently I ran across an Internet presentation of “The ten best Guitar players ever”. (That title is perhaps paraphrased a bit). The presentation was put together fairly well. The guitarists of choice were named and a brief audio and visual performance was also included.

All of the chosen artists sounded the same to me. The style presented was the typical guitar neck choking “weeee, weeee, waaahhh, wahhhh” dead cat swinging stuff. To be sure, these guitarists displayed a well-practiced dexterity and precision with their digits as well as some “style” perhaps. But it still looked and sounded the same to me so I disagree with the ten choices for the “The ten best Guitar players ever”. I would not label the best cook in the world as one who could consistently cook an excellent hamburger or bake a fantastic cake every time.

So I set out to pick my own list of  “The ten best Guitar players ever”. What qualifies me to pick (pun intended) the best guitar player one might ask? I have been playing guitar since the age of 15 so I know the discipline required to become a guitar player and the enjoyment of playing this musical instrument. And I also know the disappointments of never having a “really good guitar” and never becoming some sort of “super star”. I am nothing exceptional; otherwise I might have made “the list”.

Being a former engineer and an analytical sort of man, I first came up with some basic criteria in this selection of honor:

(a.    The candidates must have some notoriety. Otherwise how would I or anyone else know of them?

(b.    The candidates should have some versatility in playing different genre: i.e. Rock Lead, Rock Backup, Classical, Folk, Country, Blues, Spanish Style.

(c.    Specializing in one genre is allowed

(d.    The candidates should be skilled/artistic in different guitar variations; i.e. Acoustic, Electric, Bass, etc, (talent with other string instruments is a plus)

(e.    The candidates should have some unique and recognizable style of playing (this can be limited to one genre)

After some time I came up with a list of candidates by raw recollection and by listening to radio stations that play the “oldies”. And to be fair, I also listened to some “contemporary” music. What follows is the results of this exercise.

This article will not be finished the way I originally wanted it to. This has turned into a monumentous and perhaps a futile and unfair task. Too many variables exist to make a fair selection. The biggest one being ones personal taste in music. You could not help but show favoritism.

There must be millions of fine guitarists all over the world. Some old, some young. Some have become well known while others will not. I don’t recall meeting or know about any obnoxious guitar pickers. The good ones I know about (some personally) have been eager to help others become better. Guitar players just want to play. Some are flashy and want to stand out, but all in all, they just want to play, be heard, enjoyed, and respected.

Yes there are exceptions as in everything else. Some are crazy or whacked out or are on their way to being so. Others have had a successful career playing the guitar even if they did not become well known. Some dedicate their musical talents for songs of faith and worship. And most guitar pickers (like me) just enjoy pounding out some tunes for our own enjoyment and perhaps for others.

So play em if you got em and “pick” your own favorite guitarist.

My List of Candidates, in No Order of Preference

1. Chet Atkins.  

He was highly versatile in guitar styles) and had very “fluid” & recognizable progressions.

2. Roy Clark.

A highly versatile guitar player. He also plays other stringed instruments

3. James Taylor

He has a very unique style and recognizable sound, easy listening, singer/song writer also.

4. Tommy Emmanuel

He is a very accomplished guitarist and can be a bit on the wild side.

5. Jose Feleciano

He has a very consistent and recognizable style and also sings.

6. Jimmy Paige

A very infamous guitarist. An “icon” that had to be included

7. Keith Richards

A very infamous guitarist. An “icon” that had to be included

8. Jimmy Hendrix

A very infamous guitarist. An “icon” that had to be included

9. Eric Clapton

He is not god as once was proclaimed. But he is a very accomplished and versatile guitarist.

10. Jerry Reed

He is included in this list because of what I saw of “Guitar man”. He was a good guitar picker.

11. Joni Mitchell

She has a very unique style and recognizable sound, easy listening. She is also a singer/song writer.

12. Glenn Campbell

A highly accomplished guitarist but not his claim to fame.

13. Lindsey Buckingham

A highly versatile guitar player with a unique sound and he plays other stringed instruments.

14. Arlo Guthrie

He has stamina. “Alice’s Resturant” and “Motocycle” are nearly thirty minutes long each.

15. Chuck Berry

He is a pioneer in guitar styles, very recognizable sound

16. John Fogerty

He has a unique and recognizable sound.

17. Justin Hayward

He has a unique and recognizable sound.

18. Carlos Santana

He has a unique and recognizable sound.

19. George Harrison

Well I had to include one of the Beatles. George set the tone for much of their music.

20. And on and on