most of the guitarists on here are famous for being in music making bands.. but hardly any posted are technically good... and kurt cobain sucks.. and so does the ramones guitarist.. they do.. i can site read any of their songs so dont argue with me
if you havent heard of these guys watch a video by them or listen to a song by them.. they are really freaking good, ridiculously awesome at playing guitar..
1. michael angelo.. this video should speak for itself
http://www.deanguitars.com/angelo/mab_videos/
michael angelo is insanely fast and can do way more than about 99% of the guitarists in the world.... though his music writing skills are kinda lame
2. next up, one of my personal favorites, al di meola
http://www.dogpile.com/info.dogpl/clickit/search?r_aid=7B265976EEDF4F56B65C4022F7686EC0&r_eop=2&r_sacop=6&r_spf=0&r_cop=main-title&r_snpp=6&r_spp=0&qqn=G%40gX56T%2B&r_coid=372372&rawto=http://www.kiwicool.com/guitar/Al%20Di%20Meola%20-%20Mediterranean%20Sundance.mp3 he is an amazing song writer and in my opinion the best at all technical aspects of guitar. if you want to really hear him download two to dango or race with the devil on spanish highway. his most impressive pieces are on acoustic though, so mediterranean sundance (the link i posted) or two to tango are great examples... the fact that he can palm must those amazing scale runs and have such precision makes him one of the best pickers i believe.. and again, on an acoustic.. no distortion
3. next is joe satriani, probably my favorite of the bunch. he's a great song writer and can get pretty fast. he's very good at legato styles, he can sweep pick and tap (for all of you noobs, if you dont know what sweep picking is dont even bother posting who's the best guitarist) download mountain song, satch boogie, surfin with the alien, or devils slide, they're all pretty good songs but id really recommend getting one of his g3 dvds or his live in san fransisco dvd, they're worth the money
4. next up, steve vai, another amazing guitarist, some of his music is rather weird but just check out this snippet from a movie that he played
http://www.vai.com/audio/clip_crossroads-etb.mp3 its from the movie the crossroads, the karate kid "plays" this and it defeats jack butler (steve vai).. but really its all steve vai, he recorded it.. that song is ridiculously hard, ive been trying to play it for about a year now and its still a pain, i cant do it.
5. paul gilbert... probably the best at alternate picking.. technical difficulties is pretty hard.. try learning that
http://gregorykelu.castpost.com/94581.html, just click the play button.. no he's not just heavy metal, he's just really good at guitar
6. yngwie malmsteen..he sucks.. at music writing.. every solo of his is in freakin harmonic minor.. he's just a shredder, but he's really good, really fast, download blitzkrieg by him.. try learning that.. its hard
7. petrucci.. he's the guitarist from dream theater.. everyone in that band is awesome.. except i dont like the singer.. but.. w/e.. he's really good, download glasgow kiss, or dance of eternity.. also check him satriani and vai out on the g3 live in tokyo dvd
8. tony macalpine.. keyboard player for steve vai, solo artist, plays guitar and keyboard insanely well.. id recommend autumn lords to download.. or just get the g3 in denver and watch steve vai's set.. he's really good, not sure if he has a dvd or not
9. bumblefoot/ron thal, w/e you wanna call him.. ok.. first off he did chopins fantasy impromtu on guitar.. i mean that song is impossible on piano.. and he did it on guitar.. he is really good..
http://www.dogpile.com/info.dogpl/clickit/search?r_aid=1C07474917604F51946A402628FBBFC0&r_eop=2&r_sacop=2&r_spf=0&r_cop=main-title&r_snpp=2&r_spp=0&qqn=0xUmF!%40b&r_coid=372669&rawto=http://bromeblog.free.fr/documents/zic/BFoot/ChopinFantasie.mp3 or download a song called guitars suck by him.. its crazy, he plays a 36 fret guitar for it
10. uli jon roth.. he redid freakin vivaldis seasons on guitar.. with the sky guitar.. an amazing instrument with the range of a violin i believe...
http://www.dogpile.com/info.dogpl/clickit/search?r_aid=6A84109BD1164B5D843B4026B8124DA0&r_eop=1&r_sacop=1&r_spf=0&r_cop=main-title&r_snpp=1&r_spp=0&qqn=BXsjjrt)&r_coid=372669&rawto=http://spvusa.com/stream/ulijonroth.ram
11. i know you said 10.. but jason becker must be mentioned also.. he got freakin als disease.. he was an amazing shredder, dont think he still plays, though he does still write music, download altitudes by him.. he's really good, and its a sad thing he had to get such a horrible disease.
and yes ill admit jimi hendrix, jimmy page, jeff beck, robin trower, david gilmour (roger waters played bass dude with dark side of the moon album cover, yeah he played a little guitar.. but not enough to be anywhere near the top 10, david gilmour was obviously way better of the two) van halen, eric clapton.. they're all good.. but technically.. psh... the guys i mentioned blow them out of the water...
