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teleman · Member since
I love the way Brian May plays guitar. Do I think he's the best? Some days his playing affects me the most. On those days, for me, yes he's the best.
On other days another guitarist may affect me.
I don't care if they are the most technically proficient. I only care that I get something from their music.
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The Real Wizard · Member since
TheImpossibleMan wrote:
Everyone who listed Brian as the best guitarist of all time is a clown. Brian is great, but let's get serious, he's not a top 5 guitarist of all time.

Top five rock guitarists:

1.) Jimmy Page
2.) Eric Clapton
3.) Jimi Hendrix
4.) Eddie Van Halen
5.) Stevie Ray Vaughn


From what perspective are you talking? Speed? Creativity? Technical proficiency? Virtuosity? Songwriting abilities? Originality? Influence on popular music? You need to be specific.

If you're talking about creativity, then you've got guys like Page and Clapton.

Originality: While Page was a great writer and a great influence, he didn't impact the evolution of the guitar as much as Eddie Van Halen or Hendrix. Brian May is a very under-rated and original player, and he does not get the credit in the mainstream he deserves. Nobody constructed or constructs guitar orchestras as Brian did. He was so unique that anyone who would even partially emulate him would be accused of ripping him off.

Speed/virtuosity/technicality: None of the above. Jazz players and shredders own these categories.

If I had to pick one best rock guitarist, it would be Steve Howe, hands down. He is pretty much the entire package. He can do things that every other classic rock guitarist wishes they could do.
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mike hunt · Member since
while I agree Mr. may is much underated like someone else mentioned he's not a top 5 great. Hendrix was truly the best, he was way before his time. clapton and beck also. I personally think brian is a top 10 to 15 of the greatest rock guitarist ever.
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Joeker · Member since
Angus young, after Brian May.
Roger: Can I go To Lunch Now? Brian: No, You Can't... --------------------------------------- Freddie: Oh Shit, All this crap again?! "If I had to do it all over again, yes why not? why not
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TheImpossibleMan · Member since
Sir GH wrote:


Originality: While Page was a great writer and a great influence, he didn't impact the evolution of the guitar as much as Eddie Van Halen or Hendrix.

Page was the first heavy metal/hard rock guitarist of all time. To say he didn't impact the evolution of the guitar is absurd. His aggresive, powerful style influenced pretty much every guitarist that came after. Van Halen, for example, said that it was Page's solo on "Heartbreaker" that inspired him to perfect the guitar-tapping technique. His style strongly influenced guys like Angus Young, Tony Iommi, and of course Brian May.
Sir GH wrote:
Brian May is a very under-rated and original player, and he does not get the credit in the mainstream he deserves. Nobody constructed or constructs guitar orchestras as Brian did. He was so unique that anyone who would even partially emulate him would be accused of ripping him off.
Agree. May had a very distinct style, and his ability to have the Red Special produce sounds that resembled trumpets, horns, and all manner of instruments was excellent. But I don't see anyone trying to play like May, which says a lot about his influence. He was more influential as a songwriter than as a guitarist.

Sir GH wrote:
Speed/virtuosity/technicality: None of the above. Jazz players and shredders own these categories.
That's why I specifically said rock guitarists.

Sir GH wrote:
If I had to pick one best rock guitarist, it would be Steve Howe, hands down. He is pretty much the entire package. He can do things that every other classic rock guitarist wishes they could do.
Completely disagree. Jimmy Page is the most complete guitarist of all time.
This is what you wanted, this is what you're going to get.
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mike hunt · Member since
Brians had an influence on rock guitarist like slash and van halen, but the reason why I can't put brian in the top 5 is the reasons 'stated above' guitarist always bring up guys like page, hendrix, clapton, eddie van halen. These guys had a huge influence, now I know brians had a big influence on rock guitarist also, just not as much.
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Unknown
I think Ritche Blackmore who played with deep purple and formed the great band Rainbow is the best but Brian is definitely 2nd best
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Seven_Seas_Of_Rhye II · Member since
What do you mean - style or notes per sec? If first Brian is the first. If second, I think Blackmore, yes, you are right.
Take this letter that I give you Take it sonny hold it high You won't understand a word that's in it But you'll write it all again before you die
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Sherwood Forest · Member since
id say jimmy hendrix, Brian May, Jimmy Page
One should ANALize the Poetry on page 43, when Oedipus is rollin' in his benzo and he has to bust a cap on some flagrants in the under city http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/image/essay/1
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abe · Member since
Some excellent guitarist have been mentioned on this thread, these are my favourite, not based on popularity but my opinion in style, technique and sound.

My top 5 are:

1. Eddie Van Halen
2. Vinnie Vincent
3. Brian May
4. Steve Lukather (Toto)
5. KK Downing
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teleman · Member since
With all of the different guitarists mentioned in this thread it is clear that there is no quantifiable measurement to determine who is the best.(Jeff Beck)
It is all subject to the taste of the listener.
The one guitarist we seem to have in common is Brian May. I guess he's pretty good for all of us Queenzoners.
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The Real Wizard · Member since
TheImpossibleMan wrote:
Page was the first heavy metal/hard rock guitarist of all time. To say he didn't impact the evolution of the guitar is absurd. His aggresive, powerful style influenced pretty much every guitarist that came after. Van Halen, for example, said that it was Page's solo on "Heartbreaker" that inspired him to perfect the guitar-tapping technique. His style strongly influenced guys like Angus Young, Tony Iommi, and of course Brian May.


Yeah, I guess you're right! It's Page's sloppiness that often gives me a low view of him, but of course I realize how important he still is.
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val 29467 · Member since
brian may, who else
but you don't give me comfort and a man's gotta get it somewhere -brian may i'll give you comfort brian XD
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john bodega · Member since
"But I don't see anyone trying to play like May, which says a lot about his influence. He was more influential as a songwriter than as a guitarist."

You're seeing what you want to see then I'm afraid.

Nah but really... Brian May is one of the few guitarists who made solos that people can actually 'sing' and have recognised. I've met people at freaking CENTRELINK who've been able to sing me the solo to Killer Queen. Point being, he made memorable solos.

And that solo on Invisible Man... sheer madness, it doesn't have to be the 'fastest' or whatever, it's just great stuff!

I dunno. Take Steve Vai. Incredible speed, but I don't remember a single song of his. I suppose my priorities on guitar lie elsewhere if that's me philosophy.

Paul Gilbert, now there's a guitarist. Again his compositions don't grab me like anything from Queen or Pink Floyd but he's got a set of fingers on him.

I would still take Brian May over the others I mentioned here simply because of the emotive quality of his solos. I don't need to mention anything other than the solo from These Are the Days Of Our Lives.