Gilmour is overrated imo...
Most guitarists who've been playing for about a year of focusing on soloing can play as well as him, there's nothing complex or mystifying to his playing. It's just slow, boring blues licks with some vibrato and bending. He's a lot like Brian May of Queen, they make up for their lack of skill with the excuse that their playing is magical or what not. Clapton/Gibbons (ZZtop) esentially play the same licks they do just much better, faster, and with more energy.
I promise you guys like Satriania, Vai, Petreccui could play Gilmour's stuff with the same expression, feel and "emotion" at 5x the speed. At Gilmour's speed those guys could probably bring a tear to your eyes playing the same stuff he does. They are true talent on the guitar. For raw emotion listen to some Slash from Guns and Roses.
That's not to dismiss PinK Floyd's abilities as a band, they've made some fine music. I can't relate to it but I can't dismiss what they've accomplished. Most guitarists I know don't respect Gilmour and if they are challenged to play his stuff (which most don't like doing) I'll see them figure his solos out note for note within 5 minutes. I come from a different social circle though, we worship real technical players with raw talent.
Anyway please don't take that the wrong way but if any of you played the guitar like you do EQ you could be soloing like Gilmour in about a year.
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My list:
Most important guitarist of all time: Hendrix
Most innovative: Morello (Rage against the machine) and Frank Zappa
Most technical over all: Petrucci
Most emotional: Satriani and Slash of G&R
Best blues: Stevie Ray/Eric Clapton
Best Jazz: Django Reindhart the gypsey who started it all
Most rockin: Jimi Page
Best Rythm player: Dave Matthews/Jimi Hendrix
Most technical rock guitarist but too arrogant to appeal to most people: Jeff Beck/Eddie Van Halen
Honorable Mention: G.E. Smith
Tomorrow's Guitar Gods:
John Mayer is going to be the king of guitar in 5 years or so.
Derek Trucker is a guitar god at this point, his slide playing is out of control.
I saw George Harrison mentioned - I don't know - they're a lot like Pink Floyd to me, I don't relate to them but I don't dismiss what they've accomplished. But by no means do I consider him a technical or skilled player. His stuff is so easy to pla.
I do however consider that John Lennon was a wonderful rythm player and the driving guitar force behind the beatles as much as I feel they're overrated. Anyway don't take what I said about him and Gilmour the wrong way, as a guitarist I just don't see them as being skilled, revolutionary, or of any prominence. And I'm sure some of the guitarists I've listed a few of you will feel suck
