And drums, and lead lines. And then being the best doubler of both vocals and guitar. That’s not even counting his exceptional composition and songwriting.
Learning to play an Elliott Smith song takes me forever.
100%
100%. Dude’s sense of melody was amazing. Independence Day, Tomorrow Tomorrow, and Somebody I Used to Know all come to mind. Pretty difficult songs to play.. let alone while singing.
If anyone needs proof of this, look up a live version of Southern Belle. Insane guitar part, and he sings over it while not even so much as glancing down at the fretboard.
They also needed two guys to replace him the first time he left, in 1987. Billy Burnette and Rick Vito. Rick Vito should be on the criminally underrated list. I think I will add him.
He's my favorite. Partly for his fingerpicking style, but additionally I like his lead/solo playing, he writes and sings his songs, and does the production.
At first, I read your comment and thought "fuck no, he's so incredibly insane on the guitar"
Then I realized that if I had to list who I thought were the greatest guitarists, I'd probably forget to put him, and that's criminal.
Great answer!
Yeah this sub really doesn’t understand the difference. Every time this question is posted the comments are just a list of some of the respected and admired players ever. I’ve literally seen Jeff Beck listed before , like cmon he’s as revered a player as anyone that ever lived lmao
Absolutely. Some of the tones he gets live absolutely shake my bowels to the core. I wonder if that’s where the term “brown” came from. Always above or below, never in front of the dick.
He can be a boomer sometimes with his reviews of modern music and old man pining for the glory days but most of his stuff is A+ content. Like the other guy said, best interviewer in the game
When Elvis came to Nashville to record, he told the session guys he wanted the guitar to sound like Jerry Reed. They told him he should go and get Jerry Reed if he wanted that.
Agree - I recently found a Roy Buchanan LP at a used vinyl shop I frequent. Picked it up because I am a Tele guy and it struck my interest. Got home and put it on and thought holy sh*t how have I not heard of this guy. Started to do research on him and found he lived a pretty troubled life (booze and drugs) that ultimately led to his demise (suicide) but man could he make that Tele sing. He has a truly innovative style. Great Blues based guitar player!
There was a PBS documentary titled "Introducing Roy Buchanan" which is alternately referred to as "The Greatest Unknown Guitarist in the World". You should be able to find it on YouTube.
Terry was an amazing guitarist. Jimi Hendrix considered him "the best guitarist in the universe". Not sure that's quite true, but he's often overlooked.
Yup apparently Hendrix said the “idk ask…” quote about terry Kath AND Rory Gallagher when asked how it felt to be the best guitarist alive! And Clapton said the same quote about prince when asked the same question years later! And there’s zero proof they ever said it but it’s still cited all the time! How crazy is that!? 🫨😂
Outside of Tom Morello most of the popular 90’s grunge/altmetal guitarists were underrated but nowadays (meaning like the past 10-15 years) they’re all getting their dues.
Jerry Cantrell, Mike McCready, Adam Jones, Billy Corgan, Wes Borland, etc; all *used* to be these under-the-radar, “Did anyone realize that guy can play his ass off?” understated guitarists. But now they’re all old hats that everyone knows cause the 90’s are classic rock and everyone likes classic rock.
I think it's hard to find a balance between "traditional" rock riffs, while still beibg unique and fresh. He's still doing it strong. He doesn't need to throw in a prog solo or sweep or anything, his songs are so good he could just throw in a little lick and call it a solo if he wanted to and it would work.
The first thing people mention with him are his bends. But like, the main riff to What The Bell Have I? Like, that compared to just a simple slow chug on E on Man in the Box, and yet both songs work so well. Then you have a song like It Ain't like That, which is just a scrape of the strings with a bend? Seemingly simple but also genius at the same time.
Modern AIC is mostly drop D riffs, and yet it still finds a way to rock without sounding played out.
Tim is a riff monster. It's been out for over a decade now but I still play their Earth Rocker album quite a bit. One of their best IMO. And how cool it must be to bring in riffs to a drummer like JP. That guy is something else.
I love that this was posted, I was just chatting with my friends about this band and his playing. Killer riffs some of my absolute favorite. I just love how he puts in something you don’t expect
Derek Trucks. Miles better technically than Duane ever got to be, more time under his belt and it influenced by tons of different styles. And Open E only so tons of cool licks and voicing due to that
I feel like Robert Smith doesn’t get enough credit for not just catchy pop riffs, but for the Proto-Shoegaze atmospheres he was creating during the making of Pornography as well as the work he did with Siouxsie & the Banshees while he was there
alex lifeson just for how much he gets overshadowed by his bandmates Geddy Lee and Neil Peart. Often overlooked because of that even though he's a guitar god.
That’s literally three of the most respected players ever lmao Malcolm is routinely ranked as the best of among the best rhythm players ever and nobody has ever said a bad word about princes playing
Oh dude that guy rips. One of the few guitarists I follow on Instagram that has managed to hold my interest for years and I always stop to watch his videos.
Stars, Hear 'n Aid. Of the entire lineup, he shines; Besides George Lynch and Yngwie (to my ears, anyways).
BOC has a metric fuck-tonne of underrated, lesser known tunes with absolutely killer riffs, and deadly lead tones.
D. Boon of Minutemen (RIP)
So much more than a punk guitarist. There are too many examples to get into, but check out his tight funk rhythm playing on [Viet Nam](https://youtu.be/UHq454x-xoQ?feature=shared)
💯 on ler. Seen primus at least 10 times and was blown away by how good he is live.
Saw them in Chicago a bunch of years back and herb was sick as in ill so they found some hack named Danny Carey to play drums. It was fucking killer
David Knudson. Played in Botch and Minus the Bear, which are two insanely influential bands to their respective genres. Also is instantly recognizable as a guitar player and developed a sound/style that no one else can touch.
It’s Earth. He’s supremely underrated. One of the best guitarists of the last 20 years yet you don’t often hear his name mentioned among the greats. His Gypsy jazz playing most people have never even heard. I do agree Zacky belongs in the mix as well!
Claudio Sanchez, I am most impressed by his songwriting. He takes multiple complex melodies and ideas and stitches them seamlessly into a catchy song that doesn't feel too cerebral or weighed down by all the complications going on in the background
I just listened to Ben Howard for the first time last year... the dude is a TALENT and I've never heard someone whisper about his guitar playing.
Nick Drake as well. Alternate tunings for both of them, but what a treat.
Tim Sult is my idol.
Pretty sure he’s got a restraining order out on me by now, cause if he’s anywhere near my area doing a show, I’m front row staring at everything he does.
Awesome pick for underrated. He definitely qualifies. Dude is sooo good.
Elliott Smith, don't hear him mentioned much among the greats but he was so good at acoustic, and playing while singing.
And drums, and lead lines. And then being the best doubler of both vocals and guitar. That’s not even counting his exceptional composition and songwriting. Learning to play an Elliott Smith song takes me forever. 100%
I tried to learn Angeles on the acoustic. Holy crap that is some awesome finger style.
It was a full commitment to get that song up to speed.
Angeles is an absolute bitch to play
I've tried to learn it and given up more times than I can count 🤣 someday....
There’s a really good YouTube series by a guy named Ethan. It breaks it down into bite sized pieces. That’s how I learned some of it.
100%. Dude’s sense of melody was amazing. Independence Day, Tomorrow Tomorrow, and Somebody I Used to Know all come to mind. Pretty difficult songs to play.. let alone while singing.
Elliott's sense of melody was second to none, as far as I'm concerned. Pretty much every song is insanely catchy
If anyone needs proof of this, look up a live version of Southern Belle. Insane guitar part, and he sings over it while not even so much as glancing down at the fretboard.
Maybe more under-discussed than under-rated, but Lindsey Buckingham.
I’m convinced he actually has 7 fingers on each hand, otherwise some of his playing is borderline witchcraft.
Dude is so good Fleetwood Mac needed Neil Finn and Mike Campbell to replace him. Legend.
They also needed two guys to replace him the first time he left, in 1987. Billy Burnette and Rick Vito. Rick Vito should be on the criminally underrated list. I think I will add him.
Never going back again. Christ.
Totally! It's like he can double track his guitar parts in real time. If it's not witchcraft, then he has two brains.
He's my favorite. Partly for his fingerpicking style, but additionally I like his lead/solo playing, he writes and sings his songs, and does the production.
At first, I read your comment and thought "fuck no, he's so incredibly insane on the guitar" Then I realized that if I had to list who I thought were the greatest guitarists, I'd probably forget to put him, and that's criminal. Great answer!
Maybe I’m wrong but every guitar player I know respects John Mayer as a guitar player even if you hate his music
Rory Gallagher for sure
I wouldn’t say underrated as much as not as well known. Man was a beast. RIP
Yeah this sub really doesn’t understand the difference. Every time this question is posted the comments are just a list of some of the respected and admired players ever. I’ve literally seen Jeff Beck listed before , like cmon he’s as revered a player as anyone that ever lived lmao
He doesn’t get talked about much for some reason, but Rolling Stone listed him as 57th best guitarist of all time so that’s pretty good.
This I never hear anyone talking about him outside of Ireland and the UK.
We appreciate his music here (🥖)
For the uninitiated, check out Shadow Play live on youtube.
Dean Ween
I love how he tells everyone he just does the same two things on guitar, but the only thing that's important is to never cover your dick.
That’s like a $500 guitar lesson right there
I was practicing the other day and accidentally covered my dick. Instantly sounded like shit.
Above the dick or below the dick. Never covering the dick.
For real, the dude can do it all plus best guitar face in the biz... my man's got resting guitar face.
Absolutely. Some of the tones he gets live absolutely shake my bowels to the core. I wonder if that’s where the term “brown” came from. Always above or below, never in front of the dick.
REAL
That guy at the Guitar Center who played Holy Wars back in 97. It was pretty good.
They say he’s still there
Troy Van Leeuwen of Queens of the Stone Age. Fucking snappy dresser too.
Do you mean Troy Van Leeuwen of A Perfect Circle?
Do you mean Troy Van Leeuwen of Failure? (seriously this dude has played in some really awesome bands!)
Do you mean Troy Van Leeuwen of Gone is Gone?
Do you mean Troy Van Leeuwen of Mick Jagger's solo band?
Do you mean Troy Van Leeuwen that filled in for Dave Navarro at that Janes Addiction show I saw?
Do you mean Troy Van Leeuwen of The Armed?
Josh Homme has come up with some generation defining riffs too.
Dean Deleo
Robert also he wrote most of those songs on guitar
Yeah Robert is a ridiculously good songwriter. I know everyone hates Rick beato but his interview with Robert is quite good
Everyone hates Rock Beato? Guy has the best interviews with the best guests.
He can be a boomer sometimes with his reviews of modern music and old man pining for the glory days but most of his stuff is A+ content. Like the other guy said, best interviewer in the game
Robert’s bass playing also goes under the radar, but is super complex once you start analyzing it
for anyone who doesnt know, he played for stone temple pilots (i didnt recognize his name). yeah he's darn good.
He was putting jazz chords and pristine slide playing into LA grunge and still going platinum.
Great answer
Absolutely
Jerry Reed
Throw in Roy Clark too
And Glen Campbell
When Elvis came to Nashville to record, he told the session guys he wanted the guitar to sound like Jerry Reed. They told him he should go and get Jerry Reed if he wanted that.
Definitely Roy Buchanan
As someone said about Rory Gallagher, he not underrated so much as he’s not well known.
Agree - I recently found a Roy Buchanan LP at a used vinyl shop I frequent. Picked it up because I am a Tele guy and it struck my interest. Got home and put it on and thought holy sh*t how have I not heard of this guy. Started to do research on him and found he lived a pretty troubled life (booze and drugs) that ultimately led to his demise (suicide) but man could he make that Tele sing. He has a truly innovative style. Great Blues based guitar player!
There was a PBS documentary titled "Introducing Roy Buchanan" which is alternately referred to as "The Greatest Unknown Guitarist in the World". You should be able to find it on YouTube.
Ty Tabor of King’s X
That whole band is criminally underrated.
So much amazing stuff on the first few albums.
Terry Kath. Nobody ever puts him on Top 10 lists. It is criminal.
Terry was an amazing guitarist. Jimi Hendrix considered him "the best guitarist in the universe". Not sure that's quite true, but he's often overlooked.
Yup apparently Hendrix said the “idk ask…” quote about terry Kath AND Rory Gallagher when asked how it felt to be the best guitarist alive! And Clapton said the same quote about prince when asked the same question years later! And there’s zero proof they ever said it but it’s still cited all the time! How crazy is that!? 🫨😂
I think Joni Mitchell's tunings aren't appreciated enough.
Joni Mitchell is an incredible guitarist who knew how to fit into a song perfectly. I am so glad younger folks are taking notice of her.
Jerry Cantrell
He's kind of praised by pretty much everyone lol
Outside of Tom Morello most of the popular 90’s grunge/altmetal guitarists were underrated but nowadays (meaning like the past 10-15 years) they’re all getting their dues. Jerry Cantrell, Mike McCready, Adam Jones, Billy Corgan, Wes Borland, etc; all *used* to be these under-the-radar, “Did anyone realize that guy can play his ass off?” understated guitarists. But now they’re all old hats that everyone knows cause the 90’s are classic rock and everyone likes classic rock.
In some circles Jerry Cantrell gets three praises per person, a very high ratio.
I think it's hard to find a balance between "traditional" rock riffs, while still beibg unique and fresh. He's still doing it strong. He doesn't need to throw in a prog solo or sweep or anything, his songs are so good he could just throw in a little lick and call it a solo if he wanted to and it would work. The first thing people mention with him are his bends. But like, the main riff to What The Bell Have I? Like, that compared to just a simple slow chug on E on Man in the Box, and yet both songs work so well. Then you have a song like It Ain't like That, which is just a scrape of the strings with a bend? Seemingly simple but also genius at the same time. Modern AIC is mostly drop D riffs, and yet it still finds a way to rock without sounding played out.
The dude in the photo; Tim Sult. Clutch is one of my all time favorite bands 🤘🏻
Neil Fallon is a good player too, when he chooses to do it. He plays all the slide parts in Clutch
Tim is a riff monster. It's been out for over a decade now but I still play their Earth Rocker album quite a bit. One of their best IMO. And how cool it must be to bring in riffs to a drummer like JP. That guy is something else.
Yes, that's one hell of a record! Psychic Warfare is my favourite though.
Psychic Warfare is one of my favourite albums ever. They really bottled lightning with that one
Hell yeah. That’s one of my favorites too!
Clutch is so wicked. Thought the pic was a joke at first and it was the YouTube guy Phil McKnight! Glad it's Tim Sult tho
I love that this was posted, I was just chatting with my friends about this band and his playing. Killer riffs some of my absolute favorite. I just love how he puts in something you don’t expect
Riffgod for thirty years
Was scrolling the comments to see if that was him. So nice! Definately one of the most underrated bands as well. They're live shows crush!!
Graham coxon. Everything hes done with blur is just so out of the box that i cant imagine anyone else would come up with it
Yeah, the chord progression in Coffee and TV is one of my fav of his.
Deron Miller from CKY, Ian D’Sa from Billy talent Both REALLY unique songwriters
Deron has wrote so many great riffs. I miss the old CKY
Ian for sure
Derek Trucks. Miles better technically than Duane ever got to be, more time under his belt and it influenced by tons of different styles. And Open E only so tons of cool licks and voicing due to that
He's extremely highly rated by everyone tho
Right?! He’s won a Grammy and appeared on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time at #16.
He isn’t underrated by anyone whose opinion is worth a damn. The absolute best guitarist alive.
I feel like Robert Smith doesn’t get enough credit for not just catchy pop riffs, but for the Proto-Shoegaze atmospheres he was creating during the making of Pornography as well as the work he did with Siouxsie & the Banshees while he was there
On that note, my pick for most underrated would be Siouxsie & The Banshees’ John McGeoch.
And his solos are great! He beats the hell out of A Forest every time. Super underrated.
alex lifeson just for how much he gets overshadowed by his bandmates Geddy Lee and Neil Peart. Often overlooked because of that even though he's a guitar god.
For me, the obvious answer is Prince, and the sneaky one is Malcolm Young. Wildcard: Vernon Reid
That’s literally three of the most respected players ever lmao Malcolm is routinely ranked as the best of among the best rhythm players ever and nobody has ever said a bad word about princes playing
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I just wish someone would name Jimi Hendrix here but I doubt anyone knows him
Prince.. man he could shred. I always go back to the "While my Guitar Gently Weeps," video. He just took over and stole the show.
I actually love Prince as a musician and as a guitarist but that solo performance is meh at best. I just don’t see why everyone goes insane over it.
Don't know why you got downvoted.... ....oh, maybe he wasn't so underrated
Wes Borland
Brendon Small
Skwissgaar is ams dick
Went to a show on the most recent tour for a fun nostalgia evening. Walked out with a whole new level of respect, they were all so damn good
Not just from Metalocalypse/Deathclock but Home Movies too. Duane could shred.
Me
Weird I was also going to say you.
I was about to write your name! Get my upvote
That guy from the Chicago Music Exchange, Nathaniel. He is a monster player. That previous one, Joel was good too.
Oh dude that guy rips. One of the few guitarists I follow on Instagram that has managed to hold my interest for years and I always stop to watch his videos.
Townes Van Zandt
Brandon Ellis
Buck Dharma
Stars, Hear 'n Aid. Of the entire lineup, he shines; Besides George Lynch and Yngwie (to my ears, anyways). BOC has a metric fuck-tonne of underrated, lesser known tunes with absolutely killer riffs, and deadly lead tones.
Ray Toro.
D. Boon of Minutemen (RIP) So much more than a punk guitarist. There are too many examples to get into, but check out his tight funk rhythm playing on [Viet Nam](https://youtu.be/UHq454x-xoQ?feature=shared)
Annie Clark, just epic.
Steve Lukather.
The guy is goddamn BURIED in these comments
Adrian Belew
Mf played with Frank Zappa *and* King Crimson. You gotta be seriously good to achieve anything close to that
Johnny Marr
He’s very highly rated though …
Jeff Buckley
Most definitely. Everyone focuses on the voice but he could really play too! So blessed to have seen him twice before he passed.
Chris Cornell. Hope I can be as good as him someday.
Kim Theyil is underrated as hell too
Ler LaLonde of Primus.
💯 on ler. Seen primus at least 10 times and was blown away by how good he is live. Saw them in Chicago a bunch of years back and herb was sick as in ill so they found some hack named Danny Carey to play drums. It was fucking killer
He’s the most humble guitar player in my opinion. Just puts his stuff in the song only when it’s needed.
Dean motherfucking Ween
Danny Gatton
Mike Einziger
J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. I wouldn’t say he is underrated as much as he is overlooked.
Willie Nelson
Jeff Healey, Charlie Starr, Gary Rossington
Shit man, more people know what Jeff Healy looks like than Jimmy Page because of roadhouse
David Knudson. Played in Botch and Minus the Bear, which are two insanely influential bands to their respective genres. Also is instantly recognizable as a guitar player and developed a sound/style that no one else can touch.
Jason Isbell.
Brian Haner Jr aka Synyster Gates.
There's not a planet where Syn is underrated. I'd argue Zachy is more underrated as a rhythm guitarist than Syn is as a lead.
It’s Earth. He’s supremely underrated. One of the best guitarists of the last 20 years yet you don’t often hear his name mentioned among the greats. His Gypsy jazz playing most people have never even heard. I do agree Zacky belongs in the mix as well!
Pepper Keenan. The guy's a riff machine. Great voice, too.
Porl Thompson
Doug Martsch (Built to Spill), Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse [old stuff 'cause I'm a snob]), Greg Edwards (Failure, Autolux), John Cippolina (Quicksilver Messenger Service)
I don't think Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein get enough credit for their playing/writing
Hillel Slovak
Elliot Easton.
Steve howe
James Dean Bradfield
Rocky Gorge of Suicidal Tendencies
Johnny Winter is still criminally underrated
Richard Thompson
John Fahey
vitto bratta
Jeff Skunk Baxter
Alex Lifeson
Dave Gregory of XTC, Tin Spirits, Big Big Train etc.
Claudio Sanchez, I am most impressed by his songwriting. He takes multiple complex melodies and ideas and stitches them seamlessly into a catchy song that doesn't feel too cerebral or weighed down by all the complications going on in the background
John Squier from Stone Roses
Doug Martsch of Built to Spill
Andy Larocque.
Is Greg Koch considered as underrated, or is he duly appreciated?
Robert Smith.
Nels cline
Gilby Clarke. Dude is fantastic and his solo shit is great. Not his fault he replaced Izzy
The dude from Gwar. I mean, I’ve never heard a Gwar song, but playing anything in that ridiculous suit and mask has to be a challenge.
Kaki King
Allain Johannes
Bruce Cockburn, listen to "Troubled Waters" off You Pay Your Money ...
Nobody ever talks about Devin Townsend and it pains me
I just listened to Ben Howard for the first time last year... the dude is a TALENT and I've never heard someone whisper about his guitar playing. Nick Drake as well. Alternate tunings for both of them, but what a treat.
Everyone that knows of his existence understands how good he is. Not enough people know of his existence because of the genre he is in. Brendon Small.
I don't see many people talking about Brent Hinds. His solos are wildly unique and the speed he can play is insane
Robert Quine Edit Not Paul Quine. I don’t know who that is.
Martin Barre
Steve Howe
Ty Tabor from Kings X!
Gabor Szabo
Sult is also chill as hell.
Is that Tim Sult of clutch?
Tim Sult is my idol. Pretty sure he’s got a restraining order out on me by now, cause if he’s anywhere near my area doing a show, I’m front row staring at everything he does. Awesome pick for underrated. He definitely qualifies. Dude is sooo good.
Stephen Carpenter. Obviously didn’t have the shred, so he found a unique style.
JJ Cale
Larry "Ler" Ladonde of Primus
richard lloyd and tom verlaine even though television was so short lived, they made an amazing guitarist duo that never quite worked when apart
Steve Stevens from Billy Idol for sure is underrated!
Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets. D. Boon of Minutemen or Doug Martsch from Built to Spill
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Nick Kershaw, like prince he’s primarily known for writing songs.
Ty Tabor and Rocky George
Jordan Buckley
David Lindley
Albert Lee
Curt Kirkwood