# Great rock guitarists of today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 14, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181 "2016-04-14T13:18:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/1 "2016-04-14T13:18:16Z")
Who are the great rock guitarists of today? Any list of the greats includes names like Hendrix, Page, Clapton, Van Halen, Beck, Vaughn, Gilmore, Montrose, Allman, Berry, Young, Vai, Blackmore, Schenker, etc. Even some of the more modern names like Morello, Hammett and White are still getting kinda, well, old. I am probably showing my age - all these greats are from previous generations. Who are the young great, or upcoming great rock guitarists, of today? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/2 "2016-04-14T13:22:50Z")
**John Mayer** is an excellent guitarist but in his late 30’s. **Derek Trucks** is the most gifted slide guitarist I have ever heard. I’ll think about this. **Ed Sheeran** is a fucking excellent guitarist and looper, he deserves a mention. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/3 "2016-04-14T13:29:52Z")
I think part of the issue is that mainstream music has gotten away from being guitar-god driven. I’m sure there are plenty of great guitarist out there (see above) they just aren’t featured as much. You could ask where are the Dean Martins of today. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/4 "2016-04-14T14:23:31Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > I think part of the issue is that mainstream music has gotten away from being guitar-god driven. I’m sure there are plenty of great guitarist out there (see above) they just aren’t featured as much. You could ask where are the Dean Martins of today. I think this is a huge part of it. Look at the [lineup](http://lineup.bonnaroo.com/) to Bonnaroo, one of the largest popular music festivals. None of the modern headlining acts are centered around guitar gods. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/5 "2016-04-14T14:32:03Z")
Adding **Gary Clark, Jr.** - great guitarist and singer out of Austin. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/6 "2016-04-14T14:39:00Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > I think part of the issue is that mainstream music has gotten away from being guitar-god driven. I’m sure there are plenty of great guitarist out there (see above) they just aren’t featured as much. You could ask where are the Dean Martins of today. Agree. Makes me wonder if the guitar solo is becoming a lost art. As well as groups centered around a lead guitarist (guitar-god). ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/7 "2016-04-14T15:14:34Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Agree. Makes me wonder if the guitar solo is becoming a lost art. As well as groups centered around a lead guitarist (guitar-god). Nah, there’s plenty of guitar playing going on. It’s just that most guitar music colors within the lines of what has been established. People get their guitar jollies going to see jam bands, or listening to folks like Derek Trucks, or Wilco\* who doesn’t compete with Justin Bieber. \*Wilco’s lead guitarist, Nels Cline, is 55 years old, but has spent his life in avantgarde type groups - he’s very late coming into the guitar hero game but has been a great guitar voice for the past few years. The Andy Summers of the the past few years. Oh, and to be clear: **Britney Howard** , on rhythm guitar for The Alabama Shakes and Thunderbitch, is a great, super-tasteful guitarist. Picks great spots to drop in a little something and has a great sense of groove. I would also add **Ezra Koenig** of **Vampire Weekend** - not a guitar-forward band, but man, he plays some really complex, up-the-neck stuff while also being the lead singer and doing some very intricate vocal stuff. The mind boggles. With those last two, okay: so they aren’t old-school guitar-hero bands. But they are recent and very guitar-centric in their respective sounds, and are doing really interesting things taste and technique-wise… ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/8 "2016-04-14T16:58:29Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > \*Wilco’s lead guitarist, Nels Cline, is 55 years old, but has spent his life in avantgarde type groups - he’s very late coming into the guitar hero game but has been a great guitar voice for the past few years. The Andy Summers of the the past few years. > > Oh, and to be clear: **Britney Howard** , on rhythm guitar for The Alabama Shakes and Thunderbitch, is a great, super-tasteful guitarist. Picks great spots to drop in a little something and has a great sense of groove. > > I would also add **Ezra Koenig** of **Vampire Weekend** - not a guitar-forward band, but man, he plays some really complex, up-the-neck stuff while also being the lead singer and doing some very intricate vocal stuff. The mind boggles. > > With those last two, okay: so they aren’t old-school guitar-hero bands. But they are recent and very guitar-centric in their respective sounds, and are doing really interesting things taste and technique-wise… Three of my favorites in the last 10-15 years (ok, Nels is more going on 20 years, but [California Tuffy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqf_iQqI_Xk) from The Geraldine Fibbers is something to behold). Also, Ms. Howard plays lead plenty beautifully, enough to make me think she’s the equal of her bandmate Heath Fogg, who’s no slouch. He plays incredibly tasty, subtle stuff. Hearing them work together on [Always Alright](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQEbAlFw5_0) live, for example, is a complete treat. And I must give a shout for the hometown girl. St. Vincent, headed by Annie Clark. Her style blends dense jazz chords, guitar fuzz, and synth rock in a way that you don’t hear very often. She’d probably blush, but I consider [Birth In Reverse](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUYz1J-WkV4) to be the equal of anybody’s power alt-fuzz-pop guitar (and yeah, many looser genres than that). And well, if I may inject the man into every discussion of what’s good about guitar, rock and roll, living in your car, and knowing what’s on your rider: BOB LOG III!!! [Six String Kicker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKC2ria3HxY) will work this time. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/9 "2016-04-14T17:11:13Z")
Mike Cooley Mato Nanji ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/10 "2016-04-14T17:29:47Z")
How the hell did I miss St. Vincent?! She’s a great, great player, and I love her songs and style. Thank **scabby**. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/11 "2016-04-14T17:42:07Z")
Tosin Abasi (from Animals As Leaders) Devin Townsend Trent Hafdahl (from After The Burial) Joby J. Ford (from The Bronx) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/12 "2016-04-14T18:03:37Z")
She isn’t bombastic on the guitar but guitar people seem to dig [Courtney Barnett](http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/22424-courtney-barnett-the-new-sensation) a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/13 "2016-04-14T19:18:47Z")
Jack White is exceptional. ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/14 "2016-04-14T19:19:59Z")
I came in to say St Vincent, so I’ll add Lianne la Havas who is everything I’d want in a lead guitarist. MiM ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/15 "2016-04-14T19:38:24Z")
I like my guitarists middle aged. Besides, that gives me an excuse to mention Joe Satriani and Doyle Bramhall II ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/16 "2016-04-14T19:55:45Z")
> [@Made\_in\_Macau](#): > > I came in to say St Vincent, so I’ll add Lianne la Havas who is everything I’d want in a lead guitarist. > > MiM She plays guitar? She’s wonderful, talented and beautiful, too. ETA: [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ewpdZKHujBw](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ewpdZKHujBw) wow - she does! Cool. Too bad we can’t include Amy Winehouse. I commented on the thread about the documentary about her, she was a truly wonderful guitar player. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/17 "2016-04-14T20:04:38Z")
He’s been around awhile but I think Matt Bellamy from Muse is a fine guitar player. I especially like his solo in [Madness](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek0SgwWmF9w). ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/18 "2016-04-14T20:28:07Z")
Seconding Gary Clark, Jr. and adding Joe Bonamassa, although at 38, he’s not exactly a youngster. ---
**Author:** ![zoog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7ea924/32.png) [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/19 "2016-04-14T20:35:31Z")
[Samantha Fish](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fVqLHjJii8) can play a little. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181/20 "2016-04-14T21:14:08Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Any list of the greats includes names like Hendrix, Page, Clapton, Van Halen, Beck, Vaughn, Gilmore, Montrose, Allman, Berry, Young, Vai, Blackmore, Schenker, ? You left off May. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-rock-guitarists-of-today/752181.md?page=2)