# Guitarists: Whom Do You Admire Most As A Player? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [August 10, 2021, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399 "2021-08-10T19:52:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/41 "2021-08-11T13:23:03Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Speaking of “Tear-Stained Letter,” Jo-El Sonnier had an up-tempo regional hit with it…here they are doing it on the greatest music show ever, Night Music. Lovely stuff. On the subject of great music shows, I humbly submit “the old grey whistle test”. The BBC’s stalwart throughout the 70’s and 80’s. Worth searching for it on the youtubes as it has some epic performances on there. Not strictly relevant to this thread regarding guitarists but it has [such beauties as this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf8GjhXvOjU&list=PLcuK__s2hNyYTWjH8FW_O6NKQsIXcIxci&index=2), I think this is the greatest version of “stir it up”. Goose bumps every time. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/42 "2021-08-11T13:38:44Z")
I barely know which end of a guitar to hold, but if I could learn to play like anyone, it would be Mark Knopfler. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/43 "2021-08-11T14:55:15Z")
At the first Richard Thompson show I saw with the full band behind him, I told my wife I was hoping to hear them play “Tear Stained Letter”. Which is what they opened the show with. After the song was over I tapped my wife on the knee and said “OK, we can go now.” 😅 ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/44 "2021-08-11T15:16:27Z")
Adrian Belew… As a whole package person and player, he’s always been pushing creative edges, experimenting, and seems a selfless collaborator rather than a showboating front man. He’s never seemed to rest on history or stuck in past techniques. Most of all, it seems he’s doing everything for the sheer pleasure of playing. Runners up: Buck Dharma, David Gilmour ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/45 "2021-08-11T15:26:00Z")
Poison Ivy Rorschach (The Cramps), Bob Mould, Johnny Marr, George Harrison. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/46 "2021-08-11T15:31:34Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > > > The two other musicians on stage were thinking, as they watched, “man, I’m going to put my guitar away and take up archery or photography or whittlin’”. > > I believe they are Suzanne Vega and Loudon Wainwright. Not people to be overawed but, yep, they know genius when they see it and at one point Loudon give a little smirk to himself as if to say “That really is just showing off now” Interesting, I did not recognize either one. They are no slouches themselves, but I’d love to know what they were thinking as this was happening. Perhaps a simple, repeated “wow”. mmm ---
**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:** [August 11, 2021, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/47 "2021-08-11T15:58:24Z")
Billy Zoom is who I copied my guitar-playing stance from! ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/48 "2021-08-11T15:59:56Z")
The best word I can think of to describe Knopfler’s playing is “expressive”. I could listen to him play all day. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/49 "2021-08-11T16:23:36Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Billy Zoom is who I copied my guitar-playing stance from! I’m unfortunately no good on the guitar, but I do love X. I’ve seen them three times in concert, including their 1998 Palladium show which was one of the first gigs they did once Billy rejoined the band. I got my X tattoo (my first ink, actually) not long after. Also saw The Knitters live twice. All were amazing shows. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/50 "2021-08-11T16:34:34Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Adrian Belew… As a whole package person and player, he’s always been pushing creative edges, experimenting, and seems a selfless collaborator rather than a showboating front man. He’s never seemed to rest on history or stuck in past techniques. Most of all, it seems he’s doing everything for the sheer pleasure of playing. Man, when I saw the Talking Heads on their “Remain in Light” tour, I went from “who is this guy up on the stage?” to “holy shit, how do I learn more about him??” I then saw him a year later again with King Crimson, and again was blown away. Since then I’ve bought a few of his albums, either solo or with the Bears, but I suspect I’ve still missed some very good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/51 "2021-08-11T16:51:11Z")
I’m not much of a guitarist, but I would say: Johnny Marr, Robin Guthrie, John Frusciante, Kevin Shields and Kristin Hersh are the ones I most admire. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/52 "2021-08-11T17:07:25Z")
Glad to see someone mention Glen Campbell. He was quite a session guitarist before his later singing popularity took off. Here he is live on Hee Haw playing _Ghost Riders in the Sky_ with Roy Clark, who was also no slouch. They have a lot of fun and you can see the admiration from Roy trying to keep up with Glen, but he can’t. And Glen is playing a 12 string. It is only about 2 and a half minutes. [Glen Campbell & Roy Clark Play “Ghost Riders in the Sky” - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_kbgjsuCec) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/53 "2021-08-11T17:48:59Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Adrian Belew… As a whole package person and player, he’s always been pushing creative edges, experimenting, and seems a selfless collaborator rather than a showboating front man. He’s never seemed to rest on history or stuck in past techniques. Most of all, it seems he’s doing everything for the sheer pleasure of playing. Here’s Belew getting some rather extreme pitch bends in Laurie Anderson’s concert movie _Home of the Brave_: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Bh9UPDjh2H0/hqdefault.jpg "Laurie Anderson - Talk Normal") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh9UPDjh2H0) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/54 "2021-08-11T17:58:54Z")
[Vini Reilly](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8VUi5BCyr8) is someone who manages to sound like no-one else, is it rhythm? is it lead? Yes, and no. Brian Eno is a big fan and you can hear why. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/55 "2021-08-11T19:01:57Z")
With both Belew and Zappa being mentioned, I was reminded of the widely-told story of Bowie recruiting Belew to join his band, and how Zappa responded. > **[Here's How David Bowie Stole Guitarist Adrian Belew from Frank Zappa](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-frank-zappa-adrian-belew/)** > > Guitarist Adrian Belew remembers an amazing evening in 1978 when he went from playing with Frank Zappa to David Bowie. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/56 "2021-08-11T19:09:02Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Glad to see someone mention Glen Campbell. He was quite a session guitarist before his later singing popularity took off. > > Here he is live on Hee Haw playing _Ghost Riders in the Sky_ with Roy Clark, who was also no slouch. They have a lot of fun and you can see the admiration from Roy trying to keep up with Glen, but he can’t. And Glen is playing a 12 string. It is only about 2 and a half minutes. - > > [Glen Campbell & Roy Clark Play “Ghost Riders in the Sky” - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_kbgjsuCec) Glen Cambell-[William Tell Overture.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUBhE00h9U0) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/57 "2021-08-11T19:16:26Z")
Tuck Andress has an amazing percussive style of playing. Seeing him live was a real treat. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iDLgoXzBUS0/maxresdefault.jpg "Tuck Andress incredible guitar solo !!!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDLgoXzBUS0) Jazz guitarist Mimi Fox is another astonishingly good guitarist. Her sophisticated use of harp harmonics is wonderful to hear. Watching her play in person was mesmerizing. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/o2gAgxqMXpQ/hqdefault.jpg "Mimi Fox : Live At The Palladium "Blues For Two"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2gAgxqMXpQ) ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/58 "2021-08-11T19:28:15Z")
Wes Montgomery 👍 ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/59 "2021-08-11T19:35:03Z")
Hmm, got to say **Zappa**. His guitar solo on _Stink-Foot_ has no equal, IMO. I have to mention **Joni Mitchell** , though. A fantastic and underrated guitar player. Came up with her own tunings. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/60 "2021-08-11T19:55:23Z")
I loved his (edit: reply to Adrian Belew post, stupid hamsters) 2000s solo Side 1, Side 2, Side 3 albums, with the added bonus of Les Claypool on bass, if you are looking for more of his great stuff… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399.md?page=4)