# The "Certified Guitar Player" list. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 11, 2018, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630 "2018-02-11T16:13:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/21 "2018-02-11T21:13:54Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I think you’re missing the point of CGP. Chet was the dean of Nashville Guitarists and came up with this moniker. Because Chet was Chet freakin’ Atkins his “award” is still discussed to this day. Yeah, jeez. It¡s not like he was advertising his services as some sort of certification body or proposing some sort of ISO standard. It was _for fun_! _Of course_ the list of guitarists of his style, that he knew, liked, played with and respected is going to be short and selective. It’s the entire point. Unrelated: YouTube dished up this video of Roy Clark as a guest on an episode of the Odd Couple. Worth the watch, especially the the flamenco-inspired piece at the end that he manages to do flatpicked. [Roy tearing it up on multiple instruments.](https://youtu.be/ilm2qeJndWo) ---
**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:** [February 11, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/22 "2018-02-11T22:01:41Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > There’s a whole generation of people who think of Jerry Reed as a cornpone actor who appeared in films like Smokey and the Bandit. Shame. That’s where I was when I saw his name on the list. (The “Smokey and the Bandit” guy.) And then I watched some of the videos of Reed playing guitar provided in this thread. Wow, he could really play. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/23 "2018-02-11T22:22:05Z")
I only know 2 of those 5. Tommy Emmanuel, and Jerry Reed. Tommy is talented beyond belief, imho, but he lacks soul and should stay away from the Blues. A much more well rounded player by comparison, again imho, would be Jorma Kaukonen- one of my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/24 "2018-02-11T22:48:55Z")
What ever happened with Stanley Jordan. It seemed like he was everywhere in the eighties and then just disappeared. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/25 "2018-02-11T23:00:44Z")
Can Chet Atkins create a list of guitar players so great that he himself can not make the list? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/26 "2018-02-11T23:03:06Z")
> [@BeeGee](#): > > What ever happened with Stanley Jordan. It seemed like he was everywhere in the eighties and then just disappeared. n/m ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/27 "2018-02-12T00:42:48Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > Does Richard Thompson belong on that list? Oh hell yes. ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/28 "2018-02-12T01:54:37Z")
I only knew Tommy and Jerry. I knew Jerry Reed was a bad ass from when I was a kid, only heard of Tommy Emanuel in the last few years. I think the C.G.P. thing is great fun between friends that respect each other. I’ve seen another version of this, used less formally. The band leader usually is an older dude, hires the players, and substitutes, usually younger guys payin their dues. The players he “certifies” are the ones he gives nicknames too. It’s kind of a mentor/apprentice thing. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/29 "2018-02-12T02:46:21Z")
I’ve seen Tommy Emmanuel live a few times, including once when he supported Eric Clapton back in the '90s. He was (not sure if he is still active) an extraordinary talent. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/30 "2018-02-12T04:52:43Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Yeah, jeez. It¡s not like he was advertising his services as some sort of certification body or proposing some sort of ISO standard. It was _for fun_! > > _Of course_ the list of guitarists of his style, that he knew, liked, played with and respected is going to be short and selective. It’s the entire point. > > Unrelated: YouTube dished up this video of Roy Clark as a guest on an episode of the Odd Couple. Worth the watch, especially the the flamenco-inspired piece at the end that he manages to do flatpicked. > > [Roy tearing it up on multiple instruments.](https://youtu.be/ilm2qeJndWo) How the holy fuck does taht guitar not just burst into flames at the end of that? (thank you) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/31 "2018-02-12T10:46:59Z")
> [@BeeGee](#): > > What ever happened with Stanley Jordan. It seemed like he was everywhere in the eighties and then just disappeared. I don’t know - I assume he still plays out, but I am not regularly checking club calendars. His two-handed style was so fresh at the time, and is truly musical not just a stunt. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/32 "2018-02-12T23:21:59Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Apparently there are five guitar players designated as “certified guitar players”: > > [What does CGP stand for in guitar? - The Guitar Journal](http://www.theguitarjournal.com/what-does-cgp-stand-for/) > > I am curious what you think of this list. > > I am not familiar with some of these guitarists; I will have to do some listening. > > Was Jerry Reed really that good of a guitarist? Jerry Reed was a virtuoso guitarist. He (much like another great guitar player, Roy Clark) allowed his talents as a comedian and comic actor to overshadow his guitar playing, but he was a great guitarist. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/33 "2018-02-12T23:25:14Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > By the way, folks like **Mark Knopfler and Brian Setzer** would be modern versions of CGP’s. Just super versatile across genres and capable of fingerstyle bass lines and melodies. > > Julian Lage. Guthrie Govan. John 5. Absolutely. Setzer sometimes lets the hair and clothing and stage antics and genuine ability as a singer overshadow his ability, but he’s a rock and roll rarity – a real all-around musician who can sit in with jazz guys when he wants to, write out a chart, read a chart, and play pretty much anything. I’ve always liked his playing, ever since he was playing in bar bands in my neck of the woods. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/34 "2018-02-13T10:58:54Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > I’ve seen Tommy Emmanuel live a few times, including once when he supported Eric Clapton back in the '90s. > > He was (not sure if he is still active) an extraordinary talent. Tommy is still very active. Has his own freakin’ TED talk. On places like the Acoustic Guitar Forum, he is held up as one of the best working players - folks start a thread about getting too see him for the first time, and others give them tips and geek with them about seeing the Master. Some folks whinge (he’s Aussie, seems proper to use the word ;)) about his playing being too precise and lacking soul. I find I can take his level of virtuosity for only a few songs in the best of circumstances - but that’s true of Art Tatum and other super-dense players, too, and not a comment on Tommy’s “soulfulness.” I don’t think of him as an acoustic Yngwie or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/35 "2018-02-14T00:49:57Z")
Thanks for that, **WordMan** , very interesting. Glad to hear Tommy is still active - it’s me who isn’t! Life and kids now take up my time; not concerts or other music-related pursuits. And yes, “whinge” was an entirely appropriate word to use in the circumstances:) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2018, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630/36 "2018-02-14T10:31:16Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > Thanks for that, **WordMan** , very interesting. Glad to hear Tommy is still active - it’s me who isn’t! Life and kids now take up my time; not concerts or other music-related pursuits. > > And yes, “whinge” was an entirely appropriate word to use in the circumstances:) Hey - I got it right! 😉 I did a search on “Emmanuel” on the Acoustic Guitar Forum and there were 172 threads that came back. Oy! Many with video clips, or discussing how the poster views Tommy as one of the greats. His clips are all over YouTube, too. Performances, interviews and lessons - the whole enchilada. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-certified-guitar-player-list/808630.md?page=1)