My son attended a clinic put on by Tommy Emanuel last week.

He gave some lessons, showed off some and then performed with many of the attendees. Ross commented that he must know every single song ever written because the many of the students were playing original pieces that Tommy had never heard but could play better than the composers the first time he ever heard them.

eddie eddie eddie!

Van Halen?

A couple more guitarists who don't get a lot of mention are Steve Howe of Yes and Peter Frampton.

I don't pay much attention to some of the stuff from those days because much of it was so ubiquitous that I just tuned it out.

Steven Wilson

Don't forget Robert Fripp!!

That guy on the Anthem commercial is my favorite. Even his daughter thinks so.

Post an example.

he is probably already in this thread and I may have mentioned him but if we are talking all genres, Roy Clark has to be mentioned. Don't like his music but the man could play.

No doubt he could. He was a far better guitarist than he was a banjo player.

I saw Buddy Guy at a private concert.

You ever listen to black metal?

I really enjoy thrash, but black metal is my bag.

Here's two of the greatest. Whether you like their style or not, these guys can undeniably play:

John Jorgenson and Tommy Emmanual: (unless you just like watching great guitarists show off, skip the first two minutes):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XK-wzrLpNo

"now insert the word "music" for the word "guitarist" and we have a winner."

- Then insert the word "art" for music..."

Expansive thinking. I'm so glad that you learned something from me in this thread.

"Post an example."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qHIPyM5Tvk

<Randy Rhoads>

Nobody ever heard of Randy Rhodes until he died. I am not saying he wasn't a good guitarist, but I vividly remember the day he died. It was my 16th birthday. I was a big Ozzy/Black Sabbath fan. I had just seen Ozzy live. If you were to ask a hundred Ozzy fans on March 18th 1982 who was Randy Rhodes I guarantee you very few people would even know. You ask 100 Ozzy fans a week after his passing and most would say, he was one of the best of all time. Death has a way of making someone's legacy more important. I don't mean any disrespect to Randy Rhodes but I have never agreed with those who claim he is one of the best that ever lived. Randy Rhodes once played with Quiet Riot and nobody bought their records until after he left the band.....see what I am saying? Why did people not worship this supposed Rock God when he was alive?

Randy Rhodes was fretboard tapping well before Eddie.

That debate alone keeps Randy in the conversation.

<Randy Rhodes was fretboard tapping well before Eddie.>

Maybe, but nobody heard it. Quiet Riot was in reality a failed band until 1983.

<That debate alone keeps Randy in the conversation.>

You are entitled to your opinion. I personally think that is a silly reason to keep him in the conversation as one of the best guitarists of all time. You ever play guitar? Fretboard tapping as you call it is something that any kid who picks up a guitar learns almost immediately. It doesn't take too much skill.

Again, I will say that I am not saying he wasn't a good guitarist, but best of all time?? Not really.