what makes a great lead guitar player?

[thiswaythatway]

I like guys who I can tell who they are after just a few notes.

 

[Anonymous]

As The Dude would say...

"Yeah.... that and a pair of testicles..."

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

I like guys who I can tell who they are after just a few notes.

What if you know it's them because it sucks so bad?

Steve

 

[Random Hero]

Phrasing, timing and knowing when not to play.

 

[Sick Michael]

Theres a lot of dudes out there today, absolutely pitch perfect and flawless technique...total economy of effort nailed down....but...theres no fire...I love Dream Theatre and petrucci is a phenominal player...but just doesnt make me want to pick up a guitar...Vai is a bit like that too for me. Gary and Yngwie on the other hand....different kettle of fish....it is something to do with expression...the fire is there...id say i even like dimebag over petrucci for the same reasons...

Another example, marty friedman and chris poland will always be my favs in megadeth...even though the new guy is totally flawless..

 

[ACShreds]

Phrasing, phrasing, phrasing, and phrasing.

 

[mentoneman]

Theres a lot of dudes out there today, absolutely pitch perfect and flawless technique...total economy of effort nailed down....but...theres no fire...I love Dream Theatre and petrucci is a phenominal player...but just doesnt make me want to pick up a guitar...Vai is a bit like that too for me. Gary and Yngwie on the other hand....different kettle of fish....it is something to do with expression...the fire is there...id say i even like dimebag over petrucci for the same reasons...

Another example, marty friedman and chris poland will always be my favs in megadeth...even though the new guy is totally flawless..

sickness!!! totally agree. i can appreciate the precision and form of the modern shred guys, but it's like admiring the neatness of a person with impeccable penmanship versus actually being captivated by the story on the page!

have you seen this one?

 

[mentoneman]

I like guys who I can tell who they are after just a few notes.

hammett?

 

[mentoneman]

Phrasing, timing and knowing when not to play.

one of my new underground guys is tom quayle--monster with a killer slippery style...but he plays over backing tracks so there is no longevity to his music for me. but his phrasing is awesome, so it shows me that phrasing alone doesn't cut it. eric gales is a monster phrase guy but his songs are not memorable to me.

on the other hand, eric johnson wrote some awesome songs and solos that are totally recognizable and iconic to me.

 

[mentoneman]

How Bout Steve Vai ? I love what he does . He is def an aquired taste to like his songs . He really talks in depth of what he practices or has practiced to lead him to Virtuosity or to help lead anyone to that path . He really knows and does what he preaches in his music , as weird as it can be at times . One song I will always love by Vai is Whispering a prayer . It just hits home . In all of his songs , He has all the elements present . Whispering a prayer feels spiritual and uplifting . He paints a picture with that song I can see and feel . Right there when anyone can see and feel the picture (song) that right there is what deems the term "Artist" .

Z

i hesitate to answer this one for reasons all too well known around here but in a nutshell i cannot connect with him at all.

might seem shallow but his gesturing and mannerisms makes it seem like he's totally putting on a show and coming up with licks he can execute theatrics to instead of totally putting everything on the line musically. hendrix already fearlessly tore that boundary down as a controversial visionary black entertainer in a turbulent era with real social consequences. he made people angry and polarized hippies versus the man.

vai just makes me uncomfortable

if you can run your fingers through your fan-blown hair and hump your axe as it hangs by your wang bar, while seductively staring at a sea of dudes, what you are telling me is that you don't need my allegiance

 

[thiswaythatway]

I like guys who I can tell who they are after just a few notes.

hammett?

DOH, yeah his squirrely vibrato really stands out doesn't it? But I actually like all the Metallica stuff up to Master. I can;t stand Justice For All, one terrible sounding album IMHO.

 

[squank]

Theres a lot of dudes out there today, absolutely pitch perfect and flawless technique...total economy of effort nailed down....but...theres no fire...I love Dream Theatre and petrucci is a phenominal player...but just doesnt make me want to pick up a guitar...Vai is a bit like that too for me. Gary and Yngwie on the other hand....different kettle of fish....it is something to do with expression...the fire is there...id say i even like dimebag over petrucci for the same reasons...

Another example, marty friedman and chris poland will always be my favs in megadeth...even though the new guy is totally flawless..

I totally agree - there has to be a passion in their playing for me to get into it. Jimi had it. Eddie had it. Randy had it. So did the guys you mentioned. Their energy and love for playing shines through. Music is about moving people, and the fretboard histrionics, devoid of emotion, are meaningless to me.