Tom's Top 10 Guitarists

1. Ritchie Blackmore  
Yes, the man in black tops them all in terms of impeccable technique, style, charisma. His fat strat riffs and widdles are unmistakable – try out Child in time (Made in Japan version) and Gates of Babylon just for tasters. There are times when he plays crap – but you know it is deliberate – usually because he is in a mood (See his Smoke on the Water solo on ‘California jam’ – he plays most of it on one note!) Often copied but never equaled. His playing is so fluid and his use of the tremolo in earlier work is so much better than the fascile downward wang-work of modern players. His renaissance guitar of the last few years is not to be dismissed either. As Roger Glover once said of him – ‘When Ritchie was born, God pointed his finger at him and said  -‘You’

2. Jimmy Page  
If Blackmore is the Raphael of the axe then Jimmy Page is the Monet. Listening to his solos note for note he seems to fluff some and miss others, but stand back and look at the whole picture and you have a masterpiece. I also rate him in terms of his repertoire and songwriting. He covers such a wide variety of styles and yet his signature runs stand out as classic Page every time. His use of alternate tunings is well documented. It is hard to pick out any one song as better than another, but one that continually forms goose bumps on the spine is ‘Since I’ve been loving you’.

3. Randy Rhoads
He occupies such a high place due to his potential. His catalogue is very brief from Quiet Riot and Ozzy, yet in that short time he carved a niche of neoclassical playing which is just so satisfying to listen to and to play. A shame this genius’ time was so short. My favourites include ‘Mr. Crowley’ and ‘Revelation Mother Earth’.

4. Eddie Van Halen
No top 10 would be complete without him. He re-invented guitar-playing in the late 70’s – and it’s not just the finger-tapping which made him original. Check out his use of harmonics (standard, false and stopped). He also has a different angle on solos which brings across a sense of party and fun. One cannot forget his use of the tremolo as well – earning him the name ‘Eddie Van Wang-Nasty’. Top solos include ‘Eruption’ and ‘Hot for teacher’, but my favourite isn’t a Van Halen song but Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat it’ (When first played on Radio 1 the DJ said it sounded like Mark Knopfler!) Planet Zarg anyone?

5. Steve Vai  
His Royal Highness – the Prince of Darkness, master of the 7-string Ibanez and various 3-necked guitars. Famed for his right-hand hammer-ons, Vai made extensive use of a harmonizer in his early playing to produce a sound like a guitar orchestra. Having been a ’hired hand for the likes of Roth and Coverdale he now concentrates on his solo work and annual jaunts with Joe Satriani in the G3 concerts. If you haven’t seen his latest G3 video I recommend it. You will not believe his note for note perfection combined with lots of ‘feel’. Particularly impressive is a section with his band where 3 guitarists and a bass player pick their own guitar with their right hands and finger the frets on the adjacent one with amazing dexterity. The only reason he is not placed higher is the fact that much of his work is instrumental and I prefer the dynamic of a solo in the context of a vocal sandwich. My favourites of his include ‘For the love of God’ and ‘Blue Powder’ off his ‘Passion and Warfare’ album

6. Alex Lifeson  
Much underrated. Lifeson is a guitarist who has evolved his style through the years. Influenced by Page in the early years he quickly ploughed his own furrow with prog-rock epics and developed a more ‘techno’ style in the eighties. His solos are original, deceptively easy to play – and yet he thought of them first! I love his use of alternate time signatures and avante garde approach. Favourites include ‘Red Barchetta’ and ‘Xanadu’

7. Michael Schenker  
The crazy, alcoholic kraut – and he would be the first to admit it. (Who said it was a fine line between genius and madness). He is one of the few people who can put the flying V through it’s paces. He always excels when working together with a good songwriter such as Mogg or Barden. He is another who emulates a classical, almost Wagnerian style. His hammer-ons and vibrato are perfect, as evidenced on ‘Rock Bottom’ and ‘Cry for the nations’. My favourite is a lesser-known MSG track called ‘Looking for love’

8. Yngwie J. Malmsteen

Neoclassical, double-picking speed merchant extroadinaire. I’ve got his ‘basic’ guitar tutorial and can play about as far as half-way through the first exercise. Sometimes guilty of over-playing his style is nonetheless exciting. His best work, like Schenker, is produced in tandem with gifted song-writers e.g. Joe-Lynn Turner. Check out ‘Odyssey’ for an album of classics. The only thing which annoys me about him is his insistence on playing nylon classical guitars with a plectrum – it sets my teeth on edge! Notice the 'J' initial in the middle of his name so that you don't confuse him with all the othe Yngwie Malmsteen's who are out there!

9. Frank Dunnery  
A surprise inclusion, but anyone who invents his own guitar (tapboard) has to have some merit. Originally a leading member of the uncategorized band ‘It Bites’ he has produced many solo albums which show a magnificent evolution of style. He is another one who achieves greatness within the context of his songwriting. He is the master of restraint and yet can shred with the best of them. He is astounding in his ability to play complex time signatures and sing at the same time (see live version of ‘Yellow Christian’ as a prime example). Equally amazing is that he can play any of his songs acoustically as well as plugged in.

10. Brian May  
Complete with re-constituted fireplace and sixpence pick, May has an unmistakable sound. His well constructed solos set the hairs on end – and he’s no slouch at improvisation either! He has the ability to produce a melodic wall of sound which perfectly complements the other members of Queen. His playing has not stood still over the years (although his hair style has) but his signature runs and chord progressions are very recognizable. He was one of the first to really take advantage of layered guitar harmonies. My favourites of his include ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’  and ‘We are the Champions’.

101. Simon Cowell
Plays under the name of Tom Adams, but we all know better and the camera never lies.

AND it's funny how he cant play or practice when any Idol or X-Factor shows are on telly !

AND he always says 'keep it simple' (another Simon clue).

BUT, he is 6ft 4ins and wears his trousers at a sensible level, better shut up !!

So sorry Tom for missing the top 100.

109. Eddie Love

Where do we start with the doctor of  love.

He can play keyboards, drums, bass-rhythm-lead guitars & his sexy mandolin.

A livin legend, who lives on the edge but plays a solid center of any song delivered.

The Also-rans (in no particular order)

John Petrucci - A late addition as I have just discovered him in the last few months. He will undoubtedly rise in my top 10. Guitarist with Dream theater, he can play just about anything! He is able to play extremely fast but also plays with great restraint. What’s more, he plays with immense feel. Watching his instructional video he makes you feel you can accomplish what he suggests – provided you practice at least 8 hours a day!

Jimi Hendrix – I know he was the original but some of his songs are very pedestrian and if it wasn’t for his wailing strat some would be throwaway (controversial). I still like his playing though.

Bernie Marsden – Of Whitesnake and ‘Company of Snakes’ fame. One of my favourite solos of all time is his re-working of ‘Blindman’ on ‘Ready an’Willing’. He is master of the blues in my book.

Micky Moody – Also of Whitesnake fame. I love his slide work. Check out live version of ‘Love hunter’

Nuno Bettencourt – Of the now defunct ‘Extreme’. Where is he now? My favourite is his intro to ‘He-man woman hater’

Dave Gilmour – Self – effacing guitarist. His solos on ‘Another Brick in the wall’ and ‘Money’ often play through my head when I wake up in the early hours of the morning.

Billy Gibbons – I thought he was a very ordinary blues player until I tried to play some of his stuff. I can play the notes alright but to get his phrasing is nigh-on impossible.

Joe Perry – from Aerosmith. I like the fact that he uses so many guitars and creates the right sound for each song. The perfect foil for Steven Tyler.

Ted Nugent – One of a select group who can make a semi-acoustic Gibson sound and look good. His Byrdland guitar is a wailing monstrosity – guaranteed to blow the balls off a charging rhinoceros at 50 paces!

The Edge – Not necessarily a virtuoso but highly original. I prefer his early material when he played an explorer through an echo box.

Jake E. Lee – One of Randy Rhoads successors. Much underrated. He was able to produce nose-dives by bending the neck of his strat rather than use a tremolo.

Joe Walsh – Has to be included due to his 50% contribution to Guitarist’s No. 1 solo of all time – ‘Hotel California’.

Andy Summers – More into jazz now, he was able to produce a big sound but not an intrusive one through his chorused telecaster. He was able to fill the space in the 3-piece which was The Police.

Neil Geraldo – Not well known but he did some very original guitar work with Pat Benatar

Scott Gorham, Snowy White and John Sykes – I preferred these partnerships to the ones with Robbo Robertson. Dual lead never sounded so good!

Mark Knopfler – He has 2 very distinctive styles. One he uses with the strat and the other with his Gibsons. Both are very different but very original. A guitarist friend of mine at university tried to encourage me to throw away my pick and adopt Knopfler’s thumb and 2 finger picking style. I can do it but it doesn’t come naturally.

The ‘I’m not hearing it’ section (or what’s the fuss all about?)

Eric Clapton – Is it just me or is his playing boring. I liked ‘Layla’ but how he became the influence for so many guitarists I’ll never know. (controversial again!)

Carlos Santana – Mr. repetitive. He has a way of extending the middle and endings of some tedious songs so that you wish some one would unplug his amp.

BB King – What’s he playing? A Hondo starter guitar from Woolworths through a practice amp? My cat could play more original licks.

Noel Gallagher – Brian May summed it up: “(Of Gallagher) I don’t find myself sitting and thinking at home ‘I wonder how he did that?’

Pete Townsend – OK so he invented the windmill rotating arm technique but his SG sounds like he’s playing a cheese-grater through a microphone.

George Harrison – Great songwriter, shame about the playing.

The list could go on but I better stop there!