greatest metal guitar player?

[Epiphone8]

was thinking to myself the other day waiting to go onstage - who are the greatest metal guitar players? thats any kind of metal, wether 80's hair metal or death or tharsh or plain metal or *****, oops i mean nu-metal

so i came up with:

kirk hammet, james hetfield - metallica (duh)
dimebag darrell - pantera
munky, head - korn
mick thompson and jim root - slipknot
adam jones - tool
tony iomni - black sabbath
zakk wylde - black label society, ozzy osbourne
kerry king, jeff hanneman - slayer
brian robertson, scott gorham (gary moore for a period) - thin lizzy
wes borland - limp bizkit
dave murray, adrian smith - iron maiden
dave mustaine - megadeath
eddie van halen - van halen

im sure theres loads i missed! personaly i think the perfect heavy metal guitar player is kirk hammet (in the studio at least, at times he aint great live). kirk can play some great solos and ryhtms, and shred like a bastard!

thoughts anyone?

[Epiphone8]

yeh james writes em but kirk is the one with the technique to pull the solos off, kirk writes some riffs to, he wrote the enter sandman riff for a start and many of the classical parts (ie middle of master of puppets)

[Epiphone8]

i agree, dave and adrian are great but i prefer the early maiden stuff. tony is the man who practically invented heavy metal.
im going to see maiden in november in glasgow, shuld be a good night.

[MikeWGA]

Hmmm, I don't think I'd give it to the boys from Korn or even Slipknot (though I love Slipknot, don't get me wrong) but I think as guitarists go, they're not all that impressive.

Adding Mick Mars of Motley Crue!

[sabbath181]

alll those guys ar great but i'm gunna have to say tony iommi he is the grandfather of metal so no one can beat him becasue he invented it.

also you forgot randy rhoads!

[clifford]

Adam Jones is not a metal player... I'll fight with anyone about that.. tool is not metal.. they're tool, they fit no where.

The guys from Opeth are amazing..!! My favorite more straightforward metal band.. they can play so many styles, and make them work together. Its great stuff.

[TomBert05]

Iommi being the foundation in which the rest of metal guitar was based on he is a god. others are zakk wylde randy rhoades (ozzy gets some good axe slingers) james and kirk eddie van halen, guys from maiden. lots of good guys out there. all the new stuff sucks IMO.

[lowfalcon]

Tony Iomi is a true guitar god.

[clifford]

Originally posted by TomBert05
all the new stuff sucks IMO.

That's not true. There's lots of good stuff out there. And just because you don't like it doesn't at all mean it 'sucks.'

[TheWizard]

dude, jerry cantrell.

[skyneverclaimed]

Me :p

[BossMXRHarmonix]

Randy Rhoads was good. I can't stand HM but I acknowledge this guy's prowess.

[jackass]

Nothing against Nu-Metal tyles, but I wasn't aware that the Korn guys were all that good.

How about some black metallers? Vernon Reid anyone?

[j_stashko]

Jeff Waters from annihilator, crazy dude, Kai Hansen from gamma ray, Andre Olbrich from blind guardian. I heard the guy from slipknot the one with the signature bc rich can shred like a mofo, but why he doesn't in slipknot, I don't know.

[[Kaemor]]

Originally posted by clifford
Adam Jones is not a metal player... I'll fight with anyone about that.. tool is not metal.. they're tool, they fit no where.


It's right... Tool is only Tool...i've reading somewhere that Aenima is Nu-Metal...what a stupid thing...people put Tool in the same list of Staind, Korn and Limp Bizkit...**** u all! Adam Jones is one of the most talented and innovative guitarist of all time, I love Him and I think that everyone have to follow him...create a personal guitar style with all the things that you like...this is a very bad period for rock...and Tool is the only salvation...

[Bad Johnny]

CHUCK SCHULDINER

[Epiphone8]

dude munky and head are pretty awsome players. they are covering 'one' for their new album and playing the full thing so they must be nifty to get the solos down. i saw them do that live in glasgow, and ive seen the 'halloween' solos they played a few years ago, van halen crazy tapping divebomb ****. very kool.

and anyway, blind has probely the most regognoisable riff of modern metal.

[GuitarZeroDude7]

more to add to that list:

Marty Freidman
Al Petrelli
Jon Donais


and what about all of the guitar players in the melodic death scene (i.e. In Flames, Soilwork, etc.)?

[jimmy]

originally posted by i stasko
I heard the guy from slipknot the one with the signature bc rich can shred like a mofo, but why he doesn't in slipknot, I don't know.


Yes this is true....Mick doesn't shred because the producer won't let him.

Mick Thomson " I spent my whole life learning guitar and then (producer) Ross Robinson took my solos from me"

[Aquatrotsky]

John Petrucci anyone?

[freakwincy]

What about the two guys from Meshuggah?

[fiveways]

Robert Fripp.

[Rayguitargod]

JEFF HANNEMAN- Idiots.

[GuitarZeroDude7]

can't forget the Amott brothers from Arch Enemy. those guys can tear it up like crazy.

[Epiphone8]

i said jeff right in the first post!

i bought a total guitar magazine heer in the uk and it came with a cd of mick shredding. ****in awsome ****, but you know it is guitar wanking ya no?

jim root from slipknot can shred to, listen to the get inside solo by stone sour.

[dead_and_alive]

sorry to dissapoint you , but thats not jim root playing the solo in stone sour

the best metal riff writer is hetfeild , listen to the riffs from master , or seek and destroy , you hear them and you know those are riffs you'll never forget

as for the best metal soloist , tough choice but the first that comes to mind would have to be john petrucci (kirk is a guitar god and is one of the best plus metallica are my favourite band, but hes not as technically proficiant as petrucci , he might be but until we hear a solo album by him we'll never know) , but there are a hell of alot of unrecognized soloists out there that are ****ing amazing , especially if you listen to alot of bands like meshuggah and arch enemy those guys are pretty amazing , im supprised they havent been recognised years ago for how good they are but most people are too inept at getting past their genre or 'sound'

[GuitarZeroDude7]

Originally posted by dead_and_alive
sorry to dissapoint you , but thats not jim root playing the solo in stone sour

the best metal riff writer is hetfeild , listen to the riffs from master , or seek and destroy , you hear them and you know those are riffs you'll never forget


first, Jim plays A FEW solos in Stone Sour. but you're right. for the most part, Jim doesn't. that's usually Josh Rand soloing.

second, Dave Mustaine wrote most of the riffs on the first two Metallica albums and i think a few on Master Of Puppets as well. not to say that Het isn't a good riff writter (he is) but Dave wrote most of that stuff.

[drl_06]

Jon Donais and Matt Bachand are freakin awesome

[darkstar54mm]

randy rhoads,zakk wylde, kirk hammet

[Epiphone8]

ah dudes, i was told it was jim root but the guy who told me must have been wrong. im slightly embarresed now...:eek:

kirk wrote the sandman riff, and that is prob the most regognisable metallica riff. personally my fave is battery, it has an ace riff

[BadHorsie]

this post was about metal guitarists....so you have to exclude John Petrucci (he plays progressive-rock) but I say this without wanting to argue that his riffs are heavy. He is by far my favourite guitar player. His riffs are beautiful, heavy, fast, everything you could want in a metal player but he also has those wonderful cleans, slow bits, all that jazz stuff in their too.

Anyway Petrucci rules, prog-rock/prog-metal owns.
Check out Kamelot for some amazing prog-metal...key albums are the ones that have Kahn on the vocals.

Thom Youngblood (Kamelot)!

[Dead Intellect]

Originally posted by GuitarZeroDude7

second, Dave Mustaine wrote most of the riffs on the first two Metallica albums and i think a few on Master Of Puppets as well. not to say that Het isn't a good riff writter (he is) but Dave wrote most of that stuff.

Mustaine writing credits on Kill'em All and Ride the Lightning.

The Four Horsemen - Hetfield, Ulrich, Mustaine
Jump in the Fire - Hetfield, Ulrich, Mustaine
Phantom Lord - Hetfield, Ulrich, Mustaine
Metal Militia - Hetfield, Ulrich, Mustaine

Ride the Lightning - Hetfield, Ulrich, Burton, Mustaine
The Call of Ktulu - Hetfield, Ulrich, Burton, Mustaine.

6 of 18 songs on those 2 cds. That's it.. and listen to the Mechanix to hear Mustaines verison of the Four Horsemen, Metallica's is better.

[GuitarZeroDude7]

whoah whoah whoah. "The Four Horsemen" better than "The Mechanix"? that's a load of bull**** if i've ever heard it. and "The Mechanix" was originally a Metallica song (that Dave wrote) but when Metallica kicked Dave out, they took the song and changed it around a bit making "The Four Horsemen".

and if i'm not mistaken, Dave actually took Metallica to court for not only taking his material without his permission but for also not giving him credit on certain songs. again, i could be wrong, but i know it was something along those lines.

[Welladjusted]

rhythm:
hetfield and adam jones

lead:
hammett. his solos are perfect in metallica

[entrada]

Originally posted by Bad Johnny
CHUCK SCHULDINER
Chuck is definitely #1. He wrote so many of the best riffs in metal and Death was one of very few actual death metal band that had a ton of catchy melody AND wierd time singatures running throughout their songs. Bill Steer and Mike Amott of Carcass should also be mentioned.

[Gimpy]

best heavy metal....hm...when it comes to pure speed, Micheal Angelo from Nitro kicks everybody's ass. Makes Yngwie Malmsteen look like crap. When it comes to style, hard to say. but I like Zakk Wylde, James Hetfield, Dimebag Darrell, guys from Slayer, guys from Strapping Young Lad, Mustaine, list goes on. Nothing right now that catches my ear except Mudvayne.

[romulo77]

Marty Friedman

[bloodyvalentine]

Mick Murphy from My Ruin
Tony Iommi from....you know where...

[Dime]

K.K.Downing, Glen Tipton, Nuno Bettencourt all belong on that list.
...My personal favourite is Dimebag, though... He is simply my God!!!!

[Legion]

metallica ? what is that ?

I suggest you to listen a bit to Bill Steer and Trey Azagthoth, and you will hear what is a great metal player, you will hear true hard rythmic (actualy some Carcass and Morbid Angel riff are much harder to play than metallica's, satriani's or dream's theater ones). These guys have technic skills as well, but, and unlike allmost all metal guitariste of the world, they do rock and swing, wich is important, more than enything else, including technic (but they have also it so...). Cause Kirck hammet stuff, any good computer can do it...

[stratocaster83]

Originally posted by Epiphone8
kirk hammet, james hetfield - metallica (duh)
dimebag darrell - pantera
munky, head - korn
mick thompson and jim root - slipknot
adam jones - tool
tony iomni - black sabbath
zakk wylde - black label society, ozzy osbourne
kerry king, jeff hanneman - slayer
brian robertson, scott gorham (gary moore for a period) - thin lizzy
wes borland - limp bizkit
dave murray, adrian smith - iron maiden
dave mustaine - megadeath
eddie van halen - van halen


tell me why there is eddie van halen in that list?!? I mean, poor guy, he already had cancer, why don't you give him a break? do you want him to definitely stop playing reading this bull****?!??!?!??

I mean, how could you put banfs like thin lizzy in the same poll with limp bizkit?!? it's silly...

[cubby]

Tony Iommi - he may not be the most proficient but he is the Keith Richards of heavy metal as far as great guitar riffs. Anyone who doubts that should listen to Supernaut.

[clnh5]

Hey Kaemor i agree with you whole heartedly, that was very well put..."this is a very bad period for rock...and Tool is the only salvation"

But rephrase that...
..."this is a very bad period for rock...and Tool is one of the few to offer salvation"

There are other bands that are currently saving us from this bull**** we are being fed!

[TekFox]

Originally posted by Bad Johnny
CHUCK SCHULDINER

[MonkeyAteMySoul]

Alexi Laiho of children of bodom, he has some very amazing stuff, probly the best on the melodic death metal scene

[jimbobass]

Are we forgeting the pioneers of Heavy Metal AKA
JUDAS ****ING PRIEST I did notice one other person put KK downing on antoher note I am a bass player so what do I now(very sarcastically spoken) :cool: Peace

[Iced Guardian]

Originally posted by MonkeyAteMySoul
Alexi Laiho of children of bodom, he has some very amazing stuff, probly the best on the melodic death metal scene

This person knows what they are talking about. \m/ :cool: \m/

[arayya]

How come we do not distinguish Rhythm from Lead? Rhythm guitar is what makes metal not speed hammer-ons, and tapping my friends. The distorted power cord is what makes metal. Oh and by the way...Iommi is the first RHYTHM metal guitar player people. There is none higher! :mad:

[Ice age coming]

RIP GLITTER! \m/:D\m/

[sorre]

to me is randy rhoads without any doubt. and i really can see how lots of people like hammet... he's so feelingless...
sorre
ps: i hope nobody metioned malmsteen!

[stratocaster83]

Originally posted by Ice age coming
RIP GLITTER! \m/\m/

HELL YEAH!!! \m/

[Metal1]

I would say Toni Iommi is all things Metal!

I think most people confuse a Most Popular Metal Guitarist list with the most talented Metal Guitarist. I'll just add 2 awesome metal players
Jeff Loomis
Chris Bodderick

I like Kirk Hammet, but lets be real a second, The best?

[Ghettometalhead]

NOW THIS IS A THREAD! Zakk Wylde is the best metal player alive today IMO. Randy Rhoads is the best ever.If Jon Donias and Matthew Blanchard keep up the good work, they will be the best tandem of all time. But for now, as much flack as I think Iam gonna get for sayin this the best tandem now is tied Hetfield/Hammet and(gulp)......Shaffer/Welch aka Head /Munky.

[crazy_geetarist]

Shaffer - Iced Earth
Smith, Murray - Iron Maiden
Root, Rand - Stone Sour
Morton, Alder - Lamb Of God
Gelotte, Strömblad - In Flames
Wylde
Dimebag
Hammett
Hetfielf
King
Hannemen
etc etc
in no specific order,

[METaLLiKka7447]

Man i dont get some people, what makes a good guitarist is not how fast they can play and how hard it is to play? what the hell, its just an added bonus, and just because kirks solos are perfect every damn time doesnt mean he doesnt play without any feeling, it just means hes damn good, hes wrote like 100 (actually like 80 or something) solos for metallica and they all kick ass, i wish he would have done some on the new album to make up for the rest of it, anyway i think that todays best metal guitarist is ZAkk WYlde but my all time favorite is kirk hammet, damn hes good, i suppose i dont listen to that much other metal but its my opinion and i assume that the people who give kirk **** havent listened to all of his pieces, and my favorite riffster of all time is dimebag darrel, hell yes

[TheWizard]

(getting tired of repeating myself)



JERRY CANTRELL!

[Skuzze]

Fredrick and Marten from Meshuggah

[cormac]

i dunno -- haven't seen angus young's name mentioned -- maybe ac/dc doesn't count as metal but ya gotta include him in there -- all he does his rock, rock and rock some more -- and then drops his pants -- what more can you ask for? lol

[marshall-artist]

What about Glenn Tipton and KK Downing? They may not be the best but you can't deny thier influence on HM.

[Day'sSweetDaze]

Tom Morello, duh. :D

[Surferosad]

Timmy Taylor from Brainiac had this wicked looking square guitar entirely made of metal! Pretty cool! And Alan from Low has an aluminum guitar shapped like a Telecaster! :)

[Iced Guardian]

Originally posted by Day'sSweetDaze
Tom Morello, duh. :D

Do you have any examples of Tom playing "metal"? :confused:

I mean he's a great hard-rock guitarist but I don't think he's metal.

[Iced Guardian]

Originally posted by marshall-artist
What about Glenn Tipton and KK Downing? They may not be the best but you can't deny thier influence on HM.

Hell yes!

[Day'sSweetDaze]

Originally posted by Iced Guardian
Do you have any examples of Tom playing "metal"? :confused:

I mean he's a great hard-rock guitarist but I don't think he's metal. A lot of people call Audioslave metal. And, last I heard, RAtM's official classification was "rap metal", though I have heard people calling it "rockhop" or "funk rock" or "funk metal" and all kinds of other things. ****, man, I think we've reached the point where genres are too blurred to mean anything any more. I've always thought of the music I like as one big category, "metal", but people keep telling me that certain bands I like AREN'T metal but are alternative or hard rock or whatever.

Can I just have one big term to cover all loud, hard, heavy, powerful distorted guitar driven rock with vocalists who sing and/or rap really loud? :p

[Iced Guardian]

Originally posted by Day'sSweetDaze
Can I just have one big term to cover all loud, hard, heavy, powerful distorted guitar driven rock with vocalists who sing and/or rap really loud? :p

Hard Rock? ;)

[obsolete]

Rob Arnold & Matt DeVries from Chimaira have come a long way.

[*Noodles*]

Jeff Hanneman - He wrote Angel Of Death, nuff said.
Kerry King - You heard him play?!
Zakk Wylde - He's got his own sound in metal, not easy.
Randy Rhodes - Godlike.
Micheal Angelo - interesting but fast.
Van Halen - He rocked.
Tony Iommi - he's from Black Sabbath!!
Dimebag - big streches, little man.
Mick Thompson - not even funny.
Kirk Hammet - can fly,when 'alllowed'.

I think that's all... probs forgot some.

[crazy_geetarist]

Originally posted by obsolete
Rob Arnold & Matt DeVries from Chimaira have come a long way.
****ing right! chimaira is the ****, and the guitar parts are amazing

[Day'sSweetDaze]

Originally posted by Iced Guardian
Hard Rock? ;) But does that cover "metal" and "nu metal" and "alternative" and "grunge" and everything? :p

[crazy_geetarist]

Originally posted by Day'sSweetDaze
But does that cover "metal" and "nu metal" and "alternative" and "grunge" and everything? :p
no no no

[Day'sSweetDaze]

Originally posted by crazy_geetarist
no no no Didn't think so. But it's all the same to me, I need a wide, wide category, but not plain old "rock", that's too wide, since it includes things like "classic rock" (which is okay but not my favourite) and "soft rock" and "punk rock" and lots of other genres that I don't particularly like.

[Iced Guardian]

Originally posted by Day'sSweetDaze
But it's all the same to me, I need a wide, wide category, but not plain old "rock", that's too wide, since it includes things like "classic rock" (which is okay but not my favourite) and "soft rock" and "punk rock" and lots of other genres that I don't particularly like.

Like I said, Hard Rock. This does not include "classic rock", "soft rock" or "punk rock". All of those are their own subgenres. Hard Rock would include "nu-metal", "alternative", and "grunge".

I don't really think "nu-metal", "alternative", and "grunge" are subgenres. They are just names created for marketing purposes.

Metal, however, is a completely different subject. :)

[romulo77]

Dave mustaine - Megadeth
Marty Friedman - Megadeth