Welcome to our first-ever Greatest Guitarist poll, where 128 guitarists go head to head, round by round, in a bracketed format, all to crown your choice for the Greatest Guitarist of All Time.
We filled 124 of 128 slots with the names of a host of incredible guitarists (dead and living) — players chosen for their technical ability as well as their importance and creativity, not to mention how influential they've been. We asked you to vote in the final four names, which you did. Now the 128 slots are filled, and we're already well into Round 2.
You might come across one or two interesting style matchups in this poll, which may lead some of you to wonder, "How do you compare a shred guitarist to a blues guitarist?" Aside from how good a player is at his or her given style, here are some things to take into consideration:
• Influence: Who inspired more kids to beg their parents for a guitar for Christmas? Who inspired a wave of copycats?
• Chops/Versatility: Is the guitarist in question a one-trick pony or a master of many styles?
• Body of Work: Who had the more consistent career? Who has played on more classic albums?
• Creativity: Who pioneered new techniques? Who sounds the most radically different from what came before them?
You can check out full results via our regularly updated bracket here.
There's a certain Neoclassical flavor to today's Round 2 matchup, as Yngwie Malmsteen takes on Ritchie Blackmore. Which of these to legendary guitarists will make it on to Round 3? Vote now!
Readers Poll: The Greatest Guitarist of All Time — Malmsteen Vs. BlackmoreTuesday's matchup saw Dave Mustaine (59.05%) defeat Kirk Hammett (40.95%). View the full bracket.
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NAMM 2013: Fender Custom Shop Introduces Ritchie Blackmore Tribute Stratocaster (1/19/2013) The Fender Custom Shop is paying tribute to the "anvil" used to forge one of the greatest guitar riffs in rock history, the one from Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water," by releasing the limited-edition Fender Custom Shop Ritchie Blackmore Tribut... |
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Yngwie Malmsteen Announces December Release for New Album (10/18/2012) Swedish shredder Yngwie Malmsteen has announced a December 5 release date for his latest album, Spellbound. The follow-up to 2010's Relentless marks just one of many upcoming and ongoing projects for Malmsteen, who recently launched his own gui... |
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Yngwie Malmsteen Launches New Guitar Lessons Site, Relentless Shred (9/28/2012) Shredding icon Yngwie Malmsteen has launched his own instructional website for guitarists, Relentless Shred. All the lessons on the new site, which requires a paid monthly membership, are taught by Malmsteen. Here's more info, direct from the ... |
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Poll: The Greatest Guitarist of All Time, Round 1 — Ritchie Blackmore Vs. Vivian Campbell (5/14/2012) Welcome to our first-ever Greatest Guitarist poll, where 128 guitarists go head to head, round by round, in a bracketed format, all to crown your choice for the Greatest Guitarist of All Time. We filled 124 of 128 slots with the names of a host ... |
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