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.
Today, the past and present of the Allman Brothers Band collides as the legendary Duane Allman goes up against the incomparable Warren Haynes. Who will move on to the next round? Vote now!
Readers Poll: The Greatest Guitarist of All Time — Allman Vs. HaynesMonday's matchup saw Paul Gilbert (57.19%) defeat Eric Johnson (42.81%). View the full bracket.
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Video: Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks and Gregg Allman Perform "Midnight Rider" at Crossroads Guitar Festival (4/16/2013) Eric Clapton's fourth Crossroads Guitar Festival took place this past Friday and Saturday night at New York City's Madison Square Garden. Besides Clapton, this year's lineup included Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Jimmie Vaughan, the Allman Br... |
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My Night Playing Duane Allman’s Guitar (4/15/2013) I had the thrill of my musical life last year when I got to play Duane Allman’s 1957 Goldtop Les Paul on a Macon, Georgia, stage. I grew up listening to Lonnie Mack playing in bars around my Ohio hometown and have been greatly influenced by Eri... |
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Video: Watch the Unboxing of 'Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective' Box Set (2/28/2013) The new video below offers Duane Allman fans a sneak peak at the new seven-disc Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective Box Set. The set, which will be released March 5 on Rounder Records, includes rare recordings by Allman's early bands, includi... |
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Seven-Disc Duane Allman Box Set, 'Skydog,' Expected in March (1/28/2013) On March 5, Rounder Records will release Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective, a deluxe, seven-disc box set. The set, which will sell for $139.98, contains Allman's best-known and most commercially successful recordings with the Allman Brother... |
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Santana, Warren Haynes, And Derek Trucks Talk Tone With Paul Reed Smith (11/1/2012) Stevensville, MD (November 1, 2012) – Paul Reed Smith recently sat down for a chat with Carlos Santana, Warren Haynes, and Derek Trucks. They passed along the video and this press release. Enjoy: If you could listen in on a conversation betwee... |
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Interview: Warren Haynes Discusses Gov’t Mule's New 6-Disc Box Set, 'The Georgia Bootleg Box' (10/29/2012) Gov’t Mule recently released the first installment in their Bootleg Series. The Georgia Bootleg Box is a six-disc set capturing a three-night run from Georgia in 1996. The band was recorded live at The Georgia Theater in Athens on April 11, The... |
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'Skydog: The Duane Allman Story' is Newly Revised and Expanded (9/17/2012) Now in paperback, Randy Poe's Skydog: The Duane Allman Story (Backbeat Books) is revised and expanded, with a new afterword by the author, plus a foreword by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. It's the definitive biography of Duane Allman, one of the most... |
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Poll: The Greatest Guitarist of All Time, Round 4 — Stevie Ray Vaughan Vs. Duane Allman (9/10/2012) Welcome to our first-ever Greatest Guitarist poll, where 128 132 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 all but four of the slots with the nam... |
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Jam Session: Warren Haynes on Getting Started With Slide Guitar (9/7/2012) This column comes from Warren Haynes' classic Guitar World column, "Jam Session." When I first started to play slide guitar, I would play in standard tuning. I soon discovered that many slide guitarists tune their strings to form a chord, such a... |
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Learn Slide Guitar Essentials and More from Warren Haynes (8/22/2012) Need to brush up on -- or simply learn how to play -- slide guitar? Check out these two tab books and one DVD (plus an extra book, an ode to Duane Allman, one of slide's greatest heroes) that tell you how to do exactly that, and a whole lot more... |
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Poll: The Greatest Guitarist of All Time, Round 3 — Duane Allman Vs. Dickey Betts (8/16/2012) 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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Break Down Duane Allman's Style and Technique, Step by Step (8/8/2012) The lesson book Duane Allman: A Step-by-Step Breakdown of His Guitar Styles and Techniques lets you explore the songs and solos of Southern rock guitar legend Duane Allman. It is available now at the Guitar World Online Store for $22.95. |
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Allman Brothers' Peach Music Festival to Feature Warren Haynes, Tedeschi Trucks Band (7/13/2012) The Allman Brothers Band have disclosed the lineup and details for their Peach Music Festival, which takes place August 10 to 12 at Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain and Sno Mountain Ski Area & Water Park in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The fes... |
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Poll: The Greatest Guitarist of All Time, Round 1 — Duane Allman Vs. Mike Bloomfield (5/30/2012) 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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Poll: The Greatest Guitarist of All Time, Round 1 — Warren Haynes Vs. Ted Nugent (5/9/2012) 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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