You know what would be nice? An indie magazine making a top 100 guitarists list. Most indie-prog bands have some of the best guitarists.

Also, I'd laugh if Rolling Stone compiled a list of the greatest electronic musicians. They called Kraftwerk "dull geezers on computers" so they just lost all respect from an awful lot of people.

EDIT:
lolololol you're kidding me.

Well, maybe we could create a list of top 20 guitarists on our own? We could make a list of qualities, such as technical ability, innovation, live performances, sales (maybe), songwriting skill, etc. Just a thought.

Songwriting.....I don't think that should be too much of a factor or else people like Kurt Cobain with tons of creativity and limited guitar skill would make the list.
If it wasn't a factor at all though, this guy would be the entire top 5 so I don't really know. We'll have to find a happy medium.

Completely Agreed ;).
Django Reinhardt was as brilliant with seven of his fingers than other guitarists were with ten of them.

And have you heard Al Stewart play solo?
Have a listen, till the end please:
AL STEWART - ONCE AN ORANGE, ALWAYS AN ORANGE

Ian has all that except for sales.


True Math Rock balances virtuosity with good songwriting.

3:00 - 3:18 is pure gold.

What?
Jack White is a brilliant guitarist and that's a universally agreed fact.

He is okay, but he just modernized the blues - like SRV in the 80's. I like the White Stripes (don't get me wrong), but I feel that if Rolling Stone is going to put up people for their influence and innovation, then Jack White shouldn't be number seventeen.

WOW. That was great. I've never even heard of this guy.

exactly how I feel, except I can't stand The White Stripes.

Say what you will about Influence but that's not what this list is about. It's about technical skill and Jack White has that in the bucketload. In "It Might Get Loud" Jack builds a guitar out of a few cans, a plank of wood and an electricity supply, I don't know about you, but in my book that's pretty innovative. He then goes on to hold his own against(or even outshine imo) Jimmy Page and the Edge, both guitarists wth 10+ years more experience. Jack White just really loves the instrument and you can tell he knows just about everything about the guitar.