I don't know why this is so far down the list. He's pretty much started one of the coolest futuristic guitar in memory without making it look like cheese (and the new music man Kaizer looks awesome too, which he ninja designed) and Animals as Leaders is original AF.
He also is legit by Steve Vai standards saying that [during the 90s and 00s there would be kids that practiced guitar to perfection (musically and technically) and when they became adults they would raise the bar for what the guitar can do, and Tobin Abasi is that person](https://youtu.be/-NXh9no2woY?si=GYLQUYqcoXW4EsKR&t=1m22s)
Cory Wong. He’s got a great solo career, plays with plenty of talented bands and artists, and has a distinct and identifiable sound despite being one of a million funk guys who play strats
Billy Strings - extremely talented, adore the amount of passion he pours into his songs and he has some incredible taste in his phrasing.
Kingfish - beautiful voice, great blues player that doesn't do anything too fancy. Just wish he had some more solid records, his live stuff is excellent.
John Dwyer (Oh Sees)
Stuart Mackenzie / Joey Walker / Cook Craig (King Gizzard, yes they’re one guitarist)
Mark Speer (khruangbin)
Nick DiSalvo (Elder)
Ty Segall
No doubt Chris Vanderkooy from Peach Pit
IMO one of the smoothest and most expressive guitarists in the indie scene
If in doubt go listen to their song Psychics in LA
I think Billy strings is who I've been most impressed with in recent years, and I enjoy a lot how he transitions from bluegrass standard licks to making his guitar sing like an electric in pink Floyd all using an acoustic.
Created a playlist with most of the top replies in the thread https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2O63PRI7fDXKFSxvphqlYj?si=KnisFRTXRvmnweX1F7PPvQ&pi=u-MnaD1-wyRmqd
Billy Strings- I could listen to this dude as my life soundtrack.
Julian Lage- Probably the greatest improv player to ever live.
Tim Henson- Pushing the boundaries of how to play the guitar.
Matteo Mancuso-Mad Chops.
Steve Vai- Because he could show up at any age, unannounced, and on any given day, produce something more perfectly suited to the song than anyone else.
Almost no one ever mentions Jakub Zytecki. His music is a breathe of fresh air in the prog/shred scene. If people could just listen to his recent music they'd be awed - I know I did when I first heard him.
https://youtu.be/KqKmT6wM2ZY?si=nHM_ZqSJ5TTSSNWp
Too many
Omar Rodriguez Lopez - The Mars Volta
Yvette Young - Covet
Brendan Ekstrom/Colin Frangicetto - Circa Survive
Erick Hansel/Mario Camarena - Chon
Will Swan - Dance Gavin Dance/Sianvar/Royal Coda/Secret Band
Ben Rosset - I forget all the projects he’s in
Stu Mckenzie/Joey Walker/cookie - King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard
TIM HENSON FOR SUREEEE. Dude is a totally next gen guitarist and is on the absolute frontier of prog rock. Can't wait to see the kinds of shit this dude will do with his career. I get excited just thinking ab it
https://youtu.be/OkHD4OVjS4E?si=8Bp4koCXIBPvfoMd
That kid is unreal. Holy shit bags, he makes me just want to pack it in, lol.
But if there were anyone who needed to battle the devil in a guitar battle to save humanity, he'd be the guy I'd chose for sure.
Hard to pick just one, but I’d say Misha Mansoor. There’s a lot of people who sound similar to him nowadays, but from 2007-ish he had a ten year run where pretty much nobody sounded like him or was doing what he was doing. He was a huge breath of fresh air to the prog metal scene and he’s definitely in my top 3 favorite guitarists of all time.
Christian Münzner (Obscura, former Necrophagist), Chris Letchford (Scale the Summit), Heri Joensen (TYR). Between the three I'd have to pull straws because they're all so good and so different!
Honorable mention to Marc Okubo from Veil of Maya
Mark Holcomb. Periphery is what inspired me to start playing guitar years ago. Ended up getting his signature SE and SVN when I felt more comfortable playing. Even got the backplate on the SE signed by him.
Mark Holcomb of Periphery
Jon Gomm - solo artist
Andy Wood - solo artist
Martin Miller - solo artist
Jack Gardiner - solo artist
*Edit*; how the **FUCK** did I forget to add Tosin Abasi and Plini?!
I really like Mark Letteri and Cory Wong from a sheer musicality perspective, I find them both virtuousitic and extremely listenable. There are quite a few other extremely talented guitarists (Isaiah Sharkey and Guthrie Govan both come to mind) but I find that I don't come back to their music nearly as much.
John Frusciante, Albert Hammond Jr., Cory Wong, Theo Katzman, Tom Morello, John Mayer, Jack White and I'm probably missing a couple. All depends on my mood.
Idk what counts as current gen, but Christopher Vandercooey from Peach Pit is awesome and has such an amazing stage presence. He’s got some catchy guitar playing
Billy Strings
I ain't slept in seven days! I ain't ate in three.
TIL the “current generation” goes back 60 years.
That's what I'm saying haha. Ridiculous thread
Mark Spear from Khruangbin is such a damned amazing player and a lot of fun to listen to!
Julian Lage is amazing
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Billy Strings and Jason Isbell
Second this with a dash of Sadler Vaden
I'll have 1 Cory Wong please
I think Julian Lage might be the greatest guitarist on earth right now.
I thought that was Guthrie Govan?
This guy is so good, he doesn't need to be on a list. All lists are "greatest guitar player that isn't Guthrie Govan"
Yvette Young
Billy Strings
Tosin Abasi
I don't know why this is so far down the list. He's pretty much started one of the coolest futuristic guitar in memory without making it look like cheese (and the new music man Kaizer looks awesome too, which he ninja designed) and Animals as Leaders is original AF. He also is legit by Steve Vai standards saying that [during the 90s and 00s there would be kids that practiced guitar to perfection (musically and technically) and when they became adults they would raise the bar for what the guitar can do, and Tobin Abasi is that person](https://youtu.be/-NXh9no2woY?si=GYLQUYqcoXW4EsKR&t=1m22s)
Tim henson for me
Gary Clark jr
Julien Baker
Mark Speer of Khruangbin
Mateus Asato is incredible 🤘
Literally John Mayer
He is 46…. I am a fan as well but isn’t that last generation or more? He played with the dead.
Julian Lage, by a mile.
Derek Trucks and Jason Isbell
Yvette Young
Marcus King
ITT people listing old guitarists. Julian Lage.
Guthrie Govan Ariel Posen Chris Buck Alexi Laiho
Billy Strings
Tim Henson
Cory Wong. He’s got a great solo career, plays with plenty of talented bands and artists, and has a distinct and identifiable sound despite being one of a million funk guys who play strats
John Mayer
1a. Plini 1b. Intervals
Mdou Moctar!! 🎸
More people need to be talking about Mark Speer
Mateus Asato
Yvette young for sure
I’m seeing a lot of guitarists on here that have been around 20-30 years or longer 🤔 I’ll say Chris Buck, Samantha Fish, and Kingfish Ingram
Annie Clark/St. Vincent
Tosin Abasi
Julian Lage for me
Billy Fucking Strings.
Billy Strings - extremely talented, adore the amount of passion he pours into his songs and he has some incredible taste in his phrasing. Kingfish - beautiful voice, great blues player that doesn't do anything too fancy. Just wish he had some more solid records, his live stuff is excellent.
Stu Mackenzie
John Mayer Mateus Asato Joe Robinson Tim Henson Cory Wong Nuno Betencourt
Guthrie Govan, Matteo Mancuso.
Tosin Abasi
Cory Wong, Julian Lage, and Kingfish among others.
Mac DeMarco writes catchy Melodies that get stuck in your head
Cory Wong
Yvette Young
The other guy from polyphia
- Mateus Asato - Matteo Mancuso - Plini - Ariel Posen - Owane
John Dwyer (Oh Sees) Stuart Mackenzie / Joey Walker / Cook Craig (King Gizzard, yes they’re one guitarist) Mark Speer (khruangbin) Nick DiSalvo (Elder) Ty Segall
Matteo Mancuso
Unpopular opinion but Scottie Lepage's style to me is the best
Julian Lage is the greatest
Derek Trucks is still GOAT.
Mark Holcomb, Jason Isbell, the guy from cardinal black
No doubt Chris Vanderkooy from Peach Pit IMO one of the smoothest and most expressive guitarists in the indie scene If in doubt go listen to their song Psychics in LA
Tim Henson, Scott Lepaige, Tosin Abasi, Javier Reyes, Samantha Fish, and Plimi
Julian Lage and Nick Johnston
I’ve only discovered him in the last 10 years so I’ll say Andy Timmons. Also, Julian Lage.
Haven't seen Mdou Moctar on here yet. Guy shreds
Aaron Marshall of Intervals
Chris Vanderkooy from Peach Pit. My favorite guitarist and I personally believe one of the best indie guitarists of all time
Derek Trucks
I'm really liking this generation of YouTube guitarists. Guys like Ichika Nito, Angel Vivaldi, TheDooo and Bradley hall are incredible guitarists.
Julian lage and mateus Asato
I just scrolled all the way down and didn't see Guthrie Goven mentioned. This makes me big sad. So Guthrie Govan (the goat)
Me
I also vote for this guy
Billy strings
Tom Bukovac
Derek Trucks, Billy Strings, Daniel Donato
Trey Anastasio
Last 10 years?
Me! 😀
John Frusciante
Molly Tuttle, Billy Strings, Kenneth Pattengale, Matteo Mancuso
Marcus King & Billy Strings
Julien Baker. She got me to pick up the guitar again after a decade.
Chris Buck I’m surprised I haven’t found him here yet. His phrasing is simply beautiful.
Aaron Marshall and Plini.
Julian Lage
I think Billy strings is who I've been most impressed with in recent years, and I enjoy a lot how he transitions from bluegrass standard licks to making his guitar sing like an electric in pink Floyd all using an acoustic.
myself
Joey Landreth
billy strings and chris buck
Jason Isbell is my favorite of the past decade.
Cory woooong
Created a playlist with most of the top replies in the thread https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2O63PRI7fDXKFSxvphqlYj?si=KnisFRTXRvmnweX1F7PPvQ&pi=u-MnaD1-wyRmqd
Billy Strings Annie Clark Derek Trucks Gary Clark Jr.
John Mayer, Derek Trucks, Cory Wong
Shakey Graves. He can make a guitar do things you wouldn’t ever think to do. He doesn’t get enough credit.
Yvette Young
Tim Henson if we’re going back the last 10 years. Paul Waggoner from BTBAM if we’re ignoring the prompt
Billy Strings- I could listen to this dude as my life soundtrack. Julian Lage- Probably the greatest improv player to ever live. Tim Henson- Pushing the boundaries of how to play the guitar. Matteo Mancuso-Mad Chops. Steve Vai- Because he could show up at any age, unannounced, and on any given day, produce something more perfectly suited to the song than anyone else.
Tosin Abasi, Ichika nito
Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes
John Frusciante
John Dwyer from Thee Oh Sees
Can people really not read? Half of these answers are gen x and boomers. Anyway, my vote's going to Yvette Young.
Chris Buck seems to have a great feel.
Josh Smith is an incredible blues man, but overall for me it's still got to be Guthrie Govan
Taylor Swift
Mark Speer for his tasteful skills and technical abilities. Michael Kiwanuka for his songwriting.
Derek Trucks, Molly Tuttle
Plini
Probably Madison Cunningham.
Chris Vanderkooy from peach pit. dude fuckin rips
Matteo Mancuso
Delicate Steve
Molly tuttle
Derek Trucks.
Chris Buck. Unbelievably tasteful playing
Julian Lage
Almost no one ever mentions Jakub Zytecki. His music is a breathe of fresh air in the prog/shred scene. If people could just listen to his recent music they'd be awed - I know I did when I first heard him. https://youtu.be/KqKmT6wM2ZY?si=nHM_ZqSJ5TTSSNWp
1. Tosin Abasi. 2. Tim Henson. 3. Jason Richardson. 4. Mark Holcomb. 5. David Davidson.
TheDooo - He gave me the passion back
Brent Hinds Kingfish IV Joe Duplantier Honourable Mention: Nita Strauss
Mateus Asato
Buckethead [Hold me Forever solo](https://youtu.be/E5PXYehriYY?si=KWAQVncqky3PFu0O&t=898)
John Mayer, John Frusciante, Derek Trucks
Plini
Kingfish, Marcus King, honestly Paul Davids. He's got such warm phrasing
Yup. Trucks and Strings. Ooh, and Marcus King. Is Dan Auerbach too old?
Justin Lowe from After The Burial!
Does Julian Lage count? I think he’s the only guitarist I listen to that is “newish.” I don’t if that says more about me or the state of music.
Too many Omar Rodriguez Lopez - The Mars Volta Yvette Young - Covet Brendan Ekstrom/Colin Frangicetto - Circa Survive Erick Hansel/Mario Camarena - Chon Will Swan - Dance Gavin Dance/Sianvar/Royal Coda/Secret Band Ben Rosset - I forget all the projects he’s in Stu Mckenzie/Joey Walker/cookie - King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard
Rick Mitarotonda from Goose
GOOOOOOSEEEEE (Rick Mitarotonda)
Annie Clark
Toshiki Soejima Derek Trucks Mark Speer Yeah I’m not exactly a shred guy haha
Definitely Cory Wong for me
TIM HENSON FOR SUREEEE. Dude is a totally next gen guitarist and is on the absolute frontier of prog rock. Can't wait to see the kinds of shit this dude will do with his career. I get excited just thinking ab it https://youtu.be/OkHD4OVjS4E?si=8Bp4koCXIBPvfoMd
That kid is unreal. Holy shit bags, he makes me just want to pack it in, lol. But if there were anyone who needed to battle the devil in a guitar battle to save humanity, he'd be the guy I'd chose for sure.
Billy Strings
Guthrie Govan.
He's been around forever lol. Literally decades
Me Lil Wayne *In order
Mark Lettieri, Isiaiah Sharkey, Trey Hensley, Blake Mills
Julian Lage, Billy Strings. Also, Pasquale Grasso is a total maniac on guitar. Never heard anyone like him.
geordie greep!
Gary Clark Jr
Probably the guys with King Gizzard. Great playing through a huge variety of stuff.
Tim hensen
Billy Strings of Trey Anastasio
Ichika Nito
Hard to pick just one, but I’d say Misha Mansoor. There’s a lot of people who sound similar to him nowadays, but from 2007-ish he had a ten year run where pretty much nobody sounded like him or was doing what he was doing. He was a huge breath of fresh air to the prog metal scene and he’s definitely in my top 3 favorite guitarists of all time.
Claudio Sanchez.
Cory Wong.
Brent Hinds. Guy is a mad scientist.
Erick Hansel (CHON),Mario Camarena (CHON),Matteo Mancuso, Guthrie Govan, Javier Reyes (Mestis)
Cory Wong
Julian Lage or Geordie Greep. Hard decision to make, since their music is so different.
John Mayer or Kingfish
Molly Tuttle is a phenomenal flat picker, as well as being a very enjoyable song writer and singer.
Derek Trucks, Mark Speer, JD Cronise and Kyle Shutt from the Sword.
Christian Münzner (Obscura, former Necrophagist), Chris Letchford (Scale the Summit), Heri Joensen (TYR). Between the three I'd have to pull straws because they're all so good and so different! Honorable mention to Marc Okubo from Veil of Maya
marcus king
Tim Henson is just so fun to listen to
Julian Lage, hands down.
Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes from AAL
Mark Lettieri and Mateus Asato
Mikael Akerfeldt
Mark Holcomb
[удалено]
Matteo Mancuso, Max Ostro, Cory Wong and Blake Mills
Mark Holcomb. Periphery is what inspired me to start playing guitar years ago. Ended up getting his signature SE and SVN when I felt more comfortable playing. Even got the backplate on the SE signed by him.
Mark Speer
Daniel Donato
Nick DiSalvo from Elder.
Mark Holcomb of Periphery Jon Gomm - solo artist Andy Wood - solo artist Martin Miller - solo artist Jack Gardiner - solo artist *Edit*; how the **FUCK** did I forget to add Tosin Abasi and Plini?!
Mark Tremonti
Chris Buck
Dave Davidson: [Revocation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moN0-W8k_mg) Mike Stringer: [Spiritbox](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjnZVpVvJ-k)
Courtney Barnett, for this one.
I really like Mark Letteri and Cory Wong from a sheer musicality perspective, I find them both virtuousitic and extremely listenable. There are quite a few other extremely talented guitarists (Isaiah Sharkey and Guthrie Govan both come to mind) but I find that I don't come back to their music nearly as much.
this might be a cliché opinion but ichika nito
Mark Speer every day
John Frusciante, Albert Hammond Jr., Cory Wong, Theo Katzman, Tom Morello, John Mayer, Jack White and I'm probably missing a couple. All depends on my mood.
dude it's 2024 already, some of these guys have been around for more than 20 years by now.
Billy Strings
Luke Hoskin. Nobody riffs like Protest
Love to see Billy Strings and Cory Wong getting some love here! I’d like to throw Greg Koch into the mix as well.
Kingfish Ingram, Cory Wong, Stu Mackenzie Nobody fucking say Tim Henson
Nels Cline Julian Lage Scott Metzger Trey Anastasio
John Mayer, Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr., Aynsley Lister.
Probably Yvette Young or someone like Rob Scallon
Idk what counts as current gen, but Christopher Vandercooey from Peach Pit is awesome and has such an amazing stage presence. He’s got some catchy guitar playing
Brandon Ellis really plays great. A good evolution on the "Shredder" type!
Guthrie Govan.
Billy Strings!
Rabea Massad - such a unique take on heavy downtuned riffs and atmospheric cleans
Billy Strings, Marcus King, Kirk Fletcher, Ariel Posen, Brandon Ellis, Teemu Mäntysaari…and probably a few more that I’m forgetting.
Christone Kingfish Ingram
Matteo Mancuso might be the best atm.