There's also the question of talent vs. influence or originality. Like yeah someone might be more skilled but someone else might have created a style that others adapted and perfected.
Excellent point, Billy!
Take Kingfish Ingram, for example... great technician that plays from the soul, but nothing exactly innovative.
An impossible question to answer, but a fun one to try! So many different styles and approaches to the instrument. I think obvious and important masters/innovators for rock music: Hendrix, Zappa, Robert Fripp, EVH, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. There's also the question of talent vs. influence or originality. Like yeah someone might be more skilled but someone else might have created a style that others adapted and perfected.
I think notable players and some that are just favorites of mine would be: Elizabeth Cotten John Hurt Chet Atkins Doc Watson Norman Blake Tony Rice John Fahey Davey Graham Rosetta Tharpe B.B. King David Gilmour Richard Thompson Adrian Belou Toni Iomi Lots more that I'm sure I'll think of later.
A favorite of mine is Glen Campbell playing the William Tell Overture on his guitar, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He even plays the guitar Over his head and Upside down!
All of these are incredible indeed. I'll add Al DiMeola. Adrian Vandenburg(Vandenburg/Whitesnake) I can go for hours with picks. Would probably bore you guys. :)
We have locals as good as any. I am surprised nobody mentioned Doc Watson, Clay Lunsford , Wayne Henderson which are as good as they come. Clay also has the thumb pickers organization. They aint many any better then Clay.
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