Neil Young's 5 Greatest Guitarists of All Time

Sunday, November 23, 2025

Fri 21 November 2025

"Nobody cares if you know how to play scales," Neil Young once said. "Nobody gives a shit if you have good technique or not. It's whether you have feelings that you want to express with music, that's what counts, really."

Posted by Corky at 11:53 AM | 9 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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Telling Guitare et Clavier, "When you are able to express yourself and feel good, then you know why you're playing."

The magic of Young is that he has expressed himself in myriad ways. From the quietly powerful tenderness of Old Man' that wouldn't even blow a mouse's eyelash off an air hockey table to the frenzied proto-grunge of Cortez the Killer' that could even prompt a monk to say fuck you very much' to his boss, he's never lost sight of meaningful expression.

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"So, while the names below might be rather disparate, that's not only a mark of Young's ranging tastes, but also how he's looking for sincerity in his six-string stars.

"It's just me with an instrument," he said of his own sound.

Well, these five guys share that same sentiment. There's no separation. No room for showing off. (And in the five accompanying videos, you can see where Young reflected their influence in his own work)."

;;
Everyone's List would be different, I know mine would, but at least he defined HIS criteria and stuck to it.

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2025-11-23 11:56 AM | Reply

Cowgirl in the Sand live @ Farm Aid

www.youtube.com

#2 | Posted by Corky at 2025-11-23 12:02 PM | Reply

I like how "of all time" always starts in the 60's.

#3 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-11-23 12:05 PM | Reply

I might have started with Little David:

"The Origins of Rock and Roll"

www.youtube.com

#4 | Posted by Corky at 2025-11-23 12:16 PM | Reply

I think Django Reinhardt needs to be on these lists of great guitarists more often. Same with Frank Zappa. But those are just my biases, of course.

#5 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-11-23 12:20 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Terry Kath and SRV made my top 10 list.

#6 | Posted by Corky at 2025-11-23 12:26 PM | Reply

Django Reinhardt

www.youtube.com

Couldn't place the name at first, but then remembered when I heard this. Of course, Young's list is unsurprisingly rock centric.

I've been a big fan of earlier music; I used to post Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester videos here sometimes. They were college students in Germany together in the 80's who revived a lot of the Jewish Broadway type music that had been outlawed under Hitler. Still playing today:

www.youtube.com

#7 | Posted by Corky at 2025-11-23 12:41 PM | Reply

One of my choices would be Johnny Lang.

AI Overview
Jonny Lang: I Almost Gave Up Playing Guitar a Million Times ...
Yes, Jonny Lang is considered a great guitarist known for his distinctive blues-rock style, which has evolved to incorporate more modern R&B and pop influences. He rose to fame as a teenage prodigy, earning a Grammy Award and collaborating with music legends like Buddy Guy, B.B. King, and the Rolling Stones. His playing is characterized by emotional expression, strong melodies, and techniques like a wide vibrato and percussive string mutes.
Style: Lang's sound is rooted in blues, but his music has incorporated elements of R&B, soul, and rock.
Recognition: He is a Grammy Award-winning artist who was discovered as a young prodigy and has achieved success with multiple charting albums.
Collaborations: He has performed with many legendary musicians, including Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Aerosmith, and The Rolling Stones.
Technique: His playing is known for its emotional depth and expressiveness rather than just speed. He uses techniques like a wide, controlled vibrato, percussive string mutes, and a wah-wah pedal to create a unique and soulful sound.

#8 | Posted by MSgt at 2025-11-23 12:47 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

An often underrated guitarist:

Roy Clark - Malaguena (The Odd Couple)

www.youtube.com

#9 | Posted by Corky at 2025-11-23 02:41 PM | Reply