Ranking guitarists is just silly, how do you even compare a top jazz player like Julian Lage to a rock player like Jimmy Page? How do you compare a guitar innovator like Tom Morello to a technical beast like Abasi? Or how do you compare a top level slide player like Trucks to someone like Charlie Hunter who can play Bass/lead at the same time like no one else? And imagine not talking about lead but about rhythm guitar? someone like Ella Feingold is probably better at that than 9/10 players on the 'best guitarist among all time lists' Let's just stop treating guitar like it is a sport and just see which musicians are good at what aspect of the art and see what we can learn from each of them.
never cared much for Mayer, but I don't doubt his mastery on blues guitar or vocals. If this guy can impress the top players, then he's far better than I will ever appreciate him for
I hated John Mayer so much when he first came out. Then even more when I found out how good he was at guitar. I’ve come around. I’m definitely a fan now. He’s made me a better player and his music is something my wife and I enjoy together.
Of course he is good very very good but one of the greats not for me but all the newer guys are sitting on the shoulders of giants. Will there be another Hendrix that we will still be talking about 50 years after his passing, we can only hope.
I'm old enough to have seen Clapton with Cream and Hendrix in the 60s. Hendrix died too young, but on his innovations alone is in the pantheon. But longevity, maturing and developing different styles over time matters. We see this in Beethoven, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Picasso, and Dylan. When Mayer joined Dead & Company he took on a foreign style. And a different role. Instead of a front man, he was a member of the band, playing other people's music. His growth was incredible. And the artistic problem massive. How do you fill Jerry Garcia's role without copying him? How does a blues player mesh with a band with multiple roots? What makes the comparison between Mayer and Clapton so interesting is that Clapton was a purist. Yet he couldn't stay with one thing during his early days. While Mayer was influenced by Hendrix, Clapton, and both through Stevie Ray Vaughn, while he started with the blues he's followed his own path into many genres of music. In that way he reminds me of Dylan and Neil Young. All three are great songwriters. There are many roads to greatness, and considering his age, if he keeps on keeping on, the sky's the limit. Mayer is in his 40s. So was Sinatra in the 1950s. And ten years later he did My Way. And Dylan even sang some of his songs and is also playing into his 80s. Music is vast. Great artists grow. Hendrix never really had a chance.
Which is why I think very highly of Tom Morello. Not a technical master of any kind but his way of using effects and thinking out of the box inspired soo many guitarists. His role and the way in using riffs for RATM to blend rock and rap was pretty unique at the time too, way different than what other guitarists did. So many guitarists in the 90s yet i'm pretty sure he will be talked about years down the line and I suspect if people pick up a digitech whammy pedal 50 years from now the first thing they will play will still be the solo from Killing in the Name of.
All the passionate guitar players of now and those on the internet has always given their credit to John Mayer, weather its Mateus Asato, Cory Wong and just everyone. The youtube guitar world has always put Mayer on the pedestal he has always deserved to be. And for the ambassadors of this great instrument from the past, Mayer has played live on stage with the likes of BB King, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Doyle Bramhall, The Double Trouble, The Rolling Stones and many more. As for your comment, if you think sitting on the shoulders is not the way forward, all the greats from the past stood on each others shoulders. Stevie Ray Vaughan stood on Hendrixs shoulders and Albert King, and Jimi Hendrix himself stood on Muddy Waters shoulders. To be inspired by your heroes isnt a terrible thing when it comes to becoming great. We would not have been able to witness Kobe Bryants greatness had he never wanted to be like Michael Jordan or even copy his moves. And on top of all of this, what people dont even realise is how great of a songwriter John Mayer is. To be controversially truthful, Mayer is edging into the Dylan and Neil Young dimension at this point in his career. If you think this statement is crazy, check out his song called 'In Your Neighbourhood' which is due to release in his next record. Having said all this, to not consider him one of the greats at this age is just wrong.
interestingly, guitar is actually a bit on the rise again after falling off after the 2000s. Since Covid more guitars are being sold in a lot of places, (covid got a lot of people picking up the hobby again) and especially a lot of young girls are picking up the guitar influenced by artists like Phoebe Bridgers/Boygenius, H.E.R and even Taylor Swift.
Where does John Mayer rank among guitarists all time?👇
Ranking guitarists is just silly, how do you even compare a top jazz player like Julian Lage to a rock player like Jimmy Page?
How do you compare a guitar innovator like Tom Morello to a technical beast like Abasi?
Or how do you compare a top level slide player like Trucks to someone like Charlie Hunter who can play Bass/lead at the same time like no one else?
And imagine not talking about lead but about rhythm guitar? someone like Ella Feingold is probably better at that than 9/10 players on the 'best guitarist among all time lists'
Let's just stop treating guitar like it is a sport and just see which musicians are good at what aspect of the art and see what we can learn from each of them.
Rank, I dunno. But he is an absolute master.
never cared much for Mayer, but I don't doubt his mastery on blues guitar or vocals. If this guy can impress the top players, then he's far better than I will ever appreciate him for
my favorite player of all time :) his music continues to inspire me
I hated John Mayer so much when he first came out. Then even more when I found out how good he was at guitar.
I’ve come around. I’m definitely a fan now. He’s made me a better player and his music is something my wife and I enjoy together.
Of course he is good very very good but one of the greats not for me but all the newer guys are sitting on the shoulders of giants. Will there be another Hendrix that we will still be talking about 50 years after his passing, we can only hope.
I'm old enough to have seen Clapton with Cream and Hendrix in the 60s. Hendrix died too young, but on his innovations alone is in the pantheon. But longevity, maturing and developing different styles over time matters. We see this in Beethoven, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Picasso, and Dylan. When Mayer joined Dead & Company he took on a foreign style. And a different role. Instead of a front man, he was a member of the band, playing other people's music. His growth was incredible. And the artistic problem massive. How do you fill Jerry Garcia's role without copying him? How does a blues player mesh with a band with multiple roots? What makes the comparison between Mayer and Clapton so interesting is that Clapton was a purist. Yet he couldn't stay with one thing during his early days. While Mayer was influenced by Hendrix, Clapton, and both through Stevie Ray Vaughn, while he started with the blues he's followed his own path into many genres of music. In that way he reminds me of Dylan and Neil Young. All three are great songwriters.
There are many roads to greatness, and considering his age, if he keeps on keeping on, the sky's the limit. Mayer is in his 40s. So was Sinatra in the 1950s. And ten years later he did My Way. And Dylan even sang some of his songs and is also playing into his 80s. Music is vast. Great artists grow. Hendrix never really had a chance.
Which is why I think very highly of Tom Morello. Not a technical master of any kind but his way of using effects and thinking out of the box inspired soo many guitarists. His role and the way in using riffs for RATM to blend rock and rap was pretty unique at the time too, way different than what other guitarists did. So many guitarists in the 90s yet i'm pretty sure he will be talked about years down the line and I suspect if people pick up a digitech whammy pedal 50 years from now the first thing they will play will still be the solo from Killing in the Name of.
All the passionate guitar players of now and those on the internet has always given their credit to John Mayer, weather its Mateus Asato, Cory Wong and just everyone. The youtube guitar world has always put Mayer on the pedestal he has always deserved to be. And for the ambassadors of this great instrument from the past, Mayer has played live on stage with the likes of BB King, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Doyle Bramhall, The Double Trouble, The Rolling Stones and many more. As for your comment, if you think sitting on the shoulders is not the way forward, all the greats from the past stood on each others shoulders. Stevie Ray Vaughan stood on Hendrixs shoulders and Albert King, and Jimi Hendrix himself stood on Muddy Waters shoulders. To be inspired by your heroes isnt a terrible thing when it comes to becoming great. We would not have been able to witness Kobe Bryants greatness had he never wanted to be like Michael Jordan or even copy his moves. And on top of all of this, what people dont even realise is how great of a songwriter John Mayer is. To be controversially truthful, Mayer is edging into the Dylan and Neil Young dimension at this point in his career. If you think this statement is crazy, check out his song called 'In Your Neighbourhood' which is due to release in his next record. Having said all this, to not consider him one of the greats at this age is just wrong.
Only real players know how dope this was
He's a good guitarist, but about 10 steps behind of Derek Trucks.
He plays differently says he has been at the Crossroads Festivals he has matured and his voice has changed for the better.❤
What performance is this?
He wastes his Talent to Cuddly Songs- more Blues and Bluesrock please. From Germany
😁
He's a great guitar player,but guitar soul died out a long time ago
how ?
me when i lie
interestingly, guitar is actually a bit on the rise again after falling off after the 2000s. Since Covid more guitars are being sold in a lot of places, (covid got a lot of people picking up the hobby again) and especially a lot of young girls are picking up the guitar influenced by artists like Phoebe Bridgers/Boygenius, H.E.R and even Taylor Swift.