He’s one of the players, that I was inspired by, to use the vocal melody, as a starting point, or to put somewhere, within a lead, while also building solos that are just perfect for the song.
I feel this is more riff oriented which is cool, but Rory Gallagher may have to be the most all around underrated guitarist of all time.. That Strat was literally a part of him.. His humility and all around good nature was to be admired
Alex Lifeson, being the Guitarist with the "world greatest drummer" and a top 5 Bassist, and somehow he is looked upon as average. I would suggest listening to there early stuff like "Working man" or "2112".
I was fortunate to have seen Frank about 7 times starting back in 1977 at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. I remember The Dictators opened for Frank and got more boos than I could count. My son ordered a signed copy of Frank live at the Agora Theater for Father's Day and I listen to it at least once a month. Frank should have been either first or last on this list.
I don't think underrated actually exists. I think most guitarists considered underrated are actually unknown or less famous than others. Underrated is a guitarist that is better than most people realize. For example, Keith Richards. Insanely famous, but even guitarists don't understand how good he really is.
Steve Stevens did this brilliant medley last time I saw him and all was going well until he tried to incorporate part of Stairway to Heaven into the mix. Kept botching the same line over and over again and started pretending to yell at his own hand and eventually moved on to something else. Great to see him have good sense of humor about it but it was quite strange, considering that was the least complicated part of his medley.
Ty Tabor from Kings X is sooo underrated! His tone is totally his own along with his style. Kings X as a band is hugely underrated! Unbelievable power trio!
@@alexanderbrown4250He was way ahead of his time…His solo work on Roll With The Changes is still one of the most badass displays of pure rock n roll genius ever done, in my humble opinion. RIP Gary!
Gary Moore was a monster! Trevor Rabin absolutely took YES to a different level in terms of not just being an artsy fartsy band, but actually kickin some rock n roll ass! Saw Yes twice with Trevor and twice with Steve Howe. Howe is an amazing player, but boring! Rabin kicks total ass in every single direction!
@@mr.smithgnrsmith7808 Never broke out in the US like overseas… always opened or played small venues. Not as widely known as the other big name guitarists. Saw him in 1987 playing to a packed club of about 400 or so.
This is a great addition. The poor bastard had to squeeze in as much REAL rock and roll as he could between Kevin Cronin’s sissy vocals. Gary was the whole point of listening to REO for me, at least in the High Infidelity era.
REO was basically a college band and had a lot of followers. When High Infidelity came out, they had paid their dues and deserved the recognition they got from that album, but it wasn't quite the same... more commercial. Loved Gary's riffs and solos.
A guy everyone should listen to is Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser. Not only did he write (Don't Fear) the Reaper, he plays amazing guitar on songs like "Then Came the Last Days of May", "I Love the Night" and "Astronomy".
Steve Morse, Brad Gillis, Steve Howe, Alex Leifson, Jan Ackerman, Ronnie Montrose, Rick Derringer, Leslie West, Johnny Winter, Dave Hill, Lonesome Dave (Foghat).
@@loulagro2315 But you don't see their name on any list of best guitar players, yet you find Prince, Hendrix, and a number of others that make the list.
@@loulagro2315 Yeah, it’s like Robert having Cantrell on the list. Hes often on top 50, if not top 20 lists, of greatest guitarists, going back to the late 90’s.
Paul Kossoff has always been one of my favorite Guitar Players. Amazing..... and another was Buddy Whittington that I listened to with John Mayall and the Blues Breakers (John found some amazing guitarists!)
I like Dean as a rhythm player but his leads are not anything special. Also, his brother feeds him a lot of riffs I believe. From the interview with Rick Beato that was my takeaway.
As a guitarist, 2 guys from the country world don't get the recognition and that's Chet Atkins and Glenn Campbell. Glenn is a shredder that most don't know about and Chet was probably one of the best guitarists around. My dad always kept steering me to Chet and I would Poo-Poo it until I actually checked him out and was blown away. Again, maybe not the 2 you'd put in this top 20 list but always worth checking them out. And Glenn will surprise you if you've never really looked at his stuff. Alice Cooper & Glenn became good friends before Glenn passed.
For rock, I'd say Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult, and Joe Walsh of the Eagles often get overlooked. For alt rock, Buzz Osbourne of the Melvins and Daniel Johns of Silverchair tend to get overlooked as well - at least for technique. And for Metal, I'd have to give it to Kirk Windstein of Crowbar. That man is truly another Toni Iommi.
Steve Gains, Nancy Wilson, Terry Kath, Alex Liefson, Lita Ford, Vince Gill, Jeff (skunk) Baxter, Will Ray, John Jorgensen, Ry Cooder, Glenn Campbell, Danny Gatton, Paul Simon, John Sykes, Reb Beach, Gary Moore, Lester Flatt, George Harrison, Don Felder,
Great choices! Elliot Easton’s guitar compositions within The Cars songs are works of art. How he can meld his rockabilly style with synths and New Wavish (kind of) songs is magic (no pun intended). Also, if you haven’t already, check out the Pat Benatar performance on Austin City Limits. Neil Geraldo really stretches out!
OMG - these are exactly the three I was going to suggest! Many of the players in the video I would consider less well known but not underrated, i.e. no one who has heard them fails to recognize their brilliance (Andy Timmons, Doug Rapaport, Richie Kozen). Greg Koch is another one of these: not nearly as well known as he deserves but an other-worldly talent. Whereas Geraldo/Easton/Smith (or at least their bands) are well known but grossly under-appreciated.
Being a huge fan of Stevie Ray Vaughn, and thinking he was the greatest at that time. I watched Gatton play circles around SRV. Nine-thirty Club in DC. way back in the 80's. Was totally blown away by his playing.
Yeah, you got it. Danny Gatton is NOT underrated by anyone who has ever heard him play. I put Danny in the same league with Clarence White; just absolutely incredible players who are worshipped by those who know about them, but are largely unknown by the vast majority of people...especially those (like me) whose roots are in rock'n'roll, but who (unlike me) are mostly unaware of the greatness that lies outside that genre.
Good call on Jerry Reed. Also, Glenn Campbell could be the best ever yet a lot of people only know him for his TV show. When he was asked if he was better than Clapton and some others he said he could play their stuff better than they could, and he probably could.
Love seeing Myles F’N Kennedy (AlterBridge, solo, Mayfield Four) on this list! Top tier rock vocalist of the last twenty plus years; but is under-known as a consummate guitar player and songwriter! Btw - he and Ian Thornley (also great to see here) have been buddies since Myles’ Mayfield Four days. They have helped each other over the years exchanging guitar and vocal tips with each other. Myles credits Ian with the inspiration to his writing the beautiful AlterBridge song ‘watch over you’ - after Thornley encouraged him to try open G tuning on his guitar.
Criss Olivia, Sabotage? Uli roth finally got some underground recognition (in the states) sky guitar academy? I loved old scorpions with uli Roth. I didn’t see uli jon Roth until 2008 during (Under dark sky? ) I seen many guitarist my first concert was Blackmores rainbow Pat travers, I’ve seen yngyang malmsteen twice yng-yang. Also Vinny Moore, micheal Angelo. Many more I can’t think of.. Uli Jon Roth above all absolutely most TERRIFYING. Endless duel harmonies ULGY demented chord changes into catastrophic meteorite BOMBARDMENT. Snarling black marble
I think Tom Keifer is super underrated, both his solo work and in Cinderella is quality! He writes awesome songs with great riffs and cool solos, and he also has one of most unique voices in rock!
Without even watching the video, John Sykes. Made Whitesnake a successful band, it's criminal that most people don't know that he wrote all those riffs on the 1987 album.
Great list and also great lists in the comment section..Robin Trower was one of my favorite underrated guitar players..He played with so much feeling and could bend a note around a telephone pole and back..Bridge Of Sighs,Daydream and Little Bit Of Sympathy are a few of my favorites by Robin .
Those Trower albums, all special. Jimmy Dewar killing it with the vocals too. Soul and feel to the bone. Oh yeah, he COULD bend that string around a telephone pole!
I always thought that Ian Bairnson of The Alan Parsons Project is way underrated-not a shredder but seriously I can’t think of a tastier player-the solos in Eye In The Sky and Turn Of A Friendly Card are just so melodic in my opinion
Ian is my favorite guitar player. My second favorite is Brian May. Ian had me from the opening guitar "solo" at the beginning of Prime Time. Even his early work with Pilot is great, like the improv at the end of "Penny in my Pocket." That's a great example of improv in the box.
Great list ! Yes, Andy Summers sold millions of albums, and yes, is underrated. Probably because he was more of a textural player who didn't play a ton of notes with blazing speed in The Police. His playing served the song.
Yep, Ian Thornley. I've been saying it for years. He's amazing. He is an incredible slide player and can totally shred with the best of them. Don't forget his rhythm playing... just wow. I went and saw him on his solo tour in 2016; had front row tickets. Little did I know that we were also sitting on his side of the stage! He proceeded to rip my face off. Just amazing.
Yes! And I love that his good buddy Myles Kennedy is also recognized on this list! They have shared both guitar and vocal tips with each other over the years! Two of my favorites! 💪
I first saw Max Webster playing a Pub Night at Seneca College in Toronto in '75 or '76. Then I saw them opening for Rush in '77. My brothers hadn't heard Webster before this, but became great fans.
I agree! What first tickled my ears about Mike Campbell was the fact that he really understood his responsibility within the Heartbreakers. He has always been the wizard of getting IN AND OUT of a solo. And more often than not, did it with outstanding tone and WITHOUT a blizzard of meaningless notes. Campbell and the rest of the Heartbreakers contributions laid down the foundation for Tom's lyrics.
Not news to you Erick... Everyone knows Alex Lifeson, but in the early days Rush would tour with Max Webster (Kim Mitchell). They finally collaborated in the studio, recording "Battle Scar" for Webster's "Universal Juveniles".
If you want an introduction to Paul Kossoff listen to Going Down Slow from Tons of Sobs and listen for Paul Rodgers at 3:40 trying to launch into the vocal only to be cut off by Paul Kossoff who continues to solo for a more than a minute longer. Totally improv and off the cuff is where Kossoff shined the best. A lot of these guitarists are often called underrated but personally for me if you know, you know. Nothing more needs to be said 🤘🎸♥👍
Billy Gibbons, the best Texas electric blues rock man, great guitar player and style innovator with ZZ Top. Not over complicated solos but very catchy and singing, for me has a lot of merit.
Tommy bolin for sure ... Not only some tasty playing and nice stylings on the solo LP's and competent good rocking with James gang but he helped create the 70s fusion style with billy Cobham on spectrum. I hear Jeff beck changed his direction after hearing Tommy's playing with billy. Some people list lifeson and schenker up above but for the Gen x ers and boomers Alex and Michael have always been highly rated. Props to Phil keaggy he is awesome too.
BILL NELSON! Bill Nelson is so underrated he doesn't even get on to underrated lists. The guy was, and is, an amazing player, song writer, singer, producer... BILL NELSON!!!!
vivian campbell. He taught me so much. How to serve a song, burn when appropriate, fill in where necessary. He’s a humble player, but can scare you all while wearing a smile. Hilariously underrated. Scary good player. Great list overall dude! You my man, are also underrated. You won’t say it about yourself. But we know.
I would have liked Robbie Robertson in here somewhere . Is " off the scale subtle " genre ever gonna be popular? Cause that coolness soaks into your vertebrae . . .
Steve Winwood is clearly underrated he plays virtually every instrument and is aMaster of them all check out Steve playing Dear Mr Fantasy live (on RU-vid) then you’ll know
Great choices, Keith urban was a session player along with Tommy Emmanuel back in the 80,s doing work on Aussie rock bands albums. The country thing came later. Love Jonny and KWS.
Gary Moore, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell just 3 I rarely ever see listed in guitarists lists. Moore’s rock era in the 80’s was pretty epic. Country guitarists almost never make these lists. Also Jake E Lee. Outstanding guitarist
I had to stop at this many... Ty Tabor (King's X), Elliot Easton (Cars), Audley Freed (Cry of Love, lots of others), Doyle Bramhall II, Tony MacAlpine, Eric Gales, David Hidalgo (Los Lobos), David Grissom, Ian Moore... great vid... glad Ian Thornley made the cut.
Toy Caldwell (Marshall Tucker Band), Unknown Hinson (Stuart Baker), BB "Chung" King (The Buddha Heads), Martin Cilia (Australian surf music), Cal Kramer (Southern River Band). My fave CCR song (that shows off John's ability) is "Ramble Tamble" off of "Cosmo's Factory".
Ian Thornley . a couple of years back a friend of mine invited me to a concert . said he had a spare ticket for a big wreck show . i remember i said . oh they had that one big song awhile back . did not think much as i accepted his invite . thought it was going to be a boring show . but man oh man . the show blew me away . Ian Thrornley could play man . really play , been a fan ever since
Roy Buchanan the Telemaster. Johnny Winter and his Iconic Firebird. Brent Mason. How about Dwight Yoakams guitarist on Guitars and Cadillacs Pete Andersen.
Astonishing how so many people don't seem to know about Phil Keaggy I've seen him about dozen times both with a band and solo acoustic sets and there are very few guitarists I would put on his level
Justin Derrico. Rafael Moreira. Eric Steckel. Nili Brosh. Monster players that are on the younger side (I'm 52) that are incredible. Some older guys that are underrated? Alex Skolnick, John Sykes, Dean DeLeo
Ian Thornley is the most underrated ARTIST on the list. Absolute MONSTER. Props to Suhr, (maybe the most underrated guitar company), for endorsing him.
You're bang on with Skynyrd being overlooked, and I'd say Ed King is perhaps even more underrated than Allen Collins. To my younger self's mind, Sweet Home Alabama was always a "beginner song" as it's such a popular riff to learn. Now with Skynyrd being one of my favourite rock bands, I can really appreciate the nuances in Ed's playing. His note choices in solos kinda jump out at you and make you listen a few times to try to figure out what he's doing. Not to mention he used pebbles as guitar picks, giving a really unique sound.
I have ALWAYS felt Ty Tabor and Kings X have been so underrated. The man can rip it out for days! He’s amazing! His solo stuff is amazing as well! I also have to completely agree with EVERYTHING you said about Paul Kossoff and Free. He’s one of my all time favorites! Him and the great Billy Gibbons have made me the guitarist I am today.
My list in no particular order. Elliot Easton. Gary Richrath. Reb Beach. Pete Willis. Tom Johnston. Roger Fisher/Howard Leese Derry Greehan. Martin Barre. Mick Ralphs. Rich Williams/Kerry LIvgren. Tracii Guns. Robbie Blunt. Van McLain. Mike Slamer. Paul Chapman. Dave Meneketti. Brad Paisley. Mike Campbell. Tim Pierce. Barry Goudreau
You're going off-topic by mentioning Robin Trower. Remember, the subject here is UNDERRATED guitarists, and Trower has always been considered an icon. But you're not the only one, I see quite a few other guys posting comments naming guitarists who were NEVER "underrated". By the way: the 2nd best concert/show I ever attended, ( and I attended so many concerts of many of the greats back in the 70's ), was Robin Trower performing in a large nightclub here in my town of Melbourne Florida back around 1990......give or take a year. Even though his hey days as a top billing arena performer was back in the 70's..........and I never got to see him back then, he was still 100% as great in the 90's. I wasn't "too young" back in the 70's to have attended a big Trower concert, I simply couldn't make it when he came through Florida back then. The way he played the night I saw/heard him, if ya didn't know better, anyone could've swore BRIDGE OF SIGHS "had just been released".
Robert this is a great list. Ian Thornley is the top of the underrated heap for me. He’s amazing. I have to put in a plug for some of my heroes. Ty Tabor. Vernon Reid. Vito Bratta. Vito didn’t put out much, but yet you could study his playing for a lifetime. Some of the best solos ever recorded.
Here's a few more: Marty Stuart - well-known in the country guitar circles, but outside that he's known mostly as a singer. He's one of the best country pickers out there! Phil Keaggy - huge influence on many other guitarists (including Ty Tabor) but relatively unknown. Steve Stevens - we all know the Billy Idol songs but listen to his solo stuff (Atomic Playboys and his solo "Memory Crash" album). Peter Buck (REM) - do I really need to explain?
Miles Kennedy is insanely talented as a guitarist and singer. I saw him with Slash back in 2012 and he floored me with his voice and even joined in on in on guitar in a few songs. He can outsing Axle Rose for a joke. Notes Axle struggled to hit in the 80's and 90's (and are probably the reason he blew out his voice by the end of the Use Your Illusion tour), Miles nails them and has room to go higher.
Brad Whitford and Glen Campbell are two that come to mind for me. Glen’s guitar abilities and session work seem to get overshadowed by his pop career. Brad was always overshadowed by Joe Perry’s stage presence, but Brad was a more technical and better (cleaner) player.
Glen Campbell should be in a category by himself. He was a terrifying player. I love trying to learn solos from my favorite guitarists. Glen's I don't even bother.
Richie Kotzen was the first name that came to my mind, but I knew you'd put him on the list. He is my favorite guitarist and one of my favorite musician ever. I missed Eric Gales thou. A living underrated legend. But I liked to see Myles Kennedy, Craig Ross, Andy Timmons, Keith Urban and Rich Robinson being mentioned. Great list!
My first thought is Ty Tabor. One of my absolutely favorite guitarists. And, I am going to throw out a hot take there. Scott LaPage. Tim Henson gets so much of the attention but Scott is an absolute monster of a player in his own right.
