Top 5 Guitarists Who Have Influenced You? :O

[anne]

Aside from Mårten Hagström, I haven't really copped anything directly off of anyone -- too noob to even know how to do that. If I could, I would take a thing or two from Kaki King! *swoon*

 

[dime3334]

James Hetfield
Scott Ian
Eric Peterson
Kerry King
Gary Holt

And more recently...
Dino
Jeff Loomis

Sorry, thats's more than 5, but I had to add those guys.

 

[6string40]

Growin up...
George Lynch (Dokken/Lynch Mob/Souls of We)
Zakk Wylde (Ozzy/Pride & Glory/Black Label Society)
Dime (Pantera/Damageplan)
James Hetfield (Metallica)
Adrian Smith & Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)

More recently...
Mark Morton & Willie Adler (Lamb of God)
Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)
Brent Hinds & Bill Kelliher (Mastodon)
Adam Dutkiewicz & Joel Stroetzel (Killswitch Engage)
Mikael Akerfeldt & Fredrik Akesson (Opeth)

 

[jaretthale78]

tosin abasi, buckethead, jason becker, shawn lane, zakk wylde, i could go on..

 

[Rapture]

1. Trey Azagthoth
2.Yngwie Malmsteen
3.Ritchie Blackmore
4.Eddie van Halen
5.Paul Gilbert

 

[Huntor]

Dimbag Darrell: taught me to use my left hand better back in the day when I started learning metal.
Dino Cazares: ditto, but for right hand more, plus overall tightness
Jeff Hanneman: back in the day fast playing for both hands, some cool fills
Ihsahn: made us intrigued enough to experiment with writting my own different sounding riffs
Devin Townsend: Showed us the value of being a musician and using the guitar as an expression tool.

 

[Guitarman700]

Ihsahn: Simply my favorite musician, period. His approach to guitar and music in general, changed the way I think about music. His new album convinced me to buy an 8-string. NGD incoming!

Peter Wichers: The king of Melodic riffs, I love the way he incorporates different styles of music into his riffs and solos.

Per Nillson: His lead playing made me seriously look at the way i play lead, and try to improve my technique. Amazing guitarist.

Jeff Loomis: The man is not human! his leads and rythyms are insane, and his interplay with Warrel dane on the nevermore records is amazing.

Dave Mustaine: Screw the haters, this man is the god of rythym guitar. His guitar work travels outside the boring chugging of other thrash bands, and really lends a progressive vibe to megadeth's music.

 

[Blake1970]

1.) Dave Mustaine
2.) James Hetfield
3.) John Frusciante
4.) David Gilmour
5.) Jimmy Page

 

[metallatem]

Randy Rhoads
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Neal Schon
Adrian Smith
Matthias Jabs

 

[Dan]

1) Jari Mäenpää (Wintersun/Ensiferum)
2) Christopher/Mike Ammott (Arch Enemy)
3) Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth)
4) Adam D/Joel Stroetzel (Killswitch Engage)
5) Jesper Strömblad/Björn Gelotte (In Flames)

There’s also Loomis, Witchers, Nilsson and Laiho to add as well but that’s the main influences

 

[GalacticDeath]

My dad: I started playing becuase he let me borrow his acoustic guitar and he taught me some basic chords.

My brother: Got me listening to Heavy metal and rock, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be playing the kind of music that I do.

My teacher (Alex McIntosh): His lessons in music theory have really helped me to better understand what it is I'm playing. He got me listening to jazz.

Steve Howe: Probably the first well known guitarist that I ever looked up to. I've been playing prog music ever since I first heard his stuff.

Paul Gilbert: I had never heard/seen anyone play with such great technique until I heard him play. The little bit of technique that I have I think I got from listening and watching him play. Got to meet him once. He is awesome!

 

[Guitarman700]

1) Jari Mäenpää (Wintersun/Ensiferum)
2) Christopher/Mike Ammott (Arch Enemy)
3) Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth)
4) Adam D/Joel Stroetzel (Killswitch Engage)
5) Jesper Strömblad/Björn Gelotte (In Flames)

There’s also Loomis, Witchers, Nilsson and Laiho to add as well but that’s the main influences

I forgot about jesper and bjorn, two of my favorites. Really sucks jesper left the band though...

 

[Warchest1]

1. Jeff Loomis - Such a fucking god. He's got everything that I want my playing to be. His vibrato is fuckin vicious.

2. Dave Mustaine - The fact that he's written some of the greatest records in thrash metal strung out on heroin is astonishing to me. His use of the blues scale in his riffs is completely original and sounds unreal.

3. Paul Gilbert - I definately developed my alternate playing chops by learning his licks. One of the best players alive for sure.

4. Marty Friedman - I get my sense of melody from Marty Friedman. Never have I heard a guitarist with such taste in his solos.

5. David Gilmour - He's written some of the greatest solos of all time and I've gotten a few licks from him and put my own spin on it. Love Pink Floyd.

 

[Chopsession]

Jeff Beck, the man who could phrase the same line a million differant ways.

Michael Schenker, melody with some serious bite.

Gary Moore, the jack of all trades?

Shawn Lane, "Blazing Amazing Phrasing."

James Hetfield, the once upon a time riff king.

 

[Antimatter]

Marten Hagstrom (Meshuggah is one of my all time favorite bands)
Adam Jones (Tool got me into metal, they have a special place for me)
John Petrucci (Mostly Train of Thought style)
Dino Cazares (fuck yeah alternate picking palm mutes)
And ever since I heard Solace; Antoine Lussier
I think my music's gonna get crazier as I get more skilled.

 

[prh]

John Petrucci
Guthrie Govan
Steve Vai

and at the moment, Misha Mansoor and Paul Ortiz

 

[TreWatson]

my all time 5 are as follows:

Paul Gilbert
Carlos Santana

(most people say they hear those the most in my blaying as well)

and as of late...
Steve Vai
Per Nilsson
Paul Ortiz

 

[Sofos]

Top 10 would be a little easier:

Quorthon (Bathory)
Euronymous (Mayhem)
Kerry King (Slayer)
Stephen O'Malley (Sunn O))))
Tony Aziz (Acrassicauda)
Ihsahn (Emperor/Ihsahn)
Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom/Synergy)
Charles Hedger (Cradle of Filth/Imperial Vengeance)
Paul Allender (Cradle of Filth/The Blood Divine)
James McIlroy (Cradle of Filth/Chaosacnt/Order of Apollyon)

(yes I am being a Cradle fanboy, but if it weren't for Cradle, namely the Nymphetamine album, i would never have gotten into metal, or even rock for that matter, and thus wouldnt have picked up a guitar.)

 

[CONTEMPT]

Vai (Vai)
Cobain (Nirvana)
Jones (Tool)
Maxwell (Nothingface - but don't get me wrong, I FUCKING HATE Hell Yeah)
Thordendal (Meshuggah)

 

[Hollowway]

Robert Smith (The Cure - don't be hatin', the man can craft some wicked layered guitar parts).
The Edge
Eddie Van Halen
Yngwie
Jake E Lee

I'd love to include John Frusciante, George Lynch, and some more recent guys, but I gotta respect the rule of 5!