2. music
  3. 1167242594

Best Acoustic Guitar Players Of All Time?

Piggybacking on the unique guitar theme, I thought it might be fun to get your list of acoustic masters.

Here is my list:
1. Michael Hedges - This will more than likely be a controversial #1 choice, because I know Michael was heavily influenced by Leo Kottke, but I think Hedges took all his influences to a higher compositional level. He was a total freak on the acoustic guitar and paved the way for so many of the new fingerstyle players. He may not be the best of all time, but he gets my vote anyway.
2. Andres Segovia
3. Leo Kottke
4. Chet Atkins
5. Al DiMeola
6. John McLaughlin
7. Tommy Emmanuel
8. Duck Baker
9. Doyle Dykes
10. Don Ross
11. Antoine Dufour
12. Andy McKee
14. Preston Reed
15. Peppino D'Agostino
16. Pierre Bensusan
17. Billy McLaughlin
18. Tim Sparks
19. Mark O'Conner
20. Tony Rice

I'm sure there's many more I've missed, but I'll leave those gems up to you guys!
128x128dawgbyte
rebbi
1,326 posts
 
Keller Williams is pretty outrageous.

Howard Morgen died, sadly, earlier this year. He was an extraordinary finger style jazz guitarist and an incredible teacher with whom I had the privilege to study for a few years. He is revered among jazz guitarists but his work deserves a wider audience.
larryi
4,024 posts
 
Certainly John Williams deserves some consideration. I also agree with the poster who mentioned John Fahey. I recall someone calling Leo Kottke "the greatest acoustic guitar player not named John Fahey." That is a pretty fair assessment to me too.
rawinsonde
47 posts
 
I attended a john fahey concert at the peanut gallery in tampa circa 1977-78. I have quite a few of his records. He has a style of composition and fingering pretty much his own. I still fail to see why anyone would think he is the greatest acoustic player!
akg_ca's avatar
akg_ca
2,270 posts
 
Chet Atkins and Les Paul

they have a CD out: Chester & Lester...magical.
edorr
714 posts
 
Forgot to mention a lesser known but true giant of the acoustic guitar. Egberto Gismonti. Saw him live and swear to God, if you closed your eyes you would sometimes think there were two guitars playing. Try "De Repente" on the album "Sanfona".
More to discover