Well... Remember that this is only my opinion, and I'm a huge Lennon fan.

1. Buddy Holly
2. John Lennon



3. Elvis Presley

A lot of this has to do with the position the artists have in the band. Buddy was lead guitar and vocals, John had George as lead guitarist (yet shared singing duties with Paul), and Elvis, while he was able to play, used the guitar mostly as a prop, and had a full backing band.

Both John Lennon and Buddy Holly showed a great deal of innovation with their guitar work, and wrote songs. Elvis, while a stellar vocalist, didn't write much musically.

I'm only putting Buddy Holly first because, if he had a longer career, he may have shown as much diversity as John Lennon with his playing styles. He certainly did have skill, and in the limited time he had, Buddy showed he could weild a mean strat. Lennon had the advantage of spending a lot of time working in studio, and getting a lot of different sounds. But really, he wasn't a lead guitar, he was an awesome singer/songwriter.

Don't forget Paul McCartney either. He was (is) very talented on many instruments, and took over bass duties because he had to. Probably a better guitarist than John.

John did play lead on tracks, but mostly the job was left to George Harrison, who was a true lead guitarist, and proved it time and again. Buddy Holly showed he was a talented lead guitar, who also sang. Hard call, either way, for a lot of reasons; but I don't think Elvis was in the same ballpark.

Johnny Cash thought Elvis was a great rythym player...he mentioned seeing Elvis in the early days performing at a drug store grand opening on a flat bed trailer for a stage....Cash said he was playing a Martin I think,and was a steady player.

Jonoteague, cool post. great point Rebelsoul. Elvis plays guitar on his "68 special" television broadcast. Rhythm is his middle name, Elvis is a good vocalist, his timing put him in the great front man category. To sell the talent as a soloist a good guitarist you must be (pun intended yoda).

Was Elvis Considered a Good Guitarist?
in a word, yes.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

I think that Elvis was just an average guitar player,he used mostly major and minor chords and rarely-if ever-used barre chords or augmented,diminished or 7th chords.He depended a lot on James Burton and especially Scotty Moore to fill in the main guitar duties.When he had a full orchestra or band behind him his guitar became little more than a stage prop.It was Elvis's singing and gyrations that got him noticed moreso than his guitar playing.

I'd go out on a limb here and say that John Lennon was better than Buddy Holly on guitar.His lead break on Get Back is deadly and when he and Harrison and McCartney take their turns at the 3 way guitar duel at the end of Abby Rd. his part is readily identifiable by its raw raunchiness.John's rhythm style was unique as it was so percussive and fluid.I loved his rhythm work on All My Loving his right hand technique is just great.Buddy Holly was no slouch on guitar and his style of strumming was reminisant of Bo Diddley but more subdued,still he was phenominal but I think that John Lennon gets the nod for being just a bit better.

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Elvis was a great 'self accompianist' on guitar. His major musical vehicle was his voice, his guitar playing revolved around his singing. He knew his limitations, and he used top notch guitarists in his band settings. But his own guitar playing was totally in the pocket,and served his purpose for it perfectly.

Lennon used his guitar somewhat in the same manner, but he also used his (and Georges,) guitar playing as a driving force in his songwriting. vastly under rated player, he had a unique style.

Holly. well, he was a cut above as a guitarist. A real pioneer, his band was the prototype or template for the modern rock band.

You don't need to be a virtuoso to be a great guitar player. Great musicians make great music, which all 3 of those guys did. (and not all virtuosos are great guitarists--remember the old joke: "Yngwei Malmsteen can do anything with a guitar, except play music!" ) All 3 of these guys above were great guitar players without being shredders, or having monster chops.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Elvis wasn't just good, he was good enough.

1. John Lennon
1. Elvis Presley
1. Buddy Holly

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I traded my car in for a microphone.

I actually never considered Elvis when it came to guitar players...He was probably decent as a rhythm player in some songs.

Holly
Lennon
Elvis

Elvis sold rock n roll as a package, in my opinion Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Buddy Holly started Rock N Roll. Berry had the groundbreaking guitar, Holly had the melodies and pop, Little Richard had the performance and charisma, Elvis was the complete chart poster boy rocker.

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I think we need James Roy for the real nitty gritty on this one?



Jim maintains Scotty Moore's website and has lots of info about Elvis.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

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Elvis might have been the greatest vocalist ever, and could play guitar pretty well, Scotty Moore his main guitar player was really a pop music pionieer on guitar and still sounds good. Holly really wasn't Hendrix either. Lennon one of the greastest songwriters and rythym players ever.

1. Lennon
2.Holly , Elvis

IMHO

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Fender Mustang II amp


Experience is the best teacher

I hate these questions, they're all so subjective and my opinion is no better than anyone else's that's seen or heard these guys play. Specifically though, my opinion, Elvis was a good rhythm player with a limited range. He was good with a three chord progression in a couple of keys. He may have had the potential to become better if he needed to be but as has been stated, his talent was his voice and beyond the first few sessions did not contribute a lot instrumentally. As Scotty put it the guitar ultimately became a prop. What we've seen of him on film from the 68 special is likely the extent of his ability and from what I'm told is about all he ever used to play. He loved that Jimmy Reed shuffle and turn around.

My votes, in order of players would be
John
Buddy
Elvis

The Lennon and Harrison combination for guitar work on a lot of the Beatle songs should be every bit revered as the Lennon and McCartney songwriting

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Now on Facebook Too

Most definitely in my book too!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!