Let's take Keith Richards - he's considered good but he plays chords and occasionally some riffs and licks

The let's take Kirk Hamett. Doesn't play any chords 99% of the time and is able to fly up and down the fretboard like a bat out of hell, and he too is considered good.

So when is somebody "good"?????

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Being good's just a delusion. If we had nothing to compare our playing to, we would be the best, right? But cause some jerks like to portray a certaint way of playing as 'the only right way', and 90% of guitarists follow those rules, it's a delusion.

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If you're doing it right, you won't even have to ask.

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I dunno. Steve Vai is supposed to be really, really good, but I think he's as boring as bat droppings.

Tommy Emmanuel too - music to fall sleep to. Might as well throw in Satriani as well.

I'm going to guitar forum hell and I don't care.

so who makes your 'good' list Drubbing?

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Completely subjective, isn't it? I know I'm not good, probably never will be. I'm not into virtuosity and fret gymnastics for its own sake when I'm listening.

I like The Edge, but he gets dumped on in many forums for being simple and pedal-happy, which ironically is like most forum players and their gear. I like that he steps back and lets the guitar create the song.

Roy Buchanan. The opposite of the Edge. May have bought a chorus pedal once. Amazing skills and some great covers - Hey Joe and Down By The River...

Wilko Johnson. Sort of the UKs Roy Buchanan, not much heard of, but did invented shortcuts to be able to do his thing, which was riffing and licks at the same time, over rhythm and blues tunes.

Dave Gilmour - beauty and subtlety. Get a lot of mileage from layering guitars, and slow bends.

Angus and Malcolm Young. A lot of fairly simple riffs, brilliantly executed.

If this happens in your career, you are good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJOR_j3zPno

Slide over and make room for me too.

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Totally agree, very well put.
U2 isn't U2 without the edge. I love U2, right now I'm in my joe Bonamassa
Les paul rock blues phase.

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Exactly, it's about what 'moves' us, and that's why your list is your list. It's like asking someone, "what color is a car?"

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In my mind being "good" is when you are able to make a solidly positive contribution to the music without having to draw attention to yourself. Showing off isn't a sign of being good. It's a sign that you think you're pretty hot stuff. Some call that showmanship. Some call it flambouyancy. Some call it stage presence. Others more rightly call it wanking. Some very highly revered guitarists are wankers.

Study the work of Dave Gilmour and Warren Haynes. These men don't play at breakneck speeds. They don't routinely demonstrate a nine fret reach. They don't consider guitar playing to be an athletic competition. What they do is make music. Every note they play is for the benefit of the music. Every note or chord they play is class and taste and beauty and elegance. They choose their notes economically. They don't play 15 notes when two and a bend will do.

When the music is more important than your ego then maybe, just maybe, you might be on the road to being good.

2¢

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

IMO, the Really good players don't think they're good at all.

Partly because the more they learn, the more they realize what they don't know...

And partly because they realize that it truly is an endless journey !!

cheers!

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^^^^ very well put^^^^


I also think it's a subjective thing. I'll never reach "good" in my own mind. Mainly because I'm my worst critic. "good or great" should be unreachable to me since it's what drives me to learn more and play better. Most people that hear me play say that I'm "good" and I always reply "not yet." To stop learning is to stop living. So, I make a goal unreachable.

and I still like Vai too.

To me if you can keep up with a good jazz band, you're good.

"Wankers" are good.

Blues players that put tons of feel on a single lick, are good.

People that can make the most simple, yet iconic riffs are good (Angus Young, Alex Jones)

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