Actually I should mention though. There was a person I met who did not like David Gilmour's playing I know that seems impossible, but what he said was that his playing was "forced" and "by the book" and I'm just paraphrasing here. But he kept praising Dimebag Darell as if he were a God and saying that he had more emotion than Gilmour. And he said the same thing with Eric Clapton and Jimi. Jimi was an all natural player and didn't need music theory and books, that's why he's better than Clapton Obviously this guy was a douche, but when I think in terms of music, well, I've come to realize that it's really all subjective. But Gilmour to me is an emotional player. End of story

Blaqdog I have to say you posted a great question and broke it down very nicely. Also there have been great answers and responces to it. EMOTION right off the bat most people think it has to be a slow tempo song that is very lyrical. Well if we break it down we have many emotions ,sad,happy,angry, blue,joyful- so any player that can transmit what he is feeling and have it come out of his guitar without sounding forced is playing with emotion. Many players with super human chops have been tagged as playing without emotion. IMHO this is sometimes true and sometimes said out of jealousy as I have been moved in many ways by players of all styles from the limited to the technical best. We all have our own favorite players and no one can tell someone else what to like but if someone can make a tear come to my eye or make me want to pump my fist in the air and scream he is playing with emotion .

Agreed, and you broke it down quite nicely

Although Green does some tasty bits on "A Hard Road", how anyone could even begin to compare his work on "A Hard Road" to Claptons intensity and craftsmanship on the original Blues Breakers album boggles the mind... let alone rate Greens' work as better... unless, perhaps you're speak of something other than the guitar work.

What ever moves you... that's really the bottom line. If I had to select one artist as the master of emotion it would be Chopin all the way. But then you may come back with Debussy so like I say, it's what you like. In the final analysis, is suppose neither is really "better" or more emotional than the other.

Although I truly love playing guitar, and have all my life, I am foremost a drummer. This topic also has been debated in the drumming communities as well. One of my favorite drummers, Marco Minnemann, has been accused of being an emotionless drummer, because of his tremendous technique, analagous to Malmsteen. And, to top it all off, he and a few others were accused of this by another of my all time favorite drummers, Danny Carey in a Modern Drummer magazine.

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2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne 1x12 combo
DRRI

I have an idea:
Let's post some links to some tunes that we define as emotional. Here's mine:
John Mayer's "Slow Dancing In a Burning Room" from "Where the Light Is"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32GZ3suxRn4

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2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne 1x12 combo
DRRI

No, this one. This is the epitome of emotion.

John Mayer - Gravity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBFW8OvciIU

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2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne 1x12 combo
DRRI

Quite easily, note selection, unhurried manner and using more than a handfull of signature lines interspersed with pointless notes. I also (like Mike Vernon) believe the guitar sound to be better and better suited to articulate playing. Anyway nothing to get bent out of shape about. As you say 'whatever moves you' or whatever you respond to being more accurate a phrase.

Somewhat of a side note, as far as rating Greens work. From 67-70 his albums outsold the RollingSstones and the Beatles combined.

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I just listened to "Hard Road" this afternoon and I must admit, I do really like Greens work here... another consumate, cool and freaky Hippi album IMHO. It is certainly more laid back and less rushed as you say. I suppose that Mayall perhaps had additional money by this time to commandeer a better recording facility as the album certainly has great depth and is somewhat superior in quality.

What really moves me about the earlier Mayall/Clapton Bluesbreakers album is the brilliant rubato that Clapton frequently uses. It seems that he developed it even further with Cream, and then seems to have abandoned it completely when they split. ?????

The albums were recorded not a year apart in the same decca studios under supervision of Mike Vernon. Mike went mad at Mayal when Greeny got his guitar out, 'Wheres Eric?' being his main inquiry. He couldnt believe Mayall had let him leave. Greeny's main downfall was that he was always on Claptons heels. I believe the pressure of that had far more to do with his latter mental illness than anyone recognizes much.

On Clapton your absolutely correct, I think he lost it with cream completely. Look at their albums. You get 2 or 3 great guitar tracks per album the rest being Bruce/Brown partnerships that really aren't to my taste. I really believe EC's best work to be the ocean boulevard era. Thats perhaps cos of my penchant for catchy chorus's and soft guitar lines.

I dont for a second believe that EC has lost anything as a player. I think he like all reliable gigging musicians has his dependable tools that he relies on. He's found what works best for him and stuck to it. Lets face it, when it comes to success, i suspect even Mcartney to be a tad envious of EC's wins. Possibly the only other player from that era who has a chance of challenging Clapton on a percentage improved ratio is Beck. Its too close for me to call though. Beck has always played like he's on the highwire and about to fall off, just that he never seems to.

As we all do, I listen to different players for different things. I think EC is greatly underratted as a songwriter. I believe his reputation as GOD has blinded people to the fact that he can write a damn fine tune, even if it doesnt have a guitar solo in it.

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1. bluesguitar65 nailed it.

2. If you have to ask...

Niki I have to agree with you on most of your statements regarding Clapton.We all go through phases and my Clapton phase has been one that never left as I find him truly remarkable as an artist with a successful career that has spanned 5 decades. He truly improved his game in every decade in terms of songwriting and especially as a vocalist in which I find him to be one of my favorites. The only thing I think he mellowed on was his lead playing which was at its most fierce during his Cream days and most sublime on Layla. Clapton tends to get a bit lazy which he himself admits but if he is challenged can just bring it to another level. If you ever check out the version of Becks(Because weve ended as Lovers) on you tube with him and Clapton which was cut "How this was edited out is mind boggling) from the Crossroads concert you think how is Clapton going to play over this but when he comes in he is tearing it up and him and Beck are going Blow to Blow in there own styles and Clapton more than holds his own. You have to check this out if you never heard it. The thing that shocks me is that Clapton gets put down more in the UK than anywhere else. I buy every guitar magazine from the UK I can because they are far superior to U.S publications and the readers comments always put him down like why is that old geezer Clapton in another issue and ---------- I dont get it for the life of me.

Gilmour and Clapton.........Emotion!

Straycat

Some fella a couple o thousand years ago said it best-
a prophet is never recognised in his hometown, as a rough paraphrase. Not that clapton is a prophet or has ever claimed to be. You get my drift though.

I wouldnt presume one over the other, just pointing out Beck as about the only other player who has improved at a comparable rate to EC. On the cream stuff your probably right too. Aside from the famous few theres not much of that stuff i like. Certainly not enough out of Clapton on those lp's.

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I saw Robin Trower tonight. You can see and hear the passion in his playing.

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