Fastest guitarist

[ShakeyBurt]

Who is considered the current fastest guitarist? If Carlos Santana was the fastest American guitarist, and Alvin Lee was the fastest British guitarist of the '60's, where do they stand in a ranking today?

[andy hughes]

This is another of those 'open to interperetation' questions. I would suggest that Steve Vai is probably a contender for the 'fastest', but i would take issue with your rankings - Eric Clapton would probably give Alvin lee a run for his money, Jimmy Page most certainly would, and Johnny Winter would obliterate Carlos Santana on a fetbroad race any day of the week, but it really doesn't matter, because technique and taste are far more important than speed any day - the only place where speed matters is in a race, not in music.

[GeordieSteve]

I'd say Yngwie Malmsteen was a damn good choice!

[Cactus]

Joe Satriani leaves wheelspin marks over anyone for speed, but i'd much rather listen to Dave Gilmour wringing slow emotive melodies from his guirar than Mr Satriani anyday. Having said that, it's horses for courses isn't it. If i was speeding down a freeway in California in an open top Chevvy, i'd probably have Surfing With The Alien blaring out - not Meddle.

[hadeva]

What about Steve Lukather? Toto are coming to the uk next year, see for yorself then

[Gigadave]

Surely some of the heavy metal guitarists like Chuck Schuldiner, James Murphy, or even those fools from Metallica would wipe the floor with most others if speed was your concern? Low on style, but high on speed!

[skelly]

Eric Clapton in a Porshe?

[mad_for_it]

I heard Linford Christie was partial to the odd jam on the guitar.

[PRATPRSHOUSE]

Vai , Satch , Malmsteen , Clapton (not even close) don't hold a candle to the raw speed of Alan Holdsworth , or Michael Angelo Batio.

[splintercell]

Actually Shawn Lane is the fastest guitarist. Then its Buckethead. Then some other shredders. Allan Holdsworth is fast. Not as fast as those two. And Michael Angelo? Please....that guy plays the same licks over and over , of course hes going to be fast. I can play half of speed kills and then it all started to sound the same and i quit. He is a fast guitarist with an extremely limited style

[splintercell]

i actually laughed at that. carlos santana and alvin lee. i heard they can get 6notes per second! HOLY CRACKER JACKS. Shawn Lane hit 38notes a second. Id like to see anyone beat that. I keep hearing that Holdsworth is faster but hes not. I dont care what anyone says. Buckethead is now the fastest guitar player ( since Shawn Lane Died earlier this year ).....Buckethead Rules

[Xtina_2004]

I think 1 of the fastest guitarists is definitely Kirk Hammett from metallica, i mean just think... the One solo is only 1 of the amazingly fast guitar solos he has played. He's my idol... id love to be able to play as fast as him!

[Wookie]

What about Steve Morse... His talent is astounding and endurance like I've never seen elsewhere...

[Onanimannen]

There are a few people here that haven't got a clue what they are talking about. I mean, Santana??? We're talking the fastest players here! The reoccuring names on that topic are Michael Angelo Batio (1), Yngwie Malmsteen (3), Chris Impelitterri (2) and Jason Becker. The number in the ()'s are from a ranking of the top 10 fastest shredders done by some guitar magazine (can't remember which) and Jason Becker is, sadly, paralized but when he was 19 years old he was one of the more stunning players! I'd say he was the fastest (maybe not at notes per second, but at interesting and challenging licks). And please don't confuse 'speed' with 'songwriting'. If Santana is one of the worlds greatest players, it's due to his style which again is purely a matter of opinion. The guys I mentioned before could play anything Santana could play and NOT vice versa! So, check them out and make up your own mind...

[espcr]

I would probably have to say that with sweep picking it would be Malamsteen and with hammerons it would be vai and satriani, but for the actual moving your fingers and pick at the same fast speeds and switching strings the fastest i would have to say kirk hammett, if you dont beleive me watch metallica live in seattle on the "live **** binge and purge" youll see what i mean.

[bob121]

splintercell you are completely wrong - 38 notes is a physical impossibility. DO you play? John Petrucci struggles to play faster than 4 notes per click at 216 bpm = 864 notes a minute = 14.4 notes per second. do the math.

[svingdar]

when it comes to speed picking and sweeping techniques, yngwie malmsteen would be the fastest i have heard. I would probably say that nuno bettencourt (from extreme) is fast on the intro to a track called 'he-man woman hater' on extreme's 'pornogaffiti' album (not too sure if there is a slight delay effect used). When it comes to fingertapping, it would be wrong to say that edward van halen does not take first prize, after all, he did invent the fingertapping method. Overall, i would say malmsteen or kiko loureiro (from Angra) are possibly the fastest, but anyway, style, sound and talent are far more important.

[oliva]

i suppose that michael angelo is the fastest man on earth , not forgetting criss oliva , malmsteen , steve . but angelo is the best in speed , SPEED KILLS.

[AdrianDeVera]

A majority of you people don't know how they actually measure the speed of guitarists that's because you lack experience. Some guys made sense about Batio and Malmsteen, those guys are really fast. Let's say you were writing a song and composing a solo. Aren't you a bit too dumb to put it at a high tempo? First of all, it will sound like a cowboy song GIDDIIEEYUPP!!! Moreover, you will not use your maximum speed or it'll wear you out in concert. Now, these guys measure their speed by doing a chromatic scale run, all picked up and down. Remember this is just one of the tests. There are a lot like sweep picking speed semi-picking and the studio must confirm that their speed is also 90% passing in accuracy. Another thing is that you don't see their actual speed in concerts or videos... so you can never say that you're faster after beating them in their solo records. Meet them in person and you'll see how slow you are. Finally, I'd say that Batio is the fastest because he plays topside, two-handed, reverse-shifting, etc. He also sweeps and picks like Yngwie so he gets an advantage. By the way, if you wan't to play fast, imitate him and you'll notice that your fingers start to get accurate, fast and solid. No need to boast about myself like the other guys 'cause I'm here just to give out a very accurate opinion. Oh and there is no best guitarist in the world... fastest is a more appropriate term.

[metalmaniac6]

Well guys let me tell yall something. just to name a few. how about michael romeo from symphony x hes a tapping god. then take jeff loomis from nevermore download loomis clip from his website he was only 16 lol hes a god. hmmm oh how about angel batio. man 4 neck guitar thats insane hes a god to. cant forget about hammet, malmsteen,dimebag darrell,marty friedman,john petrucci,but guys definatley download romeo from symphony x i saw em live he is a god. and loomis from nevermore. hell i saw em on the gigantour.all of em were fast.but i would have to pick batio for the fastest or all of em hell i dont care they all rock and are better than us ********

[dark melody]

hey this is dano ,of dark melody i can tell you there are many fast and great guitarists my personal favorite is andy larouqe from king diamond and merciful fate and also pete black from king diamond thanks sleepless nights from king diamonds is awsome