Slow guitar players

[Rudy Tamasz]

I noticed that these days I quite enjoy slow melodic guitar playing in rock as opposed to my heavy metal youth twenty or twenty five years ago. Today I was listening to Red Hot Chili Peppers and John Frusciante amazed me once again with his moody and colorful textures as much as his melodic solos. Yesterday I gave a spin to an old Bad Company record. Mick Ralphs proves that you do not need to play scales and play them fast to make a great solo. Jeff Beck is brilliant with his one note melodies. Michael Schenker did some fine acoustic work, which I rate much higher than his heavy bombast. I mean, all of these guys know how to play fast but choose not to, in order to show a gentle melody.

What other axemen could you name who prefer melodies to speed?

[Andrewmcm]

Frusciante's problem is that he only sounds good on records - he plays the same way live and his guitar just sounds terribly thin.

Clapton can play some nice slow stuff. Mark Knopfler plays some good melodies and chooses not to play fast.

[slinkster]

Jeff Buckley is massively underrated as a guitarist mainly because his vocals where so amazing... but his guitar skills, and wide reaching influences really make for some amazing music.

[Rudy Tamasz]

Frusciante's problem is that he only sounds good on records - he plays the same way live and his guitar just sounds terribly thin.

Now that he left RHCP we'll see how they sound without him. The new album is out very soon. I think I'll miss his playing.

Playing with the slider is a nice way to slow things down. Dicky Betts and Ritchie Blackmore can be pretty fast but they get slower and more melodic when they use the slider.

[ShiftingGears]

Dave Gilmour.

[GridGirl]

Quite liking the google tribute to Les Paul today.

[Steve Boyd]

+1 for David Gilmour (I heard somewhere he dosen't like to be called Dave!)

How about Gary Moore for another?

[Brown, Jon Brow]

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[Di Rishta]

Afaik Mike Schenker is great, as is one of the best bassist Mike Porcaro. His improvisation playing bass fascinates me. Sorry mate, not too much listen to solo guitar lately, bollywood times. :)

I also enjoy slow guitars, like in the Pink Floyd music.

[Mark in Oshawa]

I am thinking BB King is still the smoothest and just a legendary slow blues player...his notes are precise and he plays a style that is just his.

[Storm]

Dave Gilmour.

This.