Guitarist outside genre

**hippypants** · 08-04-2013

Are there any guitarist you enjoy that are hard to pigeonhole into any specific genre or play around in different styles so that is hard to say specifically, well he's a blues or jazz guitarist. I feel Zappa falls within these parameters, in fact, he falls with those parameters as far as his overall output

One I think might also fit inside this area is Eric Johnson. He's probably more blues influenced, but also has a lot of pop/rock influence. Peter Green may fit inside this area as well, though leaning towards blues.

Stanley Jordan might be more of a jazz guitarist, but might fit here too. So might, George Benson to some degree. Others?

**rcarlberg** · 08-04-2013

Pffft. Zappa had one style only, wheedly wheedly.

You want uncharacterizable look at the career of Fred Frith.

**Scott Bails** · 08-04-2013

Guthrie Govan

**happytheman** · 08-04-2013

People may differ... but Roy Clark (Hee Haw fame) could play just about any genre and play any of them very well.. granted he was most visible in the Country / Nashville arena.. but in my opinion he was a very underrated guitarist for sure.

**gryphs also** · 08-04-2013

How about Canadian fingerpicker extrodinaire Don Ross---folk? jazz?

**syncopatico** · 08-04-2013

Elliott Sharp has done it all from 'down home' bluesy pedal steel to the noisiest avant garde 'skronking' stuff--and just about everything in between...

**NogbadTheBad** · 08-04-2013

Fred Frith is a good pick (pun)

I think Mike Oldfield is pretty hard to pigeon-hole
Kavus Torabi (Guapo / Knifeworld / Cardiacs) is fairly varied
Francesco Zago (Yugen / Zauss / Ske / Not A Good Sign / Kurai) plays avant, drone, ambient, symph, he's all over the map.

**nosebone** · 08-04-2013

Michael Hedges & Allan Holdsworth

**philsunset** · 08-04-2013

Terje Rypdal
David Torn
Steve Tibbetts

**Reid** · 08-04-2013

Henry Kaiser
Danny Gatton
John Martyn
Ralph Towner

**Wisdomview** · 08-04-2013

Nels Cline
Jeff Parker
Mark Ribot
Jeff Fahey
Derek Bailey
Keith Rowe

**hippypants** · 08-04-2013

Henry Kaiser was one I was trying to think of, but too lazy to get up and try and find some of his CDs (yes, I actually get that lazy at times) & busy.

Nels Cline--jazz & Wilco

Steve Hillage--noodling, and fish guitar

Maybe some Bill Frisell too.

Some nice choices listed, I've not considered.

**Wisdomview** · 08-04-2013

^Yes, Frisell is a great choice.

**simon moon** · 08-04-2013

Maybe...

Bill Nelson

**Reid** · 08-04-2013

John Jorgenson, who has played in country bands, The Hellecasters, Django Reinhardt style swing jazz, shred rock, etc...

**prglvr** · 08-05-2013

Jeff Beck....blues, fusion, rock...fantastic guitarist in all genres!

**Dave (in MA)** · 08-05-2013

Originally Posted by rcarlberg

Pffft. Zappa had one style only, wheedly wheedly.

No, that was another great Italian, Alvin Lee.

**walt** · 08-05-2013

Michael Chapman
Chris Spedding
Ray Russell

**hippypants** · 08-05-2013

The guy (Steve Morse, I think) that plays in the Dixie Dregs, I forget his name off the top of my head, but could play country, rock, jazz and so forth.

Jeff Beck, could play some country licks and seemed to be able to switch in and out of genre at the drop of the hat. Amazing guitarist.

Bill Nelson--I know this guy was somewhat popular back in the day with BeBop Deluxe etc. I never could get a good handle on his playing, and got rid of the albums I had, although I'd like to re-hear them again.