Neil Young - Guitarist

I like Neil Young's music, but as a technical guitarist, he doesn't make any list, top 100 or even top 500.  That's OK.  Neil plays guitar very well for what he needs to do - accompany his voice. But he is no virtuoso on the guitar, and why should he be?  There are many excellent guitar players out there, from Jeff Beck to Steve Howe... and some that you probably didn't know about.  (Check out Glen Campbell on YouTube sometime, or give James Taylor a good listen.)

And remember that VERY few rock guitarist could hang with the real virtuosos, like Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, Kenny Burrell, Barney Kessel, George Benson, Pat Martino, Tal Farlow, Stanley Jordan and on and on and on...

Neil Young is a great singer & songwriter.  He never aspired to be a great guitarist.

THANK YOU, 'astewart8944' !   'BDP24' might notice that every player I mentioned is (or was) a great artist, who plays with creativity, passion and taste.  There's not a 'shredder' in the group.  (And, yes, I agree that there are a zillion rock guitarists with good technique, but zero soul.) 

And any one of them would explain that great artistic expression requires great technical skill on their chosen instrument.

Charlie Parker once said that he wanted to be able to play whatever he felt... and to do that, he needed to practice 4 hours a day.

Music doesn't simply spring from the heart.  It also 'springs' from many lonely hours developing your chops.