Top 5 Guitar Influences? Options

[Grmo]

I know there was already one of these, but it was 3 years ago, so I though't I'd see what people would say now. This list should not be affected by how good you think the players are.

Here's my list, from most influencial to least(although the top 5 for any of us are probably hugely influencial, as they are with me), with the band that I had in mind:

1) Pat Metheny (Pat Metheny Group), for a) his soloing, which inspired me to learn about alternate and exotic scales to use in solos (such as chromatic or whole tone based licks in a normal chord), and b ) for his compositional style, which helped me learn how to vary rhythms and progressions in a whole new way. He also inspired me to take a much more creative approach to composing.

2) Michael Romeo (Symphony X), for both his rhythm and lead playing, which affected my style a lot. I was most strongly affected by his tapping arpegios, which I think can sound really cool with the right tone.

3) Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom), for his dark playing style, interesting rhythms, and sometimes very creative playing (although the fact that he plays with only an EMG at the bridge is kind of lame).

4) Marty Friedman (Megadeth), because I've always loved how he's able to break free from the metal environment that he's playing in and just be completely free in his solos, which are brilliantly fluid and very creative.

5) Adam Jones (Tool), whose overdriven but still clear tone has influenced my sound a lot. His use of artificial harmonics and dynamics showed me that guitar playing can still be great without having much to do with techniquem though he can be a very technical player. He, and Tool overall, introduced me to an entirely new world of rhythm overlapping. See "The Grudge" off of Lateralus, where, near the end, they overlap several different rhythms that circle around to make one of the most epic crescendos ever.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiR1hmpk-x4 - starts at about 6:30)


Anyway, that's my list. Please feel free to share yours.

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