Who is the king of the Prog Rock Guitar?

Was it a guy in a band named King?

 

When I hear Steve Hackett on Firth of Fifth, or Steve Howe on Siberian Khatru, or Robert Fripp on Starless, all could easily be crowned.

Then there’s Gilmour.

 

Howe

 

current or classic?

Current? Matt Bellamy of MUSE (I know, controversial). Trey? Cory Wong?
Classic? The usual...Fripp, Howe, Hackett, Hendrix, etc...

 

Too many for there to just one King of prog guitar. Of the smaller bands, Jan Akkerman was as good as anyone.

His big solo in Eruption, from my favourite Focus album, Moving Waves, is just about as good as it gets.

 

Steve Hackett.

 

Hackett, Howe, Fripp... no one King

If you cast a broader net as to what is considered progressive rock, then Zappa, Lifeson, Holdsworth, Morse, and Petrucci become equally viable.

 

Steve Howe

 

Todd Rundgren, maybe? Aside from the usual suspects, I mean

 

Depending on how large your progressive net goes, I'd say Alex Lifeson or David Gilmour. Hard to top Steve Howe and what he's accomplished.

 

Of those three, if we're talking technical ability as a player, its:

#1 - Howe
#2 - Fripp
#3 - Hackett

However, as far as which guitarist's band's music I prefer - its in the exact opposite order to the above.

 

Steve Hillage

 

I personally have a soft spot for Steve Hackett's melodic style but, all in all, I think the crown belongs to Steve Howe.

 

Alex Lifeson or Fripp

Martin Barre should be on this ballot, too, since he hasn't been mentioned.

 

There is no king in any particular aspect of music, be it guitar, drums, bass, keys, vocal, writing, arranging blag blah blah
A ton of greats already named, and I'm sure there are more

 

Sigi Schwab and Roman Bunka

 

Fripp, Hackett, Holdsworth & Howe

 

Steve Howe is the KING!

 

Robert Fripp would be my top choice, but a close second would be Steve Hackett.

 

I'm in the Howe, Fripp Hackett camp as well

 

Oh no...Eric Gillette of the Neal Morse band or Guthri Govan who's played with Steve Wilson. Bellamy is talented but not even in the same league as others IMO.

 

Oh Bellamy is. I know firsthand. Worked with MUSE since ‘07.
Look at the totality of his work. As a player and composer.
He’s 1. prog, 2. excellent at his instrument, and 3. never shows you everything at one time. *cough*Vai*cough*

I worked with Govan when he was with Hans Zimmer.
He’s great. Is he prog though?
What are you when you can play anything and everything at one time?
A genius for sure.

 

Frank Zappa
Phil Miller
Gary Green
Mike Keneally

 

Fripp for me.