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5.51pm
24 July 2012
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[sp_show_poll id=”13″]I did not look if someone already did this so sorry if you did
5.54pm
19 September 2010
Offline Why the hell is this up for debate? If Paul was a better guitarist, why didn’t he become a guitarist after they broke up? It’s obviously George, cause he was THE LEAD GUITARIST
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
6.06pm
3 May 2012
Offline mr. Sun king coming together said
Why the hell is this up for debate? If Paul was a better guitarist, why didn’t he become a guitarist after they broke up? It’s obviously George, cause he was THE LEAD GUITARIST
I was going to say the same but err… well, the point has been made.
Moving along in our God given ways, safety is sat by the fire/Sanctuary from these feverish smiles, left with a mark on the door.
(Passover - I. Curtis)
6.34pm
10 August 2011
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I actually think there’s room for discussion.
Not that I disagree with George being the best (I have never given this question much thought), but Paul is close enough to warrant a discussion.
How do you define best? Fastest? Most inventive? etc…
George was probably faster and had better technique
But Paul wasn’t the bassist as a result of not being able to play guitar. He was the bassist because no one else wanted to play bass.
Paul was a more versatile guitarist than George.
If you count Paul’s guitar riffs vs George’s, Paul wins (“Blackbird ” anyone?), especially if you continue on to their solo years.
Didn’t Paul play the lead on “Taxman “?
John was no slouch either (“Day Tripper ” “Across The Universe ” “Revolution “).
There’s a mentality that goes along with being a lead guitarist, and George certainly had it – much more so than Paul or George.
So, yes, George probably wins – but there’s certainly stuff to discuss.
(Sorry Ringo, I think you’re out of the running altogether).
"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)
7.28pm
14 December 2009
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mr. Sun king coming together said
Why the hell is this up for debate? If Paul was a better guitarist, why didn’t he become a guitarist after they broke up? It’s obviously George, cause he was THE LEAD GUITARIST
Well, Paul didn’t “become” a guitarist after the breakup because he already was one! As well as a bassist, etc. And “lead guitarist” isn’t necessarily the best. Plus there’s the matter of the “Taxman ” solo, the flashiest bit of playing on a Beatles record, which George enlisted Paul to play. (And yeah, I know I just contradicted myself…)
Actually I’d say it probably was George who was better all around, even though he didn’t realize his full potential until after the breakup, when he developed his slide technique. But I think it certainly IS up for debate!
(I see that ITSWD has already made many of the same points as me, and even arrived at the same conclusion!)
Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
9.54pm
16 August 2012
Offline I’m on the side of Paul being the better player. He was a real multi-instrumentalist and seemed to have a more natural “feeling” for music.
And if you factor his guitar work in the very first years (’70-’73) of his solo career (which had a lot of material which originated with the Beatles), that wins it for me.
Sadly, I other than some work on ‘All Things Must Pass ‘, there isn’t a whole lot of George’s solo output that stands out, guitar-wise. You’d at least expect some slight growth in skill behind with the fretboard, but I just don’t hear it.
E is for 'Ergent'.
10.11pm
19 September 2010
Offline Von Bontee said
mr. Sun king coming together said
Why the hell is this up for debate? If Paul was a better guitarist, why didn’t he become a guitarist after they broke up? It’s obviously George, cause he was THE LEAD GUITARIST
Well, Paul didn’t “become” a guitarist after the breakup because he already was one!
I meant (and will willingly admit to making unclear) that why didn’t Paul take the role of lead guitarist in his post Beatles endeavors.
As for the Taxman solo, it is one great solo. Even if you take Taxman , Good Morning, and any other songs he took lead on, I’ll see them with Something , Michelle , Revolution , Back In The USSR , Let It Be , Here Comes The Sun , Not Guilty (Anthology 3 ), and others.
With what I have above, how can you say it was Paul? I’m not saying Paul wasn’t a good guitarist, but George is better. I’d love someone to explain the argument for Paul, maybe I’ll be convinced.
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
10.25pm
19 September 2010
Offline Oh, we’re allowed talking solo? Okay, how about All Things Must Pass ? Or Wah Wah ? Or Ball of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)? Or Your Love is Forever? Or Behind That Locked Door ? his work on How Do You Sleep? Or maybe you prefer his work on Gimme Some Truth ?
Oh, and what about And I Love Her ? Or Run For Your Life ?
Edit: What? Back In The USSR is Paul? Oh. Well, I guess I just hurt my point. Also, I just want to say I’m not dissing Paul. He did some great solos and lead work generally (I was hoping nobody would mention Maybe I’m Amazed , Brilliant work). I just don’t see Paul’s less extensive work with a guitar worthy of calling him better then George.
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
11.04pm
26 March 2012
Offline mr. Sun king coming together said
Von Bontee said
mr. Sun king coming together said
Why the hell is this up for debate? If Paul was a better guitarist, why didn’t he become a guitarist after they broke up? It’s obviously George, cause he was THE LEAD GUITARIST
Well, Paul didn’t “become” a guitarist after the breakup because he already was one!
I meant (and will willingly admit to making unclear) that why didn’t Paul take the role of lead guitarist in his post Beatles endeavors.
He did. He plays all the lead guitar on Band On The Run , and McCartney/McCartney II , and probably a good deal of it on numerous other albums.
SHUT UP - Paulie's talkin'
11.06pm
19 September 2010
Offline paulsbass said
But Paul was more versatile and natural.
Okay, so he was more natural – that doesn’t equal better. Nor does being more versatile. All being more versatile means is you can play 3 styles instead of two (not actually the case – I’m not being exact). How can you compare Paul’s minimal (in quantity) playing with George’s masses? So George doesn’t have many absolutely fantastic performances. He was consistent. Something Paul never had to be. That has to count for something.
Anyways, I’m made my case. If I’ve failed to convince you, well, I gave it all I’ve got.
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
11.12pm
12 April 2012
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I tgink mr. Sun King mainly meant that paul was not the (main) lead guitarist of wings. Also I think denny laine played some lead guitar on Band On The Run
Once there was a way to get back homewards. Once there was a way to get back home; sleep pretty darling do not cry. And I will sing a lullaby
11.29pm
14 December 2009
Offline How proficient was George at playing fingerpicked acoustic stuff similar to “Yesterday ” or “Her Majesty “? I can’t think of too many acoustic George examples offhand.
Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
11.44pm
9 May 2012
Offline It is really hard to “prove” as they all played multi instruments. George was probably best but Paul was very good guitar player, as well John. Even though Beatles were best songwriters of our time, they were not best guitar players, I doubt George can really be compared to Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix.
Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
1.07am
19 September 2010
Offline Von Bontee said
How proficient was George at playing fingerpicked acoustic stuff similar to “Yesterday ” or “Her Majesty “? I can’t think of too many acoustic George examples offhand.
Best example I can think of would be Anthology 3 version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
3.16am
14 February 2012
Offline Referring back to the original question of “Who was The Beatles’ best guitarist?”:
Umm–George…! 
"I'm not going to change the way I look or the way I feel to conform to anything. I've always been a freak. So I've been a freak all my life and I have to live with that, you know? I'm just one of those people."
6.02am
14 December 2009
Offline How can you call Paul’s guitar output in the Beatles “minimal”?
He said “minimal in QUANTITY”, which is inarguable.
Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
12.36pm
12 April 2012
Offline George was okay on bass but definitely not better than paul. The same thing can be said about paul on guitar, but I think paul was better on guitar than george on bass (although some of george’s bass lines are awesome, so are some of paul’s guitar lines. Still I think paul was better on bass and george better on guitar) Anyway who voted for ringo as the best guitarist and why?
Once there was a way to get back homewards. Once there was a way to get back home; sleep pretty darling do not cry. And I will sing a lullaby
4.28pm
19 September 2010
Offline How the hell does two songs reduce a point about QUANTITY (you don’t seem to be getting that) to dust? It doesn’t. I get you may prefer Paul’s playing, but stop making s**t up. Paul played nowhere close to as much as George. There are 217 Beatles songs (Canonical songs – no Anthology’s or Live At The BBC ). I can come up with 15 songs where George didn’t play guitar (either there was no guitar, or Paul played it). Even if we double it to 30, how does 187 (# of songs George plays on) compare to 26 (best case scenario for Paul – as there is no George or Paul guitar playing in 4 songs). If I have the time later, I’ll actually count it. But for now, how does that compare?
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
4.42pm
19 September 2010
Offline 36, 3 co leads with George, so 33. Add the five songs with no guitar from either, it becomes 36 for Paul, 182 for George. In comparison, that’s pretty minimal.
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
5.39pm
20 December 2010
Offline Who is the best guitarist in The Beatles has always been up for discussion. It usually comes down to either George or Paul. George was the lead guitarist of the group and was asked to join in 1958 due to his great guitar playing and McCartney has said in interviews that they needed a great guitarist and that is why they selected Harrison.
McCartney has done some great lead guitar work in some of the songs but as an all around guitarist, I feel George was superior. He could play many styles of music including his trademark slide work and was very innovative with a lot of work done in the Beatles songs including backwards loops and not being a flashy player but always playing to the song adding just the right part to compliment those songs he was a part of.
The further one travels, the less one knows
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