i meant everyone here. this type of list seems nearly impossible to make/comment on without being an expert level guitar player.

I disagree. I think you can know what makes a very skilled guitarist from listening to and studying different players, without actually being a very skilled guitarist. It doesn't take an expert to know that Paul Gilbert far surpasses someone like Slash in terms of pure technical skill.

Because DDD isn't a musician's forum, I would say that few if any have any of the required knowledge to set up a list like this. A few may know enough to make informed comments on who belongs where, but that's a tiny minority.

I reckon it's mostly just for fun, to be honest.

Yeah, it is for fun. I don't have any intentions of this being a definitive list of the Most Technically Skilled Metal Guitarists or anything.

well its not the difference between Paul Gilbert and Slash that worries me. its holding up Vai, Petrucci, Gilbert, and Buckethead and somehow trying to fully understand everything that is going on in their work from a technical standpoint, enough to say Gilbert belongs at number 1 and Vai at 19.

I'd say as far as Vai goes, that he should be left off. He dabbles in metal, but he's by no means a metal guitarist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZdjO-XMfI0 Well there is some of my improv, its shit quality and not really a chops showcase but i kinda know what im talkin bout. Yngtchie is definitely qualified to make judgments on skill, dude is a good player for sure.\

Regarding Vai, he's certainly not a metal player. Hes only played a few metal songs.

i really like your vibrato. nice playing, man.

Thanks man, i actually came back to delete my post cause i dont like the vid but i guess its too late

you should post more. nice strat, too.

I agree for the most part. I don't know about expert level, but you should have at least played for quite some time and be relatively proficient at your instrument (I say instrument because this could apply to any Most Skilled lists on the website).

Morse's code for metal.

That was...awful.

Someone else can take this list over. I officially resign.