Great guitar duos/trios

[FrankenFretter]

I did a search for this, and it looks like nobody has done this yet here.

Who are some of your favorite guitar duos or trios? Whether they've been an influence on you, or you just love to hear them play, share them here!

A couple of mine:

KK Downing and Glen Tipton. These guys were some of the first heavy metal guitar players I heard, and I still love to listen to their playing. Older is gooder, for the most part. Unleashed in the East is still one of my all-time favorite live albums.

Adrian Smith and Dave Murray. I was a Maiden fan from the first moment I heard these guys play Number of the Beast. I've seen Maiden live a total of three times, and they put on a fantastic show each and every time.

And you?

 

[Heywood Jablomie]

Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler

 

[Commodore 64]

+1 For Smith and Murray.

And I'll add a trio...Smith, Murray & Gers.

Up the Irons! (They'll be in NE Ohio on July 15th too)

 

[duhvoodooman]

A couple of Southern bands spring to mind:

ABB Then: Duane Allman & Dickey Betts

ABB Now: Warren Haynes & Derek Trucks

Allen Collins, Gary Rossington & Ed King in Skynyrd​

A couple more:

Jeff Beck & Jimmy Page (briefly) in the Yardbirds

Thin Lizzy (don't even know their names)

Steve Vai, Tony MacAlpine & Dave Weiner in Vai's band​

I'd start the list with Clapton & Allman in Derek & the Dominos, but they only paired up on the recording of the album, so I don't really think that should count. But that's gotta be my favorite all-time dual-guitar album....

 

[Tibernius]

Now this is my kind of topic. :dude

Scott Gorham & Brian Robertson - Thin Lizzy: Great synchronisation, particularly on the harmonised lead parts. Imagine "The Boys Are Back In Town" with only one guitarist. Not quite the same is it?

James Hetfield & Kirk Hammett - Metallica: Two guitarists whose playing styles compliment each other perfectly. Heavy, chugging rhythm and high-pitched fast lead - with only one of them, it's nothing special. Both together though...

Tim Wheeler and Charlotte Hatherley - Ash: as much as I like Ash's other albums, the ones from when Charlotte was in the band stand out above the others. Not particularly complex or over-the-top playing, but a perfect example of what a relatively small amount of lead playing can add to a song.

Matthew Tuck & Michael "Padge" Padget - Bullet for My Valentine: Not that much to say that the intro to Hearts Burst Into Fire can't. Both capable of incredible lead playing with noticeably different playing styles.

There's a few more as well, but they're a bit more on the heavy side so I won't bore you with them.

 

[Katastrophe]

Angus and Malcom Young, of AC/DC.

Paul Gilbert and Bruce Boulliet of Racer X.

Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick of Testament.

James Hetfield and Kirk Hammet of Metallica.

Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo of Queensryche.

Dave Mustaine and Marty Friedman of Megadeth.

Could listen to 'em all for hours.

 

[MAXIFUNK]

Garry Shider, DeWayne "BlackBird" McKnight, & Michael Hampton P-Funk

Prince & Dez Dickerson (Prince's original band)

+2 on Thin Lizzy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thin_Lizzy_band_members

Mark Hicks & Danny Webster of Slave

 

[Eric]

Tim Wheeler and Charlotte Hatherley - Ash: as much as I like Ash's other albums, the ones from when Charlotte was in the band stand out above the others. Not particularly complex or over-the-top playing, but a perfect example of what a relatively small amount of lead playing can add to a song.

+1. I've never thought of it like that before, but upon re-examination, I guess you're right.

 

[marnold]

Way to start a thread and take the best answers, Sean.

Anyway, I'd probably have to add Herman Li and Sam Totman of Dragonforce.

 

[oldguy]

Jim Croce and that other guy. Two acoustics, no dead space.......



(The "other guy" was Maury Muehleisen, btw, and they both perished in the plane crash. I was a big fan, being 18 and learning acoustic at the time. I was devastated, having been looking forward to buying tickets to see them live soon.........)

 

[Spudman]

Some of my favorites that haven't been mentioned:

Dave Pevertte and Rod Price of Foghat
Pat Travers and Pat Thrall of The Pat Travers Band
Joe Perry and Brad Whitford of Aerosmith
Don Felder, Randy Meisner, Bernie Leadon of The Eagles
Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer, Danny Kirwan of Fleetwood Mac
David Hidalgo and Cesar Rojas of Los Lobos
Lowell George and Paul Barrere of Little Feat
Frank Hannon and Tommy Skoech of Tesla
Steve Clark and Phil Collen of Def Leppard
Micheal and Rudolph Schenker of The Scorpions


I think I could just about go on forever.

 

[Kazz]

I completely agree with both of these

ABB Then: Duane Allman & Dickey Betts

ABB Now: Warren Haynes & Derek Trucks


MSM will agree with me here if the rest of you do not.

Frank Hannon and Tommy Skeoch: Tesla

Frank Hannon and Mr. Dave Rude: Tesla

 

[FrankenFretter]

Great answers, Fretters. There are a lot here that didn't come to mind immediately, but now that I see them, it's a "duh" moment. Thin Lizzy; One of my very favorite songs in the world is Róisín Dubh, from Black Rose: A Rock Legend. Great guitar work on that one.

Keep 'em coming, folks.

 

[marnold]

How could we possibly forget David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel?

 

[FrankenFretter]

How could we possibly forget David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel?

Ah yes, Matt. The quintessential guitar duo, lest we forget.

I did see Tap live at Bumbershoot in Seattle many years ago. It was a great show, and these guys can really play. I was actually quite close to Christopher guest. I wasn't sure how seriously they'd take the show, but they stayed in character throughout. Quite a show.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

These guys, with prolly my favorite song of theirs.


This cover too.

 

[Jimi75]

Every duo that has ever been playing in Thin Lizzy.

 

[deeaa]

priest,acdc, maiden...though I count harris in as well wouldnt work without him.

 

[wingsdad]

Steve Cropper & Duck Dunn.

Tom Petty & Mike Campell.

Motown's Funk Brothers original 'Oreo Cookie' section: Robert White, Joe Messina & Eddie Willis...with James Jamerson.

Oh, yeah...John Lennon, George Harrison & Paul McCartney. Especially their Piece de Resistance: Abbey Road's 'The End' gunslinger guitar solo.

 

[Plank_Spanker]

Angus and Malcolm Young...................

Angus gets the spotlight, but Malcolm really anchors the sound.

They play like they're welded together.