Ok so I ll try to make myself understand by all the haters: (i m not english,but french)

-If you think petrucci is souless, listen to spirit caries on, goodnight kiss, octavarium, lost without you, and state of grace!
-If you think malmsteen or other guitar player shreds better than petrucci, notice the diversity of his fast solos : as i am, endless sacrifice, in the presence of enemies part 2, ...and many others...
-if u think petrucci can t write songs... I besicaly can t cure u... u're either a shit or not a musician...
-If u think he s a show off, take a look at some of his interviews... he s so humble (unlike that fat ass malmsteen)
-Go to a dream or liquid gig, his playing live is sometimes even better thant on recording^^

Now ask urself: is there a lot of guitarist that have all those assets? How can this guys make that kind of music if it doesn t come right from his heart?
U might not like petrucci, but taking all of this into account , u cannot deny he s better than kirk hammet, alexi laiho, and many many others (don t wanna quote too many names...)
To conclude, if u still think John Petrucci is a shitty uselless show off guitarist, u re not mature, full of prejudices, and i'm quite sure u're also realize how stupid u are when u'll be older.

To me , Petrucci is among the last guitarists who still consider music as its real first meaning, as an Art.

Plays what I like to hear. I have about 300 CDs and almost always listen to DT. Anyone who thinks that he is not good is not a fan of music. You might not like his style but you can't say that he is no good. (That would make you an idiot) For me, he is in my top two of all time.

Al Di Meola
John Petrucci

Dream theater is sick as hell

Petrucci is a perfectionist, technically better than most on this list. Dream Theater is one of a few bands who can cover a song and it would sound better than the band who originally recorded it.

I personally think he is one of the best. excellent

All around amazing guitarist. He is amazing technically and he is amazing at writing riffs. He is also very poetic when writing lytics.

he is personally the best guitarist i have ever heard and whoever said he can just play scales is an idiot....he does wayyy more than that from song to song

fast and imaginitive! under rated!

was good but i wouldnt stick him in the top 10

Bar None, the best of all time. Live Solo on the live double album

how many times can you play a scale in one night??????

Best current guitarist, bar none

???

amazing gutarist--you can tell a great gutarist by how clean and cut each note and arpeggiated sweep is played sting skipping etc> he could very well be a studio musician ( who are the actuall great gutarists who never signed with a band)

crazy

he is amazing. my hero

I can't give him a five only because I don't think he's "the" best...maybe in the top 10 (in modern music).

Good as Jazz Rock guitarist, not great though.

John Petrucci is the greatest, most versatile player alive. He rocks, he grooves. He just does it for me!

hes not that good

He's the greatest guitarist i've ever hear and saw him played.....

he's really good

There was a time - 1977 onwards - when prog, along with disco, was a much despised genre but for some inexplicable reason it doesnt currently generate the same level of hatred. It should. Sure, the DT musos are all virtuosic but listen to the music and I think, 'yeah but so feckin what' . Most of their songs go on for about 10 mins but take about 8 1/2 to get going, while the singer warbles over a meandering stop-start backing. Petrucci can shred as good as Vai and Malmsteen (a backhanded compliment in my books) but it doesnt stop my eyes glazing over and sending me to sleep. I give him a generous 3 for having a command of technique and speed.

He is amazing, and the music is timeless and brilliant.  For those who say he is just playing for sport, try listening to the music for a change.

...JP...doesn't impress me at all...

First of all, you try to double Jordan Rudess' keyboard parts. Second, if soul means bending the same three notes over and over in an A minor key, then I suppose John doesn't have any, but if it means having the ability to convey any idea or concept or emotion with your instrument, John Petrucci has more soul than any guitarist I've heard of. John is able to technically do things that that fit perfectly into whatever any other member of the band is trying to do, thus giving Dream Theater more range than your standard group. Their songs range from pure metal darkness (Dark Eternal Night), to socially conscious (The Great Debate), to introspective and personal (Glass Prison). So called, "soul" players, great as they are, don't typically have the tools necessary to cover that sort of range of topics. John can play whatever he wants and whatever the band wants. Just because he doesn't wear a top hat and play outside the church (love that bit) doesn't mean he doesn't have soul. His playing just doesn't speak so directly to everyone. He left that to Slash. His playing speaks directly to me however, and I say he is Numero Uno.

I don't think Prog is supposed to be soulful (if it is, that's worrying...) but that doesn't mean it's bad. Besides the quality of the genre doesn't affect the talent of the guitarist. So my five remains a five regardless.

I think John Petrucci is one of the best guitarists in the world. Easily in my top 10.
So basically, what Gregg is saying, is that unless you are some brainless punk fool who looks like he is constipated whilst playing his power chords you do not put emotion into your music. Just because it is extremely fast does not mean there is no passion. What do you think takes more passion and love? Mindlessly chugging away at power chords whilst blaring out idiotic "politically outrageous" lyrics, or the years taken learning the scales, arpeggios and complex chord patterns, and the hours of care taken to write each intricate part of a magnificent and grandiose solo? Listen to 'Glasgow Kiss', you might learn something.

Dream Theater sucks! I can't understand why in the hell they have so many people fooled into thinking they are so great. Boring! Soulless whitebread progressive rock slop with all of the rough edges sanded off to the point where they sound like a bunch of sterile studio musicians trying to outdo each other with their knowledge of scales, modes, etc. Petrucci is completely soulless in his approach and I find this entire band thoroughly unlistenable! I HAVE SPOKEN! You are dismissed!

by far the greatest metal guitarist!

Some of the best work I've heard. Now if only Hatter would give me my cd back.

Numbah introduced me to the group he is with, Dream Theater. He is really kick ass guitarist! I have been stuck on the "Systematic Chaos" album that XAgent let me borrow. (Good Luck on getting that out of my CD player, X)

the guitar

Dream Theater guitarist. simply great. Good style strong technique.

Mmm, Dream Theater...

Yeah, I've been listening to Images and Words too much again...