Is angus young a great guitarist?

Answer 1

On the face of it, Angus would seem the more technically proficient of the two due to his highly visible and energetic performance and lead guitar playing. Like his older brother, what Angus plays is usually alot more important than what Malcom does.

Let me explain.

Angus' solos are mostly made up of minor pentatonic blues scales, double-stops and hammer-ons/pull-offs. While these scales and licks are some of the simplest to play and have formed the basis of rock 'n' roll guitar playing since before Chuck Berry, as any musician will tell you, it's all about how those notes are played and how they compliment the chords of the song that really makes them memorable.

There are countless 15 year old kids in their bedrooms who can rip out a note-perfect rendition of the solo to 'Hells Bells' for example...but nobody will sound like Angus Young except Angus Young. He is incredibly amazing. Which brings us to Malcolm.

As the main songwriter for AC/DC (a band who have sold over 150 million albums worldwide and counting) he has used (with a handful of exceptions from their first two albums) the same 5 chords for nearly EVERY song.

That in itself is genius. To be able to write hundreds of cool sounding songs and riffs based on the same half dozen chords and the most basic chord structures known to man. And without the chords/riffs that comprise the song, Angus would have nothing to solo over the top of anyway!

So while the question 'who is better' is very ambiguous and is open to interpretation, there is certainly no doubt that as the main songwriter, rhythm player and driving force behind one of the world's most enduring and successful rock acts, Malcolm Young could easily be regarded as the 'better' of the two.

Can he leap around the world's stages like a gazelle on amphetamines while playing at a million miles an hour? Perhaps...perhaps not. But that's Angus' job in the band, not his.

Answer 2

angus young is great at making catchy bluesy rock riffs that people can cling on to. but is he a talented technical or emotive player? no not really. in the scope of things he is one of the less talented classic rock Guitarists. (being compared to individuals like jimi Hendrix, jimmy page, or Eric clapton) still tho he is great at what he does.

Answer 3

with out a doubt the very best guitarist ever fabricated on the face of the earth.