Who Is THE Better Musician ?

Amen sister! I second what Sara has said. Richie is the best!

BETHOVEN I SAID BETHOVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think these arguments are essentially pointless. There is no measurable way to grade musicianship. It's all subjective, and as such inherent to gross misconceptions and slight exaggerations.

As far as Jon vs. Richie... they aren't fighting each other. Not sure why we turn them against each other so often on here. Sure, I understand the one off argument every now and again... it's fun. But we are all just repeating ourselves now.

Jon has a better voice.
Richie has a better voice.

Who is right? What does better mean? If I think Kermit the Frog has the best voice am I wrong? Maybe I like his the best so to me it is the best... who's to argue that? And what does a voice have to do with musicianship? Celine Dion has a pretty good voice, but I think she is a horrible musician... maybe that's why she doesn't write most of her own music.

Regarding the question here though, I don't think either one of them is what I would necessarily classify as a great musician in the sense of creating masterpieces of art. They are good musicians, great performers. There's a big distinction in my book. There are great musicians who aren't great performers. Most-- if not all-- rock musicians aren't great musicians... and I doubt many of them would tell you that they are. It's like a great fruit blend. You throw in a few fruits that are on their own very good, stir it up, and suddenly you've got a citrus surprise that's delightful.

Of course Jon can play guitar..... Haven't you heard him? He's played on songs before..and he seems good..and he's had bands before where he has played guitar.. Started guitar around the same age as Richie..


and did Jon really say that on your signature? It looks as if you made it up and typed it yourself.


Jon has written much more than Richie. He's written huge hits all by himself...and the solo albums consist of mostly him writing on his own. We've heard just a few written by Richie on his own. You can't really compare without giving the favor to Jon...

Jon's voice is better. Richie sings everything the same to me and like I stated earlier, lacks all emotion.

It's really just a matter of friendly opinion as to who finds which musician to be more appealing...

The quote that I believe the person is referring to in his sig is as follows:

"He's a guitar miracle, Bon Jovi couldn't do without him. He gets amazing sounds out of his instrument, it almost seems like he uses twenty fingers."
- Jon Bon Jovi about Richie Sambora

You like Jon, what have YOU been smoking cause you can't be in your right mind!

Richie is THE best..above Jon and above ALL, nuff said :P

Hoo boy.....this is gonna be fun. First off, I don't really understand the question.....how exactly do you define a good musician? You might as well just say "Who is better as a human being, Jon or Richie?"

Now that is just total and absolute crap. I'm not even gonna bother trying to think up a witty reply here......not that it would be too hard

And what do you people have against accepting other peoples opinions? Some think Richie is better, some think Jon....me, I think that as long as they're in the same band, it ain't gonna get much better anyway...."Together we are better than the sum of our parts" (no idea where that quote came from, I think I just made it up )

Keep On Rockin'

Just to join the fun, I would have to give the nod to David Bryan on this one who was accepted to Julliard and who has penned music outside of the genre of rock and roll including musicals. He is the band member with the most serious musical background and the most formal training.

Jon would be second- he has on his own written more diverse songs and has evolved and grown over the years. Destination Anywhere to me was a real revelation- a very personal album that is miles away from what the band has written together even factoring in the gem that is These Days (I am not saying better, just different). I know Jon likes to call it his "Nebraska" or art album. As a Bruce fan that is stretching it but it is a very personal album that is one of my favorites when I feel introspective. And don't forget Jon wrote an Oscar nominated movie soundtrack which stands on its own as a great album.

Richie is incredibly talented and amazing in his own right. I do enjoy his blues inspired solo stuff but I don't think he shows the same musical diversity as Jon in terms of songwriting. No one can dispute his musicianship as the premier guitar player in hard rock however.

To me I see it as it is....
Jon is the better singer
Richie is a betta guitarist......

As far as overall....toss a coin

Quite right, I mean, could Jon really hold is own in a blues Jam with Eric Clapton? I don't think so, just look at his pathetic attempt at a solo at the end of Two Story Town on the Crush DVD. But then again, could you really imagine Richie singing half of Bon Jovi's songs?? Hmmm......

As far as musicianship goes, this is a completely different story, and one which we could never answer. Musicianship goes far beyond who can play the fastest solo or sing the highest note. Richie is obviously the better guitarist and can probably play more instruments to a higher level than Jon.

But isn't it possible that it was Jon who had the creative vision for the majority of Bon Jovis songs?? I believe that this warrants a higher level of musicianship than being able to play 5 different instruments. Creative musical vision is something that is often overlooked. And as we don't know whose creative vision made these songs, this is a question we cannot possibly answer..........

Damn, I was only gonna write a short post!!