Soul, rhythm, energy and originality are the most important factors if you can actually play in my opinion. Look at the guitarists that have lasted the passage of time not just the current hot favourites.

I would say technical ability matters a lot more today. But genuinely loving to play is fantastic. A lot of those "finger olympics" guys get bored with guitar because by the time they do those riffs enough to play them at a blazing speed, they're bored. So that can lead to really fast, boring music. When you genuinely love to play, each time you pick up the guitar is a fresh experience--which can lead to more creativity and more interesting music.

I'll paraphrase Billy Corgan in a Guitar World article from the early 1990's: nobody gives a damn about guitar flashiness except for other guitar players. Technical virtuosity alone gets no one very far. Case in point: name one guitar player from Spain. There ya go. Guitarists from Spain, I've noticed, are technically skilled to no end. Skill is one thing, and it's cool to hear, but it doesn't amount to jack squat in the music world if you can't write a decent song. Technical abilities only matter when they're used in an accessible format. It's not written in stone or anything, but I am one of those who consider Hendrix as Rock's Greatest Guitarist, but even I recognize that his skills are nothing compared to many flamenco virtuosos, not to mention those dedicated players who jumped on the shredding bandwagon in the 80's. Hendrix was without a doubt highly skilled at *playing* guitar, but what made him special -- if we ignore for the moment the other aspects of rock, such as dress style, personal attitude, and lyrical message -- was that he was a gifted songwriter. His extraordinary playing ability was always in service of the song, and he was always the first to admit that. So long story short, songwriting is where it's at. If your guitar playing is rudimentary or highly developed, you'll write something worth hearing if you first give your full attention to the song.

Some of the best Blues songs are amazingly simple. Granted, Blues aint no aggressive metal song, but you have to start somewhere. Work on your scales, Major and Minor chords, and practice. I've been told that if you want to learn something on the guitar play it atleast 1,000 times.

A good friend once told me that Rock 'n Roll is 20% talent and 80% fashion.

Females appreciate it and they don't usually know anything about whether flash or technical ability or whatever matters the most. They just see a guy with a guitar around his neck and they get wet.

No, it doesn't, just look at Neil Young.

Who cares? If you enjoy playing that's what counts. If they want to listen, fine, and, if they don't, fine. They can mosey on down the hallway to the next room and listen to the drummer.

I've had lots of problems performing in front of people for the same reasons you mention. I love guitar and I'm good but not a shredder. There were a lot of people that enjoyed my playing this weekend and not one of them got up and left. If you can play reasonably well you will make a lot of people happy. Speed and technicality is to impress other guitar players, and if they don't like your music, well too bad!

Aldimeola(acoustic jazz),antoine defour(acoustic finger style),steve vai,joe satriani(instrumental rock) ...i think these are some of the guitarist with the best technical abilities in their style of music.