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As soon as you decide to learn the guitar, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with all the great guitarists who have come before you.
Whether you’re a fan of classical, folk, rock, hard rock or funk music, each genre has its canon of great guitarists who have popularized it and propelled it forward. And, honestly, people are always willing to argue about who the best guitar player is.
Off the top of our heads, we can name Hendrix, Robert Johnson, Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Django Reinhardt, Slash, Jimmy Page, BB King and countless others.
But coming up with the list of the top 10 best guitarists on the planet is no small task, as the list is bound to vary according to everyone’s tastes and preferred music genre. Nonetheless, we’re confident that our top 10 list will be a good source of information for those who are looking to learn guitar.
It’s a debated subject for music fans who all have their own preferred musician or group for reasons that are extremely diverse and personal: for some, the technical skills of the guitarist are the deciding factor, and for others, it’s a question of emotion.
And for others still, it comes down to how much commercial success the guitarist in question has had. Some will want Joe Satriani, and others will want James Hetfield. Some will want Chet Atkins, others will want John Frusciante.
So basically we had many criteria to take into account as we ranked the most renowned guitarists. However, they can't all be in there.
How to Define the Greatest Guitarists?
Of course, as we say, it is a tricky game to play, this. Because how can you compare a genius fingerstyle acoustic player to a rock guitarist, or a jazz guitar genius to a rhythm guitar player who plays power chords but exceptionally?
Can you compare them? Is it even a worthwhile exercise comparing Malmsteen to ZZ Top or Aerosmith? It's like writing a list of greatest artists or greatest albums of all time - with entries spanning everything from grunge to the bluesy to punk rock and rock&roll - with criteria including songwriting and improvisation. These are very different skills and need to be considered as such. Just as they are very different skills in metal guitar, eighties jazz, and acoustic fingerpicking.
Firstly, What Makes Good Music In General?
Before we can attempt to define who a good guitar player is, we should first of all draw our attention to the science of music and the question, what actually makes good music? Why is it, for instance, that some sequences of chords are like music to our ears whereas others can only be described as noise?
If you think about it logically and objectively, musicians often go into the business because they know it means (or at least it can mean) money and popularity.
What's more, musicians will (or at least modern musicians have the opportunity to) learn about their niche area through metadata analysis and find out what makes the fans tick, so that they can pick up on this connection between music maker and listener. As such, how can you really be sure that the person playing the drums, strumming on the guitar or singing the song on your favourite album is actually feeling the music in the magical way we'd like to think they are?
Some will, of course, defend their favourite star to the death, and most players themselves will certainly confirm that they get transported by the music too. But as with any topic, we have to wonder about the science behind it and the fundamental reasons behind its being.
If it is not to make money, then why else do so many people love to make music? Is it to spread a message, tell a story, evoke feelings? Or is it purely selfish and just a means of releasing one's inner feelings via an outlet that they enjoy?
Let's face it, without people listening and responding to your music, there's not much point in you throwing all you have into that hobby or business. Furthermore, it is relatively hard to be a passionate musician and to work in a more reliably financial-rewarding job alongside it, so one of your primary goals as a musician is bound to be to crack the music business and start making millions.
Even if your favourite musician is predominantly driven by music and is committed to releasing material for their fans, they cannot possibly deny that are a number of incentives for them to do so. A journalist writing for The Economist online explains that songs are 'complex mixtures of features', so composers are always trying to find the right mix of ingredients to increase their chances of success. And everyone loves a success story!
You will certainly want to know how you can earn money by playing your guitar...
So, now, when you think of your favourite musician - are you still convinced that they are uber talented or is it actually you, the fan, and the data and algorithms you present, who leads them on the route to a chart-topping hit? Are they truly the person you thought they were or are they tricking you and just giving you what you want to hear?
If we are going to go down this path, we must also ask ourselves a range of other thought-provoking questions? Are non-musical people allowed a say in what is good or bad playing? Or is it that the listeners have the power to comment on the way musical equipment is played?
So, What Makes Famous Guitarists?
With all of this in mind, how can we begin to rank musicians like guitarists and pick out the best amongst so many diverse artists?
The overriding consensus is that a very good guitarist is before all else a musician who plays music uniquely; this is different from assessing a top athlete (even though there are similarities between the two, in terms of preparation and training) whose worth depends on technical feats and on meeting or exceeding previously set out expectations.
Our choice for the top 10 best guitarists is based on the musicality of the guitarist, that is to say on the art of arranging sounds in the right order, at the right moment and length, in order to express an emotion or idea.
To be considered an excellent musician, one must be able to create emotion and energy from one’s music and give the listener chills. The great guitarists, in turn, inspire guitar instructors who give guitar lessons.
And who wouldn’t dream of having a guitar lesson by the great Jimi Hendrix?
With all of the guitarists gracing our list having been connected to the world of music for several years if not decades, we are quite confident that these successful musicians are in fact deeply rooted to the music, in spite of their obvious fame. Even if you are doing a job simply to please people and to make money, it can be hard to keep up the pretense for thirty odd years, with cameras following you around 24/7!
This is yet another reason why we think these are the best guitarists in the world. Not only are they attuned to producing art that their fans love, but they have also touched audiences with their personalities, characters or stage personas, which have clearly helped to propel their music forward.
Who are Some of the Greatest Guitar Players?
We've surveyed about one century of music history to come up with this list of the top 10 best guitarists that the world has produced up until now.
Remember that these rankings are subjective => So leave behind your preconceived ideas on the guitar before reading this article!
Jimi Hendrix
Whether you’re after emotion or technique, Jimi Hendrix is considered the uncontested master of the guitar today.
Self-taught genius, experimenter, incredible soloist and melodist, he pretty much invented and reinvented the world of rock and blues, still inspiring both big names and beginner guitarists today, all of whom will have covered “Voodoo Child” at one time or another.
He also opened the doors for left-handed guitar players by showing them that they too can master a musical instrument and make something unforgettable from it. In the same way that a “southpaw” boxer like Manny Pacquiao achieved unbelievable things in the ring, the gifted left-handed guitarist Jimi Hendrix pushed guitar playing to its highest level.
What made him truly special was that, unlike other guitarists of his time who stuck to one style of playing, Jimi combined styles and used strumming alongside licks and other additions to create a fuller and more organic sound. Amazingly, he also used his thumb to do do a moving baseline whilst he was playing chords - he wanted to do what no other guitarists were doing, or were able to do, and he succeeded. The way he dressed his chords with so many different sounds and rhythms just shows how naturally talented a guitarist Jimi Hendrix was. His guitar was like an extension of his body, a part of his left hand that had no boundaries.
For those lefties who are still unsure how to play the guitar, we invite you to observe the master in action by checking out some online guitar lessons and videos.
He was a part of the iconic Club27 group of musicians who all died at the age of 27, including Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Brian Jones.
Check for out-of-the-box guitar lessons here.
Eric Clapton
Modestly known as “God” by fans, Eric Clapton is one of the most famous rock and blues guitarists still actively playing for almost 50 years today.
This Brit rocker pushed the boundaries of rock and blues.
He’s a great soloist and iconic melodist who quite simply knows how to play everything.
Also nicknamed “Slow Hand,” Clapton handles the fretboard with virtuosity.
Big titles like “Cocaine” or “I Shot the Sheriff” brought him the global success that secured him a definite place in the canon of guitar-heroes.
His talent is expressed in solos (we are thinking of the MTV album “Unplugged”) as well as through heartfelt collaborations with artists such as Phil Collins or Mick Jones and gigs in groups like The Yardbirds and The Cream.
He is also the idol of countless students who take guitar instruction.
One of the most evident talents of Eric Clapton as a guitarist is his fluidity. A singer and a guitarist, the star hears the songs he plays from both perspectives but weaves them together so smoothly to make them one. This is one artist who really has a fire in his belly and can turn up the heat as and when he wishes.
Now in his seventies, Clapton is still performing on stage and is showing little sign of slowing down or not reaching the benchmark he set out for himself during his early solo career along with his stint in the band Cream.
Whether performing alone or with a group, everyone agrees that is it the guitar that takes centre-stage. He manages to create this extraordinary, yet controlled sound which cleverly includes distortion, finger vibrato and spontaneous chord playing which all come together to create magic.
The fact that his guitar playing is as relevant today and is still loved by generations (even those who weren't even born at the height of his success!) is proof that Eric Clapton is a guitar hero in many people's eyes. Who can forget him singing, with just his string guitar, about his late son in 'If I Saw You In Heaven'. The overwhelming emotion is enough to send shivers down your spine.
Discover some of Slowhand's sexy songs for the guitar, like Layla or Wonderful Tonight!
Jimmy Page
One of the founding and leading members of Led Zeppelin is naturally third on our list of the top 10 best guitarists on the planet.
Known as “The Wizard,” Page is a guitarist like no other, playing with a violin bow on his famous Gibson, alternating blues and rock with joy and passion.
He wrote several music pieces with Robert Plant that have entered rock mythology such as “Stairway to Heaven” (what guitarist has not tempted at least once to play the famous intro or final solo?), “Black Dog,” “Whole Lotta Love” and “Since I’ve been Lovin’ you.”
The music that Jimmy Page made was able to transport you so that you got lost in what he was playing. His solos were show-stopping and so innovative when it came to guitar-playing technique at the time. He set himself the challenge of breaking the preconceptions of what a guitar can do, so his style evolved over time. But he was always one of the greats, even when experimenting!
A canonical guitarist.
Robert Johnson
In less than 29 songs, this blues guitar genius has had a major impact on this musical genre as well as rock guitar.
The legend has said that he would have sold his soul to the devil himself to obtain guitar-playing talent: many blues players mocked his guitar playing incompetence.
His death was equally mysterious, further heightening the legend surrounding this atypical man. But one thing is clear, even though there remains little written by him, the young Robert Johnson aka “The Genius” revolutionized the world of blues and earned worldwide recognition.
Chuck Berry
He is one of the pioneers of rock’n’roll.
At once a guitarist, singer, and songwriter, he has been a veritable source of inspiration for other iconic artists like Elvis “The King” Presley.
He revolutionized music by combining two different guitar styles who were begging to be played together, blues and country. It was through this courage and confidence that Berry was able to convey his slick attitude that made everyone stop and listen.
Sadly, however, even though his lyrics and performances were positively received, the artist himself did not have as positive a reception. He was said to be quite hard to get along with... but that didn't stop his band swinging along. A sign of complete trust in what they were achieving together.
Get access to useful guitar lessons online here.
And thus rock was born – all you need to do to is listen to his famous song “Johnny B. Goode.”
He is the pioneer of music as we know it today and as such, he absolutely earns his place in our top 10 best guitarists on the planet.
Carlos Santana
World music precursor, the Mexican-born Santana has inspired numerous artists around the world.
Named "The Pope" of rock with Latino vibes, he’s a genius guitarist who discovered the magic formula by skillfully merging rock, blues, samba, and percussions, along with other guitar styles.
An expert in making guitar strings ring, he’s a performer who mastered his art while always experimenting. Indeed, instead of playing the same old songs, Santana prefers to collaborate with other artists to enrich and rethink his music.
His success is also due to the messages he communicates through his guitar songs with notions of peace, compassion, understanding, and joy.
Listen to “Europa” or “Smooth” and you will recognize his typical lyrical playing, and its characteristic warm and saturated sound.
With his exceptional talent, it seems that everyone wants to collaborate with Santana. What's more, when he does join hands with another artist, it seems that his raw and authentic sound always shines through, taking the limelight. That is not to say that his tracks aren't all different and uniquely great in their own way! There are so many manipulations that he has found and continues to find with the Latin rhythm. People say that the Grammy-winning guitarist can be identified with just one single note - now that's an achievement!
For all of the playing styles Santana incorporates into his music, his unique guitar sound is immediately recognizable.
Muddy Waters
His presence among the top 10 best guitarists in the world may come as a surprise but he who is named “The Lord of the Blues” is an unparalleled guitarist who popularized the bottleneck technique.
His complete mastery of this accessory and his blues virtuosity allowed him to write the great blues titles that are considered classics today like “Hoochie Coochie Man” or “Rollin Stone.”
He’s often considered one of the great blues guitarists of all time along with Willie Dixon, Johnny Lee Hooker or BB King.
BB King
BB (for Blues Boys) King is the master of New Orleans blues. He’s a true legend of guitar history!
Although certainly less technical than Stevie Ray Vaughan, he wrote numerous classics of the genre (“Sweet Little Angel,” “Sweet sixteen”), rounding out his songs with a rich voice full of emotions and his characteristic vibrato.
Thanks to his inimitable touch that gives real personality to the guitar, BB King has influenced the guitar biggies like Clapton and Hendrix.
Working from one sole note, he is capable of telling a story that touches the deepest depths of the human soul.
Keith Richards
One of the leading members of the famous The Rolling Stones along with Mick Jagger, he is still one of the most talented rock guitarists today.
Known for being a seducer guitarist!
Called The Human Riff, he’s appreciated less for his virtuosity than for his extreme simplicity.
For him, it’s preferable to have “2 notes that kill rather than virtuosity for nothing.” And 'killing' the music he played, he did. Richards was famous for bringing dark and sinister sounds to their songs which gave them their identity.
His obsession with sound and his personal playing technique (thanks to his 5-string guitar with open tuning in G) ranks him as one of the greatest rhythmic guitarists of all time. Though not necessary one of the technical greats, his chord-playing conveys so much emotion it's as if the guitar is singing the notes.
He has written and composed rock classics like “Jumpin Jack Flash,” “Satisfaction” and “Paint it black.”
Eddie Van Halen
For many musicians, there is a before and after Van Halen.
Why? The way guitar is now played changed all because of a measly one minute and 42 seconds, or the time it takes to play his infamous “Eruption.”
If you want to learn the electric guitar, Eddie Van Halen is the model to follow.
How is it possible that a single man can play as though a group of guitarists is on stage? Whereas there is just him, his ten fingers and his incredible touch of the guitar neck!
Nicknamed “Superman,” every guitar fan is awed after hearing his music and his mastery of the instrument.
These guitarists we've listed above are all too familiar with the many benefits of guitar playing.
Honourable Mentions for the Top 100 Guitarists, by You!
Thank you! A great number of you have responded with your own comments and opinions after the publication of this article. While we can't provide a list as long as 100, as a bonus, we’ve followed your suggestions to expand our presentation of the best guitarists in the world.
From Robert Plant and Jeff Beck to Elvis: who are the guitar legends according to you?
Do you agree with Rolling Stone’s ranking of the 100 best guitarists?
Buddy Guy
This guitarist had a decisive influence on Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
He was a member of Muddy Waters’ band who signed his first contracts with Chess Records.
His music gave off a flamboyant modernism while staying true to the musical roots of his native Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
He especially impressed fans with his thunderous funk in “Howlin Wolf,” “Killing Floor” and “Wang Dang Doodle.”
Kirk Hammett
Kirk Lee Hammett has been a guitarist and songwriter in the iconic heavy metal group Metallica since 1983.
In 2003, Hammett was classed 11th in the Rolling Stone list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.
And in 2009, Hammett was ranked number 15 in Joel McIver’s book on the 100 greatest Metal guitarists.
Tom Morello
Thomas Baptiste “Tom” Morello is a singer-songwriter and political activist. He’s especially known for playing with the groups Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave.
Morello was also a touring musician with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. He was well known for his acoustic solo “The Nightwatchman,” and “Street Sweeper Social Club.”
Pioneer of rap metal, he explored the musical potential of the guitar, integrating mixing and hip hop.
Gary Moore
Robert William Gary Moore was born in 1952 in Northern Ireland. He grew up in East Belfast and left home very young. He moved to Dublin where he met his personal mentor: Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac. In the years that followed he joined the band Skid Row, then Thin Lizzy in 1974, and Colosseum II with whom he played until about 1978.
Since 1979, Gary led a solo career, during which time he released a number of very successful albums, such as the fan favorite “Still Got The Blues” (1990). He was very active up until his premature death in February 2011.
It’s difficult to put into words how Gary Moore changed the music landscape with “Still Got The Blues.” Perhaps we should let the music do the talking?
“Still Got The Blues” is his most popular hit not only because it’s a beautiful song, but because its guitar solos highlight his melodic blues (a signature of Gary Moore).
Gary Moore has a powerful playing style that every guitarist should study regardless of the musical genre they play.
It’s exactly as @Fabrice explains:
“It’s the perfect union between emotion, musicality, melody, and technical skill, from how he holds notes, and the variety of big and rapid sounds. But it’s rarely just a pure demonstration of technique and speed, as it’s his underlying reserve of power that is the most impressive. Music and Melody always have priority.”
Slash
For you music fanatics, Saul Hudson aka Slash is one of the most talented guitarists of his generation and a leading member of the group Guns N’ Roses. And if you don’t know it yet, it’s something you’ll learn soon enough in a guitar lesson!
While he was placed in the top 10 best guitarists by Time magazine in 2009, Rolling Stone only ranked him 65 in its top 100 best guitarists of all time…
For us common mortals, he’s known as the musician who accompanied Michael Jackson on stage to songs like “Give In To Me,” “Black or White,” and “Beat It,” playing his live guitar solos that could wake up the dead.
Some of these solos went on for a bit too long, at least in the eyes of the King of Pop! Ok, this is a slight exaggeration, but like all guitarists of his generation, he is successful simply because he does what he loves.
Considered by some to be the greatest guitar soloist of all time, Slash is known for his style, incredible technique and his ability to transmit his emotions to the public.
Proof of his moments of pure inspiration can be seen in the mass of concert videos you’ll find on the Internet and the many studio recordings he’s made.
Start with these songs:
- Sweet Child.
- November Rain.
- You Could Be Mine.
- November Rain.
- Estranged.
- November Rain.
- Have we already said November Rain?
David Gilmour
He is glaringly missing from the ranking of top guitarists!
How could we not mention the fabulous soloist David Gilmore, who was part of the psychedelic band Pink Floyd? Lovers of the drug-induced melodies of this British band would not be able to argue with that…
Here’s a small quiz for his true fans: was Gilmour an original member of the group? Well?
The answer is no! Pink Floyd was created in 1965, and we had to wait until 1968 for the guitarist-singer to join up with Roger Waters, Richard White, Nick Mason and Roger Syd Barrett! A true asset for the group as it was after the arrival of the 14th best guitarist of all time (according to Rolling Stone in 2011) that Floyd flew to new heights.
In fact, they produced the third highest selling album of all time (many even consider it the best album in history): The Dark Side of the moon (1973), which stayed in the Billboard 200 for 17 years and 6 months. This major recording in the history of rock and alternative rock included tunes like the famous “Money”!
Here are some of Gilmour’s other major contributions:
- Another brick in the wall (1979)
- Wish you were here (1975)
- Comfortably numb (1979)
- Hey you (1979)
Gilmour is recognized for a great many contributions. And the great rock classics we mentioned above are not all.
He’s also a magnificent singer, and a genius soloist, whose music goes directly to your core (the solos “Hey You, Wish you were here” and “Comfortably Numb” for example), with such perfect notes never before coming out of a Fender.
Speaking of Fenders, David Jon Gilmour has also been considered one of the best Fender guitar players ever, alongside other legends like Hendrix and Clapton. Enough said.
Steve Lukather
Even the less aware among you will certainly remember Steve Lukather’s powerful and heavy riff from the song “Hold the line.” You have, right? I should hope so!
Because yes, Steve Lukather is not only the guitarist of the group Toto, the popular group big in 1980s FM radio. The group’s style has often been mocked and labeled “Rock FM,” as it was seen as more “pop” than “rock”…
Still, Lukather is one of today’s most well-known guitarists! While this is debated in the more hard-core guitar milieu… In 2016, the group’s guitarist declared to the French newspaper Sud Ouest, before giving a concert in Bordeaux: “The whole world looks down on us, but hell, we’ve sold 40 million records the hard way, man!”
Even if the label Toto (who still tours on stages around the world) has stuck to him (which doesn’t bother him), everyone knows that Lukather is a true virtuoso, whose talents have been enjoyed at the Grammy Awards as well as in appearances in the legendary songs like Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller”!
On that note, the King of Pop is not the only one who has called on him, because Clapton, McCartney, Joe Cocker, Elton John and even George Benson have welcomed him in the studio to record on their albums!
A true virtuoso, Steve Lukather is capable of navigating between heavy metal and jazz, adding in a few notes of blues and hard rock. A versatility that has allowed him to have a fantastic solo career, outside of Toto.
The World's Best Blues Guitarists
Joe Bonamassa
In contrast to certain guitarists in this decidedly very contested category, Joe Bonamassa is both a guitarist and singer.
Born in Utica, New York in 1977, Bonamassa is a pure bluesman. Non-believers need only to listen to the sounds of his group Black Country Communion to get the picture.
A rare instinct developed from the age of four and honed through high-quality musical training, notably based around the sounds of BB King. Even BB King has paid homage to Joe’s talents! And there’s no disputing the master…
Today, Bonamassa is THE reference for American blues rock. Although rough and sometimes rustic, his style is always melodious and powerful. Guitarists worldwide especially recognize his incredible technique, which is both fast and seemingly limitless.
But to appreciate Bonamassa’s talent (and the rock voice), we recommend watching a live version of “Just got paid”! Trust us, you won’t be sorry!
Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck has it all. Not only is he a renowned technical guitarist, able to play with a vocalist rather than alongside them, he also stands out as an all-round nice guy.
He has a way about him that makes you stop and listen, but he isn't in your face. His sound is very melodic, which is why his tone was so perfectly matched to answering the needs of the vocals, yet he still holds his own in every tune. Bright, confident and edgy, he is a serious guitar-player and he has no intentions of holding back! People often say that he carries humour in his music, which is quite a clever characteristic to portray with this piece of equipment.
John Mayer
Criticized after his first televised concerts in 2001, John Mayer was perceived by many as just one of those artist-composers who makes music for lovelorn adolescents.
Although his first album was quickly forgotten, Mayer’s unconditional love of the blues helped his career take a completely different turn…
Notably, he appeared at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2004, at which time he introduced his song “City Love” with an incredible blues solo inspired by Jimi Hendrix’s “Machine Gun.”
His music mixes technique and emotion – with his thumb touching the lowest string to embellish the note – so that he ranks with the greatest blues musicians. For those who want to get a better idea of his talent, you should check out the album “Try” with the bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan. Grab those headphones!
Jack White
Despite often being considered a purist of vintage blues, Jack White is not one to show off technical effects. In fact, you may be shocked to see him in this category. But it’s largely thanks to his guitarist talent that his group, The White Stripes, has made a name for itself in blues rock (You heard that right!).
Oh yes, The White Stripes is a blues group. By covering the songs “Stop Breaking Down” by Robert Johnson or even “St. James Infirmary Blues” with his classical guitar in their first album, his listeners are able to revisit the history of blues music.
The Top 'World Music' Guitarists
Bombino du Niger
Marked by the conflicts in his native country of Agadez in Niger, his numerous trips into exile and his Tuareg culture, Bambino du Niger is an absolutely unique guitarist on the musical stage.
While some might class him under the genre “World Music”, the sacredness of Bambino du Niger’s guitar bars him from entering any musical category.
Forced to flee in 1990 during his childhood, this Tuareg artist-guitarist has known persecution and governmental oppression. This included the prohibition of the string instrument, which came to be considered a symbol of resistance for the Tuareg culture.
Despite the loss of some members of his group (who were killed), Bombino du Niger continues to promote unity and social togetherness at concerts and festivals.
His music, which draws on traditional Tuareg instruments and a mastery of the guitar, oscillates between sadness and joy.
Paco de Lucía
Eyes closed and head thrashing about, with hands that pivot on guitar strings with a rare dexterity that pianists would be jealous of, vibrating to melodies that transport you to another place… It’s none other than Francisco Gustavo Sánchez Gomez aka Paco de Lucia.
Unanimously recognized as one of the greats since his first studio album came out, the Andalusian guitarist has left his musical imprint on the history of flamenco.
Although he’s won awards since the age of 14, Paco de Lucía’s music became more perfect with time. This guitarist from the South of Spain contributed to the modernization of traditional flamenco while never straying far from its noble notes.
Influenced by the United States, where he often played during his musical career, Lucía’s music is enriched with influences of jazz and diverse musical currents, which is evident in pieces such as “Entre Dos Aguas” and “Rio Ancho.”
The atypical trajectory of this Andalusian guitarist is also due to his musical upbringing, initiated by his father, who taught him to play the 6-string instrument alongside his brothers Ramón de Algeciras and the flamenco singer, Pepe de Lucía.
While you can learn more about his life by watching a cinematographic documentary that appeared just after his death in 2014, it’s through his music that one can best perceive (or hear) his genius on the flamenco guitar.
Today, this flamenco virtuoso counts among the eternal legends. And we are not just saying that because after the official mourning was decreed by the mayor of his native city, Google depicted the icon as a “Doodle.”
Techniques to Become a Great Guitarist Yourself
It attracts women, calms nerves and unites mankind, making the guitar the musical instrument par excellence. You can strum, caress, pluck or even hit its body to produce sounds that make people laugh, dance or even cry.
- Is guitar playing talent something innate?
- Must you have a certain state of mind to learn the guitar?
- Where should one look to begin guitar instruction?
So take your instrument out of its case, tune your guitar, and plug in your amp: we’re going to discover a few techniques to improve your guitar performances.
Solfège
Solfège may just be the initial challenge that has prevented so many music lovers from jumping freely into acoustic guitar training.
Obviously, it’s preferable to have a good understanding of solfège if one wants to launch a guitarist career, but it isn’t indispensable.
The important thing for every beginner guitarist today is first to learn to read a chord chart. As such, you’ll know where to place your fingers on the strings to play your guitar chords.
The Guitar
Finding an acoustic guitar is another important step towards mastering the guitar!
Choosing between a folk, classical or manouche guitar, with strings of steel or nylon is a difficult choice to make when one is still a novice musician!
It may seem like finding your acoustic guitar is a bit like Indiana Jones’ quest for the Holy Grail, so it’s better to take your time to reflect before making the purchase. Like your spouse with whom you’ll have to live under the same roof, you are going to spend many long hours with your guitar.
For this reason, it’s imperative to choose a guitar that suits you, with strings and wood that produce the sounds you.
Musical culture
We sometimes forget that it’s important to have a good sense of music history and culture, although it’s the cornerstone of playing any instrument!
Reinforcing your musical knowledge, by way of listening to solos by the great guitarists, will train your ear and improve your sense of rhythm to win over every audience.
Play guitar and sing
We love listening to singing pianists like Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and Nina Simone. The same goes for artists who wear the double label of singer and guitarist, such as Prince or Mark Knopfler. But this is a rare talent!
Singing demands a supplemental investment of a great intensity. This makes it impossible to drown your thoughts in your instrument; when you sing it’s a question of lifting your head and facing the public, breaking out of your musical bubble.
To become a good guitarist, you must practice and guitar lessons will help you develop quickly. Your hands should be on the strings like a pastry chef handles dough nonstop or like an athlete has his eyes on the ball. And if you want to become a really good player, you must learn to lift your head, look at the audience, and share your emotion.
Your concentration must be at once focused on your notes and on communicating your feelings to the public.
An Overview Of Our Top 10 Best Guitarists Of All Time
Now, time for a recap of our very own top 10 list of guitar players from across the world and the genre they are most associated with.
| Name | Genre |
|---|---|
| 1. Jimi Hendrix | Rock and Blues |
| 2. Eric Clapton | Rock and Blues |
| 3. Jimmy Page | Rock |
| 4. Robert Johnson | Rock and Blues |
| 5. Chuck Berry | Rock 'n' Roll |
| 6. Santana | Rock, Blues and Samba |
| 7. Muddy Waters | Blues |
| 8. B. B. King | Blues |
| 9. Keith Richards | Rock |
| 10. Eddie Van Halen | Rock |
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I’ve seen most of the musicians on your top 10 live, but my personal all time favorite IS Duane Allman. Rolling Stone’s original top 100 list had him at number 2, behind only Hendrix . He died 46 years ago at the age of 24 before most people outside the south even heard of him.
Agree 100 per cent
have not heard of him
Totally agree, I recall that list also.
The best guitarist not ever mentioned
Terry Kath. Check out Documentary
About him on YouTube
Hey somebody knows something. Terry could play
Kath was Hendrix’ favorite guitarist. That says it all.
OK, when the list started it was hard to tell if the author was knowledgeable on the subject because of the automatic “Go To” names. Unfortunately, by the time I got to the end I realized this was the author’s favorites list versus the Top 10 Greatest Guitar Players. Kirk Hammett, Slash, Jack White, Chuck Berry??? You can’t put them on any list and not mention the guy who influenced so many, and who Eric Clapton called the best guitarist in the world, SRV. Richards biggest claim to fame it the amount of drugs he’s done that haven’t killed him, and play with SRV on his best day. You mentioned Beck in the beginning, but I don’t think you meant Jeff Beck, I’m thinking the “Loser Baby” Back. You got Tom from Rage but no Steve Vai or Joe Satriani who trumps Eddie V all day. You have B.B. but no Albert King, who was a way more technical blues man than Chuck Berry. And even Mark Tramonti or James Hatfield plays better than Kirk Hammett.
Agreed
You made a list without SRV?
Who is SRV?
Stevie ray vaughn,nor did they pick Billy Gibbons,or Freddie King
Stevie Ray, ABSOLUTELY
Billy Gibbons /Freddie King
Absolutely not.
Terry Kath and Stevie Ray Vaughan for me over anyone on that list but Jimi. I’ve seen Page, Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Brian May, David Gilmour, Steve Howe, Eddie Van Halen, Buddy Guy, Keith Richards, Pete Townshend, Mick Ronson, Kerry Livgren, Joe Walsh, Don Felder and Carlos Santana among others. Totally subjective as is all art and I have weird taste.
So no one ever heard of a guy named Harrison?
Duane Allman
There is one musical virtuoso whom I would added to this list, if for no other reason then the fact that the 2nd guitarist on the list thru his comment, seemed to hand the title as “greatest guitatist on earth” to this guy. This same individual has often been compared to the one who holds the crown- Jimi. And yet, arguably should not be in this list due to the fact that he was much more than a Master of the guitar, he mastered vurtually over 30 other instruments he played, sold almost Every concert he performed world wide, and has thousands of unreleased songs that if put in an album form, and released one album ever year, would take us inti the next 100 years.
Of course Im referring to Prince. Whom was one of 2 guitarists given homage to by Clapton. The other of course was Hendrix.
See comment below. Prince. Maybe when doves cry.
B.B.King said and I agree that Derek Trucks is the best guitarists he’s ever played with. That guy is fantastic!
Jeff healey
Judging by skill, versatility, distinctive sound, innovation, ability to move his audience, place in the wider music community – Mark Knopfler has got to be one of the best. Really, are the players on your list better? Maybe Gilmour.
Also Blackmore’s district tone and style stands apart from most.
PRINCE.. without a doubt better than half listed above if not all.. His guitar solo on purple rain was arguably one of the best in history.. ETC… Seriously.. If Prince didnt make the cut its due to ignorance. Seriously.
Yes what about Prince. No one ever sees how great the man is. The best.!
Are you kidding me? Prince more like princess.
No Prince?
I can’t take this anymore
Steve Vai, Malmsteen, Blackmore, Nuno Bettencourt, Paul Gilbert, Al Di Meola are NOT on this list.
Gordon. you so know what your talking about! I would add Bonamassa, Wylde, Abasi
Hey Gordon, I agree Al Di Meola deserves credit, a blazing guitar player, just because of being Mostly Flamenco he doesn’t usually get mentioned.Splendido Hotel Baby…
I agree. bogus list. Just ones opinion.
Plini
where is George Harrison??????????????????
Right on dimodokos
Not one mention of Eric Gales. Even Bonamassa said he was the best in the world. This article is outdated ….Kieth Richards is in the top ten ???. I should slam my car door on both my hands and I could play just like him….
I remember watching johnny carson back in 1969 and ask jimi hendrix who was his favorite outside his self.his answer was billy gibbons of zz top
Where is Price
Was scrolling down. Great insightful piece. My distant Cousin Phil X,an unique incredible musical guitar artist. Seen him in Concert last April playing a series of different guitars in the Bon Jovi band. Have an original album of his Canadian group,Sidinex,which ia his last name spelled backwards.
Rory Gallagher was the best. Fact.
Rory Gallagher by far would be the top on any list on rock ,blues,rhythm ,lead solo or with a band
Ask jimmy or Eric or Slash
RIP Rory
Any list not consisting of Stevie Ray Vaughn at or near the top is not legitimate. Also no mention of the best jazz guitarist in the world Lee Ritenour. The Duane Allman omission is also difficult.
Angus young! By far the greatest lead guitarist ever! The others on your so called top 10, couldn’t hold his pick! Although he never used one! Technique, come on… Hendrix? You’ve got to be kidding! The only other name who deserves to be recognized… VanHalen!
This is a fantastic site. The point to like this site is focusing the most renowned guitarists.
Often left off lists of greatest guitarists is Terry Kath, the original lead guitarist of Chicago. The guy most often called the greatest of them all-Jimi Hendrix- considered Kath better then him. I think that Jimi’s assessment is enough to make a case for Terry Kath!
I agree with anyone who recognizes the unbelievable talent that was Terry Kath.
Saw him live your not kidding
Duane Allman and Dereck Trucks are missing from the list. Frank Zappa was also a great guitar player.
Frank was good
The issue I have is that all you ‘top 10’are r&b or r&r types. No acknowledgement of classical players – reinhardt, segovia, williams, peak et al. The former (r&b/r&r) are so mono-stylist. The classicals, however, can do spanish, jazz, rock, pop et al…. why are thry not recognised??
Jimi Hendrix will ALWAYS be number 1 and Eric Clapton number 2 I have to agree jimmy Page number 3 but that can get shakey Pete Townsend will rate in there but David Gilmour is definely in there GREATEST TIMES IN MUSIC
Totally agree, Hendrix showed you how to play, page showed you what you could do with a guitar and evh showed you that there is no limits. Thats my three and all the rest are 4th, great, but never revolutionized the guitar. When a guitar player changes the game, then he can be considered in the top three.
I’m no guitarist but I’ve seen enough of the masters in action live (Richards, Moore, etc) but for Prince to be omitted from the top 10 is a travesty!
Where does Prince rank, as Eric Clapton looked up to him?
I think Clapton was heavily sedated that day
Another purple lover
Rory Gallagher was the greatest,even jimi hendrix confirmed it when asked so ur way off the mark here fools
Tienes toda la razón
Where’s John Frusciante in this story? ;-)
I forget to write one more guitarist – Jason Becker!!! My last post didn’t appear here. Probably becase I added guitarist from Dream Theater, Polish band KAT, and few guitarist like Tina S or Dr. Viossy. These post examples are not best guitarist but well known guitarist and liked by author songs. Metal and rock bands guitarist are the best that don’t mean they are the best composers!
A top 10 without Prince has no merit…Eric Clapton himself believes Prince is the greatest guitar player to have lived…and he knew Hendrix personally. I think Prince just came to the fore as a “pop star” so no one thinks of him as a guitarist.
Well-written, but I gotta disagree with some picks and non-inclusions, the most glaring one being SRV’s absence.
Listen closely to John Mayer and you’re gonna see that half of what he does comes from SRV’s bag of tricks. The list itself deals encompasses mostly Rock and Blues guitarists as well. Actually, Django is probably better than most people on this list.
Nuno Bettencourt?????????
Ridiculous no prince?
Hey, why?, where ? is the Name gone, why hasn’t anybody invoked Yngwie Malmsteens name. Neoclassical metal Rock. And ofcourse Zal Clemenson……woof…..what Guitar playing skills.
No Brian MAY?
Skunk Baxter
Elliott Randall
Larry Carlton
Guthrie Govan
Zakk Wylde
Steve Morse
Andy Timmons
Paul Gilbert
Denny Dias
All better than half of the list
Did I miss Stevie Ray Vaughn?!!!
I’m not saying the top ten picks are bad but STR was in a class of his own. What about Johnny Winters? Nothing was said about Randy Rhodes.
My favs are “The Wizard”and “Superman!!!” I’ve never seen Jimmy Page live, but he is incredible. Love his style.
Then there’s Eddie Van Halen.
The first time I saw Van Halen live was on their VH2 album tour. He blew my hair back then I saw VH on their 1984 tour. Wow!!! Eruption was a statement!!!
I saw them when they were Van Hagar, then with David Lee Roth after he got back with them for a tour. EDDIE!!!EDDIE!!!EDDIE!!!
I agree Jimi Hendrix is number 1
Playing a right handed guitar left handed and the emotion he put into it. Anybody remember the Pepsi commercial. It’s a fav. Check it out on Utube.
Here’s another guy I think should have been mentioned is Jeff Healy. A blind guy who plays like he did. Just as good as anybody else. I saw him live once in Salmon Arm BC. At the blueberry festival He played 7 encores. They had to pull him off the stage. Ashley Macissac followed him. He plays anwesome violin/ fiddle Awesome show. The next day Jeff Healy held a jam session and anybody could come hang out with him. It was so cool!!!
Alex Liefson from Rush he is an awesome player and from the past Rik Emmitt from Triumph.
Gotta mention the Canadian boys
Mark Knopfler and Joe Walsh?!!!
Definitly this is only for commercial guitar players, where are
Guthrie
Petrucci
Malmsteen
Paul Gilbert
Zappa easily trumps many on this list – not to mention his plank-spanking band-member, Steve Vai. Oh well, at least Gilmour merited an entry, albeit an ‘honourable mention’…
Huge oversight…
Hound dog Taylor where 90% of the guitar players got their sound from Allman to Van Halen he was 102 when he cut his first album
Hound dog Taylor
Roy Clark
Agreed, Roy Clark in my opinion was a VERY under rated guitar player. Very mean with a banjo too. Definitely in top 15.
How do you have a greatest guitarists list without Stevie Ray Vaughan? That’s just wrong.
I can’t believe that John McLaughlin, who is definitely in the top five, wasn’t mentioned. Clapton, though great, is, IMHO, the most overrated of all top guitarists. Watch videos of him playing with (and totally embarrassed by) Jeff Beck for example. My top fiveare Jimi alone at the top. Rounding out the top five are Beck, McLaughlin, Vaughan and Kath in no particular order.
Eddie Should be above Santana , Keith Richards and Robert Johnson!
10. Jimmy Page
9. BB King
8. Albert King
7. Muddy Waters
6. Slash
5. David Gilmour
4. Duane Allman
3. Stevie Ray Vaughn
2. Jimi Hendrix
1. Eric Clapton
did yo7 guys forget stevie ray vaughn
What about Alvin Lee?
Roy Buchanan
for one my favorite gutairist front man from green day is billie joe armstrong
I don’t think blues guitarist should be there n the same competition as rock n roll guitars st
If you don’t have Joe Walsh, Don Felder, Randy Bachman and Kenny Wayne Shepherd on your list, you simply don’t have a list of the greatest guitarists….
No Blackmore??? He emits more emotion than many of these slingers and his tone and technique stands alone.
Duane Allman, Terry Kath,
Stevie Ray Vaughn not only better than half this list. But should be in the top 5
Prince…not only guitar but multi talented and if he only played guitar instead of the 20 instruments he could play and devoted all his time to guitar and not producing, singing, writing, directing, he very well could have been the best, but he damn well deserves a place on this and any other list for playing guitar
No Jerry Garcia
Thank you Tom!!! Most of these people are oblivious…..I cant believe i had to read this far down to see a reference to Garcia!!!
Captain Trips played everything from Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country, Bluegrass…Super innovative, and his sound is unmistakable, and can be recognized by one or two notes…
All the guitarist listed, wanted to play with Jerry…
Get with the times people. There are much better more talented guitar players out there. If you don’t agree, don’t care.
List is bogus.No one on your list can play what Ritchie Blackmore plays. Including Hendrix.
Incredibly, Dimebag Darrel of Pantera didn’t even get a single mention. When it comes to chops on a guitar, no one I can think of did it better. Take a listen and you will agree.
SRV, Rory Gallagher, Ritchie Blackmore, Humble’s Steve Marriott and Peter Frampton, Duane Allman, Steve Howe…
I think it’s VERY difficult to make a list like this because without question, these men listed are quite literally THE very best (but here’s the important thing) AT WHAT THEY DO. It’s certainly not a surprise to see Jimi Hendrix listed as #1, for God’s sakes, he did things with (and to) guitars that even his road crew couldn’t understand, and still drops jaws all these decades after his untimely passing.
Eric Clapton, Slowhand, what can you say ? Again, another example of a level of skill that’s hard to find words to adequately describe. You can literally FEEL his raw emotion pour into, thru, and wash over your very soul. Just an absolute “Bluesman” thru and thru. And not just because of how he plays, but just look at what he’s endured (and like many, overcome) in his life. If that’s not “The Blues”, I don’t think anything qualifies.
Since they were so close, and really very surprised to see Duane Allmans name not up there, one has to really give it to him. Look what he accomplished in the limited time he was graced to be here. He IS the “2nd half” of Layla, arguably one of, if not THE greatest Love song ever written. Duane, and Duane alone played Slide with notes that are quite literally, OFF THE INSTRUMENT !!! I don’t think ANYONE played Slide the way Duane did. Absolutely, indescribably, beyond perfection. You didn’t just “feel” his sound because of being in the vicinity of an amp, you felt it, again, emotionally, deep in your very soul.
Jimmy Page will always be a Guitar God. Not just because LED ZEP played loud 4 hour gigs, and to say Jimmy’s skill was ” beyond spectacular” still doesn’t come close to doing him justice. Look at how the music was “put together” and you see its actually VERY COMPLEX and to just get thru it is a feat in itself. But to OWN IT with his skill level…thats a whole different thing.
I could go on forever, as Im sure most can, about how phenomenal these guys that are listed really are. But I wont, and can’t stand the “he’s better than him” nonsense for good reason.
I like to think of a list of these guys, real guitar Masters, in the same way you would think of the finest liquors on the “Top Shelf” at any Bar or Pub. Up on that “Top Level”, each is the PINNACLE, the absolute BEST….at what they do. And we all know, they DONT all do “the same thing” (once you’re past the fact that they’re all using a guitar).
Each one has their own unique, and in some cases, wildly different Style.
David Gilmore, for example, also shockingly not on this list, is by most, also considered a Master, a true virtuoso. And that fact cant be denied. But clearly, whether we’re talking about Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck (also not on this list), Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy (again, not on this list), there’s no argument that these guys, well…simply put, It just doesn’t get any better. Just like that “Top Shelf” liquor. Each man, in his own right, is absolutely a true Master of his craft, a Master of his “sound”. In that vein, they simply are the VERY BEST, PERIOD.
That said, they’re all playing very differently, so it’s VERY difficult to compare them and come up with a numerically based list that somehow implies that “#1 is better than #5” to just pick arbitrary numbers.
I think each one, in their own right, is in fact, the “Best Guitar Player”
Unquestionably, they’ve all collectively given us their heart and soul, and expressed it thru a medium that has most likely “moved” each and every person that’s heard their music in amazing ways, and we’re all very fortunate to have seen, and/or heard them.
So a huge “Thank You” from all of us to all of them. You’ve all helped shape our lives in one way or another.
~Jules
No Kenny Wayne Shepherd great blues rock guitarist.
One only needs to hear “Bluest Blues” by Alvin Lee to know that he deserves a mention amongst the best blues guitarists of all time.
Where is Stevie Ray, Albert Collins, Duane Allman, Vince Gill, Frank Zappa, Keith Urban, Kingfish, Bonnie Rait, Derek Truck, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Jerry Cantrel, Richie Blackmore, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, Chet Atkins, Susan Tedeschi and many more
It s all subjective. Depending on who you like. I like melodies, so Mark Knopfler is my guy.
Has anybody ever heard of Alvin Lee by far one of the best guitarists who receives no accolades!!!
Uli Jon Roth..Robin Trower..Tony Iomni Michael shenker …invegh Mounstien Stevie ray vaun Alex lifeson…Billy gibbons..Frank morino …all of these right here are rock guitarists but I garuantee they best work can go against anyone!!!
Yeah Stevie Ray Vaughan should definitely be in the top three
Thank you for seeing Steve Lukather’s talent. To me he is the best guitarist, since he can play anything and on a moment’s notice. Being a session musician he, at times had to come up with something on the spot. Plus, you know he’s a great guitarist/musician when Elton John, Bob Seger & Miles Davis wants you in there band. I’ve heard him play metal, hard rock, jazz, blues, disco, rock, pop, ballads and more. He did play “Beat It” (Michael Jackson). Played electric and bass on that song. Eddie only did the solo. Question is, What can’t he play?
John Mc Laughlin Carlos and Jeff Beck … Saw them play together Capitol Theatre in NJ
In 74 .
Frank Zappa is a glaring and frankly inexcusable ommission.
Y’all don’t shit where is Stevie Ray Vaughn it’s alwwys Jimi H. Alot of Jimi playing is bunch of distortion playing. So me a favor no y’all a favor listen to Austin City Limits ” Mary had a little Lamb’ fuck me Eddie V Halen come on man I’m Hispanic Carlos don’t deserve Robert J. He sold his soul to the Devil what y’all Satanist only I agree is Eric only one right in list now go clean your ears and do better listen
Then there is Son House, who invented the slide, later learned by Robert Johnson and others.
B.B. King said, “The day that Son died, every Blues player in the world moved up a notch.”
SRV hands down best ever. No mention of Lindsay Buckingham Joe bonamassa is bad ass. And anyone who thinks Prince is not deserving needs to watch him play before deciding not to include him
Mike Bloomfield, Roy Buchanan, John McLaughlin, Albert King, Mark Knopfler, Lou Reed, Alvin Lee, Johnny Winter, Ronnie Wood, Tony Iommi, Mick Taylor, Pete Townshend, Albert Collins I’ll stop right there I got to go to bed