These guitarists have left an indelible mark on the world of music, inspiring countless others to pick up a guitar and follow in their footsteps.
We've curated an eclectic mix of incredible guitarists from various genres, including blues and various rock styles, to showcase the diverse range of talent in the guitar world.
We understand that everyone has their own personal favourites, so we invite you to share your choices in the comments. If you're just beginning your musical journey, consider exploring guitar lessons.
All the guitarists in this table are in alphabetical order, but if you want to see their ranking, you'll have to read on.
| Guitarist | Style | Associated Acts | Famous Songs |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.B. King | Blues | Solo, Various Collaborations | "The Thrill Is Gone", "Lucille", "Every Day I Have the Blues" |
| Brian May | Rock | Queen | "Bohemian Rhapsody", "We Will Rock You", "Tie Your Mother Down" |
| Carlos Santana | Latin Rock, Blues Rock | Santana | "Black Magic Woman", "Smooth", "Oye Como Va" |
| Chuck Berry | Rock and Roll, Blues | Solo | "Johnny B. Goode", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Maybellene" |
| David Gilmour | Progressive Rock | Pink Floyd | "Comfortably Numb", "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", "Wish You Were Here" |
| Duane Allman | Southern Rock, Blues Rock | The Allman Brothers Band, Derek and the Dominos | "Layla", "Whipping Post", "Statesboro Blues" |
| Eddie Van Halen | Hard Rock | Van Halen | "Eruption", "Jump", "Panama" |
| Eric Clapton | Blues Rock, Rock | Cream, The Yardbirds, Derek and the Dominos | "Layla", "Tears in Heaven", "Crossroads" |
| Jeff Beck | Blues Rock, Instrumental Rock | The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group | "Beck's Bolero", "Cause We've Ended As Lovers", "A Day in the Life" |
| Jimi Hendrix | Psychedelic Rock | The Jimi Hendrix Experience | "Purple Haze", "Voodoo Child", "Hey Joe" |
| Jimmy Page | Hard Rock, Blues Rock | Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds | "Stairway to Heaven", "Whole Lotta Love", "Kashmir" |
| Ritchie Blackmore | Hard Rock, Heavy Metal | Deep Purple, Rainbow | "Smoke on the Water", "Highway Star", "Since You Been Gone" |
| Slash | Hard Rock, Blues Rock | Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver | "Sweet Child O' Mine", "November Rain", "Paradise City" |
| Stevie Ray Vaughan | Blues Rock | Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble | "Pride and Joy", "Texas Flood", "Little Wing" |
| Tony Iommi | Heavy Metal | Black Sabbath | "Paranoid", "Iron Man", "War Pigs" |
15. Tony Iommi (1948- )
Tony Iommi is famous for being the lead guitarist and songwriter for the heavy metal band Black Sabbath.
Iommi formed Black Sabbath with Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. Though initially a blues rock band, Black Sabbath would become one of the most influential heavy metal bands.
Iommi's guitar playing is even more incredible when you consider that he lost the tips of two of his fingers in a sheet metal factory as a teenager.
Rather than giving up the guitar, Iommi created custom thimbles and tuned his guitar down to reduce the string tension, ultimately influencing his playing and his sound.
There's certainly something to be said about how the guitar is good for your health and wellbeing.
14. Duane Allman (1946-1971)
Duane Allman was an American guitarist and the founding member of The Allman Brothers Band.
Though Duane Allman died at the age of 24 following a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia, his music and recordings left an impact.
The Allman Brothers Band continued after Duane's death, and he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 as a band member.
His guitar playing and slide work were famous for using open tunings, which can be heard in the work of other guitarists inspired by him, especially those playing southern rock and blues.
13. Ritchie Blackmore (1945- )
Ritchie Blackmore is an English guitarist who is most famous for playing in the rock bands Deep Purple and Rainbow.
Despite initially taking classical guitar lessons, Blackmore would be most famous for rock music.
That said, he was inspired by blues guitarists like Muddy Waters and B. B. King from a young age.
He co-founded Deep Purple in 1968. The band would go on to become one of the world's most influential rock bands, recording songs like "Highway Star", Child in Time", and "Smoke on the Water", which features one of the most recognisable rock riffs ever and one that every budding guitarist will likely learn to play at some point.
12. Slash (1965- )
Born Saul Hudson but best known by his stage name, Slash is as famous for his look as he is for his guitar playing.
Visually, people will recognise Slash for his top hat and curly hair, but his guitar playing has a sound that's also recognisable.
He started playing guitar when he was 15. Still, he quickly became proficient in the instrument, inspired by other great guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Joe Perry.
He'd find fame with the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, where Slash's guitar playing was iconic. His musical style typically employs melodic bluesy solos with raw rock energy.
Being a rockstar isn't about the money, but it is interesting to see how much guitarists typically earn.
11. Carlos Santana (1947- )
Carlos Santana is a Mexican-American guitarist and band leader who rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s with his band, Santana.
Santana, founded in San Francisco, featured a multicultural lineup, including Carlos. He was born in Jalisco, Mexico, but moved to San Francisco with his family in the early 1960s.
The Santana Blues Band blended rock, blues, jazz, and Latin rhythms, with congas and timbales playing alongside the electric guitar.
Santana played at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, and their performance was electrifying.
Carlos Santana's career has spanned decades. Thirty years after the Woodstock performance, his 1999 album "Supernatural" reintroduced Santana to a new generation of fans and aspiring guitarists.
10. Chuck Berry (1926-2017)
Chuck Berry is often called the "Father of Rock and Roll".
The American guitarist, singer, and songwriter blended rhythm and blues with country and Western music to lay the foundations for rock and roll music, though the hisstory of the guitar long predates Chuck Berry's incredible playing.
His rise to fame came in the 1950s after Muddy Waters introduced him to Leonard Chess of Chess Records.
He recorded a cover of the country song "Maybellene" in 1955.
Still, his most famous songs came shortly after, with "Roll Over Beethoven" in 1956 and "Johnny B. Goode" in 1958.
9. Jeff Beck (1944-2023)
Jeff Beck was an English guitarist.
He was famous for playing with The Yardbirds, where he replaced the legendary guitarist Eric Clapton, The Jeff Beck Group, and his solo work.
Throughout his career, Jeff Beck won eight Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice (in 1992 with The Yardbirds and in 2009 as a solo artist).
Jeff Beck regularly played different styles of guitar music, but he'll likely be remembered for blues rock and instrumental rock music.
8. Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954-1990)
Stevie Ray Vaughan was an American blues guitarist and singer.
He was born in Dallas, Texas, to a musical family.
As a young child, he learned to play the guitar, taking inspiration from legendary blues guitarists like Albert King, B.B. King, Freddie King, and Muddy Waters, as well as rock guitarists Jimi Hendrix and Lonnie Mack.
He tragically died in a helicopter crash in 1990.
Still, he left many examples of his fine guitar playing with his band Double Trouble.
7. B.B. King (1925-2015)
B.B. King is often referred to as the "King of Blues".
He was an influential and famous blues guitarist, and he inspired many of the great guitarists we've seen here.
Guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Eric Clapton cite King as an inspiration.
Perhaps he makes you want to start playing the guitar.
He helped popularise blues music across the world.
6. Brian May (1947- )
Brian May is the guitarist of the British rock band Queen.
He's famous for his unique guitar sound, which comes from the guitar that he and his father built together.
May's guitar playing can be heard on many of Queen's records. The most famous examples include "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "We Will Rock You". However, there are plenty of other examples.
Beyond playing guitar, Brian May also completed a PhD in astrophysics in 2007. He initially abandoned his PhD studies after Queen found success in the 1970s.
Playing the guitar does come with benefits like improved brain function and it seems to have helped Brian May.
5. David Gilmour (1946- )
David Gilmour is a British guitarist famous for playing with Pink Floyd.
Though not an initial member of the band, he cemented his place in the band.
Famously, his contributions include albums like "The Dark Side of the Moon" in 1973, "Wish You Were Here" in 1975, "Animals" in 1977, and "The Wall" in 1979.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Pink Floyd, and his guitar playing, both with the band and as a solo artist, has inspired guitarists for generations.
4. Eddie Van Halen (1955-2020)
Eddie Van Halen, the guitarist and leader of the band Van Halen, is famous for his innovative guitar techniques, which pushed the boundaries of guitar playing.
These techniques included two-handed tapping, harmonics, and whammy bar use.
While Eddie Van Halen didn't necessarily invent these techniques, he popularised them and mastered them.
There are many myths about Eddie Van Halen, just as there are myths about the guitar.
3. Eric Clapton (1945- )
Eric Clapton is a British blues and rock guitarist and one of the finest guitarists ever.
He played in the blues-rock band The Yardbirds before leaving and being replaced by Jeff Beck.
He played with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and continued to establish himself as one of the country's finest guitarists.
In 1966, he formed the world's first supergroup, Cream, with Jack Bruce on bass and Ginger Backer on drums.
He won 18 Grammy Awards during his career and is still celebrated as an incredible guitarist today. For aspiring blues enthusiasts in Brisbane, guitar lessons brisbane can provide a great start.
2. Jimmy Page (1944- )
Jimmy Page is an English guitarist famous for his work with the rock band Led Zeppelin.
He also played bass in The Yardbirds before switching to lead guitar.
He formed Led Zeppelin in 1968 with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham.
In addition to playing the guitar incredibly well for Led Zeppelin, he also wrote and produced the band's songs, which featured elements of hard rock, blues, folk, world music, and classical music.
He created and played incredible riffs and outstanding solos and continues to inspire guitarists today.
1. Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970)
Last but not least, we have Jimi Hendrix. For many, Hendrix is considered the greatest guitarist to have ever lived.
Even though he didn't start playing guitar until the age of 15, he took inspiration from blues, rock, and jazz musicians like Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and Robert Johnson to become the greatest guitarist to have ever lived.
He's famous for songs like “Hey Joe”, “Purple Haze”, “Foxy Lady”, and many other candidates for the greatest guitar song of all time.
His playing was famous for its use of controlled feedback, a wah-wah pedal, distortion and fuzz, and unconventional guitar tunings.
A master of improvisation, his solos and performances were always incredible, particularly his historical rendition of the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner", at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. For those based in Sydney eager to learn, guitar lessons sydney can be a great resource.
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What about Rory Gallagher, Shawn Lane, Warren Haynes, Duane Allman, Derek Trucks, Sonny Sharrock, Eric Johnson, Frank Zappa, Steve Morse, Billy Gibbons, Al Di Meola, John Mclaughlin, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Roy Buchanan, Gary Clark Jr., Stevie Ray Vaughn, Adrian Belew, Adrian Legg, Richard Thompson… I could go on and on, these are all killer players. With all due respect to the players on your list (a lot of my favorite players are on it) I just feel that it is just the same old list that has been trotted out a thousand times before. Any true guitar fan would love to hear about some of the other great players out there. Just saying.
you’ve never heard of Django Reinhardt then
U forget mention t bone walker n Ritchie blackmore
Rory was the first one on my list!
I absolutely agree with you man!
Ernie Isley is a great guitar player and he is better than any one on that list
Excellent choices may I add Darrell ‘Dimebag Abbott – Zakk Wylde – Randy Rhodes
Amen!
Yes. Also Frank Gambalie, Pat Metheney. John Mclaughlin, Steve Vai, Tommy Emmanuel , George Benson, Albert Lee. Allan Holds Worth, John Schofield, Tommy Tedesco, Doyal Dykes, Andres Segovia to name a few of the masters that we know of.
Not mentioned is the great Hubert Sumlin the man behind Howlin Wolf’s music. Hubert was a phenomenal guitar player and the inspiration behind many of the Great guitarist mentioned here. I’m positive that if you asked them they would agree.
I can’t believe Joe wash is again not on one these list. And just as unbelievable is that not one of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s guitar players is not on the list. Keith Richards seriously…….what about Greg Allman and Billy Gibbons. Are y’all for real ?
You mean Duane Allman?
Eric Clapton was asked in an interview- not so long ago, whats it like to be the best guitarist in the world? He answered- don’t ask me, ask Prince! Definetly a genius of our time and should be on this list- hey- just ask Mr Clapton!
Justin Hayward is my choice of best guitarist. His name is missing off all the lists, when he should be voted number one.
And Prince said……Santana
I heard that same story years ago, but Eddie Van Halen was asked and Eddie said IDK ask Alex Lifeson. Never have found the article so I imagine both are myths.
Alex THE MOST underrated guitarist ever…
Ritchie Blackmore probably influenced more 80s players than any of them…..
Once again, no mention of Michael Bloomfield. Do you even know who he was!? He jammed with BB King. He babysat Muddy’s grandchildren. He taught Calos Santana. He played with Clapton, Hendrix, Beck many times. Did you ever ask Clapton his opinion of some of the blues guys? He would name Bloomfield. I worked for Pink Floyd and have a tremendous respect for David Gilmore, but he wasn’t half the guitar player Mike Bloomfied was. His fits every single category of the criteria you gave at the beginning of your article, and yet doesn’t even get a mention.
Where’s Richard Thompson. He should be near the top of all these lists. He would blow most of these players off the stage
Mark, I’m with you brother!
I am extremely perplexed, that Stevie Ray Vaughn is not included in the top 5 or 6 of the greatest guitar masters there has ever been. Having said that, I can’t find a better way of categorizing the best guitarists who have blessed our auditory and visual senses. Maybe self designation, interpretation or genre classification is the only methodology by and through which anyone can determine the best guitarist(s). Yet there are many, many guitarists who have left their mark, continue playing or have yet to play who can easily find a place in the top 100. This controversy will no doubt continue for generations to come. And, no doubt there will be many more music journalists who will have had the luxury of suggesting to readers their beliefs as to who the best guitarists in the world might be.
I find anyone who has had the initiative to be self taught or be taught how to play the guitar, and find immeasurable success at playing it, thereby, blessing music lovers regardless of genre with their talent, highly pleasurable. Anyone can argue effectively what artist they deem to be the best.
However, in my estimation the best guitarist is he or she who has left other guitarists something on which to build on, enhance or augment in some respect. As a shellac, vinyl and cd collector, as well as other media observer, I am astounded, if not mesmerised, by the stylistics of all the guitar riffs, solos and accompanying guitar sounds I have had the luxury to hear.
No Derek Trucks?
Seriously.
The master of slide and style.
Or Warren Haynes….
Where is Peter green I would say he is probably in that clutch of players. He seems to have been forgotten.
I am in total agreement, The Green God has written and played a handful of some of the best blues of the 60’s. B.B.King has said Peter had the best time and sound of all the british guitarist. John Mayall who led bands with Clapton and Mick Taylor (among other notables) has crowned Peter the king. Where is the love for Peter Green?
I agree with Jean. The Green God ruled in the mid to late sixties. Where is the love for ego less Peter Green. He surpassed Clapton and Mick Taylor as members of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (read the reviews). RIP Peter Green you gentle soul.
As usual, no mention of Danny Gatton, as ‘unknown’ in death as he was in his playing days. History will vindicate him one day
What about Rory Gallagher, Terry Kath, Ritchie Blackmore, Randy California, Mark Farner, Donald “Buck Dharam” Roeser, Tony Iommi, Mick Box, Jerry Garcia!!!
What about Paul Kossoff when someone like Clapton is impressed and ask’s for a couple of tips must’ve been something
Dharma*
Liam RORY Gallagher.. self taught Multi Instrumentalist, singer, songwriter. He always put his music and his fans first.. not money or fame. A man of great integrity who never gave in to record co. Execs or promotors.. if he had, he would have been more well known, especially in the U.S.A. Fantastic guitarist and man.
There will always be great that get left off lists for numerous reasons. My vote for most underrated awesome guitarist is the Green God, Peter Green. He is held in high esteem by his peers. There is an awesome double CD paying tribute to Peter Green that many blues players were turned away, Rory Gallagher stole the shown with two sharp rendition’s of Peter’s songs. And just before his death there was a tribute concert to pay homage to Peter Green. The best judges are those that played with you or saw you in action on multiple occasions. Peter replaced Clapton in the Bluesbreakers and put out the finest Mayall music put to vinyl. His Fleetwood Mac outsold the Beatles and Stones combined in 1968 and 1969. Let’s not forget his hits Black Magic Women, Albatross, Oh Well, The Green Manalishi and Man of the World. I vote for The Green God!
Jeff Beck should definitely be in the top 10…!!!
Wheres prince 🤔
The only two names After Hendrix are Duane Allman and Dickie Betts the only band with two of the best in one stage.Blow everyone else out of the water. telepathic two brains four hands priceless
No Alex Lifeson? Disappointing
Exactly!
Jen turner, wes Montgomery, marv tarplin and Rick derringer are players that are over looked or ignored. Check them out, you will be surprised at their skill and talents on the guitar.
No list is complete without Duane Allman and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Mick Taylor never seems to make these lists. Clearly an underrated guitarist.
I cannot believe Stevie Ray Vaughn is not on this list!
Agree. And my fav.player Mark Knopfler not even an honorable mention. Wow.
Angus Young is the best guitar player ever
Angus Young is absolutely legendary! He’s definitely earned his place among the greats!