Top 150 Greatest Guitar Players of All Time
I grew up listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan. My oldest brother was a big fan of Stevie and he introduced me to the wonderful world of blues and rock. He did not play guitar himself but he loved listening to guitar players all the time.
I started playing guitar at the age of 9, but it took another 6 years before I started listening and learning the songs of Joe Satriani, John Frusciante, Scott Henderson, Jimi Hendrix, Dimebag Darrel, Marty Friedman, Slash and Frank Gambale to name a few.
Much later I began listening to pretty much the rest of the list presented below. Listening to all these guitar players enriched my playing and my life as a musician and music lover. I hope it does the same for you.
This is a list of the most greatest, influential and famous guitar players of all time in no particular order. The list is not complete, because it can never be.
It is a wonderful guide to learn from, listen to and read about. The musicians and their music will inspire and motivate you. If you want to become a great guitar player then these are your teachers.
I present to you: The gurus, revolutionaries and guitar heros. Enjoy!
001. Jimi Hendrix (Blues/Rock)
002. Robert Johnson (Blues)
003. Albert King (Blues)
004. B.B. King (Blues)
005. Buddy Guy (Blues)
006. Hubert Sumlin (Blues)
007. Chuck Berry (Blues)
008. Johnny Winter (Blues)
009. Ry Cooder (Blues/Rock/Tex-Mex/World Music)
010. Keith Richards – Rolling Stones (Blues/Rock)
011. John Frusciante – Rhcp (Rock)
012. Jeff Beck (Blues)
013. Jimi Page – Led Zeppelin (Rock)
014. Richard Thompson (Rock/Folk)
015. Stevie Ray Vaughan (Blues)
016. Eric Clapton (Blues)
017. The Edge – U2 (Rock)
018. Brian May – Queen (Rock)
019. Eddie Van Halen – Van Halen (Rock)
020. Frank Zappa (Rock/Jazz)
021. Joe Perry – Aerosmith (Blues/Rock)
022. Ritchie Blackmore – Deep Purple (Rock)
023. Steve Howe – Yes (Progressive Rock)
024. David Gilmour – Pink Floyd (Rock)
025. Rhandy Roads – Ozzy Osbourne (Rock)
026. Angus Young – AC/DC (Rock)
027. Mark Knopfler – Dire Straits (Rock)
028. Peter Green – Fleetwood Mac (Blues/Rock)
029. Lindsey Buckingham – Fleetwood Mac (Rock)
030. Gary Moore (Blues)
031. Chet Atkins (Country)
032. Andy Summers – The Police (Rock)
033. Carlos Santana (Rock)
034. Robben Ford (Blues/Jazz)
035. Slash – Guns ‘n Roses (Rock)
036. Peter Frampton (Rock)
037. Pete Townshend – The Who (Rock)
038. Robbie Krieger – The Doors (Rock)
039. George Harrison – The Beatles (Rock)
040. Neil Young (Rock)
041. Albert Collins (Blues)
042. Rory Gallagher (Blues/Rock)
043. Jeff Healey (Blues/Rock)
044. Lightnin’ Hopkins (Country Blues)
045. Bo Didley (Blues)
046. Joe Walsh – The Eagles (Rock)
047. Vernon Reid – Living Colour (Rock)
048. Kurt Cobain – Nirvana (Rock)
049. Duane Allman – The Allman Brothers (Rock)
050. Joe Satriani (Rock)
051. Steve Vai (Rock)
052. Yngwie Malmsteen (Rock)
053. Paul Gilbert (Rock)
054. Eric Johnson (Rock)
055. Steve Morse (Rock/Funk/Jazz/Classical/Country)
056. Nuno Bettencourt – Extreme (Rock)
057. Kirk Hammet – Metallica (Hardrock/Metal)
058. James Hetfield – Metallica (Hardrock/Metal)
059. Dave Mustain – Megadeth (Hardrock/Metal)
060. Marty Friedman – Megadeth (Hardrock/Metal)
061. John Petrucci – Dream Theather (Progressive Metal)
062. Alex Lifeson – Rush (Progressive Rock)
063. DimeBag Darrel – Pantera (Metal)
064. Michael Angelo Batio (Rock)
065. George Lynch (Rock)
066. Vinnie Moore (Rock)
067. Django Rheinardt (Gipsy Jazz)
068. John McLaughlin (Jazz)
069. Al Di Meola (Rock/Jazz)
070. Paco De Lucia (Flamenco)
071. Adrian Legg (Acoustic)
072. Tommy Emmanuel (Acoustic)
073. Paco Peña (Flamenco)
074. John Williams (Classical)
075. Julian Bream (Classical)
076. Roy Buchanan (Blues)
077. Michael Schenker – Scorpions (Rock)
078. Johnny Ramone – The Ramones (Punk/Rock)
079. Tom Morello – Rage Against The Machine (Rock)
080. T-Bone Walker (Blues)
081. Adam Jones – Tool (Metal)
082. Brad Paisley (Country)
083. Jason Becker (Rock)
084. Joe Bonamassa (Blues/Rock)
085. Albert Lee (Country)
086. John Lennon – The Beatles (Rock)
087. Paul McCartney – The Beatles (Rock)
088. Steve Lukather – Toto (Rock)
089. Hank Marvin – The Shadows (Rock)
090. Dave Matthews (Rock/Jazz)
091. Mike McCready – Pearl Jam (Rock)
092. Richie Sambora – Bon Jovi (Rock)
093. Keith Scott – Bryan Adams(Rock)
094. Scotty Moore (Rockabilly)
095. Brian Setzer – Stray Cats (Rockabilly)
096. Phil Collen – Def Leppard (Rock)
097. Robert Cray (Blues)
098. Robert Fripp – King Crimson (Prog-Rock)
099. Wes Montgomory (Jazz)
100. George Benson (Jazz)
101. Pat Matheny (Jazz)
102. Danny Gatton (Country)
103. Scott Henderson – Tribal Tech (Jazz Fusion)
104. Allan Holdsworth (Jazz Fusion)
105. John Scofield (Jazz)
106. Joe Pass (Jazz)
107. Mike Bloomfield (Blues)
108. John Fahey (Acoustic)
109. Pat Martino (Jazz)
110. Tony Iommi – Black Sabbath (HardRock)
111. Richie Kotzen (Rock)
112. Shawn Lane (Jazz Fusion Rock)
113. Alex Skolnick – Testament (Metal)
114. Jeff Waters – Annihilator (Metal)
115. Dave Grohl – Foo Fighters (Rock)
116. Jeff Hanneman – Slayer (Trash Metal)
117. Joe Diorio (Jazz)
118. Charlie Christian (Jazz)
119. Grant Green (Jazz)
120. Jim Hall (Jazz)
121. Jennifer Batten (Rock)
122. Guthrie Govan (Rock Fusion)
123. Andy Mckee (Acoustic)
124. John Mayer (Blues)
125. Gary Hoey (Rock)
126. Matthew Bellamy – Muse (Rock)
127. Noel Gallagher – Oasis (Rock)
128. Jerry Garcia – Greatful Dead (Rock)
129. Jonny Greenwood – Radiohead (Rock)
130. George Lynch (Rock)
131. Daron Malakian – System of a Down (Metal)
132. James Burton (Country)
133. Larry Carlton (Jazz Fusion)
134. Warren Haynes – Allman Brothers Band (Blues)
135. Dick Dale (Surf Rock)
136. Les Paul (Jazz Country)
137. Andrés Segovia (Classical)
138. Jorma Kaukonen – Jefferson Airplane (Rock)
139. Jan Akkerman (Jazz/Blues)
140. Frank Gambale (Jazz Fusion)
141. Mick Ronson – David Bowie (Rock)
142. Freddie King (Blues)
143. Trey Anastasio – Phish (Rock)
144. Prince (Rock)
145. Greg Howe (Rock Fusion)
146. Andy Timmons (Rock)
147. Tony Macalpine (Rock Fusion)
148. Michael Lee Firkins (Rock)
149. Larry Coryell (Jazz)
150. Brett Garsed (Jazz Fusion)
“… guitarists shouldn’t get too riled up about all of the great players that were left off of ‘Rolling Stone Magazines’ list of the Greatest Guitar Players of all Time’ … Rolling Stone is published for people who read the magazine because they don’t know what to wear …” - Joe Satriani
Feel free to leave a comment. I’d appreciate it.
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This is a great list! I like the fact that other guitarists are recognised that I wouldn’t usually see in a list. Guitarists like Noel Gallagher never seem to get a mention even though he’s an amazing guitarist and turned a British generation to the guitar.
Thanks for the list Klaus.
Hi Ben,
I agree, Noel Gallagher’s Wonderwall riff will be played by guitar players for centuries to come.
It has become a classic.
Klaus Tol
Nuno Bettencourt 4ever!
Portugal represented!
I almost chocked when I saw Tommy on the 72 spot, then I read the list was in no particular order!
This list made me smile numerous times!
AMAZING!
Hi Nuno,
I love Nuno Bettencourt and Extreme!
My favorite songs are Rest in Peace, Get the funk out, Midnight express and No respect.
He is touring with Rihanna at the moment, but I guess you already knew that.
Klaus
Hi Klaus,
You made a awesome list, I don’t know all of these great guitar players but I definitely going to read and listen more about them.
Keep up the good work!
William.
Hey William,
You really should, they are all worthwhile listening to.
These players represent what guitar playing is all about.
You might discover some new favorites.
Klaus
Klaus its pleasing to see that you’ve included Rory Gallagher, he quite frequently gets ignored because he shunned commercialism to stay true to guitar playing. Admittedly I’m biased, Rory was related to me but I had the pleasure to meet and talk to him a few times and his down to earth personality was a credit.
Keep up the good work, your website is very informative and I’ll be bookmarking it for future visits, I’ll even sit down with my guitar and learn.
Hey Tom,
Rory was an awesome guitarplayer.
Great slide player, full of energy and rawness to the bone!
Thanx for the support!
Klaus
Klaus
keep up the good work, i’ll spread the word
What…no Steve Hackett? No Nick Drake?!?! Tipton and Downing? Murray and Smith? Criminal I say sir! Criminal!
Mick Taylor? Tom Scholz? Adrian Belew?
what about mike campbell ? from TP and the heartbreakers?
In my eyes hes the absolute nmost underrated guitar player in the world, his sound , technique , his clean riffs, amazing . to not have him on a list in my eyes is dumb
i didnt see prince on there either
Hi Bryan and Mike,
There is only so much space in a top 150 and yes you are right there are always others and more great players out there.
Thanks for adding your favorites to the comments.
Best regards,
Klaus Tol
I am pleased to see some jazz and blues guys on a list. This is rare because most people only like what they are used to and most people have not been exposed to much of anything except the middle of the road. One name left off your list is Tommy Bolin, a truly underated player. Remember, there is no such thing as good or bad music, just what you like.
I think most of you are rockers and don’t listen to much country, but there are some great pickers like Roy Clark and Glen Campbell. Many others
I do agree. Let us not forget the great bluegrass players as well. Also these lists never have classical guys on them. Like I said most people are not exposed to much outside the middle of the road.
Hi taharvey,
That’s not entirely correct. Here are some classical guitar players:
#74 John Williams
#75 Julian Bream
#137 Andrés Segovia
Best regards,
Klaus
WHERE IS J MASCIS?? :(
Also, I’d move Slash way down and Robert Fripp way up.
Did you leave out Alvin Lee of Ten Years After??..WHY
Hi Ed,
Yeah how could I? :)
Sorry, but I had only space for 150 great guitar players.
You’re right, there’s always one more guitar player that I should have mentioned.
Yet, I am grateful you are willing to share your favorite guitar hero.
Cheers,
Klaus
Obviously it’s difficult to have a list that caters to everyones personal taste… and it’s also difficult to tell on exactly what makes a ‘great’ guitarist (technical ability? songwriting prowess?) … but to have Kurt Cobain to appear higher up the list than Nuno, Dimebag, Hammett, Satriani and Vai…. I’m a little confused. Still, some great names in there. Good on ya bro :)
Ignore my comment – I just re-read your intro … ‘no particular order’ … my bad ;)
Hi, Klaus! Thanks for your wonderful list, I really love it!
I found a little mistake for spelling name of “Randy Rhoads”, there’s “Rhandy Roads” on the list. He is my favorite guitar player.
Excuse me for being so picky:-)
Great guitarists are everywhere in this world… The list will never end if we start to mention. In my country (Indonesia), we also have many good guitarists: Lianto Tjahjoputro, Balawan, Dewa Budjana and many others… China has Xue Fei Yang…. Perhaps, in Asia, the chance to be worldwide recognised is a bit smaller due to several factors.
Check out Rivers Cuomo of Weezer if you haven’t already. He is definitely one of the most underrated guitar players of all time. Incredible skill and sense of melody.
This entire list gets canned just for the omission of one the greats if not the greatest of all-time.. Duane Allman. One of the few I agree with RS about. Jimi Hendricks? Great…MAYBE. Very good? Probably. Top ten? Not on this panet.
Breaks my heart not to see Leo Kottke. Was also thinking, I’ll bet it breaks John Mayer’s heart not to see his name.
Not a bad list but you should consider renaming it “150 great guitar players”.
Where are Brazilian guitar players?
If Baden Powell does not make a 150 greatest guitar player list who does?