The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time Bands/Musicians

The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time

original ranker MrMusic1971  65,866 views 1,624 items 134 followers
The best guitarists of all time, voted on and ranked by many music fans, with photos and other info. A Wisdom of Crowds comprehensive ranking of the greatest guitar players in history. All the top guitarists are on this list - monster guitar heroes from rock, metal, blues, and alternative music. Are you on Team Eddie or Team Jimi? Add your vote to this list of the top guitarists ever.

To vote on more music lists, check out these lists of the Best Rock Vocalists and the Best Female Rock Vocalists of all time.
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Rank     Name
  1. 51
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    Hard rock, Heavy metal, Punk rock More
  2. 52
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    Rock music, Blues-rock, Rock and roll More
    added by: PaulMateicka
  3. 53
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    Rock music, Rockabilly, Country More
  4. 54
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    Folk music, Alternative rock, Rock music More
  5. 55
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    Rock music, Hard rock, Blues-rock More
  6. 56
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    Hard rock, Heavy metal, Blues-rock
  7. 57
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    Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
  8. 58
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    Pop rock, Heavy metal, Rock and roll More
  9. 59
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    Rock music, Progressive rock, Jazz fusion More
  10. 60
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    Hard rock, Heavy metal, Thrash metal More
  11. 61
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    Classical music
  12. 62
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    Rock music, Blues-rock, Rockabilly More
    added by: PaulMateicka
  13. 63
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    Rock music, Jazz fusion, Blues-rock More
  14. 64
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    Jack White

  15. 65
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    Rock music, Folk rock, Blues-rock More
  16. 66
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    Jazz fusion, Jazz, Hard bop More
  17. 67
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    Rock music, Hard rock, Blues-rock More
    added by: Captwellcraft
  18. 68
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    Rhythm and blues, Soul music, Funk More
  19. 69
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    Folk music, Rock music, Hard rock More
  20. 70
    Up 39
    Down 28
    Progressive rock, Jazz fusion, Pop music More
  21. 71
    Up 24
    Down 19
    Rock music, Folk rock, Blues-rock More
  22. 72
    Up 29
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    Rock music, Pop rock, Rockabilly More
  23. 73
    Up 26
    Down 23
    Blues-rock, Blues
  24. 74
    Up 23
    Down 15
    Rock music, Blues-rock, Funk More
  25. 75
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    Rock music, Hard rock, Folk rock More
  26. 76
    Up 47
    Down 51
    Hard rock, Progressive rock, Jazz fusion More
  27. 77
    Up 22
    Down 20
    Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
  28. 78
    Up 28
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    Classical music, Jazz, World music More
  29. 79
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    Rock music, Blues-rock, Rockabilly More
  30. 80
    Up 20
    Down 19
    Rhythm and blues, Soul music, Pop music More
  31. 81
    Up 21
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    Hard rock, Progressive rock, Heavy metal More
  32. 82
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    Hard rock, Heavy metal
    added by: LaurentJanon
  33. 83
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    Hard rock, Heavy metal, Glam rock More
  34. 84
    Up 23
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    Alternative rock, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
  35. 85
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    Rock music, Jazz fusion, Jazz More
  36. 86
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    Alternative rock, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
    added by: BruceShultz
  37. 87
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    Down 2

    Chris Dair

    World Blues, Jazz Fusion
    added by: ElizabethSmith
    World Blues, Jazz Fusion
  38. 88
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    Chicago blues, Jump blues, Blues More
  39. 89
    Up 27
    Down 22
    Hard rock, Heavy metal, Thrash metal More
  40. 90
    Up 32
    Down 29
    Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
    added by: Devereaux
  41. 91
    Up 22
    Down 17
    Hard rock, Jazz fusion, Heavy metal More
  42. 92
    Up 16
    Down 15
    Classical music, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
  43. 93
    Up 18
    Down 20

    Jimmy Vaughan

  44. 94
    Up 9
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    Rock music, Blues-rock, Rhythm and blues More
  45. 95
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    Folk rock, Blues-rock, Country More
  46. 96
    Up 3
    Down 0
    Alternative rock, Rock music, Hard rock More
    added by: GiòCalculli
  47. 97
    Up 2
    Down 1
    Progressive rock, Jazz fusion, Jazz More
  48. 98
    Up 17
    Down 25
    Rhythm and blues, Soul music, Jazz More
  49. 99
    Up 20
    Down 22
    Rock music, Progressive rock, Blues-rock More
  50. 100
    Up 18
    Down 23
    Rhythm and blues, Blues
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    1. teppscan-google
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 5/15/2012 9:27 AM
      I first heard in Hendrix shortly after 'Are You Experienced' was released in when I was 12, and he changed my life and everyone else's, including people who have never heard his music. His influence on the instrument and on music itself is incalculable. I think there's little doubt that he is the most 'important' guitar player in the history of the instrument. However, as much as I virtually worship him, I would argue that these open-ended 'best' lists are silly. The question they always raise is 'the best at what?' If we're talking about the most influential, then we must place Charlie Christian, Django Reinhart, T-Bone Walker, Chuck Berry, Les Paul, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton far above the musicians that followed (and copied) them. If we're talking about technical proficiency then we have to consider players like Lenny Breaux, John McLaughlin, Eric Johnson, and Andres Segovia. If we're talking about popularity, then we can bring in mediocre technicians like Kurt Cobain, Robbie Robertson, and The Edge. But simply asking which of these players in various genres from different eras is 'better' than the others is too broad a question to produce a useful answer. First of all, half the people answering the question are not knowledgeable enough to make a cogent analysis. For example, how many Eddie Van Halen fans have ever really studied his mentor, Alan Holdsworth? How many have heard what Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, or Brad Paisley can do with a guitar when nobody is looking? I do not agree that this kind of list opens the choice to any subjective preference because a level of simple competency can be determined. For example, anyone listing Ron Wood or Ace Frehley on a list of 'greats' doesn't know what he's talking about, and neither do the 88 fools who put a thumbs down to Prince. Don't take my word for it; ask a guitar player -- a real one. By the way, a recent poll of famous players also picked Hendrix. If you're determined to ask this question, that's the answer you're most often going to get, and it's as good as any.
    2. Charles
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 5/15/2012 8:47 AM
      Before I piss and moan I know this list is subjective however there is no way on this Earth that Eddie Van Halen should be #5. Gilmour and Blackmore should be ahead of him easily. Top 25 maybe but #5 that
      is ridiculous.
    3. Tennesse Gin
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 12/20/2011 12:48 AM
      Where's Tommy Emmanuel? And maybe J Mascis!
    4. J.P.
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 12/19/2011 10:41 PM
      Frank Zappa is the most underrated guitar player of all time, Alex Lifeson and Ritchie Blackmore should be in the top 10 for sure and Jimmie Page is the most overrated guitar player in history
    5. Pallknowing1
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 12/17/2011 11:25 PM
      Adam Jones and Tom Morello
    6. DimebagHallmark
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 10/01/2011 12:53 AM
      this list is horrible, no DIMEBAG DARRELL, kurt cobain sucks, and satriani should be above vai since satriani taught Vai how to play
    7. DarthKarl
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 9/05/2011 9:32 AM
      AHEM



      Uli John Roth and Michael Schenker!!!!!!!!!
    8. sonny
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 7/28/2011 2:52 PM
      what about dimebag r.i.p
    9. dumbasilook
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 4/06/2011 3:35 AM
      What about the REAL Fleetwood Mac. Peter Green, Danny Kirwin and Jeremy Spencer.
    10. vic74
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 4/05/2011 6:11 AM
      Duane Allman, nothing more can ever be said
    11. softailrich
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 3/28/2011 2:56 PM
      Yes, Hendrix. Yes, Page, with Clapton and Beck tied for third. Lots of Yardbirds in this list. No Randy California or Joe Walsh?
      1. Clark Benson
        The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 3/30/2011 4:12 PM
        add your own list and you can add both those guys
        1. Jeff Corwan
          The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 4/21/2011 9:51 PM
          F**k you Clark Benson. That is such a smart-ass answer, the guy was stating an opinion so that people can discuss those artist. NOT give him some b***h-ass wise crack.
          1. Clark Benson
            The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 7/05/2011 10:56 AM
            not a wise crack. the way more guitarists get added to the list is by adding new people in your own list that contributes to this CrowdRanking. but thank you for your unnecessary hostilty
    12. JeepersCreepers
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 3/22/2011 7:10 PM
      I guess being the sole guitarist in one of the most exciting live bands in the world with your own distinctive and innovative sound don't count for s**t and then coming back 25 years later and selling out shows all over the world again like they were never gone - Andy Summers of the mighty Police.
    13. Levi
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 3/09/2011 6:47 PM
      No Yngwie Malmsteen?
    14. thechad
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 3/08/2011 11:31 PM
      In an interview a few years ago, a young journalist asked Eric Clapton what it was like to be the greatest guitarist in the world. He said that he didn't know and that she should go ask Trey Anastasio.
    15. Hagar
      The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time at 3/08/2011 3:37 PM
      This may be a comprehensive list for guitarists of certain genre's but the greatest guitarist is actually Adreas Segovia. Check out his work on the web. His is all classical.

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