Every guitarist has a list of the best guitarists of all time (or the greatest guitar players of all time, depending on who's arguing), and no two lists agree. That's half the fun. Ours is split into four groups: the legends everyone names, the virtuosos who pushed technique, the pioneers who invented whole styles, and the modern players taking the instrument somewhere new.
The legends
Jimi Hendrix
Hendrix tops almost every list of the greatest guitarists, and it's hard to argue. He changed how the guitar was played and what it could sound like, using feedback, fuzz and the whammy bar as part of the music. Electric Ladyland, the last studio album released in his lifetime, mixed blues, funk, jazz and heavy rock into something nobody had heard before. His set at Monterey Pop is still one of the greatest live performances ever. Start with "Purple Haze," "Hey Joe" and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)."
Eddie Van Halen
Van Halen's 1978 debut reset the bar for rock guitar. Two-hand tapping, dive bombs and fearless solos set Eddie apart, and "Eruption" sent a generation of kids to the guitar shop. His playing on "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love," "Panama" and "Jump" proved he could write riffs as well as he could shred.
Jimmy Page
As Led Zeppelin's guitarist and producer, Jimmy Page wrote some of the most famous riffs in rock: "Whole Lotta Love," "Black Dog," "Kashmir." He layered guitars in the studio like an arranger and turned "Stairway to Heaven" into the solo every guitarist tries to learn.
Eric Clapton
From the Yardbirds and Cream to Derek and the Dominos and a long solo career, Clapton brought blues phrasing to rock audiences around the world. "Layla," "Crossroads" and "White Room" are still essential listening, and he's the only person inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame three times.
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan brought raw emotion and blistering technique back to the blues in the 1980s. Texas Flood and Couldn't Stand the Weather still sound urgent, and "Pride and Joy" shows how much groove he packed into every bar. He's one of many players in our list of the best blues guitarists.
The virtuosos
Steve Vai
Steve Vai earned his reputation as the guitarist who can do anything, starting in Frank Zappa's band before moving on to David Lee Roth and Whitesnake. Passion and Warfare made him a guitar hero. He blends rock, blues and classical ideas with mind-bending technique and a strong sense of melody.
Yngwie Malmsteen
The Swedish guitarist broke through with his debut, Rising Force. Heavily influenced by J.S. Bach and Niccolò Paganini, Malmsteen fused classical music with metal through lightning-fast arpeggios, sweep picking and scalloped fretboards, and more or less founded neoclassical metal. It's one of many branches covered in our guide to metal genres.
The pioneers
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Long before rock and roll had a name, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was playing distorted electric guitar in gospel music. Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Johnny Cash all counted her as an influence, and she's often called the Godmother of Rock and Roll.
Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry took blues and country and turned them into fast, flashy rock and roll guitar. The intro to "Johnny B. Goode" might be the most recognizable riff in rock, and countless players picked up the instrument because of it.
Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers shaped pop music as both a guitarist and a producer. His tight, choppy funk rhythm powered Chic's "Le Freak" and "Good Times." He went on to produce David Bowie's Let's Dance and play on Daft Punk's "Get Lucky." He proves you don't need a solo to be a guitar hero.
Modern guitarists to know
Nita Strauss
In 2018, Nita Strauss became the first woman with a signature Ibanez guitar. She's best known for her high-energy playing as Alice Cooper's guitarist, as well as her solo albums.
Mateus Asato
Brazilian guitarist Mateus Asato built a huge following online with fluid, melodic playing. He treats the electric guitar as a solo instrument, mixing chord melodies with lines that almost sing, and he's influenced a whole generation of younger players.
What the best guitarists have in common
Look past the gear and the technique and the same thing shows up again and again: every one of these players sounds like themselves within a few notes. They got there by playing constantly, usually with other musicians pushing them. If you're working on your own sound, start with your hands, then your amp. Our guide to the best guitar amps under $500 is a good place to begin.
FAQ
Who is considered the greatest guitar player ever?
Jimi Hendrix tops most lists, including Rolling Stone's. Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and B.B. King are close behind on most rankings.
Who are the 10 greatest guitarists of all time?
There's no official list, but a typical top ten includes Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, David Gilmour and Prince.