50: Greatest Guitarists Ever

julian bream (#7?), roy clark, ry cooder, BUDDY GUY (??) all before Jimi Hendrix (#21) also - the omission of Jerry Garcia and this list an absolute joke and I take things like this with a big grain of salt. I'm embarrassed for you.

Clearly, Mick Taylor, Link Wray and Adian Belew are a few obvious omissions. I'm sure I could think of a bunch more.

James Honeyman Scott; Neil Schon; countless more, just two greats currently on my playlists.

Any list of "Greatest Guitarists" that has Jimi Hendrix coming in at #21 and Carlos Santana coming in at #39 is simply a joke and can't be taken seriously by anyone. Period!! Is there anyone with an ounce of credibility who can dispute that? I didn't think so.

And let's not forget LA's own Vernon Reid, who belongs in the top five electric players.

Something wrong with the link. Says I voted and I didn't.

Um, Mark Knopfler??

Uh, what brainless moron put this list together? First off, you have Keith Richards (a sloppy, non-technical average guitarist) on the list, and HE'S RANKED HIGHER ON THE LIST THAN STEVIE RAY VAUGHN!??? WTF??? Also, you have Jack White, another average guitarist, above Angus Young, whose playing a whole generation of blues based rock guitarists have modeled themselves after. And, WHERE IS ERIC JOHNSON ON THIS LIST???? Please don't come up with lists like this unless you do a little research first...

The list looks great except Keith Richards. He is from a influential band, that I loved in the 60's,but hardly in the same league with the rest of the list.

Your site claimed I had already voted when I hadn't. Something messed up.

You've got a lot of fine guitarists here but some don't belong at all: Jack White, Angus Young, The Edge? These guys are great at their style but nowhere near as technically skilled as many others.

A few huge guys you left out: John Williams (classical), Ralph Towner, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani.

Stevie Ray Vaughan at No. 45?!?!?

Dick Dale and Ry Cooder ahead of Hendrix?

You've got to be kidding me this list.

This list is a joke... George Harrison better than Jimmy Page? WTH?

This list is about 40% garbage. A complete omission of guitar players such as Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Adrian Legg, Paul Gilbert, Vernon Reid, the list goes on. Surprisingly, Slash isn't even on this list? Too humble I guess. But really, Jack White?! Tom Morello?! The guys are good in their respective genres, highly influential to many musically, but "50 greatest guitarists ever" status!??! I think not. Decide what this list is supposed to really be about and try again. And anyway, really, what's the point of compiling a subjective list like this, there are a host of metal, punk and similar genres that have equally influential guitarists that weren't considered. Lists like this provide absolutely zero value beyond giving a fraction of a list to expose people to things they may not be aware of. Yeah, you can't please everyone, but this is pretty pointless.

Jimi Hendrix #21? Really????

Your panel missed:
Larry Carlton.
Larry Coryell.
Pat Metheny.
Among others, of course.

No George Lynch FAIL

Haven't you guys heard of Coco Montoya?

No Alan Holdsworth, regarded by most of his peers to be possibly the finest guitar player of his generation? No Robin Trower? No Eric Johnson? This is a joke, right? I mean, it must be!

this is the dumbest ranking ever. where the hell is joe satriani?

1. Jimi Hendrix

Yngwie Malmsteen at number 26, 95% of people have never listened to his high speed scale practice he calls music. Legends like Jimmy Page and SRV are below him...unbelievable!!!! 30 years from now no one will know who Yngwie was. Now he's selling signature cigar humidors.

What about the man who started it all Robert Johnson, and don't forget the likes of Jimmy Page and Prince.

No Buckethead? Is this list a joke or what?

How is it possible that Jerry Garcia not even make this top 50 list? Rolling Stone has him at 13.

Expect to see Julian Lage on this list on day soon; he's an amazing, young (very) jazz guitarist.

No TOMMY BOLIN?? Cancel my subscription. Oh, wait....

Who came up with this?

Where is Nigel Tufnel???

How is Stevie Ray Vaughn not on this list?

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter

What's with the complete exclusion of Pat Metheny? Somebody here out to lunch? Metheny ought to be in the top 20, no questions asked. And how about a shout for John Scofield and Ralph Towner too?

It's difficult to imagine how you could omit Jon Bryon while including some others whom I won't mention.

Missing from the list:
Elmore James
Peter Green
Albert Collins
Derek Trucks
Kenny Wayne Shepherd

NO peter green ?????????

Guitarists to add to the list:
Danny Gatton
Stanley Clarke
Joe Satriani
Alvin Lee
Al DiMeola
Kenny Burrell
Pat Metheny

Nope, nope, nope, you missed Adrian Belew please remove Tom Morllo

jerry garcia must be in any top 50 guitarist lists

Stanley Jordan
Mark Knopfler

I vote for Nokie Edwards as best guitarist. He is the lead guitarist for The Ventures and is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Nice list, but where are Jerry Garcia, Clarence White, Jorma Kaukonen, Freddy King, James Burton, Don Rich, and Steve Cropper? Those guitarists fill out most of my top 10 list. Add Doc Watson, Eric Clapton, and Albert King from your list and my list is full.

Although the list is good, I think you forgot some crucial members of the list. How about Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, Legion Of Mary, Resurrection, Garica & Grisman and last, but in no way the least, The Jerry Garcia Band? For me one of THE greatest guitar players. And you forgot Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers, The Dead, Gov't Mule and considered by many "The Hardest Working Man In Showbiz". There is also Trey Anastasio of Phish, Oysterhead and The Trey Anastasio Band. Also a serious shredder.

Maybe your list should have been titled "The 50 Goodest Guitarists Ever". Keith Richards but no Mick Taylor? Please. Where is Stephen Stills? And George Harrison? Is he included 'cause he's a Beatle or because he knew when HE really needed to showcase his playing ability in the wonderful "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" he defers to Eric Clapton. I do like your inclusion on Mike Bloomfield though. He's oftenforgotten.

Jack White is like the Emperor's new clothes. No one have the guts to tell him he's naked...

What about Bruce Cockburn????

Even though I have not voted yet, every time I go to vote it tells me there's an "Error, you can only vote once."

So I guess it's decided and that's that huh?

Ever hear of a guy named Prince? He is one of the most underrated guitarists, most influential guitarists and definitely one of the 50 greatest guitarists. How about Steve Vai or Adrian Belew?

I suggest replacing popular guys like The Edge, Tom Morello, and Johnny Marr with guys who really brought it.

I know most of these guys got high while they hammered on the guitar, but those voting shouldn't be allowed to....You gotta be kiddin' me, The Edge in the top 20? And Page at 31? Please! I guess every Duane Allman fan in the world has voted...they must have. What a joke of a line-up

This has been an age old debate. Part of the problem with asking "who is the best?", is that it needs to be broken down into catagories.

It is impossible to compare Fred McDowell's slide bar blues to Randy Rhoads' varieties of classical scales. Both are unique in their own ways.

Some musicians forgotten on the list:

Blues:

Fred McDowell
Muddy Waters
Robert Johnson
Son House

Metal:

KK Downing (Judas Priest)
Glen Tipton (Judas Priest)
Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
Kerry King (Slayer)
Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
Toni Iommi (Black Sabbath)

Flamenco / Jazz fusion:

Al Dimeola
Jim Stubblefield (Incendio)

The list is probably endless, however I will still vote for Hendrix, Page, Rhoads, & Gilmour as the best.

I still remember a Hit Parade magazine in the early 80's with a cover picture of Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen, with a poll of who was the better guitar player.

Randy could have easily smoked Van Halen, and blown him off the stage!

Chet Atkins would have listed Jerry Reed as a better guitarist than himself.

Hendrix ranks as 21???!!! Somebody is brain dead. Clapton described the first time he met Hendrix. He said that he, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, and Jimmy Page were having an informal jam session. Hendrix walked in and asked if he could sit in. They agreed. Within five minutes all the others -- the greatest guitarists in the world -- put their guitars down and just watched. They all admitted they weren't even in his league. Most of the people listed above Hendrix in this article wouldn't qualify to carry his guitar case. Anyone who has ever seen him in concert knows that. Look at the tapes of the Monterey Pop Festival. At the end, the audience is just staring in disbelief. There has never been anyone else like him.

Not just one of the top fifty - the best! ROY BUCHANAN

Your list is not complete without ANDY SUMMERS of The Police. I even think he is one of the top 25 guitar players of all time.

Even Fender has a tribute guitar in his honor!

Please ammend your list or rename your list "51 Greatest Guitar Players Ever."

And where is Andy Summers????????????????????
Come on!!!!!!!!

Oh, cmon. A 50 "greatest" guitarists list and Angus Young is ON it and Steve Howe is NOT? Not insane. Asinine.

HI, folks.
Nice list,but please do check out STEVE VAI on youtube.
He is extraordinary, and I rate him up there with Hendrix, which is saying a lot.
Thanks for your consideration!
Debra Trent
Echo Park

50 Best Guitarists Ever? Ritchie Blackmore, Dick Dale, The Edge? Yeah, they're OK. But how about Jerry Garcia, Robbie Robertson, Mark Knopfler? Come on!

Andy Summers needs to be added.

THE END!!!!

What a Joke-Duane Allman and Chet Atkins #1 & &2 and Hendrix and Wes Montgomery- in the 20's.

Whenever I see these types of "greatest guitarist" polls or whatever, I can always tell whether or not the writer/editor has seen Jethro Tull live; clearly, this guy hasn't. To leave Martin Barre, not to mention Tony Iommi, off of ANY 20th/21st Century guitarist list where the rock genre is included is simple ignorance. Not long ago, Rolling Stone Mag. had Joan Jett, and not Martin listed for crissake, on a "greatest guitarist" poll so you can't get too upset with these youngsters. I'll bet the editor is under thirty years of age. Ridicuous...

I think you forgot Bruce Springsteen !

Where is Steve Howe in this group? Perhaps better than any on this list.

What about Alvin Lee?

Lists like this are always fun to argue about and I can't disagree with anyone on there, but I'm surprised that Robert Johnson and Mark Knopfler missed the cut.

How could you even remotely, possibly, ignore Bucky OR John - let alone BOTH - Pizzarelli(s)???

Also, Glen Campbell?? (Probably still others)

Incredible!!

Thank God you at least included Andres Segovia, and Les Paul, despite probable non-membership in either the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, or the Grand Ole Opry!!! Remember, this was supposed to be the 50 greatest guitarists ever, thus, should have included -- as Judges -- the top, current and past, most respected among their peers, professional, full-time guitarists (such as the recording date musicians).

How could you forget Link Wray??? Without him, about 10 of the named guys wouldn't even be on the list!

How about Eddie Lang, George Van Eps, Howard Alden, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Kenny Burrell, Mundell Lowe, Dave Koontz, Larry Koontz?

Alan Holdsworth?

Pat Metheny has won more grammys than a third of these guys. How many grammys has Dick Dale won?

Laurence Juber belongs on this list.

I will admit to ignorance when it comes to some of these older/non-rock guitarists, but I know the work of the majority of these guys pretty well. And George Harrison better than Jimi Hendrix? Seriously?

You cannot seriously have left Mark Knopfler and lindsey Buckingham off this list. I would think there could also be a place for Mike Campbell. The Eagles had a pretty good run as a guitar based band, too.

Since Eddie is 44th, this better not be a ranking or heads are gonna roll.

Paul Gilbert!!

Really? Edge number 14? Doc Watson number 47?? Jimi Hendrix number 21?

So your telling me Edge is better than Hendrix and Watson? That is just hogwash... and no Slash? There is no effective criteria except for perhaps money generated that edge deserves to be 14 on this list. Since your criteria seems ludicrous I can't accept your conclusions.

My wife just reminded me of an even more glaringly missing name:

Tony Mattola!!

How can anyone exclude him from the top 50? Impossible!!

Did you have any professional, "in the trenches," guitarists as judges??

i cannot take this list seriously. first guitarist i look for, john frusciante, not on list.

thanks, try again.

Paul Gilbert and Tony MacAlpine should both be on any list of top guitarists.

You forgot Laurindo Almeda -- how could you? What an oversight!

OK...there are some great guitar players here, but how on earth do you leave out Larry Carlton?? Whether you're a fan or not of Steely Dan, it's hard to argue that his work on Aja, Royal Scam and Katy Lied, among others, is some of the best playing ever. This guy's a monster and plays melodically like few others...Take a listen to 'Kid Charlemagne' and then get back to me. Hands down, he would at least be in the top 20...

I would like to add Kenny Burrell, Steve Stevens, JJ Cale, James Hatfield, Bob Seger, Al Kooper, Huw Lloyd-Langton.

JUNIOR BROWN, where's Junior?!

I think if you asked the 50 guitar greats that are on the list who they look up to you would hear the following names a couple times:

Tommy Emmanuel. (Chet's pick for "best guitar player in the world. I agree. Almost no one on the 50 list could duplicate T.E.

Shawn Lane. Worlds speed record holder yes, but played with intense emotion and incredible articulation. I have heard of some of the guys on this list reference Lane

Steve Vai
Joe Satriani
Paul Gilbert
Joe Bonamassa
Jerry Reed

Thanks for the great article on the 50 greatest guitarists. A few guitarists who somehow didn't make the cut are Pat Metheny, George Benson, Lenny Breau, Tommy Emmanuel, Tal Farlow, Pat Martino, Jim Hall, Robben Ford, Kenny Burrell, Bireli Lagrene, Bill Frisell, Larry Carlton, and Tuck Andress.

There are at least ten poseurs here you can dump to make room for Mark Knopfler and Robbie Robertson. Hazel, Malmsteen and Edge are good candidates for a start.

Where's Jerry?

Pat Metheny

Where are Mason Williams and Mark Knopfler???

No George Lynch in the Top 50? LMAO

Great list! I have been lucky to see many of these players perform live, including Buddy Guy (with whom I also chatted while he was sitting in ATL a couple of years ago, waiting for a plane to Rio). One major oversight in my humble opinion, is Pat Metheny, the most innovative guitarist (make that most innovative musician), of the past 30 years.

50 best with out Wes Montgomery and Pat Metheny? you are musically illiterate.

Should be added to your list:

Danny Gatton
Al DiMeola
Joe Satriani
Ricky Skaggs
Mark Knopfler

Chuck Berry?!?? ( Three chords, over and over) Frank Zappa?!?? (No chords, over and over) Pete Townsend?!?? (Broke 'em cause he couldn't play 'em)
Where's Barney Kessel, Howard Roberts and any number of other innovative and groundbreaking guitarists?

Not allowing me to vote- says I already did when I didn't. Hope they fix this

Good god in heaven....! And I thought the similar list compiled by Rolling Stone a couple years ago was bad. There aren't but maybe two or three guitars players on the list of Edward van Halen who had anything close to the impact on the way the instrument was even considered. He changed the language of guitar playing. And for that, he gets ranked 40-odd places behind Duane Allman? DUANE ALLMAN?!?!?!

Wow, don't I feel silly.... just realized this is an alphabetical listing...... whoops!!

what idiot came up with this list!

Your "experts" seemed to have omitted Mark Knopfler- unfathomable!

Your panel of "experts" omitted probably the greatest guitarist in the world: Mark Knopfler.

This was hard since I like classical, blues, rock, funk, country and bluegrss. SRV was my best but wondered why Saul Hudson was not featured.

Nevermind, I just read that Slash was a moderator. My bad.

Andy Summers.

End of discussion.

Johnny Marr is God!