The Greatest Guitarists Ever

It is amazing that electric guitarists score so much higher on this list than acoustic players (with the exception of Richard Thompson who plays both.) Martin Simpson, Jerry Douglas and Muriel Anderson should definitely be on the list. As for the electric guitarists, omitting Jerry Garcia shows someone spent too much time in the mosh pits.

what? no Joao Gilberto the
Brazilian genius!

Everyone seems to be forgetting the great Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath. Sure, perhaps he wasn't as iconic as Hendrix, Page or Clapton, but the man more or less invented the heavy metal guitar riff style that inspired generations of metal bands. Look at any metal or hard rock band's idols, and I bet you'll find Sabbath listed.

where is Thurston Moore???? changed the way a guitar is played and used. come on, this list is horrible.

A list of top guitarists without Alex Lifeson is only slightly less offensive than a list of the greatest drummers without Neil Peart. Also, Clapton at #3 is laughable. Clapton himself admits that Stevie was much better (as are many others lower on the list).

Leslie West???

Not including Jerry Garcia on this list invalidates the entire process!!!

No Tommy Emmanuel on your list??? Are you that out of touch??? He was the only musician to get a standing ovation at Les Paul's birthday concert at Carneige Hall.

Eric Clapton is pathetic compared to the great guitar players. I don't understand why he is rated so highly? Sure he can play, but so can I.
Eric Clapton is a good average guitar player at best, and doesn't deserve to be in the Top 50 let alone the Top 3.

Why aren't Prince and Joe Satriani in the list, whilst Jack White and The Edge are?

Django Reinhardt and Dick Dale need to be higher.

It's all about taste. Hendrix #1, absolutly. I love Santana and Gilmour but rated way to high. Zappa top 3, where do you think Vai learned a lot of his stuff(by the way Zappa could rip off a Santana lick in his sleep.). I think Steve Howe is top 10. Garcia should be on the list, just bores me though. Michael Hedges, top 10. Just my opinion.

and where's Elvis Presley; I saw him play in a flick once.

buckethead

no slash but you have angus young? clearly a joke

So many also rans on this list. Where are:

Jorma Kakauneon
John Martyn
Larry Carlton
Steve Stills
Moms Mabley
Peter Steen?

NO GRANT GREEN OR NORMAN BROWN????????????????????

No Eric Johnson? Was this list done my a music appreciation class?

Django and Carlos should be in the top 10!!! And The Edge? Really? He doesn't even belong on the same list as Jimi! And there's no way Tom Morrello should be so low. P.S. Those of you calling Jimi Hendrix overrated- listen to Bold as Love or Castles Made of Sand before you judge.

Alvin Lee from 10 Year After one of the greatest ever!

john Frusciante Steve Howe Michael Karoli Eddie Hazel.... you guys dropped the ball

Jorma Kaukonen, Johnny Winter, Dicky Betts
Add these to Jerry Garcia, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pete Townshend, Roy Clark, Chet Atkins, Doc Watson, Buddy Guy Santana, Beck, Segovia, Kotke, Richards, and BB King. That gives you an unsorted top 20, but you're still leaving out a lot of good talent. What about Robert Johnson?

Oh, Chuck Berry's gotta be in there. So if you add Robert Johnson, Keith Richards, David Gilmore and George Harrison that makes a top 25. This is harder than it looks.

Ok, let's go to 30: Knopfler, Krieger, Blackmore, Young, Van Halen.

Lindsey Buckingham

Whatever happened to Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), J. Mascis (Dinosaur JR), Rivers Cuomo (Weezer), Slash (GNR), Tom Verlaine (Television), John Squire (The Stone Roses)?

Mark Knopfler, Robert Cray. Ever heard of these guys? Ask Jack White if he has.

@WM Popper,and Dave, you two must have lost every piece of your minds.Wm,Jerry Garcia over Hendrix,you must be 10yrs old to say something as ridicules as that.And Dave, he's not the best yeah, who do you think all these white boys in rock copied their skills from.That's why all those white boys has a ton of affects on their guitars,trying to get that Hendrix sound .And to this day,they still haven't got it.HENDRIX #1 now, and always.

You missed Michael Landau, Neal Schon, Steve Lukather, Lee Retinour, Lenny Breau, Tal Farlow, and many more--while including Carlos Santana, Jack White and Angus Young?

Where is Mark Knopfler? WTF?

Eddie Van Halen belongs on the list, but not so high. That's kind of silly.

The problem here is the all too limiting number of 50. At 100, you would have a more accurate, complete list. My missing favorites are:

Peer Framptom
Mark Knopler
Steve Cropper
Pory Gallagher
Johnny Winter
Joe Walsh
James Taylor
Prince
Alan Mirikitani (aka BB Chung King)

Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton

Jerry Garcia.
As much as he would scoff at such a list, he belongs at the very top……

No Mike Campbell or Jerry Garcia!!!!!

NOOOOOOO

My three favorite guitarists are Mick Ronson, Robert Quine and Joey Santiago.

Where's Adrian Belew? Protege of Frank Zappa, guitarist for Bowie (Heros), Talking Heads, NIN, and not least the guitarist and singer for KING CRIMSON (w/ Robert Fripp who was mentioned).

Did anyone remember Charlie Byrd?
And this may be a surprise but Glenn Campbell made a record called Glenn Campbell's Fabulous Six String Guitar. I would love to have that on CD.

I like to see anyone out there ripping off licks from the great guitar recorded riffs to copy anything from Robert Fripp or even Adrian Belew.
I do not agree where Hendrix is, since everyone around town pulls off his licks, though I agree where Mr. Page, he constantly pushed his own buttons when improvising during live performances.
You can only improve as a musician when you tread on ground you have never trekked before.
Rather than carbon copying licks from music sheets.
You all need an education.

I noticed the biased AGAINST San Francisco, namely the omissions of Peter Frampton and Neal Schon (Journey's lead guitarist). Two of the top 20 best ever, much less 50.

DrBGood:
you are SO right

Where am I? Oh yeah, I don't play guitar do I? But I might just as well be on the list for all its meaning. Having said THAT,don't forget Steve Winwood and Walter Becker. Fine axmen both. I can never understand why "Grumpy" Gilmour gets through the door. Always found him to be totally cliche ridden, uninspiring and unmusical.

As always, Neil Finn gets no respect. One of the best songwriters AND guitarists of his generation, widely recognized everywhere in the world except the U.S.

Don't cha just love how ppl,(who've never played guitar) have a strong opinion on who's the best? Hahhaha..TOo Funny! Some ppl pick a guitarist that looks good playing.Some pick a favorite because they are just like that person.
Are we all nuts,or what?

This list is largely better than the Rolling Stone Top 100, but there are a few serious omissions that should be mentioned.

Brian May, while not especially technically proficient, could make his PRS sing like none other. Frankly, his playing is some of the most gorgeous, wrenching guitar on the spectrum, and he should be mentioned for solos comprised almost entirely of melodic content.

Robert Johnson, of course, is a tragic omission, seeing as how listening to his recordings today it's STILL hard to tell that he's only one guitarist. He's a major innovator and a great player, which seem to be the two things that drive the upper spots on the list.

Lastly, the omission of Tony Iommi is also very disappointing. We're clearly including riff-masters here (see Ritchie Blackmore) and there's no one better in that game than Iommi.

Thankfully, Alex Lifeson, Zakk Wylde, Slash, and Kurt Cobain were kept off the list. I would've much preferred Kirk Hammett to Yngwie Malmsteen, but that's just personal preference. I agree with many of the comments against Jack White and Carlos Santana; while great guitarists, they belong in positions at around #60-70. Thank you for putting Gilmour in the Top Ten; as everybody should know, the difference between #10 and #11 on a list like this is far greater than the difference between #1 and #10. I personally would've swapped Jeff Beck for SRV or Van Halen. The rest of the Top Ten, however, seems pretty much well-placed, with only Brian May banging at the doors.

And Tom Morello at #36? WTF? The guy can out play just about anyone on this list.

Hellooooo. Has no one ever heard of Mike Nesmith?? What the hell???

Michael Hedges, Robert Johnson and Ali Farka Toure. Where are they?

Jimmy Page is the best in my book...Jimmy hendrix statred a new style copied by greats..And wasnt this poll voted on by the public...If so doesnt that tell the tale...Its not only how good they play but music written///

Matt Belamy

Eddie Van Halen at ONLY #8?? Get real, he should be in the #3 slot. Where's Mark Knoplfer? Someone mentioned Nuno Bettencourt, there ya go!

Hey what about Ben Verdery!

WOW. No Alex Lifeson. jack white plays the simplest riffs. its ridiculous. you go ahead and look up La Villa Strangiato at pink pop in 79'. you tell me the way he plays so sporadically and perfectly. Or on hemispheres or 2112 or xanadu or between the wheels. look up all these songs and comment if you agree with me. JEEZE

Input: Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, John Petrucci, Slash, Dimebag Darell, Gary Moore and Synyster Gates.

Vicente Amigo should really be in there.
A true master of the Guitar. He's definitely worthy of at least top ten.

A Few more you missed
Danny Gatton
Roy Buchanan
Gary Moore
Andy Timmons
Steve Stevens
Eric Johnson
Gary Hoey
Neil Schon
Rory Gallagher
Snowy White
Steve Morse
Tommy Bolin
Tony MacAlpine
Vinnie Moore

KIRK HAMMET

How can he NOT be towards the top of this list?? Like he was forgotten or something... Actually, he and JAMES HETFIELD should be at or towards the top....

Where's Alan Holdsworth?!?!?!?

Charley Patton? I think this list is based on peoples perceptions of guitarists rather than actual genius. having said that, the number 1 is correct! (Johhny Marr is top 10 surely)

wrongly included:
Keith Richards, Pete Townshend, Angus Young, Edge, Jack White

Too high:
Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, George Harrison

Too Low:
Ry Cooder, Roy Clark

Missing:

Derek Trucks, Robert Johnson, Mark Knopfler, Peter Frampton, Jerry Garcia

Hello, Jerry Reed, CGP.
Tommy Emmanuel, CGP.
Danny Gatton.
Carl Perkins.

The only thing about this list that's correct is Hendrix at number 1. That is a given for anyone who understands and actually plays the instrument. The rest of it I don't get one bit. Allman, Thompson, Fripp and Gilmour all in the top 10? Wrong!! Segovia and Reinhart at #22 and #23? Someone needs a beating!!!!

And by the way, as 'off' as this list may be, some of the comments are just as bad. Here is an example:

"What kind of moron puts a visionary like Pete Townshend behind Django freaking Reinhardt?".

This is NOT a good comment, and shows stupidity beyond measure. How about you have to actually know what a guitar is to post a comment.

No Paul Leary? There's not a living soul that can do what he does with the distortion of his guitar.

Hmmm... Jack White and Angus Young... I can play power chords too thanks!!! Where the hell is Prince... Why does that guy get no respect. He could play circles around most of the list both technically and sheer musicality. And Clapton seriously shouldn't even be on these lists, Wes Montgomery, Zappa, Beck all should be a hell of a lot higher.

Jimmy Page should be No 1. He can mimick anyone. A true talent and still has a style all his own.

This list is just a popularity contest, how can the Motor City madman Ted Nugent be overlooked unless you just don't like his politics

were pedro vargas one of the best if not the best.

Where are:
1. Danny Gatton
2. Danny Gatton
3. Danny Gatton
4. Hank Garland
5. Jimmy Bryant
6. James Burton
7. Don Rich
8. Roy Nichols
9. Roy Buchanan
10. Leon Rhodes
11. Eldon Shamblin
12. Tony Rice

Randy Rhoads is the greatest guitar player ever. "Mr. Crowley" studio solo and "Revelation" live from Tribute are proof. He was way better than anyone else.

Jack White ahead of Django? Um, no. I like Jack, but Django was an originator, who set the bar high. And where's Roger McQuinn? His playing may not have been flashy, but it was influential enough to be emulated by a thousand bands. No Robbie Robertson? Neil Young? Nels Cline? Scotty Moore? Oh, I'm not happy with this list.

Where the hell is Michael Schenker & Gary Moore?

the Edge should be kick out and Tom Morello should take his number.

what you are saying with this list is that rock and blues guitarists are categorically better that others, i.e., jazz, flamenco... really smart!!!
this really is a commttee popular list......means hardly anything except to those on the committee!

Has anyone heard of Johnny Winter you morons!!!

James
Burton
Glenn
Campbell

I wish we could get out from under the yoke of the 60s and 70s. 18 out of the top 20 are from that era. What the heck?

Even no brainers from the 80s like Greg Ginn, East Bay Ray and J Mascis don't even make the list.

I'm 40 years old and this list seems like it was made by a bunch of old dudes.

I have been sick of the 60s since the 70s!

the Edge? Are you kidding me?

No mention of Glen Campbell, Steve Cropper or James Burton?

Carol Kaye is missing too.

Even if this was the greatest 100, the Edge still wouldn't make it!

Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa

What about Robert Johnson???

I'd put Neil Young, Robert Quine, J Mascis, Curt Kirkwood, Tom Verlaine, and Richard Lloyd in there.

This list appears to be totally biased against blues guitarists (e.g., Buddy Guy #35, B.B. King #31). Even Eric Clapton will tell you that these guys are better guitarists than he is, and he is in the top three. They also left out Prince, another excellent guitarist. Perhaps, because he's not directly associated with rock. At any rate, he should be on here.

Mark Knopfler is missing in the top five!

Has everyone sadly forgotten who Tommy Bolin was?

Lets be real now- John McLaughin, Larry Coryell, Al Dimeola, and Allan Holdsworth are better than any of these "top 50" guitarists by a light year

There are guitarists of pure skill, such as a Jimmy Hendrix, and then there are guitarists that are purely creative. (Maybe like, say, David Gilmour). My point is that both are excellent, but not until you strike the perfect balance, or reach the pinnacle of both abilities, will you find the ultimate guitarist (as with any instrument). I think, when considering this viewpoint, that a Trey Anastasio (considering his compositional/conducting ability) would be much closer to the top than anyone who only possesses only one of these qualities. I mean, what other guitarists are about to start a tour with multiple orchestral units around the country??

Amazingly lacking. No Gary Moore, Eric Johnson, Joe Bonamassa. This list is as pointless as Rolling Rag Magazine

still dont understand why Jack White is on this list.

I simply cannot take a greatest guitarists list that doesn't include Joni Mitchell and Robert Johnson seriously...

Actually with all the comments you guys might need to look at the top 250 list. There are many artists people think are great and such, which is all pure opinions. I'm actually glad they posted this Top 50, but if you aren't satisfied keep the comments and votes coming and maybe the list will change in the future.

Also, technically this is the Top 50 Greatest Rock and Pop Guitarists, for those of you commenting about jazz, jazz usually consisted of trombone, saxaphone, and brass instruments.

Some forgotten:

Al Di Meola
Steve Hackett
Steve Morse
Steve Howe
Robin Trower
Allan Holdsworth
Stanley Jordan

Some glaring omissions, among them would be Frank Marino, Steve Morse,Ulrich Roth, Buddy Guy and Stanley Jordan.