“My guitar is not a thing,” Joan Jett famously stated. “It is an extension of myself. It is who I am.” This powerful statement encapsulates the deep connection musicians have with the guitar, a truly universal instrument capable of primal expression and endless exploration. While anyone can strum a few chords, mastering the guitar is a lifelong journey, and contemplating what defines a great guitarist is a fascinating pursuit.
In 2011, Rolling Stone originally published its list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists, a selection curated by a panel of musicians, primarily classic rock veterans. Now, Rolling Stone editors and writers have expanded this exploration, creating a new list of 250 guitarists that aims to showcase the vast scope and evolution of guitar playing.
Guitar players often achieve iconic status, rivaling even the lead singers of their bands in fame and influence. Mythic figures like Jimmy Page, Brian May, and Eddie Van Halen represent just one facet of the guitar’s rich history. This expanded list seeks to illustrate the instrument’s incredible range, spanning from folk pioneer Elizabeth Cotten, born in 1893, to indie-rock innovator Lindsey Jordan, born in 1999. The list encompasses a diverse array of genres: rock, jazz, reggae, country, folk, blues, punk, metal, disco, funk, bossa nova, bachata, Congolese rumba, flamenco, and many more. It celebrates both unmatched virtuosos like Pat Metheny, Yvette Young, and Steve Vai, and raw, primal players like Johnny Ramone and Poison Ivy of the Cramps. You’ll find megastars such as Prince, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young alongside unsung heroes like Memphis soul master Teenie Hodges and smooth-rock craftsman Larry Carlton.
Many of the Best Guitar Players found their creative peak within duos, and this list acknowledges those partnerships, including Kim and Kelley Deal of the Breeders and Adrian Smith and Dave Murray of Iron Maiden. The primary criterion for inclusion was being a six-string player, focusing on the instrument at the heart of popular music.
In compiling this list, the emphasis was placed on qualities beyond mere technical skill. Heaviness was favored over refinement, feel over flawless execution, innovation over imitation. Guitarists who took risks, who originated new sounds, and who channeled their talents into writing exceptional songs and creating groundbreaking albums were given precedence over technical proficiency alone.
As modern blues visionary Gary Clark Jr. eloquently put it, “I don’t know if I want to get too far off the path — I don’t want to get lost in the forest — but I like to wander out a bit and adventure.” This spirit of exploration and adventure is what defines many of the best guitar players on this list.
Andy Summers
Andy Summers of The Police performing live with a Fender Telecaster, Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK
Image Credit: Graham Wiltshire/Redferns/Getty Images
The Police redefined the power trio format, largely due to Andy Summers’ innovative guitar work. Moving swiftly beyond punk’s limitations, Summers fused jazz chord voicings and reggae rhythms into a dynamic rock and roll sound. His playing was characterized by its economy and precision, crafting concise, twitchy riffs or expansive, dub-influenced washes of sound, creating ample space for Sting’s vocals and Stewart Copeland’s drumming. “His tone and style were just absolutely perfect — he left space around everything,” noted Rush’s Alex Lifeson. “And he can handle anything from beautiful acoustic playing to jazz to hybrid kinds of stuff.” Summers’ unique approach solidified his place among the best guitar players of his generation.
Key Tracks: “Message in a Bottle,” “Every Breath You Take”
Brittany Howard
Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, soulful guitarist and vocalist, portrait for Rolling Stone
Image Credit: Sacha Lecca for Rolling Stone
From her beginnings with the garage-roots band Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard’s guitar playing has been a raw, organic, and wonderfully spontaneous extension of her powerful vocals and soulful songwriting. Her rhythmic sensibility is remarkably flexible (listen to how her sharp, jagged guitar lines interact with Alabama Shakes lead guitarist Heath Fogg on their 2015 track “Don’t Wanna Fight”). Howard has also explored straightforward rock and roll with her side project Thunderbitch. Her 2019 solo album, Jaime, served as a compelling showcase for her wide-ranging musicianship, from the James Brown-inspired funk rhythms of “History Repeats” to the intense fuzz distortion on “Presence.” Her versatility marks her as one of the most exciting contemporary guitar players.
Key Tracks: “History Repeats,” “Presence”
Robby Krieger
Robby Krieger of The Doors performing at the Ondine Club, New York City, 1966
Image Credit: Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Rooted in flamenco and jazz traditions, Robby Krieger pushed beyond the boundaries of rock guitar at a time when many players were still confined to blues conventions. In The Doors, his improvisational skills were crucial in following Jim Morrison’s unpredictable performances. Krieger also penned some of the band’s biggest hits, including “Light My Fire,” and creatively filled the sonic space in their unconventional keyboard-drums-guitar lineup. “Not having a bass player … made me play more bass notes to fill out the bottom,” he explained. “Not having a rhythm player also made me play differently, to fill out the sound. I always felt like three players simultaneously.” Krieger’s innovative approach made him a key figure among the best guitar players in rock history.
Key Tracks: “Riders on the Storm,” “Roadhouse Blues”
Ricky Wilson
Ricky Wilson of The B-52s performing in Athens, Georgia, 1978
Image Credit: Tom Hill/WireImage
In the vibrant live shows of the B-52s, Ricky Wilson often appeared contentedly in the background, amidst the energetic antics of singer Fred Schneider and the flamboyant presence of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson. However, his distinctive blend of down-home chicken scratch, angular post-punk sensibilities, rockabilly energy, and surf rock twang on classics such as “52 Girls,” “Strobe Light,” and “Private Idaho” established him as one of the most original guitarists of the New Wave era. Wilson frequently used only four or five strings on his blue Mosrite guitar and employed unconventional tunings to achieve his unique, sparse sound. “I just tune the strings till I hear something I like,” he once said. His untimely death in 1985 marked the loss of an unassuming but truly radical innovator in the indie-rock scene.
Key Tracks: “52 Girls,” “Mesopotamia”
Paul Simon
Paul Simon playing acoustic guitar onstage in Chicago, 1980
Image Credit: Paul Natkin/Getty Images
Paul Simon, celebrated as a masterful lyricist, also communicates powerfully through his guitar. Influenced by early doo-wop and rock & roll, Simon immersed himself in the folk revival of the mid-Sixties, traveling to England to study the acoustic techniques of Bert Jansch. He has consistently absorbed diverse musical influences, as evident on “Dazzling Blue” from his album So Beautiful or So What: “All that folk fingerpicking is what I did with Simon and Garfunkel, but [here] it’s on top of this rhythm with Indian musicians playing in 12/8.” Even in his 80s, his guitar playing remains remarkably agile, as demonstrated on his 2023 album Seven Psalms. Simon’s enduring skill secures his place among the best acoustic guitar players.
Key Tracks: “Dazzling Blue,” “Kathy’s Song”
Leslie West
Leslie West of Mountain performing live in the UK, circa 1977
Image Credit: Erica Echenberg/Redferns/Getty Images
Leslie West (born Leslie Weinstein) initially gained recognition in mid-Sixties garage rock with the Vagrants’ powerful rendition of Otis Redding’s “Respect.” By 1969, West became the driving force behind the Cream-inspired quartet Mountain. On iconic songs like the 1970 hit “Mississippi Queen,” West delivered raw, blues-infused lines with surprising dexterity and an R&B sensibility, all through a dense wall of amplified distortion. “The riffs were incredible,” Dave Davies remarked. “He could play flashy, intricate phrases. But he wasn’t a look-at-me guy. He played with feel.” West’s powerful riffs cemented his status as one of the best heavy guitar players.
Key Tracks: “Mississippi Queen,” “Nantucket Sleighride (To Owen Coffin)”
Edilio Paredes
Edilio Paredes, master of bachata guitar, portrait
Image Credit: No image credit provided in original article
With pop stars Rosalía and the Weeknd incorporating its allure into a global hit, bachata’s mystique has reached a wide audience, yet it was once relatively unknown outside the Dominican Republic. Edilio Paredes is the figure who defined the sonic identity of la música del amargue – the poignant, spiraling guitar lines that weave and emphasize the sorrow of lost love. A self-taught prodigy, Paredes was instrumental in transforming bolero campesino into the contemporary bachata that eventually achieved recognition as a significant Afro-Caribbean genre in the Nineties. Paredes’ extensive discography as a session musician from the 1960s to the 1980s speaks volumes, and his appearance on the acclaimed 2011 album The Bachata Legends further solidified his legacy as one of the best guitar players in Latin music.
Key Tracks: “No Me Olvides,” “Bendita Nena”
Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner
Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National performing at Panorama NYC, 2016
Image Credit: Kris Connor/FilmMagic
The National presents a unique rock story, centered around the virtuosic twin-guitar dynamic of twin brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner. Bryce Dessner has collaborated with luminaries such as Steve Reich, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jonny Greenwood, and the Kronos Quartet. Aaron Dessner serves as Taylor Swift’s guitar collaborator on Folklore and Evermore, adding a Jerry Garcia-esque twang to “Cowboy Like Me” and showcasing his guitar prowess on “August” in The Long Pond Studio Sessions. The Dessner brothers seamlessly blend their styles for both electric intensity (“Terrible Love”) and intimate folk beauty (“I Need My Girl”). They also curated the impressive 2016 Grateful Dead tribute Day of the Dead, jamming with Bob Weir on “I Know You Rider.” Their combined talents make them a noteworthy entry among the best guitar players.
Key Tracks: “Mr. November,” “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness”
Lindsey Jordan
Lindsey Jordan of Snail Mail performing at Governors Ball, New York, 2023
Image Credit: Griffin Lotz for Rolling Stone
Gen Z guitar hero Lindsey Jordan, known for her project Snail Mail, received lessons from Mary Timony, a fellow member of this 250 Greatest Guitarists list and the innovative guitarist of Helium and Wild Flag. When Jordan debuted as Snail Mail at 18 with 2018’s Lush, she seemed to have fully absorbed the indie-rock tradition. She is both a casual virtuoso and a skilled shredder, effortlessly transitioning from strummed tension-building passages to soaring, explosive solos, from coolly detached Liz Phair-esque lo-fi sounds to Sonic Youth-inspired expansiveness. “I like to play really balls out,” she told Rolling Stone in 2018. “That’s what it means to be onstage with integrity.” Jordan is rapidly establishing herself as one of the best young guitar players in indie rock.
Key Tracks: “Heat Wave,” “Pristine”
Keith Urban
Keith Urban performing at The Bottom Line, New York City, 2001
Image Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
While not the most technically flashy or traditionally country player, Keith Urban stands out in Nashville for his effortless guitar style. His riffs, rhythms, and solos seem to flow naturally, enhancing each song. Nothing feels overtly showy; every note serves a purpose. Studio tracks like “Highway Don’t Care” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color” exemplify his polished studio work. However, Urban truly shines onstage, delivering guitar heroics comparable to rock’s greatest. It’s no surprise he has jammed with artists from the Rolling Stones to Nile Rodgers. “I love that people want to hear the guitar,” Urban told Rolling Stone in 2015, “but I just think about the song … whatever the song seems to want.” Urban’s song-first approach and stage presence solidify his place among the best guitar players in country and rock.
Key Tracks: “Highway Don’t Care,” “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
Erin Smith
Erin Smith of Bratmobile, riot grrrl guitar pioneer, live performance
Image Credit: © Greg Neate/neatephotos.com/flickr CC BY 2.0
Erin Smith, guitarist for riot grrrl pioneers Bratmobile, began playing along to records by Beat Happening, a deliberately lo-fi band with a female drummer. “That was in ’87, and not only did I see women could play music, but I could see that just you could do it yourself,” she told the Museum of Pop Culture. “I could never be [Duran Duran’s] Andy Taylor. And I realized that was OK.” The style she developed with singer Allison Wolfe and drummer Molly Neuman combined melodic surf-rock bass lines with sharp garage-rock chords, making Bratmobile’s 1993 debut, Pottymouth, a landmark punk record of the Nineties. Smith’s raw energy and DIY ethos make her a significant figure among the best guitar players in punk.
Key Tracks: “Love Thing,” “P.R.D.C.T.”
Duane Eddy
Duane Eddy posing with his signature twangy guitar sound, New York, 1958
Image Credit: PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
If any doubt remained in the late 1950s about the guitar’s dominance in rock & roll, Duane Eddy resolved it. His 1958 single “Rebel Rouser,” infused with country twang and pulsating tremolo, became iconic. “Chet Atkins used vibrato in a selective way — Duane Eddy used it to thrash the music,” notes the Kinks’ Dave Davies. Eddy’s hits, including “Forty Miles of Bad Road” and “Peter Gunn,” profoundly influenced surf music and guitarists like Jeff Beck and George Harrison. Eddy’s twangy sound and instrumental hits established him as one of the best and most influential early rock guitar players.
Key Tracks: “Rebel Rouser,” “Peter Gunn”
Doug Gillard
Doug Gillard of Guided By Voices performing in Chicago, 2004
Image Credit: Matt Carmichael/Getty Images
In the quirky world of Guided By Voices, Robert Pollard is the eccentric creative force, while Doug Gillard serves as the band’s musical backbone. He perfectly complements Pollard, transforming his abstract lyrics and experimental ideas into coherent rock and roll, often at the prolific pace of multiple albums per year. “I know his usual shapes and drones — or can pretty much decipher what they are if it’s a new shape — and replicate them on the rhythm parts on the records for the most part,” Gillard once explained. “But also, I have some freedom to transform them.” Gillard’s ability to structure Pollard’s chaos and his own guitar versatility make him one of indie rock’s best kept secrets and a highly respected player.
Key Tracks: “I Am a Tree,” “Mr. Child”
Jennifer Batten
Image Credit: Catherine McGann/Getty Images
Jennifer Batten rose to prominence as the electrifying guitarist on Michael Jackson’s massive tours. This role demanded she master funk, soul, metal, and even Eddie Van Halen’s “Beat It” solo nightly. On her debut solo album, 1992’s Above Below and Beyond, she tackled Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumble Bee,” Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” and John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” on electric guitar, showcasing her unique whammy bar techniques and finger-tapping skills. Batten later joined Jeff Beck’s band, proving herself capable of going head-to-head with a guitar legend, touring and recording with him on some of his most adventurous albums. Her diverse skillset and stage presence firmly place her among the best guitar players in the world.
Key Tracks: “Flight of the Bumblebee,” “Giant Steps (Rock Version)”
Greg Sage
Greg Sage of The Wipers performing live in Amsterdam, 1986
Image Credit: Frans Schellekens/Redferns/Getty Images
Greg Sage formed the Wipers in Portland, Oregon, in 1977, defying punk conventions with complex, sprawling songs and a raw, heavily distorted guitar sound. While other punk bands prioritized simplicity, Wipers songs like “When It’s Over” and “Romeo” were immersive soundscapes. They became a galvanizing force for the Pacific Northwestern indie-rock scene. “We learned everything from the Wipers,” Kurt Cobain stated, calling them his favorite band. “They were playing a mix of punk and hard rock when nobody cared.” Sage’s pioneering approach to punk guitar and his influence on grunge make him a highly significant and respected player.
Key Tracks: “When It’s Over,” “Up Front”
Laura Marling
Image Credit: Chiaki Nozu/WireImage
British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Laura Marling is a virtuoso of subtlety, employing complex tunings and voicings in her music that sound deceptively simple. “I Was an Eagle,” from her 2013 album One I Was an Eagle, creates a dreamy atmosphere through DADDAD tuning, with the influence of Joni Mitchell evident in her unusual phrasing and atonal touches. During the Covid-19 lockdown, Marling shared her guitar knowledge with fans through concise and informative Instagram tutorials. Her intricate fingerstyle and sophisticated songwriting position her as one of the best contemporary acoustic guitar players.
Key Tracks: “I Was an Eagle,” “Wild Fire,” “Ghosts”
John McGeoch
John McGeoch of Siouxsie and the Banshees performing in New York City, 1980
Image Credit: Ebet Roberts/Redferns/Getty Images
John McGeoch, hailing from Manchester, made a powerful entrance with the soaring guitar attack of Magazine’s 1978 debut single, “Shot by Both Sides,” a punk anthem. He quickly developed a distinctive, expansive, and architectural style in Magazine, Public Image Ltd, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. McGeoch earned admiration from Johnny Marr, Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, and many others. His combination of slashing rhythm guitar, swirling arpeggios, and miasmic flange made the Banshees’ 1981 album, Juju, a defining goth-guitar album of the Eighties, introducing a moody and atmospheric guitar language to UK rock. McGeoch’s innovative and influential style places him among the best guitar players of the post-punk era.
Key Tracks: “Philadelphia,” “Spellbound”
H.E.R.
H.E.R. performing at Spotify event in Cannes, France
Image Credit: David M. Benett/Getty Images
H.E.R. maintains a low profile despite consistently delivering mind-blowing performances at major events like the Grammys and the Super Bowl. Her voice is steeped in classic R&B, and she excels at ballads, but her guitar playing ranges from delicate and fluid accents to Prince-like rock shredding. Her single “Hold On” features her doubling her vocal melodies with squealing guitar leads, a signature technique. “I also like to play my guitar like I’m singing,” she told Guitar World. “Sometimes, I like to sing and play my solos at the same time … even harmonizing my voice with my guitar.” In 2021, Fender created a signature Stratocaster for H.E.R., making her the first Black woman to receive this honor. H.E.R.’s exceptional talent and versatility are establishing her as one of the best contemporary guitar players in R&B and beyond.
Key Tracks: “Hold On,” “Comfortable”
David Williams
David Williams, session guitarist for Michael Jackson, The Jacksons Victory Tour, 1984
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images
Despite his jazz roots, David Williams made his biggest impact on Eighties pop, a genre not typically known for instrumental showcases. His deliberately understated guitar touches are crucial to the rhythmic allure of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” Stevie Nicks’ “Stand Back,” and Diana Ross’ “Muscles.” The Vietnam veteran toured with Jackson and Madonna and worked with artists from Chaka Khan to Kenny Loggins. He once described the “secret spice” he added to Top 40 hits: “You don’t need much of it, but the right amount gets the job done.” Williams, who passed away in 2009, is a testament to the power of subtle and effective guitar playing, making him one of the best session guitarists.
Key Tracks: “Billie Jean,” “Dirty Diana”
Etta Baker
Etta Baker, Piedmont blues guitar legend, portrait
Image Credit: Timothy Duffy
Etta Baker’s name is synonymous with Piedmont blues, a rolling, ragtime and folk-influenced style originating along the East Coast in the early 20th century. Born in North Carolina in 1913, Baker learned guitar from her father and played dances with her family as a child. Her instrumental compositions like “One Dime Blues,” featured on a 1956 anthology, were hugely influential. Bob Dylan and Taj Mahal were among those listening, with Mahal later recording an album with Baker before her death in 2006. Baker’s intricate fingerpicking and preservation of Piedmont blues traditions make her one of the best and most important figures in American roots music.
Key Tracks: “One Dime Blues,” “Carolina Breakdown”
Gustavo Cerati
Gustavo Cerati performing onstage in Chicago, 2003
Image Credit: Paul Natkin/Getty Images
Gustavo Cerati’s profound impact on Latin rock often overshadows his extraordinary guitar skills. In the mid-Eighties, the Argentine singer-songwriter ignited a pan-American rock en español boom with Soda Stereo and anthemic hits like “De Música Ligera.” After Soda Stereo’s breakup, Cerati explored electronic music, but he returned to guitar-hero mode with 2006’s Ahí Vamos, a powerful album filled with raw electric riffs. Cerati tragically entered a coma at 50 and never recovered, but his image, smiling while ripping a guitar solo, remains iconic in Latin music culture. Cerati’s transformative guitar playing cemented his legacy as one of the best and most influential Latin rock guitarists.
Key Tracks: “Canción Animal,” “La Excepción”
Barbara Lynn
Barbara Lynn, R&B guitarist and singer, circa 1964 portrait
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Sixteen-year-old Barbara Lynn delivered a strong message to her boyfriend with her debut hit, “You’ll Lose a Good Thing.” The Beaufort, Texas, native set her words to music, playing a right-handed guitar upside down and left-handed. The song became an R&B Number One in 1962, launching a celebrated 60-year career. Lynn’s self-penned songs have been covered by the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and Robert Plant, and sampled by the Beastie Boys and Moby, highlighting the universal appeal and creative power of her songwriting and guitar playing. Lynn’s soulful guitar and songwriting prowess make her one of the best and most influential female guitar players in R&B.
Key Tracks: “You’ll Lose a Good Thing,” “I’ll Suffer”
Steve Jones
Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols performing live in Dunstable, UK
Image Credit: Chris Morphet/Redferns/Getty Images
When Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren gave Steve Jones a white Les Paul Custom previously owned by Syl Sylvain of the New York Dolls, it became Jones’ signature instrument. Jones’ aggressive power chords and flamboyant, gutter-glam solos perfectly mirrored Johnny Rotten’s rebellious lyrics, setting a benchmark for punk guitarists. His legacy was established with the iconic riffs on 1977’s Never Mind the Bollocks…, inspiring guitarists from Slash to Billie Joe Armstrong. It was as much about attitude as sound. As Jones famously stated, “Actually, we’re not into music. We’re into chaos.” Jones’ raw power and rebellious spirit solidify his place among the best guitar players in punk rock.
Key Tracks: “God Save the Queen,” “Pretty Vacant”
Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca, No Wave guitar pioneer, portrait
Image Credit: Hallwalls Archive/CC BY 3.0
A central figure in New York’s post-punk No Wave movement, Glenn Branca dedicated himself to establishing the guitar as a symphonic instrument. He often used “harmonic series” tunings and modified guitars to create diverse registers and tonalities, composing for ensembles of up to 100 players. His droning, powerful Symphony No. 1 (1981) featured Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth in the orchestra. Branca also released Sonic Youth’s debut album on his Neutral label, demonstrating his talent for identifying musical revolutionaries. “I’ve got so many ideas about music that I haven’t even begun to work on,” he told Esquire. “If I lived to 200, I wouldn’t finish my work.” Branca’s experimental and symphonic approach to guitar make him one of the best and most innovative avant-garde guitar players.
Key Tracks: “Light Field (In Consonance),” “Velvets and Pearls”
El Kempner
El Kempner of Palehound performing at Boston Calling Music Festival, 2016
Image Credit: Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe/Getty Images
Long before launching Palehound, an indie-powerhouse project, El Kempner was a seven-year-old learning guitar with a marker cap as a pick. Guitar has been Kempner’s guiding force ever since. Electrifying riffs and musical dexterity drive tracks like “The Clutch” from their recent album, Eye on the Bat. Kempner’s versatility is key to their skill. They are equally adept at rocking out on a Stratocaster, playing delicate acoustic fingerpicking, or creating swirling arpeggios. Kempner’s dynamic range and songwriting ability establish them as one of the best contemporary indie guitar players.
Key Tracks: “The Clutch,” “Independence Day”
Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith and Wayne Kramer
Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith of MC5, Detroit rock legends, circa 1969
Image Credit: Leni Sinclair/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images
Forged in Detroit in the 1960s, the MC5 guitar duo of Wayne Kramer and Fred “Sonic” Smith functioned like a powerful engine. Combining Chuck Berry and early Motown influences with a budding interest in free jazz, they could push their band’s high-energy jams into uncharted territory while maintaining a strong groove. “If you play with another guitar player long enough, you exhaust everything you know, and then you start playing what you don’t know, and you get into something good,” Kramer told Premier Guitar. “We just found that we could play syncopated rhythm parts simultaneously, and they would lock in perfectly, or we could solo simultaneously and they’d still lock in.” Their synergistic guitar playing and raw energy make them one of the best and most influential guitar duos in rock history.
Key Tracks: “Looking at You,” “Poison”
Marv Tarplin
Marv Tarplin of Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Motown guitar innovator, circa 1962
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Marv Tarplin’s playing and songwriting became essential to Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ success after Robinson recruited him as their guitarist in the 1960s. Tarplin’s versatility suited Motown’s demands, from driving chords on “Going to a Go-Go” to the sweet 12-string acoustic on “You Really Got a Hold on Me.” His experimentation with the chords of Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” led to the core of the Miracles’ hit “The Tracks of My Tears.” He continued working with Robinson after the Miracles split; his delicate guitar work on Robinson’s 1979 solo single “Cruisin’” gave the track a timeless quality. Tarplin’s melodic sensibility and songwriting contributions make him one of the best and most important guitar players in Motown history.
Key Tracks: “The Tracks of My Tears,” “Cruisin’”
Joseph Spence
Joseph Spence, Bahamian guitar legend, portrait
Image Credit: Guy Droussart
In 1958, musicologists Sam and Ann Charters discovered Joseph Spence in the Bahamas, initially mistaking his rich sound for two guitarists. “He often seemed to be improvising in the bass, the middle strings, and the treble at the same time,” Sam noted in the liner notes to Joseph Spence: The Complete Folkways Recordings 1958. Spence’s pointillistic, sharp-angled fingerpicking, spanning blues, spirituals, and calypso, profoundly influenced the folk movement and beyond. The Grateful Dead adapted Spence’s “We Bid You Goodnight” as a live set closer, and the Beach Boys’ “Sloop John B” is indebted to Spence’s version. Spence’s unique fingerstyle and wide-ranging repertoire establish him as one of the best and most influential folk guitar players.
Key Tracks: “Brownskin Girl,” “Jump in the Line”
Molly Tuttle
Molly Tuttle performing at The Roxy Theatre, West Hollywood, 2014
Image Credit: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
Even before her recent awards success, California-raised, Nashville-based bluegrass innovator Molly Tuttle and her band Golden Highway were making history in roots music. Her acoustic flatpicking, influenced by Tony Rice, Joni Mitchell, and Clarence White, respects tradition while pushing boundaries. Earlier this year, she became the first bluegrass act nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy, signaling bluegrass’s evolution, in which Tuttle plays a crucial role. “Our generation of bluegrass players are really pushing in some new directions,” Tuttle told Rolling Stone. “I feel lucky to be part of this scene that’s breaking down barriers.” Tuttle’s innovative approach and virtuosity place her as one of the best and most exciting contemporary bluegrass guitar players.
Key Tracks: ‘Take the Journey,” “El Dorado”
James Blood Ulmer
James Blood Ulmer, free jazz and blues guitar innovator, portrait
Image Credit: Peter Noble/Redferns/Getty Images
James Blood Ulmer, initially playing soul jazz and then with free jazz icon Ornette Coleman, fused blues, funk, and jazz guitar into shimmering textures, dissonant riffs, and jittery solos. Albums like Tales of Captain Black and Odyssey and his stinging tone greatly influenced the Seventies and Eighties downtown New York experimental scene, touching Vernon Reid (who produced Ulmer’s blues albums) and no-wave bands like DNA and Mars. As Reid said, “James Blood Ulmer is fully aware, theoretically and idiomatically — he’s just never been constrained by those concerns. He is a rock. He is unapologetically himself. He is the blues. Itself. Not its rules.” Ulmer’s unique and genre-bending style make him one of the best and most innovative guitar players in jazz and experimental music.
Key Tracks: “Theme from Captain Black,” “Timeless”
Courtney Barnett
Courtney Barnett, indie rock singer-songwriter and guitarist, portrait
Image Credit: Griffin Lotz for Rolling Stone
Indie-rock singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett’s ability to shift between intricate fingerpicking and energetic garage-rock solos enhances her witty storytelling. “It sounds like you’re driving across a highway and it’s sunny,” Barnett said about “Write a List of Things to Look Forward To” from her album Things Take Time, Take Time. This captures her guitar playing’s lilting, liberating quality. On Lotta Sea Lice, her collaboration with Kurt Vile, their guitar chemistry is dazzling, with intertwined vocals and guitars. Barnett’s dynamic guitar playing and songwriting make her one of the best contemporary indie rock artists.
Key Tracks: “Turning Green,” “Over Everything,” “Pedestrian at Best”
Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing
K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest performing live, circa 1978
Image Credit: Gus Stewart/Redferns/Getty Images
Judas Priest redefined heavy metal in the mid-Seventies with two guitarists: K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton. Instead of dividing rhythm and lead duties, Tipton and Downing doubled riffs, traded solos, and used harmony leads. Their approach set the template for Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer, and countless two-guitar bands. As Slayer’s Kerry King noted, “You can almost always tell that if it’s Tipton, it’s super-fucking tasty. If it’s K.K., it’s a more edgy, almost punky kind of vibe, which is a great mix.” Tipton and Downing’s groundbreaking dual-guitar attack makes them one of the best and most influential guitar duos in heavy metal history.
Key Tracks: “Victim of Changes,” “Breaking the Law,” “The Hellion/Electric Eye”
Lzzy Hale
Lzzy Hale of Halestorm performing live, Wheatland, CA, 2023
Image Credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
Lzzy Hale is a hard rock goddess for her powerful voice and fierce guitar playing. Her aggressive, rhythmic style complements Halestorm’s lead guitarist Joe Hottinger. Hale is also a skilled shredder, mimicking vocal melodies on guitar, and is influential enough for Gibson to make her their first female brand ambassador, creating a signature Explorer model. “The people at Gibson keep telling me the demographic that buys the most electric guitars right now are female,” Hale told Rolling Stone. “The wave is coming whether anybody likes it or not.” Hale’s powerful vocals and commanding guitar presence establish her as one of the best and most influential female guitar players in modern rock.
Key Tracks: “I Miss the Misery,” “The Steeple”
Thomas McClary
Thomas McClary of The Commodores with Lionel Richie, 1978
Image Credit: Alamy
Thomas McClary, one of the first Black students to integrate Florida public schools, forged his own path. At Tuskegee Institute, he formed the Commodores with Lionel Richie. The group blended funk, soul, gospel, and country, appealing to diverse audiences. McClary’s blend of glam and blues on songs like “Easy” shaped their crossover sound. “I would listen to Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, James Taylor, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young,” he recalled. “I thought it would be really great to mesh those guys together to have a really raunchy, raw, authentic sound that could be appealing to everybody.” McClary’s genre-bending guitar style and songwriting contributions make him one of the best and most influential guitar players in funk and soul crossover music.
Key Tracks: “Easy,” “Brick House”
Steve Hackett
Image Credit: Richard E. Aaron/Redferns/Getty Images
Genesis was relatively unknown before Steve Hackett joined in 1971. Hackett immediately impacted their sound, introducing his two-hand tapping technique on 1971’s Nursery Crime, predating Eddie Van Halen’s mainstream use of it. He delivered an epic solo on “Firth of Fifth,” a prog-rock masterpiece. Leaving in 1977 for a solo career, Hackett reflected, “I’m very happy to have freed up guitarists to play dazzling solos, and come up with things that would only be dreamt up at one time.” Hackett’s innovative tapping technique and melodic solos make him one of the best and most influential guitar players in progressive rock.
Key Tracks: “Horizons,” “Firth of Fifth”
Kurt Vile
Kurt Vile holding a Fender Jaguar guitar, Amsterdam, 2015
Image Credit: Paul Bergen/Redferns/Getty Images
Kurt Vile’s laid-back persona belies his serious guitar skills. His style, blending chilled-out drones and intricate solos, stems partly from learning banjo as a teen. “Banjos are in an open tuning, and they’ve got that high drone string,” he explained. “It’s not like you’d even think about that when you’re playing as a kid, but I came to really like that ethereal drone.” He has incorporated diverse influences into his relaxed yet virtuosic style. Vile’s unique blend of drone and melody makes him one of the best and most distinctive contemporary indie guitar players.
Key Tracks: “Pretty Pimpin,” “Wakin on a Pretty Day”
Keiji Haino
Keiji Haino, Japanese experimental guitarist, portrait
Image Credit: Alamy
Japanese musician Keiji Haino’s free-form solo performances are noisy, cathartic experiences, blurring the line between playing and exorcism. In ensembles like Aihiyo, his playing ranges from soft, shimmering chords to ear-splitting fuzz. “People practice really hard because they want people to check them out,” he told Vice Japan. “And then they say it’s improvisation. That drives me nuts.” Haino’s extreme dynamics and improvisational approach make him one of the best and most challenging experimental guitar players.
Key Tracks: “A Shredded Coiled Cable Within This Cable Sincerity Could Not be Contained,” “Why in the Courtesy of the Prey Always Confused With the Courtesy of the Hunters Pt. 1”
Lucy Dacus
Lucy Dacus, indie singer-songwriter and guitarist, portrait
Image Credit: Griffin Lotz for Rolling Stone
For Lucy Dacus, guitar is as vital as her voice, though her playing is often overshadowed by her insightful lyrics. From her pulsing rhythm in “I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore” to her work in boygenius, Dacus’ arrangements are understated yet crucial. Live performances of “Night Shift” begin with Dacus alone on guitar, building to a cathartic climax with distorted noise from lead guitarist Jacob Blizard. Dacus’s steady guitar work anchors her powerful songs, establishing her as one of the best and most compelling singer-songwriter guitarists in indie rock.
Key Tracks: “Night Shift,” “I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore”
José Feliciano
José Feliciano performing at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 1973
Image Credit: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
José Feliciano is far more than just the “Feliz Navidad” singer. Born blind, Feliciano became an acoustic guitar virtuoso in his teens. His playing, lyrical and ferocious, is rooted in Puerto Rican boleros and folk songs. His blend of rock, jazz, soul, and bossa nova changed Sixties pop rock. His radical 1968 rendition of “California Dreamin’” and his fiery “Light My Fire” cover pushed musical boundaries. Feliciano’s virtuosity and genre-bending approach make him one of the best and most innovative acoustic guitar players in pop and Latin music.
Key Tracks: “Light My Fire,” “Here, There and Everywhere”
Nick Zinner
Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, portrait
Image Credit: Sacha Lecca for Rolling Stone
When Yeah Yeah Yeahs formed in 2000, their goal was “trashy, punky, grimy.” Nick Zinner’s style embodies this, fusing dance-punk, Van Halen panache, Rowland S. Howard’s intensity, and Johnny Marr’s grandeur into catchy, shimmering riffs. Zinner’s minimal guitar work carries vast emotion, from the longing of “Maps” to the tension of “Heads Will Roll.” Zinner’s distinctive and evocative guitar style makes him one of the best and most influential guitar players in dance-punk and indie rock.
Key Tracks: “Y Control,” “Maps,” “Gold Lion”
Kaki King
Kaki King, acoustic guitar innovator, portrait
Image Credit: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Kaki King is a tireless sonic explorer, taking a Preston Reed-meets-John Cage approach to acoustic guitar. She experiments with tunings, treated instruments, and loops, using fingerstyle, two-handed tapping, and percussive techniques. “I’ll think, ‘Let’s see what happens if I lower this string here and raise that one there,’” she told Premier Guitar. “When you tune your guitar differently, all of a sudden your fingers and your mind have to be creative again because you’re not relying on shapes and places that sound good or feel familiar. You have to explore the fretboard to find new fingerings and sounds, and that leads to new discoveries.” King’s experimental and innovative approach makes her one of the best and most forward-thinking acoustic guitar players.
Key Tracks: “Playing With Pink Noise,” “Skimming the Fractured Surface to a Place of Endless Light”
Gary Clark Jr.
Gary Clark Jr., blues rock guitarist performing in London, 2012
Image Credit: Rob Monk/Guitarist Magazine/Future/Getty Images
Initially seen as a Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughan heir, Grammy-winning Gary Clark Jr. has shown a broader range, incorporating soul, funk, grunge, and hip-hop into his playing, collaborating with Foo Fighters, Alicia Keys, and Tech N9ne. “I don’t think that I’m reaching my full potential if I just do what people expect of me,” he told Rolling Stone. “I love to play, and I love to experiment, and there are a lot more roads to explore. I don’t know if I want to get too far off the path — I don’t want to get lost in the forest — but I like to wander out a bit and adventure.” Clark Jr.’s genre-blending approach and powerful playing make him one of the best and most versatile contemporary blues rock guitar players.
Key Tracks: “This Land,” “Grinder”
Amadou Bagayoko
Amadou Bagayoko of Amadou & Mariam performing in London, 2012
Image Credit: C Brandon/Redferns/Getty Images
Malian couple Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia, Amadou & Mariam, gained international recognition for their melodic duets, driven by Amadou’s jaunty guitar leads. “People are often surprised when we explain how much we were influenced by Western pop music,” Amadou Bagayoko said. “I grew up listening to records by Rod Stewart, Led Zeppelin, James Brown, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Pink Floyd, Stevie Wonder … That’s because they were the only records we had in Mali!” Amadou’s blend of Western rock and Malian rhythms makes him one of the best and most unique guitar players in world music.
Key Tracks: “Djanfa,” “Ce N’est Pas Bon”
Justin Broadrick
Justin Broadrick of Godflesh, industrial metal guitar innovator, portrait
Image Credit: Karjean Levine/Getty Images
Justin Broadrick created his own guitar language across Godflesh, Napalm Death, and Jesu. His steamrolling riffs and textures in Godflesh brought humanity to mechanical rhythms. In Napalm Death, he pioneered grindcore’s “grinding” sound, with extreme distortion. In Jesu, he layered noise into beautiful shadow worlds. On everything, his guitar sighs, groans, and weeps uniquely. Broadrick’s groundbreaking and intensely personal guitar sound makes him one of the best and most influential guitar players in industrial and extreme metal.
Key Tracks: “Like Rats,” “Silver,” “Scum”
Hugh McCracken
Hugh McCracken, legendary session guitarist, recording session portrait
Image Credit: David Gahr/Getty Images
East Coast guitarist Hugh McCracken, never flashy, left his mark on countless classics. His lead on Steely Dan’s “Hey Nineteen,” lick on Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” and acoustic on Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song” are iconic. He enhanced Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You,” and John Lennon’s “I’m Losing You.” Content with studio work, McCracken declined Paul McCartney’s Wings offer. McCracken’s tasteful and ubiquitous guitar work makes him one of the best and most recorded session guitarists of all time.
Key Tracks: “Hey Nineteen,” “Killing Me Softly With His Song”
Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson, virtuoso guitarist, Pittsburgh, 1991
Image Credit: Paul Natkin/Getty Images
Austin-born Eric Johnson, a consummate technician, is more appreciated by peers than the public. “Eric’s so good it’s ridiculous,” Steve Morse raved, while Stevie Ray Vaughan called him “one of my favorite guitarists.” Billy Gibbons simply said, “Damn, that guy can play!” A fusion stylist leaning towards rock, Johnson was an Austin star but faced career setbacks. His 1990 instrumental album Ah Via Musicom went platinum, but he’s known for guitar-centric collaborations like G3 with Satriani and Vai. Johnson’s exceptional technical skill and fusion style make him one of the best and most respected virtuoso guitar players.
Key Tracks: “Cliffs of Dover,” “Benny Man’s Blues”
Lynn Taitt
Lynn Taitt, creator of rocksteady guitar sound, portrait
Image Credit: Federal Records
Lynn Taitt, born in Trinidad, defined the rocksteady guitar sound in Jamaica, playing on early recordings like Hopeton Lewis’ “Take It Easy” and Derrick Morgan’s “Tougher Than Tough.” When Ernest Ranglin left for England in 1964, Taitt became Jamaica’s top session guitarist. His work on Desmond Dekker’s “007 (Shanty Town)” is iconic. Though active briefly, leaving for Canada in 1968, his influence was cemented when his student Hux Brown refined Taitt’s style for reggae guitar. Taitt’s foundational role in rocksteady and reggae guitar makes him one of the best and most important figures in Jamaican music history.
Key Tracks: “007 (Shanty Town),” “Take It Easy”
Grant Green
Grant Green performing at Keystone Korner, San Francisco, 1975
Image Credit: Janet Fries/Getty Images
Grant Green transitioned from hard bop to soul-jazz pioneer. A Charlie Parker fan from St. Louis, his Blue Note debut in 1960 launched a stellar five-year run with cool grooves like Idle Moments. He explored Latin jazz in 1964’s Matador. Green died in 1979 at 43, but his influence thrives, especially in hip-hop, sampled on classics from A Tribe Called Quest to Kendrick Lamar. Green’s impeccably cool grooves and influence on hip-hop solidify his place as one of the best and most sampled jazz guitar players.
Key Tracks: “Idle Moments,” “Jean De Fleur,” “On Green Dolphin Street”
Vince Gill
Vince Gill performing live, Nashville, portrait
Image Credit: Beth Gwinn/Redferns/Getty Images
Vince Gill is celebrated as a country vocalist, but he’s also a lethal guitarist. His chicken picking and twangy bends on songs like “Liza Jane” are signature. He’s paid tribute to California country guitarists like Don Rich and Roy Nichols. Gill has played guitar on albums by Miranda Lambert, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, and Don Henley, and tours with the Eagles, doubling as guitarist and vocalist. Gill’s exceptional vocals and guitar skills make him one of the best and most versatile musicians in country music.
Key Tracks: “Liza Jane,” “Oklahoma Borderline”
Garry ‘Diaper Man’ Shider
Garry "Diaper Man" Shider of Parliament performing live, Los Angeles, 1977
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Garry Shider, Parliament/Funkadelic guitarist known as “Diaper Man,” said, “God loves babies and fools. I’m both.” Celebrated for searing leads on jams like “Cosmic Slop,” Shider was also a master rhythm guitarist on “One Nation Under a Groove” and “Atomic Dog,” which he co-wrote. Also known as “Starchild” in Bootsy’s Rubberband and P-Funk All Stars music director, his post-P-Funk work included collaborations with Paul Schaffer and the Black Crowes. Shider’s funky rhythm guitar and psychedelic leads make him one of the best and most iconic guitar players in funk music.
Key Tracks: “Cosmic Slop,” “One Nation Under a Groove”
In conclusion, this expanded list of 250 guitarists highlights the incredible diversity, innovation, and enduring power of the guitar. From pioneers who shaped genres to contemporary innovators pushing boundaries, these are truly some of the best guitar players who have enriched the world of music and continue to inspire generations.
