A guitar is one of history’s most used, loved, and praised instruments. While learning and getting your hands set on the instrument might seem easy, it has endless potential, and a lifetime can also fall short of learning and understanding all its aspects. Nevertheless, many artists worldwide have mastered the art of playing guitar and garnered a huge fan base online. Although the audience’s tastes are never similar, everybody idolizes different guitarists. So, if you are also wondering who the greatest guitarists of all time are, this list of the top 10 best guitarists will come in handy to you.
Top 10 Most Famous & Best Guitarists in the World
1. Jimi Hendrix
Hands down, Jimi Hendrix is known as the greatest guitarist of all time. Some may argue that his career span was short-lived. However, the success he achieved within those four years was unmatched. He is highly regarded as the best rock guitarist, and the same has been described by him in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, the guitarist is still considered one of the best because of his ability to bring innovation to his techniques and sound.
2. Jimmy Page
How can we not mention the one and only, the founder of Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, in our list? He has left his imprint forever on the rock music industry. This English musician and songwriter has achieved unimaginable success in his career. Many dream of receiving minor recognition and fail, whereas Jimmy Page has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame not once but twice. Moreover, many young guitarists were inspired by Jimmy Page’s unique and charming performances.
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3. Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton was one of the most famous and praised guitarists in the 1960s and 1970s. His soothing and sensitive performances have won the hearts of millions. Notably, he is the only person who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Clapton is the best-selling musician of all time and has sold more than 280 million records worldwide. He has been a recipient of Grammy awards 18 times and has also received a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. Young fans now like the screaming and hitting of guitar music, but Clapton was the one who actually introduced us to the beauty of this instrument.
4. Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen died in 2020 after a long battle with throat cancer. He was the founder of the legendary rock band Van Halen, and he founded it with his brother in 1972. Moreover, his band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, thanks to the high-spirited performance by the guitarist. He is one of the best heavy metal guitarists of our time. This is because of his power-packed performances during his peak era, with everything, including feel, tone, influence, songwriting, and stage presence, near perfection. People also consider him to have the most impact on the popularity of the finger-tapping technique.
5. David Gilmour
No guitar enthusiast has not been a fan of Pink Floyd, one of the greatest rock bands ever. But wait, do you think it would be possible to achieve this success without the band’s lead guitarist? David Gilmour is an English musician who joined the famous band in 1967. Since then, he has contributed to many hits as the lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist. Reportedly, Gilmour has repeatedly called Jimi Hendrix his inspiration and one of his greatest influences.
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6. Stevie Ray Vaughan
People consider this late guitarist one of the greatest of all time. However, his career was short-lived as he, along with his four other mates, died in a tragic helicopter crash while returning after concluding one of their performances. As a kid, he grew fond of playing guitar because of how well his older brother, Jimmie Vaughan, played. Both brothers listened to famous rock artists and were highly influenced by them. His band, Double Trouble, has also been the recipient of four Grammy awards. SRV was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, over two decades after his death.
7. Tony lommi
Tony lommi is one of the most famous and praised guitarists. He is idolized for his contribution to the founding and success of the Black Sabbath. Interestingly, many people believe that his band was the one that introduced and gave birth to heavy metal music in the late 1960s. Iommi has been one of the most influential people in the success of his band. He is also an inspiration to many young and aspiring musicians. The guitarist lost the fingertips of his middle and ring fingers on his right hand. Discouraged, he decided to give up on his music career. But all he needed was a little push and motivation to become one of the best guitarists in history.
8. Brian May
Although some might disagree with Brian May’s mention in the list, he is among the most deserving guitarists. He is highly famous as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen. Because of him, we got classics such as “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Will Rock You.” Nevertheless, his contribution was not limited to the music industry. Instead, he spread his talent and intellect to astrophysics after graduating from one of the top universities in Britain.
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9. Slash
Saul Hudson, aka Slash, is one of the most famous musicians. He is the lead guitarist of the American rock band Guns N’ Roses, which became widely popular in the 1980s and 1990s. His parents were part of the entertainment industry. Slash’s mother and father worked as a clothing designer and an art director. Meanwhile, his fans also think that Slash gives his hundred percent to whatever he does. He not only plays the guitar for mere money, but one can also see the passion in his eyes. Furthermore, Slash was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 for his classic projects.
10. Chuck Berry
The king of the R&B genre, referred to as the Father of Rock and Roll, is one of the most famous guitarists. Berry had a fantastic career, and he received wide acclaim during his era. Nevertheless, his showmanship remains one of the main factors that have changed the way we view the music industry. Berry is the reason for the guitar’s popularity in the modern era. This American musician pioneered a lot of things, and this habit of bringing innovation into everything. These achievements have made him one of the most influential and important guitarists.
Conclusion
This article discusses the top 10 best guitarists who have made fans from many generations. We know that every guitarist or music enthusiast has had this conversation once in their lifetime. Nonetheless, one’s taste and likeness do not need to match those of others. Let us know through the comment section who your favorite guitarists are and if they made it into the list.
