200 greatest guitarists in rock
 

So I've been bored as crap, and after reading that awful Rolling Stone list from last month I came up with an idea for my blog.

So heres this list I've been working on for like a week, which is a list of what I consider the greatest guitarists of all time, tried to be objective as much as possible (though it's still biased) by representing every genre and era. You can tell me what you think of it, though I dont intent on changing it much. Criteria: Impact, Influence, Skill, Popularity, Creativity, Originality.

The 200 greatest guitarists in rock

1. Jimi Hendrix (Jimi Hendrix Experience, Band of Gypsys)
2. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
3. Jeff Beck ( The Yardbirds, The Jeff Beck Group, session work, solo)
4. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds, The Firm, session work, solo)
5. Eric Clapton (Cream, Derek & The Dominos, The Yardbirds, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, solo)
6. Chuck Berry (solo)
7. Pete Townshend (The Who, solo)
8. Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley)
9. Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmores Night)
10. Duane Allman (Allman Brothers Band, Derek & The Dominos, session work)
11. Bo Diddley (solo)
12. Robert Fripp (King Crimson, Fripp & Eno, Giles Giles & Fripp, session work)
13. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
14. Carlos Santana (Santana)
15. Steve Cropper (Booker T & The MGs)
16. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd, solo, session work)
17. Brian May (Queen, solo)
18. Steve Vai (Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, solo)
19. Stevie Ray Vaughan (Double Trouble, session work)
20. Yngwie Malmsteen (Steeler, Alcatrazz, solo)
21. George Harrison (The Beatles, Traveling Wilburys, solo)
22. Steve Howe (Yes, Asia, Tomorrow, solo)
23. Link Wray (solo)
24. Jerry Garcia (The Grateful Dead, solo)
25. Dick Dale (solo)
26. Frank Zappa (Mothers of Invention, solo)
27. Ry Cooder (Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, solo, session work)
28. John Mclaughlan (The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis, Shakti)
29. Keith Richards (Rolling Stones, solo)
30. Roy Buchanan (solo)
31. James Burton (Rick Nelson, Elvis Presley)
32. Joe Satriani (solo)
33. Carl Perkins (solo)
34. Steve Hackett (Genesis, solo)
35. Jimmy Nolen (The J.B.'s)
36. Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne)
37. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits, solo)
38. Eddie Cochran (solo)
39. Phil Keaggy (Glass Harp, solo)
40. John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival, solo)
41. Allan Holdsworth (Gong, Soft Machine, UK, solo)
42. Duane Eddy (solo)
43. Eric Johnson (The Electromagnets, solo)
44. Eddie Hazel (Funkadelic, solo)
45. Danny Gatton (solo)
46. Slash (Guns N Roses, Slash's Snakepit, Velvet Revolver)
47. Mick Ronson (David Bowie, solo)
48. Shawn Lane (Black Oak Arkansas, The Willys, HLS, solo)
49. Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, The Nightwatchman)
50. Johnny Marr (The Smiths, Modest Mouse, The Cribs, Electronic, The The)
51, 52, & 53. Joe Messina/Robert White/Eddie Willis (The Funk Brothers)
54. Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple, Kansas, solo, session work)
55. Mike Bloomfield (Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Electric Flag, Bob Dylan, solo, session work)
56. Johnny Ramone (Ramones)
57. Alex Lifeson (Rush)
58. Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, solo)
59 & 60. Dave Murray/Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
61. Jan Akkerman (Focus, solo)
62 & 63. Thurston Moore/Lee Renaldo (Sonic Youth, Glenn Branca, solo)
64 & 65. Angus Young/Malcolm Young (AC/DC)
66. Tom Verlaine (Television, solo)
67. Dave Davies (The Kinks, solo)
68. Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine, Primal Scream, solo)
69. Cliff Gallup (Gene Vincent's Blue Caps)
70. Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
71. Johnny Winter (solo)
72 & 73. Jonny Greenwood/Ed O'Brien (Radiohead)
74. Neal Schon (Journey, Santana, Bad English, solo)
75. Andy Summers (The Police, The Animals, solo)
76. Marty Friedman (Cacophony, Megadeth, solo)
77. Roger McGuinn (The Byrds, solo)
78. D. Boon (Minutemen)
79. John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Dinosaurs)
80. Lonnie Mack (solo, session work)
81 & 81. Glenn Tipton/K.K. Downing (Judas Priest)
82. Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, solo, session work)
83. The Edge (U2, solo)
84. Terry Kath (Chicago)
85. John Squire (The Stone Roses, The Seahorses, solo)
86. Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Peter Green Splinter Group, solo, session work)
87. Greg Ginn (Black Flag, solo)
88. Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield, CSNY, Crazy Horse, solo)
89. Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X, solo)
90. Trey Anastasio (Phish, Oysterhead, solo)
91. Fred Frith (Henry Cow, Art Bears, Massacre, Skeleton Crew, solo)
92. Joe Walsh (The Eagles, James Gang, solo)
93. Robin Trower (Procol Harum, solo)
94. Billy Zoom (X, solo)
95. Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers Band, solo)
96. Paul Kossoff (Free, Back Street Crawler, solo)
97. Robbie Robertson (The Band, Bob Dylan, solo)
98. John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Mars Volta, solo)
99. Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd, solo)
100. Michael Schenker (UFO, Scorpions, solo)
101. Brian Setzer (The Stay Cats, Brian Setzer Orchestra, solo)
102. Alvin Lee (Ten Years After, solo)
103. J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr, J. Mascis and The Fog, solo)
104. Buckethead (Guns N Roses, solo)
105. Stephen Stills (Bufallo Springfield, Crosby Stills and Nash, solo)
106. Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music, David Gilmour, solo, session work)
107. Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions, solo)
108. John Petrucci (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment, solo)
109 & 110. Allen Collins/Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
111. Mickey Baker (Mickey & Sylvia, solo, session work)
112. Hank Marvin (The Shadows)
113. Rory Gallagher (Taste, solo)
114. Bon Quine (Richard Hell & The Voidoids, Lou Reed, session work)
115. Tony Macalpine (M.A.R.S., Planet X, Ring of Fire, CAB, solo)
116. Ron Asheton (The Stooges)
117 & 118. James Hetfield/Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
119. Andy Latimer (Camel)
120. Curtis Mayfield (Impressions, solo)
121. Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band, Govt Mule)
122. Robbie Krieger (The Doors)
123. Steve Rothery (Marillion)
124. Clarence White (The Byrds)
125. Derek Trucks (The Allman Brothers Band, Frogwings, solo)
126. Adrian Belew (King Crimson, session work, solo)
127. Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs)
128. Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy, Colosseum II)
129. Leigh Stephens (Blue Cheer)
130. Dimebag Darrell (Pantera, Damage Plan)
131. Joe Santiago (Pixies, Frank Black)
132 & 133. Joe Perry/Brad Whitfield (Aerosmith)
134. Vinnie Moore (UFO, Alice Cooper, solo)
135. Johnny Thunders (The New York Dolls, the Heart Breakers)
136. Ike Turner (Ike and Tina Turner Revie, solo, session work)
137 & 138. Lou Reed/Sterling Morrison (Velvet Underground, solo)
139. Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac, solo)
140. Chuck Schuldiner (Death)
141. East Bay Ray (Dead Kennedys)
142. Tommy Bolin (Deep Purple, solo)
143. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (The Mars Volta, At The Drive In, solo)
144. Steve Lukather (Toto, solo, session work)
145. Glen Buxton (Alice Cooper)
146. Wayne Kramer (The MC5)
147 & 148. Ted Turner/Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash)
149. Jason Becker (Cacophony, solo)
150. Vernon Reid (Living Colour, solo)
151. Bruce Springsteen (E Street Band, solo)
152. Leslie West (Mountain)
153. Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme)
154. Mick Jones (The Clash, Big Audio Dynamite)
155. Peter Frampton (Humble Pie, The Herd, solo)
156. Nels Cline (Wilco, solo)
157. Dr. Know (Bad Brains)
158. Marc Bolan (T Rex)
159. Steve Hillage (Gong, Khan, System 7, solo)
160. Buddy Holly (Buddy Holly & The Crickets)
161. Ted Nugent (Amboy Dukes, Damn Yankees, solo)
162. Rick Derringer (The Edgar Winter Group, solo)
163. Bernard Butler (Suede, The Tears, solo)
164. Adam Jones (Tool)
165. Ronnie Wood (The Faces, Rolling Stones)
166. Catfish Collins (The JB's, Parliament, Funkadelic, Bootsy's Rubber Band)
167. Dave Navarro (Janes Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Panic Channel, solo)
168 & 169. Kerry King/Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
170. Bob Mould (Husker Du, Sugar, solo)
171. Prince (solo)
172. Mike Mccready (Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog, Mad Season)
173. Bill Nelson (Be Bop Deluxe)
174. Don Felder (The Eagles, solo)
175. Randy Bachman (The Guess Who, Bachman Turner Overdrive)
176. Marc Ribot (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, solo)
177. Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins, Zwan, solo)
178. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers)
179. Snakefinger (The Residents, solo)
180. Jerry Miller (Moby Grape)
181. Ace Frehley (KISS, solo)
182. Robert Randolph (Robert Randolph and the Family Band)
183. Matt Bellamy (Muse)
184. Ron Thal (Guns N Roses, solo)
185. Peter Buck (R.E.M.)
186. Buzz Osborne (The Melvins, Fantomas)
187. Martin Barre (Jethro Tull, solo)
188. Bernard Sumner (Joy Division, New Order)
189. Zoot Horn Rollo (Captain Beefeart and his Magic Band)
190. Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains, solo)
191. Kaki King (solo)
192. Steve Jones (The Sex Pistols, solo)
193. Alex Skolnick (Testament, Savatage, solo)
194. Michael Karoli (Can)
195. Nancy Wilson (Heart)
196. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
197. Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society, solo)
198 & 199. Scott Gorham/Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy)
200. Keith Levene (Public Image Ltd)
201. Rik Emmett (Triumph, solo)
202. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth, Metallica)
203. Larrry LaLonde (Primus, Possessed)
204. Jón Þór Birgisson (Sigur Ros)
205. Wata (Boris)
206. Mick Box (Uriah Heep)
207. Vivian Campbell (Dio, Whitesnake, Def Leppard)
208 & 209. Rudolph Schenker/Matthias Jabs (Scorpions)
210. Josh Homme (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal)
211. Dave Brock (Hawkwind)
212. Ty Tabor (Kings X)
213. Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo)
214. George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob, solo)
215. Tony Bourge (Budgie)

No Michael Karoli or Graham Coxon or did I miss them ?

I have to say i'm surprised by the inclusion of Glen Buxton. Did you know he didn't record anything with Alice Cooper after Schools Out?
All his guitar parts were either recorded by Dick Wagner or Mick Mashbir. In fact they added Mashbir as a third guitarist on the Billion Dollar Babies tour because Buxton couldn't play any of the new material.

Well its certainly a Boo boo list but its not bad. The only thing I find overtly suspicious (and this would depend on your criteria) is that 2 of three bands guitarists were next to each other on the list.

Other than that its not so bad, although I don't know what you have against Rolling Stone.

I'll just focus on the top 10

Very similar to mine.

Currently my list goes

Hendrix
Beck
Clapton
SRV
Page
Allman
Van Halen
Barry
Diddley
Townshend

I'm sure you're missing some, but then again there are 20+ I don't even know who they are so overall pretty solid job. Be interested to know who you have ranked highest that RS excluded and who you did not include from RS' list.

I like the list, but Steve Vai and **** Dale is a bit low for me.
Maybe top 10 or 15 for him but than again i'm biased :D

Nuno Bettencourt really? Are Extreme better than their singles would lead me to believe?

Rudy Schenker
Alex Rudi Pell
Ty Tabor
Dave Mustaine
Dave Thompson
John Martyn

are guitarists I would have in there and omit others but lists are always subjective.

I noticed you completely removed B. B. King. Wasn't he in the top six of the RS list? You still kept Kurt Cobain on there, why not B. B. King?

Might have something to do with the fact that BB Kind is a blues guitarist and this is a rock list.

I missed that, yeah B.B's top 50 at worst.

Ummm. Bo Diddley's on there. So are a bunch of other guitarists I wouldn't characterize as rock.

What's your point? I was just giving a possible reason as to why he's not there.

Thank you for including Alex Lifeson. Rolling Stone is a joke for not including him.

B. B. King was one of the revolutionaries that shaped the precursors to modern rock. Delta blues was probably more important to rock than anything Elvis Presley came up with. Look at the Big Four. Look at Clapton, Page, Beck, hell, Duane Allman. It was a fucking B. B. King concert he and brother Gregg attended that persuaded them to start seriously playing music.

I mean, there are other changes I would have personally made to the list, but they are chickenshit compared to the complete absence of B. B. King.

I didn't come into this thread to argue with you. Calm the hell down.

We will let BooBoo describe the criteria for his choices. As I have already said lists are always subjective.I am a little nonplussed myself as to certain inclusions but let's wait for his take on it please.

If I composed a list of top 200 guitarists I'm almost certain B.B. wouldn't make the list. If I made a list of top 200 blues guitarists I'm not sure if he'd make the list, and if he did he'd be near the bottom.

Are you for real?

How is Bo Diddley not rock?

And no I dont consider BB King a rock guitatist, just pure blues. Granted there are a handful of blues guitarists on this list like Johnny Winter but thats because they do have rock material and their sound is more blues rock than pure blues.

In the same sense I added Allan Holdsworth and John Maclaughlin, who are probably more thought of as Jazz guitarists but they have a handful of rock material and an overall rock oriented sound, and no Pat Matheny wasn't an oversight, just in case that comes up.

I don't think Holdsworth is rock enough for this list.

Creativity, Originality, Influence, Status, Impact, to a lesser extent Technical Skill and just my personal bias.

He's played for progressive rock groups like Soft Machine and Gong, in fact he's collaborated with a lot of rock musicians on what are basically rock recordings, and enough of his own solo material could be considered rock. I dont really think of him as a pure jazz guitarist, and most purists would agree to that.

I am aware of that. But Live it to Death and Schools Out are considered milestones in his career, he did much to define Coopers original sound.

Maybe he's too high, but I'm not gonna worry about the rankings too much, just the inclusions more than anything.

EDIT: Made one slight change, replaced Homme with Ace Frehley. But I dont intend to make any more changes, I like the final result just fine and I'm not trying to please anyone, just curious what people have to say.

I really wonder why Fredrik Thordendal of Meshuggah isn't on there.

Hey you forgot the Michael's :p:

Michael Karoli
Michael Romeo

I would include Greg Howe & Manuel Gottsching as well.(Gottsching is really underrated)
But i guess that would be a Demonoid's list then.

Steve Ray Vaughn should be a little higher, and Duane Allman should be a little higher too.

Am I the only one who thinks Hendrix shouldn't be first? I like Duane and JBeck over him. Definitly top 5 though.

EDIT: Holdsworth is great. Don't take him out. His stuff on the second Bruford album (the name escapes me) is great.

Just so long as it isn't a personal insult to the king of the blues (like The Unfan...don't know how much crack he was smoking). I did notice the absence of a few other guitarists, but it wasn't anything big. I would have rearranged the top ten:

1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Duane Allman
3. Chuck Berry
4. Eric Clapton
5. Jimmy Page
6. Bo Diddley
7. Jeff Beck
8. Eddie Van Halen
9. Stevie Ray Vaughan
10. Pete Townshend

Without doubt Hendrix is the greatest.

I don't think its without doubt. I think it's sort of like just saying Neil Peart is automatically the best drummer when John Bonham and Ginger Baker are quite exceptional themselves.

I'm adding some more names to it, til I get to like 250.

Why not share a little bit about your personal favorites along the way.
I would be interested to hear what someone who can evaluate 200 plus guitar players has to say about personal favs.

Bo Diddley is one of the top 10 pioneers/innovators in R&R, but, he is not anywhere near the top 50, or 100, or 200 when it comes to his skill on the guitar.
What he did was create a sound and a beat that every guitarist has used since 1957.
But inventing a sound and a beat doesn't make him a better axeman than you or I.
His influence is etched in R&R history, but not for his guitar playing abilities.

I love him:bowdown:, I listen to his music:bowdown:, I miss him:bowdown:, I hear his beat every day in other bands tunes, but, again, as a guitarist, he shouldn't be on anyone's top guitarists list.:finger:

axehacker
 

Just reviewed the list a little more.

My compliments for including Malcolm Young in with Angus Young.
Without Mal, AC/DC is just another run'o'the'mill rock band.

Considering your criteria, I say good list.

BooBoo, I know you've heard The Fall of Troy..and somehow you've left Thomas out. And what about Nick Reinhart of Tera Melos.

It's a good thing then that I said "and to a lesser extent, technical skill".

My top 3 would be Page, Gilmour and Howe.

Going by the criteria, though, Hendrix does win without a doubt. He scores more in creativity, originality, influence, status, impact than anyone else. Others do come very close but Hendrix always has the edge.

Be careful when trying to make absolutes out of subjective interpretations. I happen to agree with your stance, but don't be shocked when someone else doesn't.

no john frusciante?
no Doug Martsch ?
no johnny greenwood?
no graham coxon?
no Paul Personne?
no Dave Mustaine?

blasphemy.

lol wut?

Those two are up there.

Greenwood and Frusciante are on there dude.

I'm not shocked. I'm saying why Hendrix wins by the criteria.