Over the years the skill, passion, creativity, songwriting and influence of guitar players have changed the music scene over and over again. The amount of great guitar players is high nowadays, but each bring their own sound to the music business. Here i will be listing some of the worlds best guitar players and telling about their journey among music and guitar skills.
1. Jimi Hendrix
Perhaps the most legendary guitar player that has had so much influence in music industry and influence to other guitarists. Jimi Hendrix rose up in the 60’s with new, intriguing tracks and guitar playing to shake up the billboards and rock’n roll. The techniques that Hendrix used on the guitar and how he used them was new to the general audience at the time. Hendrix’s unique style still intrigues guitarists till this day.
Hendrix’s innovative style of guitar playing, which involved the use of feedback, distorted amplifiers, and a range of effects pedals, had a major influence on the development of heavy metal and other genres of rock music. He released three studio albums before his death at the age of 27: “Are You Experienced” (1967), “Axis: Bold as Love” (1967), and “Electric Ladyland” (1968). All three albums have been widely hailed as classics and have influenced numerous artists.
2. Jimmy Page
The legendary songs by Led Zeppelin are especially known for the voice of Robert Plant and the guitar riffs of Jimmy Page. Jimmy Page founded Led Zeppelin after the band the Yardbirds broke up in the 1968. He played the guitar in Led Zeppelin and was important part of making songs and music producing.
Page is considered one of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: once as a member of the Yardbirds (1992) and once as a member of Led Zeppelin (1995). He was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010. In addition to his work with Led Zeppelin, Page has also released several solo albums and collaborated with a number of other artists throughout his career.
3. Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton is one of the most meaningful guitarists, songwriters and singers in pop culture. He played alongside with Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck in the Yardbirds in the 60’s and later produced solo music with various different band members. Claptons some of the most known songs are “Layla”, “Cocaine”, “Wonderful tonight” and “Tears in heaven”. Being one of the best guitar players in the world he has influenced the music industry with his playing, as well as Claptons underrated vocals in his legendary songs.
He is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time.
4. David Gilmour
David Gilmour is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter who is best known as the lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the rock band Pink Floyd. He is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, known for his distinctive guitar sound and solos on songs such as “Money,” “Comfortably Numb,” and “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”
In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has also released several solo albums and worked on a variety of other musical projects. He is known for his philanthropy and activism, and has supported a number of charities and causes throughout his career.
5. Brian May
Brian May is an English musician, singer, and songwriter who is best known as the lead guitarist and one of the founding members of the rock band Queen. May is considered one of the greatest guitarists of his era, and is known for his distinctive playing style and the innovative sounds he produces with his guitar.
May was born in London in 1947. He began playing the guitar at a young age, and was influenced by a variety of musical styles, including blues, rock and roll, and classical music. He co-founded the band Queen with lead singer Freddie Mercury and drummer Roger Taylor in 1970, and the band quickly gained popularity with their unique blend of rock, opera, and other musical styles. May wrote many of Queen’s most famous songs, including “We Will Rock You,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and “Fat Bottomed Girls,” and his guitar playing was a key element of the band’s
sound.
6. Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler is a musician, singer, and songwriter who is best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist of the rock band Dire Straits. He is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, known for his distinctive fingerpicking style and the unique sound of his guitar playing, and is one of my personal favorite guitarists.
Knopfler was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1949. He began playing the guitar at a young age and was influenced by a variety of musical styles, including blues, rock and roll, and folk music. He co-founded the band Dire Straits with his brother, David Knopfler, in 1977, and the band quickly gained popularity with their blend of rock, blues, and other styles. Knopfler wrote many of Dire Straits’ biggest hits, including “Money for Nothing,” “Sultans of Swing,” and “Brothers in Arms,”. His guitar playing was a key element of the band’s sound and popularity.
7. Eddie van Halen
Eddie Van Halen was a Dutch-American musician, singer, and songwriter who was best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Van Halen. He was considered one of the greatest guitarists in rock’n roll, known for his technical skill and innovative playing style.
Van Halen was born in Amsterdam in 1955, and moved to the United States with his family as a child. He began playing the guitar at a young age and was influenced by a variety of musical styles, including blues, rock and roll, and classical music. He co-founded the band Van Halen with his brother, drummer Alex Van Halen, in 1972, and the band quickly gained popularity with their unique blend of rock and roll, hard rock, and other styles. Van Halen wrote many of the band’s biggest hits, including “Jump,” “Panama,” and “Runnin’ with the Devil,” with his guitar playing was a key element of the band’s sound.
8. Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who was a pioneer of rock and roll music. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1926, and began playing the guitar and singing in the 1940s. He was influenced by a variety of musical styles, including blues, country, and jazz, and was one of the first musicians to incorporate elements of these styles into rock and roll.
Berry is considered one of the greatest and most influential rock and roll musicians of all time. He wrote and recorded many classic rock and roll hits, including “Maybellene,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Johnny B. Goode,” and “Sweet Little Sixteen,” and his guitar playing was a key element of his sound. He was known for his energetic and influential stage presence, and was one of the first musicians to incorporate guitar solos and showmanship into rock and roll performances.
9. BB King
BB King was an American blues musician, singer, and songwriter. He was born Riley B. King in 1925 in Itta Bena, Mississippi, and began playing the guitar and singing at a young age. He was influenced by a variety of blues and gospel musicians, and developed his own distinctive style of blues guitar playing and singing.
King was one of the most influential and respected blues musicians of all time, and was known for his expressive guitar playing and emotive singing. He recorded many classic blues hits, including “The Thrill Is Gone,” “How Blue Can You Get,” and “Every Day I Have the Blues,” and his guitar, “Lucille,” became famous in its own right. He was also known for his philanthropy and activism, and worked to promote the blues and to support various causes throughout his career.
10. Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck is an English musician, singer, and songwriter who is best known as a guitarist. He is considered one of the best guitarists of his time, known for his technical skill and innovative playing style. Beck has played with a variety of bands and artists throughout his career, and has also released several solo albums.
Beck was born in Wallington, England in 1944. He began playing the guitar at a young age and was influenced by a variety of musical styles, including blues, rock and roll, and jazz. He gained fame as the lead guitarist of the band The Yardbirds in the 1960s, and his guitar playing was a key element of the band’s sound. After leaving The Yardbirds, Beck formed the Jeff Beck Group and released several successful albums.
This list was made to educate about the best guitar players in the world and bring information about these legendary guitarists. There is no right or wrong in what order should the guitarists be in these lists, these are only my opinions and i have also taken influence from other lists to form my own opinion. Stay around for more content.