From Eddie Van Halen to Brian May to Prince, these are just some of the names that come to mind when talking about some of the greatest rock guitarists of all time.
These are gifted musicians who not only mastered the instrument, but took it to new levels, defining or influencing the genre in their own unique way. One thing they all have in common is their own distinctly identifiable sound. When you hear Jimmy Page play “Stairway to Heaven,” Eric Clapton play “Layla” or Prince play “Purple Rain,” you immediately recognize the song, and the virtuoso holding the guitar.
Top Rock Guitarists
Here are ten of the top rock guitarists of all time, noting a couple of songs throughout each of their careers that highlight what makes them so special.
10. Randy Rhoads
He died far too young but left an incredible music legacy.
The son of a California music teacher, Randy Rhoads developed an interest in music early, picking up the guitar before the age of 10. He co-founded Quiet Riot as a teenager and later helped revive Ozzie Osbourne’s career when he joined Ozzie’s band as a guitarist. His work, specifically, on Osbourne’s Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman made him a rising star in the rock guitar world.
His astounding hype speed solos on “Mr. Crowley” and “Crazy Train” are unmatched and serve as an inspiration to younger guitarists still today.
Sadly, Rhoads died in a plane crash in 1982 at the age of 25.
MORE FROMFORBES ADVISOR
9. David Gilmour
He joined Pink Floyd, becoming their lead guitarist the year co-founder Syd Barrett left the band. In the years that followed, David Gilmour took the band to new heights with his bluesy electric guitar solos.
His playing shines on landmark albums including 1973’s Dark Side of the Moon and 1979’s The Wall. Gilmour’s most famous solo is the power ballad on “Comfortably Numb,” a song Gilmour co-wrote.
In later years, he branched out on his own solo projects, and has collaborated with other well-known artists and musicians on their projects. Gilmour is still creating new music and touring as a solo act.
8. Pete Townsend
He’s a British born musician who was the lead guitarist and primary songwriter/composer for the Who.
Pete Townsend was an innovator and one of the earliest rock guitarists to use amp feedback for musical purposes. His vast body of work on songs like “Pinball Wizard,” “I Can See for Miles,” “My Generation” and others, shows his varied range and flexibility from power strumming to striking power chords.
Queen guitarist Brian May says he can’t imagine rock guitar without him.
“Townshend brought to the scene a blistering clang of super-amplified but not over-saturated chords — razor-edged monoliths crashing angrily through our brains, biting rhythmic hammer blows which would change the likes of me forever. If you want to feel what I’m talking about — put on ‘My Generation’ at full volume,” May said.
Townend has won multiple awards for the rock opera Tommy which started as a theme album, then became a film, and later a Broadway musical.
7. Eric Clapton
One of the greatest guitarists of all-time, Eric Clapton is the only person inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame three times. (First as a member of the Yardbirds in 1992, with Cream in 1993, then as a solo artist in 2000.)
Heavily influenced by the blues, the British-born Clapton, who is also a gifted songwriter, has always blended heart and soul in his music. His rock classic “Layla” was inspired by his forbidden love for the wife of his best friend, George Harrison. And he wrote “Tears in Heaven” after the tragic death of his 4-year-old son.
The first public recognition for his guitar skills came during his Yardbird days when someone spray painted “Clapton is God” on a wall in London. Religious references aside, he’s an accomplished musician whose work continues to inspire fellow and aspiring musicians.
In addition to his own well-known hits, Clapton played the iconic solo on the Beatles song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”
6. Prince
Aside from his extraordinary ability to play it, when Prince picked up a guitar, you knew things were about to get entertaining. He was a true showman who could do it all. He was a singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist whose talent knew no bounds.
Prince blended rock, pop, funk, rhythm & blues and “lived” to play music.
His guitar seemed an extension of himself whether he was rocking audiences with “Let’s Go Crazy” or playing the dynamic power ballad solo on “Purple Rain.”
He was truly one of the most talented musicians of his time, and when it came to the guitar, no one, before or since, has played it like Prince.
5. Keith Richards
He’s a singer/songwriter and guitarist for the legendary British group the Rolling Stones.
Keith Richard cites Chuck Berry and the Everly Brothers among his early influences, but Richards would soon carve out his own place in music history. He’s known for his chord-heavy playing style, rooted in blues music.
His career with the Stones spans more than six decades, giving him a massive catalogue of songs with legendary riffs. From “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” to “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” to “Start Me Up” to many others.
Although he’s widely recognized for his skills as a guitarist, his strong songwriting partnership with Mick Jagger is also a huge part of the band’s lengthy success.
The Rolling Stones remains one of the most enduring rock bands in history.
4. Jimmy Page
He played with the Yardbirds and worked as a London session player, adding guitar to recordings by the Who, the Kinks, Marianne Faithful and others, before founding one of the greatest rock bands ever. It’s the songs and diverse sounds Jimmy Page created with Led Zeppelin that makes him one of the most respected guitarists in music history.
He was one of the driving forces behind the heavy rock sound of the early seventies, but he contributed so much more. He drew from a vast array of musical influences and blended both acoustic and electric guitar elements.
As Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry noted during Led Zeppelin’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, “Zeppelin would change gears six times in one hour. They played blues, funk, rock, reggae and ballads with equal ease. I think it’s laughable some people consider them just a heavy metal band since at least half of their best songs were acoustic.”
Page was prolific in creating guitar riffs and often played with a cello bow to alter the sound. His riff in “Whole Lotta Love” is considered one of the best of all time, and his solo in “Stairway to Heaven” is also regarded as one of the greatest.
3. Brian May
He’s one of the most identifiable guitarists in rock music. Within the first few seconds of hearing him play, you know it’s Brian May.
His unique approach to tone and sound began when he was a young boy, and he and his father designed and built his Red Special guitar. May would go on to use that Red Special for many of Queen’s biggest hits, some of which he also wrote.
May always likened the sound of the guitar to “singing,” saying he strived to find the instrument’s “voice.” Since he made so much music with one of rock’s greatest voices ever, Freddie Mercury, it’s easy to see the two were well-paired.
May has always experimented with sound, determined to showcase each song in the best way possible whether that meant spectacular solos, timeless riffs or beautiful melodies.
His work in “Bohemian Rhapsody” is absolute magic. The song, which many predicted would never connect with rock fans, has become one of the genres best-known and much-loved songs.
May continues to tour with Queen with Adam Lambert handling vocals. In addition to being a guitar virtuoso, May is also an astrophysicist.
2. Eddie Van Halen
One of the most influential rock guitarists of all time, Eddie Van Halen was an electric guitar virtuoso who loved the instrument and practiced constantly. He was a Dutch-born American songwriter and guitarist who emerged onto the music scene in the 1970s as part of the group, Van Halen, which he cofounded with his brother, Alex.
Eddie helped reshape the sound of the electric guitar. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame describes him this way:
“With blistering speed, and melodic feel, he perfected the art of shredding, unleashing two-handed finger tapping, dramatic whammy-bar moves, and other astonishing never-before-seen techniques.”
Van Halen’s nearly two-minute guitar solo on “Eruption,” a song featured on the band’s self-titled debut album, is as mesmerizing today as it was when he recorded it almost 50 years ago. He was also the master behind the guitar solo on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” doing it as a favor to Quincy Jones, for free.
Although the music world lost him on October 6, 2020, to cancer at the age of 65, Eddie Van Halen continues to influence up-and-coming guitarists, as he has for decades.
Before we note the No. 1 Top Guitarist, we’d like to share some honorable mentions.
Honorable Mention: Chuck Berry
When it comes to rock and roll guitar, many have helped develop and revolutionize the sound through the years, but it all started with Chuck Berry. He paved the way for what rock n’ roll would become with “Maybeline,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” and others. And his 18-second intro to “Johnny B. Goode” opened the doors for just what the electric guitar could do for music.
Honorable Mention: B.B. King
B.B. King was the undisputed King of the Blues. He had his first hit in 1951 with “Three O’clock Blues” and by the 1960s was a noted influence on many guitarists in rock and roll. He famously named his guitar Lucille and recorded his biggest hit and signature song “The Thrill is Gone” in 1969. It led to the first of 15 Grammy awards for the legendary artist.
Honorable Mention: Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins was an inventive guitarist and record producer known primarily for his work in country music, but he was a major influence in rock and roll, as well. Although he’s known for creating the “Nashville Sound” which helped give country music a commercial boost, and his distinctive finger picking style, he had a broader range and reach which influenced other genres, as well. Atkins played on Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel,” the Everly Brothers “Wake Up Little Susie” and others.
Now, back to the our Top 10 Rock Guitarist countdown as we round out the list with No. 1.
1. Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix was a self-taught electric guitarist who revolutionized the 60s psychedelic rock movement. Always experimenting with sound, he brought the electric guitar into the modern era with sound effects, sonic experimentation, amplification, and other techniques, rounding it out with his onstage theatrics.
The Seattle-native moved to London where he formed the Jimi Hendrix experience, then became a superstar back in the U.S. after his electrifying performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in June of 1967. In addition to his exhilarating musical performance, he stunned the crowd by setting his guitar on fire.
“Purple Haze,” released in 1967 became a guitar anthem. He also made history with his rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Woodstock.
His career was far too short, but in his short time here he changed rock music forever. Hendrix died on September 18, 1970, due to barbiturate overdose.
Bottom Line
These top 10 rock guitarists were inventors and innovators who took the electric guitar to such an extraordinary level, they are still inspiring musicians today. Each had a sound so unique, you can name the guitarist as soon as you hear one of their songs, solos, or riffs. Whether it was rock or heavy metal, they changed the way it was played — for the better. They are true guitar heroes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Are Some Of The Best Guitar Solos Of All Time?
Jimmy Page’s “Stairway to Heaven” solo in the Led Zeppelin classic ranks among one of rock music’s greatest of all time. The song starts off with the soft gentle sounds of the acoustic and later rises with dramatic tension ending with Page’s climactic electric guitar solo. Led Zeppelin has a vast catalogue of exceptional songs, this one specifically, and certainly Page’s guitar work, helped cement the group’s place in rock and roll history.
Eddie Van Halen’s solo in “Eruption” is absolutely one of the best in rock music. This Van Halen song brought guitar fans to their knees as it showcased Eddie’s seemingly supernatural ability to play guitar with spectacular speed and his signature two-hand tapping Rock and heavy metal guitar haven’t been the same since.
Who Are The Best Bass Guitar Players?
With so many fantastic bass players through the years, it’s difficult to compile a short list of the best, these three have certainly carved out their own unique spot in rock music.
One of the most influential bassists of time, Jaco Pastorious (1951-1987), helped reinvent the electric guitar with his style, approach, and exceptional speed. He played with the Weather Report, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hanco*ck and others. He died in 1987 at the age of 35 from injuries suffered in a beating.
John Entwistle (1944-2002) Entwistle, who played bass with the British group, the Who, got his start musical start as a child, first learning the piano, then the French horn, before switching to the bass. He was a major contributor to the Who’s sound and his solo in “MY Generation” is one of the best. Entwistle died in 2002 at the age of 57. Cause of death was a heart attack induced by cocaine.
Geddy Lee is a Canadian musician best known as bassist and lead singer for Rush. He learned to play a number of instruments as a child but went on to master the bass guitar. He’s influenced a number of bass players in rock today. Check out any Rush song to hear him shine.
Who Are The Best Heavy Metal Guitarists?
Black Sabbath, along with co-founder and guitarist Tony Iommi helped define heavy metal in the 1970s.
Iommi’s heavy metal riffs and down tuned guitar gave songs like “Paranoid” and “Iron Man” their unique sound and went on to inspire heavy metal guitarists for decades to come.
Eddie Van Halen, who we’ve listed in this article previously, is another of heavy metal’s greatest guitarists.
Who Are The Best Jazz Guitarists?
There are many talented jazz guitarists who’ve made significant contributions to genre through the years with Wes Montgomery chief among them. He started playing guitar as a teenager, joining Lionel Hampton’s band before later forming a group with his brothers. Montgomery was a self-taught guitarist with an unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb. His influenced a number of guitarists including George Benson, and Pat Metheny has called him “the greatest guitarist of all time.” Montgomery was at the peak of his popularity when he died of a heart attack in 1968 at the age of 45.
Who Are The Best Blues Guitarists?
Thanks to his style, approach, influence, and decades of touring, B.B. King is the undisputed King of the Blues. The Mississippi-native was a singer, songwriter, and producer, and blues guitarist. He named his guitar Lucille and had an extensive catalogue of music, but is best known for his signature song “The Thrill is Gone.” He collaborated with a wide range of fellow musicians like Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, and others in later years, King died in 2015 at the age of 89. A museum in Indianola, Mississippi honors his music and contributions to the blues.
Who Are The Best Female Guitarists?
There are a number of amazing female guitarists through the years from Sister Rosetta Tharpe to Nancy Wilson to Bonnie Raitt, and many more. But you have to give credit to Joan Jett, who is one of the best-known female rockers, for paving the way for many of the women playing guitar today.
Jett started out in the 1970s with the Runaways, but made her mark as the singer, songwriter, and guitarist of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Jett had a defiant air about her that shined through hits like “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” “Bad Reputation” and “I Love Rock and Roll.” She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (along with the Blackhearts) in 2015.
