Top 100 Rock Guitarists of All Time

[Willmark]

This isn’t another “Rolling Stone told me what to think” list.

I built this from the ground up with one goal: to separate actual guitar ability and musical impact from myth, nostalgia, and hype. Those three matter very much for certain guitar players.

A few things I care about that most lists don’t:

Completeness matters more than any one trait
If you can only do one thing—shred, riff, or vibe—you’re not cracking the top tier. The guys at the top can do *everything*: lead, rhythm, acoustic, electric, structure, and tone.

Context matters "Aka the Joe Satriani rule"
It’s one thing to sound great when the guitar *is* the song. It’s another to fit into a band, build a track, and elevate everything around you.

Real-world execution matters "Aka the Rory Gallagher rule"
Strip away the studio tricks. One guitar, one amp, live setting—who do you trust? That’s a huge separator.

Memorability matters "Aka the Ace Frehley rule"
If people can hum your solo, you did something right. If they can’t remember it five minutes later, that tells us something too.

Identity matters "Aka the CC DeVille rule"
Some players aren’t the most technical, but the second you hear them, you know who it is. That counts.

Foundation matters—but it’s not everything. "Aka the Duanne Eddy/Les Paul rule"
Early pioneers are on the list because they made it possible. But they don’t get ranked over players who took the instrument further.

Improvisation matters—but it’s a lane, not the whole highway. "Aka the Jerry Garcia rule"

So when you see rankings you disagree with—Hendrix not #1, Santana not top 10, Rory where he is—that’s why. This isn’t about who’s most famous or who gets the most magazine covers.

It’s about: Who can do the most, across the most situations, at the highest level.

Argue it all you want, that’s half the fun. But my list is consistent with itself all the way through, and that’s what I was aiming for.

Top 100 Guitarists
1 Jimmy Page
2 Eddie Van Halen
3 Eric Clapton
4 Jeff Beck
5 Eric Johnson
6 Ry Cooder
7 Steve Vai
8 Jimi Hendrix
9 Brian May
10 Duane Allman
11 Mark Knopfler
12 Randy Rhoads
13 Buckethead
14 Yngwie Malmsteen
15 David Gilmour
16 Stevie Ray Vaughan
17 Tony Iommi
18 Ritchie Blackmore
19 Tom Scholz
20 Lindsey Buckingham
21 Slash
22 Gary Moore
23 Prince
24 Pete Townshend
25 Rory Gallagher*
26 Vito Bratta
27 Warren DeMartini
28 Neal Schon
29 Gary Richrath
30 Ace Frehley
31 Mike McCready
32 Jerry Cantrell
33 Allan Holdsworth
34 Nuno Bettencourt
35 Joe Satriani
36 Angus Young
37 K. K. Downing & Glenn Tipton
38 Phil Collen
39 Ted Nugent
40 Kenny Wayne Shepherd
41 Dimebag Darrell
42 Kirk Hammett
43 Tom Morello
44 Joe Walsh
45 Derek Trucks
46 Shawn Lane
47 Adrian Smith & Dave Murray
48 Matt Bellamy
49 Vinnie Vincent
50 Billy Gibbons
51 Alex Lifeson
52 Zakk Wylde
53 Mick Mars
54 Mick Jones
55 Mick Taylor
56 Rick Nielsen
57 George Harrison
58 Frank Hannon
59 Jeff Healey
60 Duane Eddy
61 Eddie Cochran
62 C.C. DeVille
63 Robby Krieger
64 Steve Howe
65 Keith Richards
66 Carlos Santana
67 Jake E. Lee
68 Dickey Betts
69 Nancy Wilson
70 Joe Perry
71 Tommy Shaw & James Young
72 Mick Ronson
73 Peter Green
74 The Edge
75 Dick Wagner
76 Les Paul
77 Bo Diddley
78 Jack White
79 Brian Robertson & Scott Gorham
80 Mike Campbell
81 PJ Harvey
82 Chuck Berry
83 Martin Barre
84 Allen Collins
85 Buddy Guy
86 Johnny Marr
87 Jonny Greenwood & Ed O’Brien
88 John Fogerty
89 Nile Rodgers
90 Dave Navarro
91 Kim Thayil
92 Dave Davies
93 Dave Mustaine
94 George Lynch
95 Trey Anastasio
96 Andy Summers
97 Robert Fripp
98 Jerry Garcia
99 Kerry King & Jeff Hanneman
100 Kurt Cobain

* if we go by pure ability? Rory Gallagher could arguably be at #10. And doing it live? Him again.

[Hellbound]

Except its not based on the criteria I’m using.

I get this is all opinion based but Hendrix is literally at the top of all of your criteria list. He's done so much more than just his popular songs/albums

I was happy to see Knopfler ranked pretty high though as I think he's one of the most underrated guitarists of all time

[Dr Death]

I know he doesn't meet the criteria but... Uli Jon Roth is a fantastic player.

[Xramfan]

Sammy?

[Willmark]

I get this is all opinion based but Hendrix is literally at the top of all of your criteria list. He's done so much more than just his popular songs/albums

Except he isn’t,

By way of example, Page can do everything Hendrix did and in some cases better. Add to this his architecture of sound. People can’t say “Hendrix did it first”) not saying you, because page was right there at the same time with the Yardbirds and earlier.

Hendrix is talented. That’s not in question, but his myth and Rolling Stone pumping him up is taken as gospel; it makes him inflated, and usually impossible to discuss.

[Willmark]

Sammy?

Nahh not Top 100.

Ritchie Sambora and Joe Perry are others sitting just outside the Top 100.

[Willmark]

Why Page is #1?
Because he checks every box at a high level:
• electric riffs that define songs
• acoustic/folk work that stands on its own
• lead playing that tells a story
• studio construction (layering, arrangement)
• live translation of all of the above

Most players hit 1-2 of those. If extremely lucky player might get to maybe 3.Page hits all of them. Not only hits all five, but excels at them.

Then look at the number 1 criteria I used: “lead, rhythm, acoustic, electric, structure, and tone.”

Some can play faster, some with higher degrees of technical playing, etc. Pick any metric and you want and you can argue that X guitarist is better at that certain aspect.

But finding a player who can do all of that at the very highest level?

Page stands alone.

[Willmark]

I was happy to see Knopfler ranked pretty high though as I think he's one of the most underrated guitarists of all time

Like Beck, the I’m largely indifferent to Knopfler but his talent in undeniable.

[raider_kin]

Why Page is #1?
Because he checks every box at a high level:
• electric riffs that define songs
• acoustic/folk work that stands on its own
• lead playing that tells a story
• studio construction (layering, arrangement)
• live translation of all of the above

Most players hit 1-2 of those. If extremely lucky player might get to maybe 3.

Page hits all of them. Not only hits all five, but excels at them.

Then look at the number 1 criteria I used: “lead, rhythm, acoustic, electric, structure, and tone.”

Some can play faster, some with higher degrees of technical playing, etc. Pick any metric and you want and you can argue that X guitarist is better at that certain aspect.

But finding a player who can do all of that at the very highest level?

Page stands alone.

Page is not only the most overrated guitar player of all time, probably the most overrated musician of all time.

Have you ever listened to 'In Through the Out Door?' Sounded like he was playing with heavy work gloves on.

Plus he ripped off MANY other songs. Many. Needed some more research there me thinks.

[Willmark]

Page is not only the most overrated guitar player of all time, probably the most overrated musician of all time.

Certainly an interesting take

Have you ever listened to 'In Through the Out Door?' Sounded like he was playing with heavy work gloves on.

I have. In Through the Out Door is John Paul Jones' album to a large degree. Page was on heroin and Plant's heart wasn't in it after his son died.

Plus he ripped off MANY other songs. Many.

Such as? I mean when you say that you certainly aren't saying something like Kashmir or the Rain Song right?

Needed some more research there me thinks.

As a Zep fan I am well aware of the claims.

[Toast]

Mark Knopfler is my all time favorite.

I love this rendition of "Money for Nothing." Nothing says respect like Eric Clapton playing rhythm guitar, Sting as backup vocalist, Phil Collins on drums and Steve Winwood on keyboard.

[Xramfan]

Nahh not Top 100.

Ritchie Sambora and Joe Perry are others sitting just outside the Top 100.

Can’t wrap my head around Cobain making it but not Sammy but that’s just me

[Toast]

Except he isn’t,

By way of example, Page can do everything Hendrix did and in some cases better. Add to this his architecture of sound. People can’t say “Hendrix did it first” )not saying you, because page was right there at the sand time with the Yardbirds and earlier.

Hendrix is talented. That’s not in question, but his myth and Rolling Stone pumping him up is so taken as gospel it makes him inflated, and usually impossible to discuss.

I dunno-Hendrix was a force and his sound and style was unreal.

Though it's been popular to do so I think it's difficult to rate any of them on a list because the great ones have all done it differently than those before them yet you hear the sound of their influencers in their style.

Another name that never gets mentioned is Brian Setzer. He is criminally underrated.

I am late to the party but this is one of my favorite conversational topics.

[Willmark]

Can’t wrap my head around Cobain making it but not Sammy but that’s just me

Again. This list is not entirely “mine” by that I mean I’m including some guitar players I might not otherwise have to be consistent with my criteria.

I’m also ranking some where I would not if this was purely my opinion.

Add this: this list not who I personally like or dislike, but staying within the framework of the criteria. Which is amusing given the comment on page 1 about “popularity” I smirked at that one.

Because if this was truly and 100% about who I like and don’t or where I think some players truly rank? You’d all be grabbing your pitchforks if I placed Hendrix where he belongs IMO.

[Toast]

Again. This list is not entirely “mine” by that I mean I’m including some guitar players I might not otherwise have to be consistent with my criteria.

I’m also ranking some where I would not if this was purely my opinion.

Add this: this list not who I personally like or dislike, but staying within the framework of the criteria. Which is amusing given the comment on page 1 about “popularity” I smirked at that one.

Because if this was truly and 100% about who I like and don’t or where I think some players truly rank? You’d all be grabbing your pitchforks if I placed Hendrix where he belongs IMO.

No way Jose, at least not me. Preference in artists is very personal. There really isn't a right or wrong criteria.

[Hellbound]

Why Page is #1?
Because he checks every box at a high level:
• electric riffs that define songs
• acoustic/folk work that stands on its own
• lead playing that tells a story
• studio construction (layering, arrangement)
• live translation of all of the above

Most players hit 1-2 of those. If extremely lucky player might get to maybe 3.Page hits all of them. Not only hits all five, but excels at them.

Then look at the number 1 criteria I used: “lead, rhythm, acoustic, electric, structure, and tone.”

Some can play faster, some with higher degrees of technical playing, etc. Pick any metric and you want and you can argue that X guitarist is better at that certain aspect.

But finding a player who can do all of that at the very highest level?

Page stands alone.

Lol...Hendrix did all of that too. You're obviously super biased in this opinion. Have you ever even listened to everything that Hendrix has done? Sorry Page isn't close to being in a class of his own

Im also wondering where Terry Kath is on the list. This whole list is questionable at best