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.

[RunOverByHubbard]

You have Jerry Garcia barely making the list (#98). I beg to differ; I saw him a lot, staring in October 1967. Frankly I thought the Dead were a boring psychedelic blues band at that point and could not hold a candle to the other groups I saw that year -- Moby Grape (excellent!), Steve Miller, Quicksilver MS, Janis with Big Brother, and the Doors. So I stayed away from the Dead all the way until 1981 (Greek Theater, UC Berkeley) and I went many times after that. First, I liked the crowd - no pushing and shoving, very little drunkeness, etc. Jerry's mark on "rock" music is strong and indelible. He had a unique sound and while sloppy at times, he could really move you with his intricate guitar work and sounds. Full disclosure: I never saw the Dead tripping, just stoned (which helped in itself).

[Xramfan]

You have Jerry Garcia barely making the list (#98). I beg to differ; I saw him a lot, staring in October 1967. Frankly I thought the Dead were a boring psychedelic blues band at that point and could not hold a candle to the other groups I saw that year -- Moby Grape (excellent!), Steve Miller, Quicksilver MS, Janis with Big Brother, and the Doors. So I stayed away from the Dead all the way until 1981 (Greek Theater, UC Berkeley) and I went many times after that. First, I liked the crowd - no pushing and shoving, very little drunkeness, etc. Jerry's mark on "rock" music is strong and indelible. He had a unique sound and while sloppy at times, he could really move you with his intricate guitar work and sounds. Full disclosure: I never saw the Dead tripping, just stoned (which helped in itself).

Went to a neighbors memorial on Saturday. He was a big time Grateful Dead head. He was an ER physician for 30 years and a good guy but most of those that spoke at his eulogy were best friends of his where they met eachother at various Dead shows. Not childhood friends, not neighbors and coworkers, Nothing else in common, just the Grateful Dead and these guys were lifelong best friends.

[RunOverByHubbard]

Went to a neighbors memorial on Saturday. He was a big time Grateful Dead head. He was an ER physician for 30 years and a good guy but most of those that spoke at his eulogy were best friends of his where they met eachother at various Dead shows. Not childhood friends, not neighbors and coworkers, Nothing else in common, just the Grateful Dead and these guys were lifelong best friends.

A bit like a cult but not really. A lot of nice people were Deadheads. Now those outside the venue getting f’ed up in the parking lot not so much. Coming out of a show late at night I had to watch myself and my girlfriends at times.

[Willmark]

There's several players that I mentioned that should be on the list and Kath is one of the ones I mentioned. Link Wray was another. I mean Dick Dale created an entire genre and he's not on the list
Malmsteen isn't on it either

As in Yngwie Malmsteen at #14?

[Willmark]

First, kudos for engaging in the substance of the debate and reading the critera

Always an interesting discussion and debate -- from the first time Rolling Stone Magazine put out their Top 100 Guitarists list. Here are my adds and quibbles (and I read your criteria).

Hendrix HAS to be #1. He redefined the instrument. Yes, he was sloppy at times, but let's see you play guitar like that super high. I saw him live twice -- Feb 1968 and Oct 1968, both at Winterland Ballroom in SF. I can tell you -- he was supernatural and so different and so better that anything I saw before (obviously) and after.

Now, maybe not your intent, but what you did just did was a variation of the "Hendrix was first therefor he's number 1" defense. You just couched it in different terms.

I'm not saying you're doing this deliberately, but I've seen it and called out before and the usual tact is to say "he redefined the instrument" rather than outright say "he was the first guitar hero."

Again, to be crystal clear, I'm not calling you out per se, but it goes hand and hand it with the deification of Hendrix: first = #1.

Lastly, Clapton/Page/Beck: I did not see Page live but I did see the other two. IMO, Clapton was great with John Mayall, then fantastic with Cream, and then meh after. I would not put Page #1 like you have, but over the years, I have come to admire him more and more. Yes, his fast runs were often sloppy, but my god, the riffs, the style, the writing. Top ten for sure. Beck: always kind of an enigma for me. I saw him in 1972 (Winterland, SF) and was not super impressed, but I know guitar players think he walked on water. Maybe just not my style.

Personally, I don't get Beck either. To me he is like an inverse of Page. Not saying that's good or bad, simply how he lands to me.

But, being consistent to the criteria of how I listed all of them the reason why he's so high.

[Willmark]

Willmark: “ Argue it all you want, that’s half the fun.”



I’m just following your directions my man and having fun.

Or did I pick the wrong week to quit sniffing glue again?

Nope its all good.

[Hellbound]

As in Yngwie Malmsteen at #14?

[mstrbass2000]

Clapton #3...lol. Mick Mars???...Vinnie Vincent...LOL!

Why is Frank Marino not on the list?

There is no such thing as a definitive top 100 list. This is a popularity list.

Rory Gallagher should be in the top 5 on any list.

Where is Peter Green???... Robin Trower???... Robben Ford???... Guthire Goven???... Billy Strings???... Michael Schenker???

frank marino was a monster..saw that dude live and he crushed it ...very underrated
i have rory top 10
peter green,robin trower,michael schenker,guthrie govan all monsters

ps vinnie vincent is now walking around like an old lady handbag and all lol

[mstrbass2000]

malmsteen was top 3, nobody sounds like him plus the dude erased eddie van halen when he hit the scene

[mstrbass2000]

this is the new monster

[SuperRaider]

malmsteen was top 3, nobody sounds like him plus the dude erased eddie van halen when he hit the scene

Eddie playing in the 70;s and early 80,s was when he was at the top of his game; I never really got into Van Hagar and thought Eddie got lazy after DLR left….

Seen Malmsteen play and he is really good; but I would argue that Michael Schenker was just as good….

[mstrbass2000]

Eddie playing in the 70;s and early 80,s was when he was at the top of his game; I never really got into Van Hagar and thought Eddie got lazy after DLR left….

Seen Malmsteen play and he is really good; but I would argue that Michael Schenker was just as good….

i saw malmsteen at the country club before he blew up, that night richie blackmore showed up in a black limo as i was in line to get in ...wow what a night, malmsteen was literally 20 ft from me

michael schenker was one of my favorite guitar players, just saw him a few months ago with armored saint opening in anaheim, my friend jeff duncan is armored saints guitar player

ps i also love eric johnson,gary moore and jeff beck

[Willmark]

i saw malmsteen at the country club before he blew up, that night richie blackmore showed up in a black limo as i was in line to get in ...wow what a night, malmsteen was literally 20 ft from me

michael schenker was one of my favorite guitar players, just saw him a few months ago with armored saint opening in anaheim, my friend jeff duncan is armored saints guitar player

ps i also love eric johnson,gary moore and jeff beck

What is it that you like about him? I've never been that big into his playing, not sure why.

That said I can recognize that he is highly skilled and highly respected.

[SuperRaider]

i saw malmsteen at the country club before he blew up, that night richie blackmore showed up in a black limo as i was in line to get in ...wow what a night, malmsteen was literally 20 ft from me

michael schenker was one of my favorite guitar players, just saw him a few months ago with armored saint opening in anaheim, my friend jeff duncan is armored saints guitar player

ps i also love eric johnson,gary moore and jeff beck

Schenker I think has been dealing with Mental Health issues most of his life; one show I saw where he fired the lead singer on stage; and another he was playing a big rock show and he was so drunk he ended up sitting down and playing the guitar….UFO with Schenker should have been massive; but it never happened as Schenker can be hard to work with;

[mstrbass2000]

Schenker I think has been dealing with Mental Health issues most of his life; one show I saw where he fired the lead singer on stage; and another he was playing a big rock show and he was so drunk he ended up sitting down and playing the guitar….UFO with Schenker should have been massive; but it never happened as Schenker can be hard to work with;

michael and ufo were my favorites back in the day...they had that magic while they were still together "stranger in teh night is still one of the best live albums ever recorded" too bad michael schenker quit on u.f.o these guys were on the cusp of being a super band