Jan Akkerman
Duane Allman
Ron Asheton
Ferdinand Bakker
Martin Barre
Syd Barrett
Jeff Skunk Baxter
Jeff Beck
Chris Bell
Eric Bell
Dickie Betts
Ritchie Blackmore
Mike Bloomfield
Marc Bolan
James Burton
Bernard Butler
Michael Bruce
Wally Bryson
Roy Buchanan
Lindsey Buckingham
Glen Buxton
Mike Campbell
Manny Charlton
Alex Chilton
John Cippolina
Eric Clapton
Zal Cleminson
Nels Cline
Ry Cooder
Steve Cropper
Dave Davies
Buck Dharma (Donald Roeser)
Al DiMeola
Nick Drake
The Edge
Elliot Easton
Peter Frampton
Dave Edmonds
Robert Fripp
Fred Frith
Rory Gallagher
Lowell George
David Gilmour
Alice Go
Scott Gorham
Guthrie Govan
Peter Green
Johnny Greenwood
Robin Guthrie
Manuel Göttsching
Steve Hacket
Ollie Halsall
George Harrison
Warren Haynes
Eddie Hazel
Jimi Hendrix
Steve Hillage
Allan Holdsworth
James Honeyman-Scott
Steve Howe
Steve Hunter
Tony Iommi
Bert Jansch
Wilko Johnson
Justin Jones
Steve Jones
Terry Kath
Michael Karoli
Danny Kirwan
Robby Krieger
Mark Knopfler
Paul Kossoff
Wayne Kramer
Andy Latimer
Alvin Lee
Alex Lifeson
Richard Lloyd
Nils Lofgren
Harvey Mandel
Johnny Marr
Steve Marriott
Hank Marvin
Dave Mason
Patrick Mata
Brian May
Nick McCabe
John Mclaughlin
Jimmy McCulloch
John McGeoch
Roger McGuinn
Tony McPhee
Gary Moore
Scotty Moore
Thurston Moore
Bill Nelson
Mike Oldfield
Jimmy Page
Les Paul
Eddie Phillips
Andy Powell
Lee Ranaldo
John Renborn
David Rhodes
Keith Richards
Johnny Ramone
Brian Robertson
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
Mick Ronson
Terje Rypdal
Carlos Santana
Will Sergeant
Michael Schenker
Tom Scholz
Neal Schon
Andy Scott
Kevin Shields
Slash
Fred Sonic Smith
Chris Spedding
Stephen Stills
Andy Summers
Mick Taylor
Richard Thompson
Johnny Thunders
Mary Timony
Pete Townshend
Robin Trower
Derek Trucks
Ted Turner
Eddie Van Halen
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Tom Verlaine
Dick Wagner
Joe Walsh
Jack White
Leslie West
Winged Eel Fingerling (Elliot Ingber)
Clarence White
James Williamson
Johnny Winter
Steve Winwood
Ronnie Wood
Link Wray
Angus Young
Malcolm Young
Neil Young
Zoot Horn Rollo (Bill Harkleroad)
Frank Zappa
Based on Tone/Creativity/Attitude/Mood/Feel
Nice to see the often under-appreciated and overlooked Mike Campbell on your list. He brings so much depth and feeling with his leads without being overly flashy. And oh, those vintage guitars…
Literally Tom Petty’s right hand man for over 40 years.
It is hard to argue with this list, however I still think you should check out some of Matt Bellamy’s playing. He has impeccable technique and is very expressive with his guitar playing. Not to mention his overall extraordinary talent.
An excellent list. I would only add Danny Kirwan (ex-Fleetwood Mac).
Yes, he will be added right now.
Would it be uncouth to put MWP in that list? He’s tops in my book. ;-b
Seriously though, there are some great guitarists in that list. Personally, I can’t think “favorite guitarists” without including Stuart Adamson. His playing has such feeling and his solos are nothing but astounding. And I like the e-bow.
Love that two guitarists I love that many hardly mention are on this list, James Honeyman Scott and Jimmy McCullough. Brilliant and they would have given so much more. The one guy who actually sort of and somewhat at one time or another replaced these two great axe men with McCartney and in the Pretenders and also did fantastic work with Talk Talk and John Mayer etc, Robbie McIntosh would not be out of place on this list at all.
MWP, please consider the late/ great Peter Banks, from Yes and Flash fame.. the firs Flash album is one of my faves…
Jeff
Great list good to see Rory Gallagher, Mike Campbell and SRV on there.
I really rate Robbie Robertson as well.
Hi Marty,
Like SO MANY artist’s you’ve turned me onto I will add the ones I’ve never heard to my list to hear. I agree 100% with “SOJA”. MWP is already on my list. May I humbly suggest John Lennon?
Thanks Much 🙂
Dean (In Oregon)
John Lennon is the most underrated guitar genius, possibly ever…. probably because his song writing was too good. But as Clapton claimed…..he could make it move, or howl as Lennon himself said.
Notably the Rev Billy Gibbons and the great Earl Slick didn’t make the list either! Neither did the world’s first guitar hero, Charlie Christian. Without him, none of us would be here…..and so tasteful!
But there are some gems in there. Terry Kath….better than Hendrix, by Jimi’s own admission, allegedly!
Great list. Interesting that Sonic Youth is on there (and Mary Timony who I saw open for them a few times with her band Helium). I tried to turn a friend onto the Church back in the 90s by telling him, “They’re like Sonic Youth, but more melodic, a little less noisy, and with a better singer!”, and played the last minute of “Essence” to demonstrate the similarities.
I nearly had him sold on the band with a few other choice cuts, until he realized it was the same band who recorded “Under the Milky Way” which he hated. But he was that kind of friend: had Sonic Youth had a hit song, he would have called them sellouts and moved on!
Wow wow wow….. Will Sergeant the underrated maestro of Echo and the Bunnymen.