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.

[Willmark]

Jones was arguably the best musician in the band.

I could see that. He could do everything due to his years in the studio. In terms of bassists alone he's certainly in the upper tier.

He was, IMO, the member that was most important to what Zeppelin became. Without him Zeppelin would not be... as we know them.

Yes and No. Plant has has been very clear that without Page there is no Led Zeppelin. Remove Page and Led Zeppelin never even happens. If we have different members Zep happens, but as you note different. That's how central he is. Quick aside if you haven't seen the "Becoming Zeppelin" documentary you should watch it. Very well done.

Page's production is very underrated. The best example is the recording of When the Levee Breaks. The drums, the harmonica, everything. The orchestration/production of that still has musicians chasing that sound decades later.

To be fair, Zeppelin was the rare assembly of four guys that none of which could be replaced and continue with the same success. The Beatles and Led Zeppelin were the two bands that could never have been, without the four members and the magic chemistry between them.

There is probably no band outside of the Beatles that the four members complemented each other so well. Zep remarked from the very first time that it sounded right. Of course throw Jason Bonham in there? When's he's filled in over the years he sound just like his dad.

What the Beatles were to the 60s, Led Zeppelin was to the 70s.

Some disagreement on Beatles. Used to be a huge fan, but not as big anymore. I still like them but there is a lot of context.

McCartney would have been successful no matter what, he was and is that talented. The conversation up thread about musicianship in Rock and Roll? Prince, McCartney, Jones. No sure which order, but they have to be close to the top.

My issue is with Lennon. Without McCartney? Well, we saw what happened: an early spurt of creativity post Beatles then sporadic. I always wondered if the excuse of raising Sean was a smokescreen. Lennon was talented no doubt, but remove McCartney from the Beatles it doesn't happen. Sure it was Lennon's band to start. It wasn't by the end.

Lastly, because he died relatively young he is mythologized a lot IMO. YMMV.

[vtraider]

I will forever say when it came to the Beatles that the best 2 of the bunch were Paul and George.

[Willmark]

I will forever say when it came to the Beatles that the best 2 of the bunch were Paul and George.

Agreed.

Some of it has to do with age:
Lennon- The Boomers Beatle
McCartney- The best musican of the bunch
Harrison- The Gen Xers Beatle
Starr- Everyone loves Ringo

[Xramfan]

Beatles never did it for me for some reason.

[Dr Death]

Beatles never did it for me for some reason.

Me either. I respect them for what they did but, I was just never a fan. I liked some of the Helter Skelter era stuff when they got a little more raw and harder edged but..... for the most part, their music just never appealed to me.

[raider_kin]

A fun conversation to have is: which Beatle had the best post-Beatle career?

McCartney had an amazing run with 'Venus and Mars', 'Band on the Run', the tour that spawned a live album and movie, and a Bond theme song. Nice.

Harrison had 'All Things Must Pass', did the 'Concert for Bangladesh', the 'The Traveling Wilburys', teaming up with Dylan, Jeff Lyne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty.

Ringo had a number of great singles including 'Photograph and 'It Don't Come Easy'. The album 'Goodnight Vienna' was all we listened to for a good bit and reached Gold status,'Ringo' album went platinum in the US. He still tours with Ringo and the Traveling All Stars. And hey, he married a Bond girl.

Lennon's post Beatle career was cut short, but so many people like 'Imagine' (puke), so that is something. Willmark is correct in saying he became more beloved (mythologized was the word he used) due to his horrible and untimely death.

[raider_kin]

Beatles never did it for me for some reason.

Same. I love 'I'll Follow the Sun', but after that not much. 'We Can Work it Out' is okay.

I like more post-Beatle stuff really. Ringo's 'It don't Come Easy', and 'Band on the Run' are two favorites.

[raider_kin]

Beatles never did it for me for some reason.

PS I see you bought a couple of the pricey badges. Good on ya mate.

[Willmark]

It’s fairly easy imo
1. McCartney
2. Harrison
3. Ringo
3. Lennon

Imagine is the most pathetic song ever. Ok Mr Millionaire singing about “no possessions” while living in your mansion and never having a real job in your life.

[Dr Death]

[Dr Death]

[Dr Death]

[Hellbound]

A fun conversation to have is: which Beatle had the best post-Beatle career?

McCartney had an amazing run with 'Venus and Mars', 'Band on the Run', the tour that spawned a live album and movie, and a Bond theme song. Nice.

Harrison had 'All Things Must Pass', did the 'Concert for Bangladesh', the 'The Traveling Wilburys', teaming up with Dylan, Jeff Lyne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty.

Ringo had a number of great singles including 'Photograph and 'It Don't Come Easy'. The album 'Goodnight Vienna' was all we listened to for a good bit and reached Gold status,'Ringo' album went platinum in the US. He still tours with Ringo and the Traveling All Stars. And hey, he married a Bond girl.

Lennon's post Beatle career was cut short, but so many people like 'Imagine' (puke), so that is something. Willmark is correct in saying he became more beloved (mythologized was the word he used) due to his horrible and untimely death.

The Traveling Wilbury's are one of the best supergroups that no one ever talks about. They were a great band and had one of the most cherished voices in Orbison

[Hellbound]

Beatles never did it for me for some reason.

Same. I also don't really like the Eagles either. Respect them for sure but for some reason I'll listen to the shit out of Frey & Henley's solo stuff

[raider_kin]

White also was the touring guitarist with Pink Floyd