Most Skilled Guitarists
A list of what I think are the most skilled guitarist past and present of all time. I wish there were enough space to list them all but these are truly the most important and impressive guitarist who deserve to be known as the best of the best. Note, this list is made of the MOST SKILLED guitarist, that means it goes not just for technical ability but musical knowledge as well as other factors.
Brian Patrick Carroll, known professionally as Buckethead, is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who has worked within many genres of music. Funny how he can be number one on 3 lists here and only 36 on the Great list...He can play everybodys music, but nobody can play his. A true guitar freek. Huge hands seem to move like a mountain goat up and down a cliff. No wrong moves ever. The chicken stuff is an odd, but I think is a riot! Give him credit on being creative. Over 200 albums, yikes! Just in quantity he ought to win something. The most skilled for sure...his effects pedals, wah wah skills, and amazing other toys he uses show that KFC bucket might be hiding extra external brain. The guy has an gifted memory for music. THE Savant of music of our time. I like Clapton, dimebag, Eddie Van Halen, Bonamassa, Vai, Page, Emanuel, Schenker, Liefson, Carlos and Schon. But quite honestly, they don't tell the whole story Like Buckethead fast or slow...He is the Hendrix of our time, molded by the greats and unbridled by commercial and corperate rules and regs..
Buckethead doesn't need approval from the masses or comprise just ONE facet of a 3-5member band. He plays magically, mercilessly & with a God given talent which supersedes all rhyme & reason. Unlike any before him, he has no stake or interest in fame & fortune & recognition...Those who don't comprehend his appearance or misunderstand his approach are depriving their souls from being touched by a musical talent so far
beyond pure perfection that he indeed cannot be touched in any category of play from technicality to speed to style to simply GOAT
I'm sorry but Shawn Lane being #16 is almost insulting. He was the most technically proficient guitar player who ever lived by far. If you have ever picked up the guitar you would understand. Even Buckethead himself, as inhumanly talented as he is, would admit as to the superior skills/sheer command over the instrument possessed by Mr. Lane. "Freakish nervous system" as Shawn himself so eloquently and humbly put it. This is not a popularity contest.
I agree him to be top on this list. Buckethead is probably the most skilled guitarist of all time (or at leas currently). He knows about every guitar technique. He can play both fast and slow. His stuffs are unique and new. And he has a very wide range of music genre. Hard rock, heavy metal, neoclassical metal, progressive metal, funk, jazz, experimental rock/metal, ambient etc. Plus he has lots of music stuffs.
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is an American guitarist, composer, singer, songwriter, and producer, born and raised on Long Island, New York. Was blown off on seeing the tender surrender video... Contains all sort fast playing techniques like legato and sweep picking with not a single wrong note.. He is indeed an accomplished guitarist with high technical knowledge.. Linking at his composition when can see shredding and mad headbanging are not principles of music and high distortion songs are not something great.. It's melody and tone and emotion that matters... Check out whispering a prayer.. Vai crossed way out of limits of a guitarist
Out of this list, no one else is more known than steve vai. from his incredible instrumental albums such as passion and warfare to his works with artists like dave lee roth, frank zappa, whitesnake, alcatrazz, Tokyo metropolitan orchestra, and Netherlands metropole orchestra vai is one of the most skilled guitarist around today
Watch "I'm the hell outta here - live at the crossroads" on YouTube and you'll see just how amazing his playing is. By far the most skilled guitarist around.
Just watched "For The Love Of God" and I have to admit that it was one of greatest visa solo's ever.
Joseph Satriani (born July 15, 1956) is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. Early in his career, Satriani worked as a guitar instructor, with many of his former students achieving fame, such as Steve Vai, Larry LaLonde, Rick Hunolt, Kirk Hammett, Andy Timmons, Charlie ...read more. If he had chosen to be a pro musician before guitar instructor then he'd be more famous and we might not have Steve Vai.
Joe satriani is the most technically skilled guitarist ever! And yes he taught Steve vai!
How is Joe not in the top 5? He's taught half the people that are.
He's knows more about music that all of slipnot combined and that's nearly 15 people
Eric Johnson (born August 17, 1954) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist from Austin, Texas. Best known for his electric guitar skills, Johnson is also a highly proficient acoustic, lap steel, resonator, and bass guitarist as well as an accomplished pianist and vocalist. Unmatched tone and approach to phrasing and over all musicology.
Yngwie Johan Malmsteen is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter and bandleader who was born on June 30th, 1963, in Stockholm, Sweden. He was known for his neoclassical metal playing style back in the 1980s. Very skilled guitarist. But the only problem is that his ego killed him. I mean, a lot of songs are same, copying licks to play in multiple songs. But other than this, pretty demanding guitar player.
Jason Eli Becker (born July 22, 1969) is an American neoclassical metal guitarist and composer. At the age of 16, he became part of the Shrapnel Records-produced duo Cacophony with his friend Marty Friedman. They released the albums Speed Metal Symphony in 1987 and Go Off! in 1988. Cacophony broke up in 1989 and Becker began doing solo work, having released his first album Perpetual Burn in 1988, also through Shrapnel. He later joined David Lee Roth's band and recorded one album with him, A Little Ain't Enough. ...read more. For me the most skilled player ever, all his solos contains difficult patterns, shapes, articulation, combination of fingers, fastest changes, tempos and melody and soul. To think he was 17-18-19 years old when he played for Cacophony and David Lee Roth make us think what it would be Jason Today? The best of all time..
Best but also made it impossible to prove
John Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist, composer and producer. He is best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Compared to his level of skill, John Petrucci is relatively unknown in the modern music industry. What the hell is wrong with number seven in this site
best death metal guitarist 7th alexi laihi he should be second
best metal guitarist 7th john petrucci he should be first
Can't believe he isn't on here yet. Dream Theater anyone?
There's a video of him, vai, and satriani soloing together and he was just as good if not better. The fact that he is 10th is an insult to JP
Progressive, innovative and sounds as good live as in the studio, 7 strings... just amazing.
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" was an English rock guitarist. He was one of the three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds (the other two being Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page). Beck also formed The Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice.
Robert William Gary Moore was a Northern Irish musician, most widely recognised as a singer, songwriter, and virtuoso rock and blues guitarist. Should be No1 in my opinion. Vastly underrated Gary could play any style and so melodic and as well as being a technical genius. The emotion he could bring out in the guitar would bring you close to tears. He is long overdue to be inducted in the rock hall of fame. Rock In Peace Gary Windfingers Moore.
Best guitarist who ever lived.Was technically very fast & in my opinion was the guitarist who could evoke the most emotion out of everyone.
Great singer too.
Jimi Hendrix (born November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970) was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music". Hendrix is consistently ranked on lists of musicians who died too soon. I don't know if he is technically the best, but he was the one who really got the ball rolling with being extremely technical with guitar. He is a pioneer so I don't know it's kinda comparing apples to oranges. He taught himself and that's what he came up with?! Amazing. Now we can learn guitar by going on YouTube and copying greats like the people on this list (if we put in the work that these greats do/did and if we're lucky enough for our genetics to work for us too). Anyway, I do think he brought soul and spirit to the technicality too, which some highly skilled technical guitarists totally lack. And since it's music, I think that is a technical aspect in of itself.
Plus, he made Eric Clapton jealous, lol.
In my personal opinion if Jimi would of lived longer he possibly would of evolve. What he accomplished in his short time was the best. He was an Innovator despite his roots. He led the way for others. His skills and techniques however in comparison to some of today's guitarist isn't on par, but like I mentioned, imagine if he had lived another five, ten or twenty years.
How is possible? Greatest guitarist is not in this list. For knowledge amongst all. Jimi has more than other. At his time there was no facility available but he played so many things and even now people won't be able to play he had during his time. Please vote him. Jimi should be at no. 1
In the same league as Segovia, Delucia, Vai, Rienhardt, Montgomery- each of which are the best in their respective abilities. Hendrix-Segovia-Vai are the most stunning to me personally.
Michael Angelo Batio also known as Mike Batio or MAB, is an American heavy metal guitarist and columnist from Chicago, Illinois. MAB should be number 1. He has amazing skills, and there is nobody in the world who can play like him. This guy can play right hamded and left hamded just as good. And he can also play 2 guitars AT THE SAME TIME! There are guitarists who has guitars with many necks, but they are only posers! MAB is the only one who can play multiple guitars at the same time!
With his thorough knowledge of scales and lightning speed mab is probably the most technical shredder of all time. his ability to be able use both hands to play separate and twin melodies is far impossible for any other. a serious force to be reckoned with.
He plays better backwards with his off-hand than most guitarist can play normal. He was at Yngwie level at age 13...
It takes two to be the best!
Just watch his video on YouTube, He's the best guitarist ever! All you ever think about guitar technique, he can do it all better than you think...
He mixes bali ethnic and shred technic
Balawan is the best guitarist! No doubt. He can play all kind of music, accurate, smooth and fast guitar player!
Rock, Jazz, Ethnic, Pop, Funky, Blues, Reggae, everything! Nothing compared
Carlos Santana is a Mexican and American musician who first became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered a fusion of rock and Latin American jazz.
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known for his work in the hard rock/metal bands Deep Purple and Rainbow. He was ranked number 16 on Guitar World's "100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time" in 2004, and number 50 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" in 2011. In 2016 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of original members of Deep Purple. When guitarists were afraid of using their whammy bar to shift the pitch of guitar, Jimi Hendrix came and did some tremendous working by throwing different kinds of whammy techniques (including dive bomb) at woodstuck in 1969 for the national anthem. The next year this guy came and also does the same thing. That's just an example.
Crazy guitar skills. A very good vocalist. A super interesting musician.
Great to see Allan Holdsworth and Chris Broderick here.
Allan Holdsworth was a British guitarist and composer. He released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played a variety of musical styles in a career spanning more than four decades, but is best known for his work in jazz fusion. Of all shredders and fusion players, holdsworth is one the most prominent. his work on the album metal fatigue can go up against any of todays guitarists' work and come out on top. his otherworldly improvisation skills would make most players look like billy joe. allan holdsworth is, in my opinion, th most skilled guitarist ever! His work should not be ignored
Shawn Lane was an American musician who released two studio albums and collaborated with a variety of musicians including Ringo Starr, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Reggie Young, Joe Walsh, Jonas Hellborg and many others. One of many influences to players like buckethead, shawn lane's accuracy &speed and all around abilities were more than astounding. What shawn lane accomplished in his lifetime is remarkable and his album power fo ten showcases his jaw dropping skills
There are the best, then there is Shawn Lane. His overall ability put him into a league that can never be matched.
There is no one, no one playing like shawn lane
Guthrie Govan is an English virtuoso guitarist and guitar teacher, known for his work with the bands The Aristocrats, Asia, GPS, The Young Punx and The Fellowship, as well as his solo project Erotic Cakes. Guthrie is one of the best modern guitarist nowadays in term of melody, soul, and of course skill. I like almost all his stuff especially when he starts to playing jazz and blues, but actually he can also play almost
If you just listen to the guy, you'll understand why he's so great.
Beast of a player! Crazy good
Steven Lee Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer, best known for his work with the rock band Toto. A prolific session musician, Lukather has recorded guitar tracks for more than 1,500 albums representing a broad array of artists and genres. He has also contributed to albums and hit singles as a songwriter, arranger and producer. Lukather has released seven solo albums. Steven Lee Lukather (born October 21, 1957) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer, best known for his work with the rock band Toto. A prolific session musician, Lukather has recorded guitar tracks for more than 1,500 albums representing a broad array of artists and genres.
He is also recognized for his efficiency in the studio, often recording tracks in one take using minimal sound processing.
Neal Joseph Schon is an American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist best known for his work with the bands Journey and Bad English. He is Journey's last original constant member, having participated in every album and tour to date.Not my favorite, but probably the best ever. Followed by Wes Montgomery and 8 other jazz players. I don't listen to jazz all that often, but these guys are the best.
Pat is without question the most innovative and skilled guitarist in the world. Sorry but is simply the truth
Pat is actually number 1. He is much more diverse, and his soloing and improvisational skills outdo the others.
Most talented, diverse and skilful guitarist, arranger, composer, inventer and so on from our generation.
Stanley, unquestionably is just one of the most skilled guitarist in jazz and music period on this earth. his incredible two handed picking makes him the king of tapping that is second to none. he truly is a master with more to come. look at his cover of stairway to heaven and you'll more than agree!
Genius. Can't beat his arpeggios, two handed tapping and ability to play two guitars at the same time.
He is the most skilled tapper guitarist. Definitely more skilled than Shawn Lane.
Most skilled tapping guitarist. Better than any of the rock guys on this list.
Al Di Meola is an American jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitarist, composer, and record producer of Italian origin. Coordination, speed and technique personified.
Oluwatosin Ayoyinka Olumide "Tosin" Abasi (born January 7, 1983), is a Nigerian American musician, best known as the founder and lead guitarist of the instrumental progressive metal band Animals as Leaders. Before founding Animals as Leaders, he was the guitarist for the technical metalcore band Reflux. He has recorded and released four albums with Animals as Leaders: a self-titled debut, Weightless, The Joy of Motion and their most recent album, The Madness of Many. Guitar World ranks Abasi at #97 on their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of all time. Tosin Abasi has one of the most unique playing styles that I've ever seen. How he is 26 on the list is a mystery to me, he should be at least number 5.
Joe Pass was an American jazz guitarist of Sicilian descent. He is considered one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 20th century. One of my personal favorite guitarists. Plays complex fast rhythms with harmony nearly as advanced as it could be (matched only by some classical/jazz guitarists) employing extended altered chord tones and scales in an elegant, natural, and in a seemingly effortless manner. While playing his single-note lines with a pick requires high skill, playing them as he did (in a classical finger picking style) is ungodly challenging. Combine that with his ability to improvise with chords and solo with comping for himself and you have a guitarist who nearly tops Bach in improvising (this is an exaggeration, Bach's ability to improvise hardly seems human). More importantly than anything I've mentioned so far is that for all his technical skill he never once plays cryptically. He always keeps the listener in mind, and doesn't care for going of on empty tangents. He knows music should be experienced viscerally rather than cognitively, and aims for that for the listener and for himself. Grant it, ...more
A solo fingerstyle jazz player who laid down the foundations of how jazz guitar playing was to be played for years to come. his skills are amazing and his playing style is incredible. his album virtuoso should be checked out period!