Top 10 Best Acoustic Guitarists

The Top Ten

José Feliciano

José Montserrate Feliciano García, born on September 10, 1945, is a Puerto Rican guitarist, singer, and composer. He is known for his virtuosic guitar playing and has released numerous albums across a variety of genres. Feliciano is perhaps most famous for his 1968 rendition of Feliz Navidad, which remains... read more

José Feliciano was the first to add nylon string guitar with a personal and incredible blending of classical and flamenco fingerstyle in pop rock music!
His importance in the acoustic guitar and music world was not less than Hendrix in electric hard rock. He was an influence for all. Tommy Emmanuel says José Feliciano was one of his idols. And Tommy is NOT better than José because José can play all: classical, blues, jazz, flamenco, rock, and hard rock!

José is the most versatile guitarist ever! There is nothing he cannot play! He moves me like no other. He can make one guitar sound like an orchestra. Self-taught, passionate, and always entertaining. His voice is also wonderful.
If you only knew José for The Doors' cover of Light My Fire, then think again!
Tommy Emmanuel

William Thomas "Tommy" Emmanuel is an Australian guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for his complex fingerstyle technique, energetic performances, and his use of percussive effects on the guitar. Emmanuel has received multiple awards and honors throughout his career, including being... read more

Met Tommy in Victoria at one of his concerts. He is a virtuoso with technique unlike any other. Live is the only way to fully appreciate his showmanship, energy, passion, and musical magic. His live sound is simply unbelievable and intoxicating.
The best part is his kind-hearted, beautiful soul that permeates his performance and presence. In my view, the best player in the world and an even better person. Gotta love the man! He represents the very best in humanity.

Tommy's early work was both electric (mainly using a Telecaster) and acoustic. While I completely agree that Tommy is by far the most advanced acoustic guitarist of all time, I do wish he'd pick up his Telecaster from time to time.
On an electric, he sounds like a blend of Robben Ford, Brad Paisley, and (during his higher gain solos) Jimmy Page. If anyone was ever truly bonded to the guitar, Tommy Emmanuel is the man.
Eric Clapton

Eric Patrick Clapton is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is the only three-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream. He was also a founding member of Derek and the Dominos, known for... read more

Ok, I know he is known for his electric stuff, but everyone knows his "Unplugged" album. Listen and watch. He is also one of the best acoustic guitarists of all time. Any guitar list without him is bogus. Come on, folks, at least top ten. There are Grammys for a reason!

His Unplugged album proves exactly why he is the most versatile guitarist to ever exist. From a Gibson to a Fender to Martin acoustic guitars, playing blues, rock, reggae, and countless other genres, Clapton is a god at them all!

He's a better electric guitar player than acoustic, but that doesn't mean he's not talented at acoustic.
Stephen Stills

Stephen Arthur Stills is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. He has also had a successful solo career and was ranked number 28 in Rolling Stone's list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time... read more
James Taylor

James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He's one of the best-selling artists of all time, with more than 100 million records sold worldwide.

Probably one of the most influential acoustic artists of all time.
Paul Simon

Paul Frederic Simon is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and actor. He first rose to fame as one half of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, formed in 1964 with Art Garfunkel.
Following the duo's split in 1970, Simon launched a highly successful solo career. He is known for incorporating world music... read more

Number one in everything having to do with music. Genius!
Phil Keaggy

I had the joy of working as his sound engineer for a short tour many, many years ago. He is not only the most innovative and improvisational acoustic guitarist I have ever worked with (and I do have a few to my credit), but he is also the nicest man you would ever want to meet.
I had played guitar at the time for about 10 years. He asked me one time, "Do you play guitar?" After watching him play every night, what could I say? "No, Phil, not at all!"

Phil now has 75 albums. My brother has every one. Two other fantastic guitarists are classical master Christopher Parkening and (of course) John Petrucci of Dream Theater. Vastly different, but both world-class musicians.
Phil Keaggy, in my opinion, could keep up with - not better than, not even as good as - but could keep up with both Parkening and Petrucci. That's how good and versatile he is.
Roger McGuinn

James Roger McGuinn, known professionally as Roger McGuinn and previously as Jim McGuinn, is an American musician. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the folk rock band the Byrds. McGuinn was instrumental in popularizing the jangly twelve-string guitar sound that became a signature... read more
Andrés Segovia

Andrés Segovia Torres, 1st Marquis of Salobreña, known as Andrés Segovia, was a virtuoso Spanish classical guitarist from Linares, Spain. He is widely credited with elevating the classical guitar to concert instrument status. Segovia's transcriptions and performances helped expand the guitar repertoire... read more

Make no mistake, Segovia is the Master! You watch him on video teaching his class to young masters that at any time could convince you they were the best in the world. Then he takes their guitar and breaks their perfect reality with the truth that he has another level of perfection they still need to practice to even be remotely close to his level.
Classical music's purest master in our century, hands down. Those who were his students have something different about them because of their unrivaled teacher.

Single-handedly kept classical guitar alive and trained an entire generation. He won't win popularity contests since he didn't play pop, but he preserved the music, techniques, and passion behind classical guitar. You may not say he is the absolute best based on your preferences, but you can't place anyone above him. Buy the CDs of his lessons and listen to them daily.
Paco de Lucia

Francisco Gustavo Sánchez Gomez, known professionally as Paco de Lucía, was a Spanish flamenco guitarist, composer, and producer. He is considered one of the most influential flamenco guitarists of all time. His fusion of jazz and classical elements helped expand the genre's global reach.

One of the greatest I have seen. Don't forget about Al Di Meola.

No one is as good as Paco! This guy is a pioneer.

Amazing and so cool. When are you coming to Canada?

The Newcomers

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Nick Lucas

The one who started it all. This dude was sweep picking, flat picking, cross picking, and doing chord melodies in 1920, for goodness' sake.
His rhythm and lead techniques were the backbone of such legends as Django Reinhardt, Eddie Lang, Lonnie Johnson, Charlie Christian, Doc Watson, and many others. Arguably the most influential guitarist of the 20th century. It's sad few know who he is these days.
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Hank Snow

Great country picker and very technical player up and down the neck. He blends swing, jazz, country hillbilly, and Latin styles.

The Contenders

Sungha Jung

No words can describe his talents and technique. The complexities are mind-blowing! When musicians hear Jung's rendition of their own songs, they are even awestruck at his style and approach. And the kid is young! Imagine the possibilities!

I think Sungha Jung should be in the top 10 because his guitar sings the lyrics of every song he wants to cover. Listen to his videos so that you'll know what I'm talking about.

Sungha is still so young. That's why he should be in the top ten. He's going to be better than all those guitarists when he grows up.
Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. was a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music. He is credited with helping to define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s. His most popular songs include If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown, and The Wreck of... read more
Michael Hedges

Michael was the best tap, rhythmic guitarist, as well as melodic, combining classical techniques. He shall forever be the best acoustic guitarist in my opinion and the most influential guitarist of our time, as well as a great musician and singer.

Absolutely one of my favorite guitarists. He explored a variety of techniques which have become commonplace. It's hard to hear how unique he was given the rapid spread of his techniques. A number of people on this list use those techniques with extra pizzazz.
Few catch his emotional depth.
Dave Mason

He is the acoustic counterpoint to Hendrix's lead on the original recording of "All Along the Watchtower." Simply brilliant. Mason has said in interviews that Hendrix was incredibly demanding of perfection during the recording sessions.
Leo Kottke

Shows how many of these top ten lists are strictly popularity contests. He should be much higher on the list. A truly unique artist.

None better. Should be number one.
Mark Knopfler

Mark Freuder Knopfler is a British singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and film score composer. He is best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Dire Straits. Knopfler is also noted for his fingerstyle guitar playing and storytelling lyrics.

Although more known as an electric guitar player, check out "Mark Knopfler showing his magic on acoustic guitar" on YouTube. Probably the most epic ragpicking I've seen.
Chet Atkins

Chester Burton "Chet" Atkins (June 20, 1924 - June 30, 2001), also known as "Mr. Guitar" and "The Country Gentleman," was an American musician, occasional vocalist, songwriter, and record producer. He was instrumental in developing the Nashville sound along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson, which broadened... read more

Chet Atkins was great at everything Americana. He was Mr. Guitar. I never heard him play something I did not like. When he played, everyone sounded better. I did not particularly like country music, but I loved Chet Atkins' music. That is how good I thought he was.
Leo K. was a freak of nature. I put my ax down when he played. Tommy E. is just inspirational, creative, and shares his knowledge. Robert Johnson is the Blues man with few peers. Andrés Segovia is the classical giant. Even though he was a snob, he was great. Django was the Sammy Davis Jr. of guitar - Mr. Cool of Jazz. I can listen to them all night.
I have listened to Chet and Leo all night in the days of cassettes. John Williams, Earl Klugh, and Julian Bream are very good players but not the Pro Bowlers. Dylan is clearly the best writer of everyone in acoustic guitar. Only Paul Simon could write as well, but his singing and guitar playing give me hope, like it did Jimi Hendrix.
Last but not least, there were two: John Fahey, a favorite of mine, and the unforgettable Doc Watson, the white man's Ray Charles - a genius player.
Jimmy Page

James Patrick Page is an English musician, songwriter, and record producer who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of Led Zeppelin. He's widely regarded for his innovative guitar techniques, production work, and influence across rock music genres. After Led Zeppelin disbanded... read more

All of his acoustic songs are incredible. My personal favorites are Stairway to Heaven and Over the Hills and Far Away.
Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, author, and artist who has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. He gained fame in the 1960s with songs that became anthems for the civil rights and anti-war movements. In 2016, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in... read more

Bob Dylan has always been a great acoustic guitarist.
Ed Sheeran

Edward Christopher "Ed" Sheeran is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He was born on February 17, 1991, in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk. He's known for hit songs such as "The A Team" (2011) and "Shape of You" (2017).... read more

Invented the best-sounding technique ever.
Django Reinhardt

Django Reinhardt was a famous guitarist in the genre of jazz. He lost the use of two fingers on his left hand in a fire but continued to play, developing a unique style that would influence generations of musicians.
Reinhardt later inspired others, such as Arthur Guitar Boogie Smith, Steven Seagal... read more

What should a master guitarist sound like? How about a master guitarist with only 2 fingers on his fret hand? Gypsy jazz that has inspired thousands of lesser guitarists for a century. This special dude is in a class of his own, really.

The fact that Taylor Swift is above Django Reinhardt completely blows my mind! He is the greatest acoustic guitarist of all time. Reinhardt and Grappelli created a new genre of music when they played together.

Founder of Gypsy jazz. Through his influence, the guitar has become an integral part of pop music. Many great guitarists are influenced and inspired by Django Reinhardt.
Neil young

Neil Percival Young is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, producer, director, and screenwriter. He gained fame both as a solo artist and as a member of bands like Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Known for hits such as Heart of Gold and Rockin' in the Free World, Young is also... read more

Neil should be higher up on this list, but at least it's great to see him on it.

Come on, just listen to Massey Hall. He is amazing.
Cat Stevens

Yusuf Islam, who was formerly known by his stage name Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is also recognized for his humanitarian efforts and educational philanthropy. Stevens gained international fame in the 1970s with hits such as Wild World and Father and Son... read more
Richie Sambora

Richard Stephen "Richie" Sambora is an American rock guitarist, producer, singer, and songwriter. He was the lead guitarist for Bon Jovi from 1983 until 2013, contributing significantly to the band's signature sound. He is known for his guitar solos on songs such as "Wanted Dead or Alive," "Dry County... read more

Wanted Dead or Alive has one of the greatest acoustic guitar riffs of all time.
George Harrison

George Harrison (25 February 1943-29 November 2001) was an English musician, singer, and songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle," Harrison embraced Indian culture and helped broaden the scope of popular music through his incorporation... read more