Top 10 Best Guitarists of the 2000s
Here is the list of the best guitarist in the first decade of the new millennium (2000). A count based on Internet voting by others.
Brian Patrick Carroll, known professionally as Buckethead, is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who has worked within many genres of music. Nobody but him can create solos like he does on the spot. He plays alone and still makes his songs sound better than others'.
What!? This guy is damn better than the top three.
This guy is a beast and can play anything.
Brian Elwin Haner, Jr., better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn, is an American musician, best known for being the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the band Avenged Sevenfold. How the heck is John Mayer ranked above Synyster Gates? Have any of you heard Gates' solos in Avenged Sevenfold's songs? His best one is definitely in Afterlife, followed closely by Welcome to the Family (but all of his solos are good).
My favorite thing about his guitar playing is that he comes up with song ideas and then challenges himself to figure out how to play them. I bet the rest of the people on this list don't do that.
Really? Jack White above both Buckethead and Synyster Gates? Absolutely absurd. While I can't argue against John Mayer, who is an insane guitarist, Synyster Gates is a professionally trained classical guitarist, and Buckethead is just prolific in every way. Even Dave Mustaine said Buckethead has more talent than he and Slash combined. MUCH more.
John Clayton Mayer is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Mayer attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, but disenrolled and moved to Atlanta in 1997 with Clay Cook. Together, they formed a short-lived two-man band called Lo-Fi Masters. One of the best guitarists I've ever seen, hands down. The guy plays at the Clapton Crossroads Festival every year and is always one of the featured acts. Don't believe me? Check out his solo for "Wait Until Tomorrow" by Hendrix off Where the Light Is: Live in Los Angeles, or from the same concert, the song "Neon," which is one of the most impressive acoustic sets I've ever had the pleasure of seeing.
If those don't do it for you, check out his version of "Voodoo Child" live at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Undoubtedly the greatest guitar player to come out of the 2000s, and possibly one of the best active guitar players to this day. You can see it not only in the skill and structure of his compositions but also in the emotional intonation he plays with.
Any track he touches carries his unique style and tone that is immediately identifiable, whether it's his note-bending or the tone and balance he sets on his instrument.
Matthew James "Matt" Bellamy is an English musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. He is most famous for being the main vocalist in alternative rock band "Muse". He deserves a higher position. Plug in Baby and Unnatural Selection are amazing.
Really? Where is he? He should easily be in the top 5, if not 3.
Ever heard of the "Reapers" and "Animals" solos?
John Anthony "Jack" White is an American singer and songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the duo The White Stripes, but has also had success in other bands and as a solo artist. The best thing to happen to music. His constant alterations hold attention and bore even less than Metallica at times. It's impressive how he phases and strikes, leaving listeners dumbfounded. Good going to both artists, just saying... Perfect timing with Jack White, at least it feels that way.
Unlike many this past decade, this dude tried something different instead of just plugging in his guitar and playing very loud.
Easy decision. I really don't feel like I need to form an argument for this.
John Anthony Frusciante is an American guitarist, singer, producer and composer.He is best known for his time with the Funk Rock California based band the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He was also part of the Mars Volta, Swahili Blonde, Ataxia and more. It's kind of ridiculous to have this kind of talent so low on a list. Frusciante was in his prime and widely considered the best guitar player of the time. It's obvious the list's creators don't understand what a true guitar player consists of and what they have achieved.
I've seen the Chili Peppers live about eight times, and five of those were with Frusciante. Let me tell you, this guy is unbelievable. He has the best improvisations I have ever seen, and his playing is so pure and connected to his soul. Each note he plays means something. I've seen many other guitar players live, and the only ones who come close to Frusciante live are Eddie Van Halen and Jimi Hendrix. Other than that, no one else compares.
I'm not saying he's the best of all time, but he was definitely the best in the 2000s. Just watch Slane Castle 2003, Milan 2006, and La Cigale 2006, and you'll see what I'm saying.
Jonathan Richard Guy, professionally known as Johnny Greenwood, is an English musician and composer mostly known for his role as the one of the lead guitarists and the main keyboardist of the English alternative rock band Radiohead. Jonny Greenwood is the best guitarist of our times, and he can play whatever he wants. He has a unique style, often playing in strange and alternative tunings and using difficult chords, which has contributed significantly to Radiohead's musical identity.
As a guitarist myself, I recognize a guitar master in Jonny Greenwood's fingers.
Very experimental playing. It might be very weird for some, but it's actually pretty good.
Maybe the most tasteful guitarist of the last decade. He really knows how to use restraint, but then sometimes wails. He plays exactly what any given Coldplay song needs to be perfect.
The greatest guitarist of the 2000s, no doubt. His guitar riffs are melodic and dig deep into the soul. Perfect.
Billie Joe Armstrong is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor who is best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and guitarist of the punk rock band Green Day, which he co-founded with Mike Dirnt. He's also in side-project groups such as The Network, Foxboro HotTubs, Pinhead Gunpowder,... read more I would say Billie Joe's heyday as a guitarist was in the early '90s with Kerplunk and 1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours (the solo in The Judge's Daughter is the best punk guitar solo of all time). Most people who criticize Billie Joe's guitar skills have never listened to pre-Dookie material or even pre-American Idiot.
He's focused more on lyrics and messaging within his songs in the new millennium, but he can still turn the simplest chord progressions into the most memorable pieces of punk. He can still kick out a machine-gun-powered solo. Listen to Restless Heart Syndrome, Let Yourself Go, and Amanda.
His guitar playing in Best of You, Stacked Actors, and the bridge of every song they've written is amazing! I don't know another guitarist who does everything that well!
Joe Bonamassa is an American blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. When he was only 12 years old, Bonamassa opened for B.B. King. He was born 8th May 1977. He is known to be one of the greatest blues guitarists ever. Fantastic riff writer and blues guitarist. He is a little too self-promoting with the pins and mugs and such, but I love his music. I think he should be much higher on this list.
Fantastic guitarist. Even when he was young, he should have been on this list. He's the face of modern blues.
He's a solid number one just for his overall talent, ear for killer guitar licks, and influence on blues.
Joshua Michael Homme (born May 17, 1973) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. He is the founder and only continuous member of the rock band Queens of the Stone Age, in which he sings, plays guitar, as well as occasionally playing piano, drums, and bass. He also serves... read more It's absurd that Josh is ranked this low. He is a genius writer, and there's not a single person who can solo like him.
Daron Vartan Malakian is an Armenian–American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He's best known as the main songwriter, guitarist, and co-vocalist for Armenian/American rock band System of a Down. After System of a Down's hiatus in 2006 he began to release music through... read more
Mark Thomas Tremonti is an American musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. Wow. This is just sad. Has anyone even heard Mark Tremonti's riffs from Creed and Alter Bridge? And even his speed metal thrashing on his solo album? Tremonti is the best metal guitarist of our time. Think about it - who else would it be? Synyster Gates? Possibly.
It's heartbreaking that he's listed last.
His solos in Blackbird (2007), One Day Remains (2004), and Full Circle (2009) are amazing! His shredding power and incredible music-making ability with Creed and Alter Bridge at least qualifies him to be in the top 5! People should listen to Creed and Alter Bridge more!
At The Drive-In started this young lad's career in the mid-1990s and paved the guitar sounds of The Mars Volta. Omar was great long before the year 2000. All great players on this list, though.
Raymond "Ray" Toro is an American musician who served as lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the band My Chemical Romance until their split in 2013. Not many people give Ray Toro a lot of credit, mostly because he was part of My Chemical Romance (in my opinion, a great and creatively speaking, the best band of the 2000s).
Along with Frank Iero, Ray is an excellent guitarist. If you want to hear him shred, check out songs like Dead! (which Toro has an amazing guitar solo on). I suggest you listen to the albums The Black Parade and Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, where Toro really shines!
He should be in the top 3. He's one of the greatest guitarists of the 2000s decade. If you don't believe me, listen to his work in Laid to Rest, Walk with Me in Hell, Omerta, Now You've Got Something to Die For, Black Label, etc. Hell, I can't name them all!
Damn! He should be in the top 3... Actually, at number 1. His works are great, and everyone knows it. So, what is he doing at number 27? Mark, go straight to number 1!
Edward John "Ed" O'Brien is an English guitarist and member of the alternative rock band Radiohead. He makes extensive use of effects units to create atmospheric sounds and textures, and also provides backing vocals.Listen to Reptilia, Modern Age, and Under Cover of Darkness solos, and you'll know he is the most rock 'n' roll influenced guitarist of the last decade and a half.
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... read more
Daniel Quine "Dan" Auerbach is an American musician and record producer best known as the guitarist and vocalist for The Black Keys, a blues rock band from Akron, Ohio. Love him. He's absolutely fantastic. He's part of The Black Keys, which is an awesome band as well. He just keeps improving.
Thomas Morello is an American musician, singer-songwriter and political activist. He is best known for his tenure with the band Rage Against the Machine and then with Audioslave. The dude is sick. He can play like no other. His riffs drill into your mind and blow your eardrums. The man redefined what a guitar is capable of and led rock into a new era. He ranked #3 on the top '90s guitarists, so he should have a place on this list.
Saul Hudson, known professionally as Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Herman Li is a Hong Kong-born, British Chinese musician, record producer, and lead guitarist for the British Power-Metal band Dragonforce.