Best Lead Guitarists of All Time

The Top Ten

Slash

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. He has also released solo work and collaborated with... read more

Slash's god-like guitar skills and Axl Roses's energetic vocals were a match made in rock and roll heaven. Slash was the driving punch in the matter, showing his technique's and skills in songs such as Welcome To The Jungle, November Rain, Paradise City, and my personal favorite Sweet Child O' Mine.

That first comment is a lie slash is where he deserves to be jimmy page 1st I can see why Jimmy Page And Slash Are riff machines and slash knows how to play a guitar and where is Angus young 8th is where he should be. Eddie Van Halen slash jimmy page Jimi Hendrix and Angus young changed rock n roll. come on Thunderstruck is a monster riff and sweet child o mine
Kirk Hammett

Kirk Lee Hammett (born November 18, 1962) is an American musician who has been the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Metallica since 1983. In addition to playing guitar, he contributes as a songwriter for the band.
Prior to joining Metallica, Hammett co-founded the thrash metal band Exodus... read more

The definitive guitarist of heavy metal, he was the art behind the masterpiece for this amazing band. With tracks like Master Of Puppets, Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters, and One, he is just in simpler words, a great guitarist.

Kirk is the best guitarist. His speed is awesome. If you don't believe it see him playing master of puppets it was great

No. He is overrated. Alright, I admit Jimmy Page is overrated. But not more than him. At least his solos sound different.
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

Eddie Van Halen is jimmies second evolution. More technical and advanced but jimmy pages songwriting skills and guitar skills as a 1 man guitar army remains the most distinctive in classic rock. I understand eddie being 1 but jimmy is 1

Jimmy Page literally defined the definition of a lead guitarist. Showing his guitar skills perfectly alongside Robert Plant's vocals in songs such as Stairway To Heaven, Dazed and Confused, Whole Lotta Love, and Kashmir.

Slash's great, but he's no Jimmy Page. As for Eddie, he's just technical and sucks as a songwriter.
Page may not be the finest technical player, but he wrote dozens of rock classics that everybody would recognize.
Eddie Van Halen

Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen (January 26, 1955 - October 6, 2020) was a Dutch-American musician, songwriter, producer, and inventor. He was best known as the lead guitarist, occasional keyboardist, and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen. He is widely recognized for pioneering guitar techniques... read more

Who in the Hell thinks Slash is #1? OH... I am sure Rolling Stone magazine has something to do with it. They don't know crap about music, and obviously, neither do the voters here.
Eddie defined Guitar Hero. In a time of Disco, he brought Van Halen to the forefront with his magic on the frets. Sure he hasn't had anything magical in like... ever... but that doesn't take away from what he has done.

Arguably the greatest guitarist in hard rock history, Eddie Van Halen was the force that drove Van Halen into decade - defining success with songs such as Panama, Jump, Eruption, and Hot for Teacher.
Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Though his mainstream career lasted only about four years from 1966 to 1970, he's widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in popular music.... read more

Hendrix wrote the book on how to play the rock guitar. Just listen to the song "Machine Gun". It's a ten minute long song in which he goes entirely improvised and makes some of the greatest fills ever heard. Don't get me wrong, the whole page here is full of legendary guitarists. But Hendrix laid the foundation everyone else built upon.

Hendrix was the best guitarist on earth ever. There is no question about it. He could make a guitar talk and come alive. The sounds that he could get from a guitar was unbelievable - more so at the time when he used to play. We must judge him in comparison with others of his time. The greatest guitarist ever. That's it.
Angus Young

Angus McKinnon Young is an Australian guitarist of Scottish origin, best known as the co-founder, lead guitarist, songwriter, and the only constant member of the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. He is recognized for his energetic stage presence and schoolboy-uniform stage outfits. When performing live... read more

The guy that can play guitar while lying on the floor with spasms

Angus is the best... Love that duck walk!

Monster riffs...Changed the world.
Brian May

Brian Harold May (born July 19, 1947) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and astrophysicist. He is best known as the lead guitarist of Queen. He co-founded the band in 1970 and contributed iconic guitar parts and vocal harmonies on hits like Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, and Another One... read more

Brian is an exceptional guitarist. His skill only matched by the likes of Hendrix but has also got great songwriting ability (we will rock you, hammer to fall, now I'm here, Brighton rock, who wants to live forever, I want it all, the show must go on). Solos on bohemian rhapsody, somebody to love, Brighton rock, we will rock you to name a few have to put him up there as an innovative, creative and downright amazing musician, scientist AND engineer ( he built his amazing red special guitar with his dad). Quite underrated in my view.

Brian May is greatly under appreciated. He wrote many #1 hit songs, topping the music charts. He was also very creative using a six-pence coin instead of guitar picks using the rough side for special noises. He was also a member of the best band ever (Queen) and is a very famous astrophysicist. How many famous lead guitarists can say that. Or people in general.
David Gilmour

David Jon Gilmour (born March 6, 1946) is an English singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He joined Pink Floyd as guitarist and co-lead vocalist in late 1967 after the departure of founding member Syd Barrett. His arrival helped solidify the band's signature sound.... read more

Packed a punch with his psychedelic rock guitar flavor in songs such as Comfortably Numb, Another Brick In The Wall Part II, Money, and Wish You Were Here, he transformed Pink Floyd into one of the greatest bands of all time.

David Gilmour is probably the most soulful guitarist alive today. Kirk Hammett is very good, but no one can beat the soulful, inerrant style of David Gilmour.

David Gilmour down at #7 on a best LEAD guitarists. I'm laughing ! This has to be a joke !
Lead = solos. No one, I mean NO ONE is on David's solos level
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

He is by far the best rounded of any living guitarist. He continued to improve through the decades. He can play accoustic or electric equally well. He is the most respected by the best guitar players of every genre. He is probably the best developed guitarist alive.

Was also the lead guitarist in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, and Derek & The Dominos. He is the ONLY three-time inductee into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.

Clapton's abilities far and away exceeds any of the top ten listed here. What moron put this list together?
Synyster Gates

Brian Elwin Haner, Jr., better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn, is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the band Avenged Sevenfold. He joined the band in 2001 and has since become recognized for his technical skill and melodic solos. Gates... read more

Syn's skill is amazing! Sweep picking, dive bombs, hammer ons and pull offs, sliding. He's a master of it all. Most of his solos are superfast and clean at the same time. The solo from afterlife is what you should listen to. Jimi hendrix set his guitar on fire. Syn can do the same. ALL HE HAS TO DO IS PLAY IT! HE PLAYS SO FAST HE MAKES SLASH SEEM LIKE A ROOKIE!
FoREVer

You must be kidding me! He's the best lead guitarist ever born. Slash is nowhere even close to him.

I never hear for him and the band he play but after hear one random their song I like his solo's

The Newcomers

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Joe Bonamassa

Joe Bonamassa is an American blues rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. When he was only 12 years old, he opened for blues legend B.B. King. Bonamassa was born on May 8, 1977, and has released numerous albums showcasing his guitar skills and musical versatility.

He was not on this list, really a shame, he beat Kirk Hammett on all fronts.
?
B.B. King

Riley B. "B.B." King (1925 to 2015) was an American blues singer, electric guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. Nicknamed "The King of the Blues," he popularized a sophisticated style of soloing that influenced countless guitarists. King won 15 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and... read more

He also was not on this list, really a shame.

The Contenders

Pete Townshend

Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the lead guitarist and primary songwriter for the rock band The Who. He is considered one of the most influential rock guitarists and composers of all time. Townshend has also... 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

Amazing guitar talent is what Richie Sambora is all about. With songs such as Livin' On A Prayer, Bad Medicine, You Give Love A Bad Name, and Bed Of Roses, no wonder he is on this list.

This man is a guitar god. Listen to Dry County or Lay Your Hands on Me.

Can't believe he isn't higher. He is one of the greatest ever!
Randy Rhoads

Randall William "Randy" Rhoads was an American heavy metal guitarist who played with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot. He was widely regarded for his innovative guitar work and neoclassical metal style. Rhoads was killed in a plane crash on March 19, 1982, at the age of 25.

What is he doing at 54? He's possibly one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and the inventor of Neo-classical metal.
Dave Mustaine

David Scott "Dave" Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, actor, and author. He was the original lead guitarist of Metallica before being dismissed in 1983. Afterward, he formed the band Megadeth, where he became the lead vocalist and primary creative force.... read more

Angus Young is a great guitar player in his style, Jimi Hendrix was great in his style, they are all great! Some are more technical than others, some are more soulfull than others...Dime was the greatest, period.
Tony Iommi

Anthony Frank Iommi, known as Tony Iommi, is an English guitarist, songwriter, and producer. He's best known as the lead guitarist and a founding member of the pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath. At age 17, he lost the fingertips of his right middle and ring fingers in an industrial accident.... read more

Tony in #23 and Kirk on top? Kirk wrote wonderful solos and he's a great player, but I think he's overrated. Tony is so underrated as a lead guitarist. People say that there are guitarists that can solo better than Tony, but actually there are people that can solo better than Kirk and Tony is one of them. Kirk has made great choices of notes and phrasing and he's done some good bending, but there are guitarists including Tony that not only can do that, but they use more control whenever they use vibrato and they don't overuse wah pedals while soloing. Just listen to "War Pigs", "Black Sabbath", "NIB", "Planet Caravan", "Children Of The Grave", "Symptoms Of The Universe", "Neon Knights" "Heaven and Hell", "Lonely Is The Word", etc.
Ritchie Blackmore

Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter best known for his work with the hard rock and heavy metal bands Deep Purple and Rainbow.
In 2004, Guitar World ranked him number 16 on its list of the "100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time," and in 2011, Rolling Stone... read more

Rainbow - A Light In the Black, Stargazer, Death Alley Driver, Gates of Babylon
Deep Purple - Highway Star, Child In Time (live Made In Japan), Child In Time, Pictures of Home (2 solos), Burn

Ritchie has more memorable solos than any other guitarist and on that alone makes him #1!

Carlos Santana is great and all...but who in the world put him above THE Richie Blackmore?!
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

His minimalist technique is misunderstood to this day. His singular job was to play the phenomenal Lennon/McCartney compositions [the greatest in pop/rock history], and let the songs speak for themselves. After exposure to that genius, he began his own HOF composing career, but had learned well from the greatest.

Great guitarist. Love his style. I think he is totally underrated, Just listen to the guitars on She Said She Said, I Feel Fine, I Want You... Amazing!

Like everything else he did, George's playing style was understated. His solos are melodic and quick.
Dimebag Darrell

Darrell Lance Abbott, also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist and songwriter. He co-founded the bands Pantera and Damageplan with his brother Vinnie Paul. Abbott was tragically shot and killed during a performance in 2004 by a mentally unstable fan.

dude, maybe Slipknot is you favorite band; but you're going to receive many bad comments in this list because you put Mick Thompson in first place... mainly because it is so wrong that he is before Jimi and Dimebag, and you forgot many great guitarists like Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman, Alexi Liaho, Zakk Wylde, John Petrucci, Rhandy Rhoads, Michael Angelo Batio, Yngwie Malmsteen, Paul Gilbert, Eric Clapton, Glenn Tipton...

Don't get me wrong... Hammet is one fine gutarist, but he doesn't belong in the number one slot or even the top five (and Metallica is one of my favorite bands) I'm sorry to say that, but it's true! And Dimebag should be in the top three, he blows.. Or should I say.. Could have blown Hammet out of the water.
Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana is a Mexican and American musician who rose to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band Santana, which pioneered a fusion of rock and Latin American jazz. Santana's performance at Woodstock in 1969 helped launch his career. He has won ten Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy... read more

This man is a bomb of guitar talent and energy, defining the genre of Latin rock with his crazy guitar solo's from the old day's too the early 2000's. With examples including Smooth, Black Magic Women, Maria, Maria, and Just Feel Better.
Joe Satriani

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, including Steve Vai, Larry LaLonde, Rick Hunolt, Kirk Hammett, Andy Timmons, Charlie... read more

Has both skill and class with the guitar. Was a virtual tie with Steve Vai. Also surprised Frank Zappa was not on the list...
Yngwie Malmsteen

Yngwie Johan Malmsteen is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter, and bandleader born June 30, 1963, in Stockholm, Sweden. He's renowned for his neoclassical metal playing style. Malmsteen gained prominence in the 1980s with virtuoso albums such as Rising Force (1984).

I even was shock he is not in top 3
If you not vote for him probably you're deaf

There has never been one like him!
Jeff Waters

Jeff Waters (born February 13, 1966) is a Canadian metal musician best known as the guitarist, primary songwriter, and founder of the metal band Annihilator. He's recognized for fast riffs and solos and has frequently taken on roles as lead singer, bass player, engineer, and producer. He has owned Watersound... read more

Annihilator - Alison Hell. He wrote the song and played the riffs and solo.
Adrian Smith

Adrian Frederick "H" Smith is an English guitarist, best known as a member of Iron Maiden. He contributes as a songwriter and performs live backing vocals on some tracks. Smith has been part of Iron Maiden during several key periods in the band's history, originally joining in 1980 and returning in... read more
Mick Thomson

Mickael Gordon "Mick" Thomson is an American heavy metal musician. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, he is best known as one of two guitarists in the band Slipknot, where he is designated #7. Thomson joined the group in 1996 and is known for his aggressive playing style and distinctive stage persona.

Of course Mick Thompson's #1. His guitar powers are controlled by the power of his mask. My inspiration.

OF course he is. He created his own tuning. Kirk is good but just any regular guitarist
Duane Allman

Howard Duane Allman was an American guitarist, session musician, and co-founder of the Allman Brothers Band. He was known for his slide guitar work and contributions to Southern rock. He died in a motorcycle crash in 1971 at the age of 24.

Duane Allman was an great all- around player in rock, and an greater guitarists. With songs such as Midnight Rider and Whipping Post, and a big part in the creation of the legendary Derek and the Dominoes song Layla, he is in part one of the greatest in rock history. R.I.P. Duane Allman