Top 10 Best Modern Instrumental Artists

Just forget the singers. Give the instruments a little credit for once! No bands with singers on this list.

The Top Ten

  1. Scale the Summit

    Their guitarist has a very modern, metal, and tech-core-influenced guitar technique. He also has a songwriting book out now. The scale I'm struggling with is but a measure or two from a single song of their many. I like heavy progressive music, and my dad likes Scale the Summit. My friend calls them guitar-lesson rock.

    We are witnessing the evolution of music right before our eyes and ears. For those with ears who cannot hear, it will seem like they came out of nowhere when they finally reach the summit of their talents.

  2. A.R. Rahman

    Allah-Rakha Rahman is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician, and philanthropist. He is known for his work in Indian cinema as well as international projects, including the Oscar-winning score for Slumdog Millionaire. Rahman has received numerous awards, including two Academy... read more

    An excellent musician with natural talent. No copycats, and a wonderful music composer, whether it's Indian or Western.

    The reliability is perennial.

  3. David Guetta

    Pierre David Guetta is a French DJ, songwriter, record producer, and remixer who has sold over nine million albums and thirty million singles worldwide. In 2011, Guetta was voted as the number one DJ in the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll. He is considered a pioneer of the EDM genre and has collaborated with... read more

  4. Peter Lennodo

    Peter Lennodo is a British musician. He is also a composer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the vocalist, lead guitarist and main songwriter of the rock band The Arcana.

  5. Yasuharu Takanashi

  6. Marco Sfogli

  7. Deadmau5

    Joel Thomas Zimmerman (also known as deadmau5) is a Canadian DJ and music producer. He previously worked as a web developer.

    He produces a wide variety of electronic music genres, including electro, dubstep, progressive house, and electro‑house. He is best known for helping to popularize progressive... read more

  8. Hans Zimmer

    Hans Florian Zimmer, born September 12, 1957, is a German film score composer and record producer. He has composed music for over 150 films since the 1980s. His most famous scores include those for The Lion King, Gladiator, Inception, and Interstellar.

    Are you kidding me? The awesome masterpieces of Hans Zimmer easily make him a legend. He should be in the top ten.

    When I want inspiration through music, Hans Zimmer is my go-to.

  9. Liquid Tension Experiment

    Liquid Tension Experiment is an instrumental progressive metal band founded in 1997 by Mike Portnoy, who was then the drummer for Dream Theater. The band has released two studio albums through Magna Carta Records. It is known for its complex compositions and features musicians John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess... read more

    Even if you don't care for their songs, you must admire them for their sheer ingenuity and ability. There's no comparison.

    Pretty much Dream Theater minus James. Paradigm Shift and Acid Rain are unbeatable. Best instrumentalists.

    Liquid Tension Experiment should be number one.

  10. Louis Colaiannia

    Music with passion and integrity... Louis is one of the most gifted, yet humble, musicians I have ever met. He is graced with strength and passion! His music is very inspiring to me!

    If you get the chance to see this guy perform live, don't pass it up! Brilliant compositions and wonderful energy. If you haven't listened to his music, you're simply missing out.

    Not only is Louis a great pianist, but he is also very modest and generous. He prefers to share the spotlight even when many would take all of the credit.

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Gretchen Menn

  12. ?

    2CELLOS

    Two cello artists who play with such wonderful harmony. My favorite song is Malena.

    13. The Contenders

  13. Steve Vai

    Steven Siro "Steve" Vai (born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, composer, singer, songwriter, and producer. He is known for his virtuosic guitar playing and has released numerous solo albums. Vai was born and raised on Long Island, New York.

  14. Yanni

    Yanni is one of the best. His music is more soulful, and there is a divinity in it that uplifts you no matter what mood you're in.

    He is so unique. No one is better than him.

    Amazing artist, with a very unique sound, and his shows are on another level.

  15. Buckethead

    Brian Patrick Carroll, known professionally as Buckethead, is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who has released over 300 studio albums. He is recognized for his unique style and stage persona, which includes wearing a KFC bucket on his head and a white mask. Buckethead has worked across... read more

    He should be higher up on the list. Buckethead is an amazing, versatile musician.

  16. Lindsey Stirling

    Lindsey Stirling is an American violinist, dancer, performance artist, and composer. She presents choreographed violin performances both live and in music videos on her self-titled YouTube channel, which she launched in 2007. Stirling is known for blending classical violin with electronic dance music... read more

    Absolutely the most creative of the entire group. It's a shame that The Piano Guys play nothing but covers, or they might have made this list.

    Her style is so unique, and she had to develop it herself. She brought new meaning to playing the violin.

  17. Two Steps From Hell

    Two Steps from Hell should really be at the top of the list. Have you all heard their stuff? They wipe the floor with David Guetta, the trash-pop artist, that's for sure.

  18. Eric Johnson

    Eric Johnson (born August 17, 1954) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist from Austin, Texas. He is best known for his exceptional electric guitar skills, but he is also highly proficient on acoustic guitar, lap steel, resonator, and bass. In addition to his guitar work, Johnson is an accomplished... read more

  19. Animals as Leaders

    Animals as Leaders is an American progressive metal band from Washington, D.C. It was formed in 2007 by guitarist Tosin Abasi and currently includes Abasi, guitarist Javier Reyes, and drummer Matt Garstka. The band is known for its instrumental compositions and complex musical style, often described... read more

    Animals as Leaders produce some of the best modern instrumentals in the world. With Tosin Abasi playing lead guitar and Javier Reyes on rhythm guitar, they create beautiful sounds ranging from finger-picking to shredding, from metal to classical. There is something for everyone to love. They have made some of the most emotional music I've ever heard. You can tell they really care about the music they produce.

  20. 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

  21. Gary Hoey

    Gary Hoey is an American hard rock and blues rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He gained recognition in the early 1990s with his instrumental covers and original compositions. Hoey has released numerous albums and is known for blending blues influences with technical guitar work.

    This guy is one badass guitarist! He's covered so many different songs, including Christmas music, and he does it so well. I dig his cover of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." That one's addicting. You have to be crazy not to think he's awesome! He can really play a guitar!

  22. Paul Gilbert

    Paul Brandon Gilbert is an American hard rock and heavy metal guitarist. He is best known as the co-founder of the band Mr. Big. He was also a member of Racer X, with whom he released several albums, including Street Lethal and Second Heat.

  23. Plini

  24. John Williams

    John Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. He is widely recognized for creating some of the most iconic film scores in history, including those for Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and Harry Potter. Williams frequently collaborated with director Steven Spielberg on films such as E.T., Jaws,... read more

  25. 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

  26. Danny Elfman

    Daniel Robert Elfman (born May 29, 1953) is an American film composer, singer, songwriter, and musician. He came to prominence as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter for the new wave band Oingo Boingo in the early 1980s. Since scoring his first studio film in 1985, Elfman has garnered international... read more

  27. Godspeed You! Black Emperor

    Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a Montreal-based post-rock collective formed in 1994. The current lineup includes founding members Efrim Menuck, Mauro Pezzente, Mike Moya, Thierry Amar, David Bryant, Aidan Girt, and Sophie Trudeau, along with Timothy Herzog, Karl Lemieux, and Philippe Léonard.... read more

    The kings of the modern-day post-rock and instrumental rock scene.

    Liquid Tension Experiment beat these guys? Really?

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