Top 10 Greatest Guitarists of the 21st Century
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". Bellamy was ranked #19 on Gigwise's list of The 50 Greatest Guitarists Ever. Total Guitar readers voted Bellamy #29 on a list of the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time. Bellamy's riff from "Plug In Baby" was #13 in Total Guitar's poll of the Top 100 Riffs of All Time.
Bellamy was also named "Guitarist of the Decade" and proclaimed to be "the Hendrix of his generation."
Hey... I came from outer space and from the year 3013, and we are still listening to Muse. About lead guitarist and singer Matt? Man... He is way better than many successful guitarists. Even Rolling Stone magazine honored him with the title of Best Guitarist of the 21st Century. And the way and variety of guitars Matt uses... He's the guitarist of your future, guys!
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. John kills everyone else on this list. No other guitarist who came up in this century has the dexterity, speed, skill, and artfulness of John Mayer. Not to mention his seven Grammys and playing with and being praised by guitar greats such as B.B. King and Eric Clapton. He is the next Hendrix and will absolutely achieve legend status.
It's not just what he plays, but the way he plays it. His style is one-of-a-kind, and his solos, especially live, make him the best in the business. This guy is the new Hendrix, and in 20 years or so, he'll also have legendary status.
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. Synyster has supplied Avenged Sevenfold with countless unforgettable riffs and blazing-fast solos. His precision is off the charts - he plays so fast yet never seems to have a sloppy note. Not only has he already put his mark on history, but he also still has decades of great work left, considering he is only in his mid-30s.
His string work is phenomenal, his solos are gripping, and he shreds like no other. No Avenged song would be nearly as incredible without him. Synyster Gates is one of the most talented musical geniuses of the last 30 years.
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. John Frusciante is an absolute musical genius. His work with the Red Hot Chili Peppers is fantastic, but I think his solo material is the decisive factor in why he's the best guitarist of the 21st century.
I don't know which song is the best because all of them are great, but if you want to hear real guitar songs, listen to "Before The Beginning," "Murderers," "Central," or "Another" from his band project Ataxia with Josh Klinghoffer. Also, listen to "Niandra LaDes And Usually Just A T-Shirt"... Fantastic.
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. Jack White is, by far, the most talented guitarist of the 21st century. Not only was his solo career actually successful (unlike every other entry on this list), but he also started five other projects, and the most successful of them were very successful. The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, The White Stripes (my favorite), The Go, and Two Star Tabernacle. He is amazing and might even be better than Prince.
Better than Auerbach, Billie Joe, and Frusciante, and on par with Bellamy. Jack White is what you get when you combine Robert Plant and Jimmy Page and dye his hair black. He is the new riff king and deserves to be in the top 3 at least.
Richard Zven Kruspe is a German musician and guitarist of the German band Rammstein, as well as the frontman of the band Emigrate. Richard Z. Kruspe - you can't dislike his guitar skills. I just don't see anyone else who could do what he does.
One badass guitar player who proves you don't have to be fast to be the best.
I can't stop listening to him play. He's absolutely amazing.
Matthew "Matt" Tuck is a Welsh musician. He is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist in the Welsh emo/metalcore band Bullet for My Valentine. Bullet For My Valentine is one of the best bands. Matt's voice is great, and his guitar playing is amazing. He's my favorite guitarist, along with Richard Z. Kruspe.
Anne Erin "Annie" Clark, better known by her stage name St. Vincent, is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She's an underrated guitarist. Her skills on the guitar are amazing. She's dynamic, and she's got a Jimi Hendrix vibe when she's playing. She's so young and has so much potential. Search for the guitar solo in Rattlesnake or Your Lips Are Red.
Amazing guitarist, really innovative. Also, her signature guitar is amazing!
Frank Anthony Iero, Jr. is a musician who was the rhythm guitarist and backup vocalist of the alternative rock band My Chemical Romance as well as the vocalist of the post-hardcore band Leathermouth and electronic-hardcore act Death Spells. Amazing when he plays, especially live.
Proves that short people rock the hardest!
The Newcomers
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.
Gary Lee Clark Jr. is an American musician from Austin, Texas. He is best known for his fusion of blues, rock and soul music with elements of hip hop.
Alexi "Wildchild" Laiho (April 8th 1979 - December 29th 2020) was a Finnish guitarist, composer, and vocalist. He is best known as the lead guitarist, lead vocalist, and founding member of the melodic death metal band Children of Bodom. He was also the guitarist for Sinergy, The Local Band, and Kylähullut... read more Children of Bodom is one of my favorite bands now. Listen to "Was It Worth It" or "Needled 24/7," and you will definitely agree!
The most amazing guitar work out of any band I've ever heard has come from Children of Bodom. I just can't get enough!
Alexi Laiho is the best. No one can be compared to him. He is god. He is king!
Mark Thomas Tremonti is an American musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. Creed restricted Tremonti's guitar ability with their use of only one guitar tuning and their lack of solos. However, in almost any Alter Bridge song, Mark and Myles Kennedy dive headlong into a unique, beautiful, and befitting solo, with catchy riffs that almost speak as much as Myles' lyrics. Additionally, Mark's solo band, Tremonti, features some great solos. I recommend people listen to "Blackbird" by Alter Bridge and "You Waste Your Time" by Tremonti to familiarize themselves with Mark Tremonti's talent.
What is wrong with everybody?! Perhaps they are unfamiliar with Mark's guitar playing, but he shreds the axe better than anyone else this century except, perhaps, Synyster Gates. Mark is a great guitarist, and his solo on "Blackbird" by Alter Bridge may be the best solo of the 21st century.
Bradford Phillip Delson is an American musician, best known as the lead guitarist and one of the founding members of the Grammy Award winning rock band Linkin Park. Oh, come on... Don't kid me. Although he isn't mainly a solo-driven guitarist, you should still listen to Minutes to Midnight, A Thousand Suns, and especially The Hunting Party. Then you'll never keep him below the top 10.
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 Josh has great versatility, playing drums in EODM and keyboard and singing in QOTSA, but it's his guitar skills that really demonstrate the musician he is!
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. This guy can play the guitar like nobody else! His aggressive play style is woven seamlessly into Radiohead's songs. Every solo and every riff is a defining part of the song, and he can really improve the sound of music. He even plays the guitar with a viola bow.
Incredible guitar player. I have never seen anything like him, ever!
The best guitarist in the best band of the last 15-20 years should be higher than 14.
Brian Philip Welch, better known by the stage name Head, is an American musician, singer and songwriter. He is one of the guitarists and founding member of the nu metal band Korn and his solo project Love and Death.
John Gallagher is an American singer and musician mostly known as the the lead guitarist and vocalist of the band Dying Fetus.
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's one of the best guitarists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Congratulations!
He is such an amazing guitarist. He should be a lot higher on the list.
From Coldplay, hands down a great guitarist with thrilling solos.
Billie Joe Armstrong (born February 17, 1972) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and guitarist of the punk rock band Green Day, which he co-founded with Mike Dirnt... read more
Jacob Mark "Jake" Pitts is an American musician and record producer best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Black Veil Brides. He can play solos and chords. Hopefully, one day, he will be listened to by more than just 12-year-old girls.