Top 10 Best Blues Guitarists of All Time

I've been waiting for the next great guitarist since SRV passed in 1990. Many fantastic technicians have come along, fewer still who play with true soul, but no one has come close to fusing the two with that immeasurable something extra Stevie had. His emotionally sensitive ferocity is unique in the annals of electric blues rock playing, possibly music history in general.

He could simultaneously make your spine tingle, drop you to your knees, and bring you to tears in the same tune. There seemed to be an infinite supply of devastating licks and musical concepts he pulled from as easily as breathing. Imagine what he would have produced these last 25 years, as he had yet to reach his peak. Imagine him on stage with Hendrix. Rave on Stevie, and God bless.

Face it. Vaughan and Hendrix are dead. As in gone. Bye-bye. And while they were with us, they played only one style of guitar. Ever. Clapton has been with us for half a century, is still with us, is still evolving, and has mastered every style he encountered, including reggae, acid rock, delta blues, gospel, bluegrass, and southern rock. The list keeps getting longer. Nobody has EVER done that before. I doubt anyone ever will again.

Clapton is a role model not only for being one of the most talented blues guitarists of his time but also for his ability to focus on the music and not the distractions that come with it. My hat's off to you, Mr. Clapton, for not only your musical style but also your lifestyle.

Made just as huge an impact on blues as Albert King. A true legend who can't be replaced. Hard to say which one of them is a better guitarist. They are both legends.

I accidentally scrolled past B.B.'s name on the list, and you're right! 47th on the list will not do! He is by far (with the exception of Stevie Ray) the most talented blues guitarist of all time!

The greatest guitarist ever. Period. Why is he not in the top 3?

Robert Johnson is one of the best, if not the best, blues guitarists of all time. This list alone just shows how little people know about the blues and music in general. Robert Johnson as the 48th "most talented blues guitarist"? (At the time this comment was posted.) And he is not even the best? Where is Son House? Where is Charlie Patton, literally the godfather of the blues... Oh well.

An innovator at a time when there was less information, and it was much more difficult to excel in the manner Johnson did. This is why he is considered "ahead of his time."

Buddy invented the electric blues! BB King and Muddy Waters were his idols and predecessors, but no one else played with the volcanic intensity he did right through the '60s, '70s, and '80s through to today! To mention the others on this list without Buddy leading it is laughable! Now, at 78, Buddy plays and sings as intensely as he ever did. Long live Buddy Guy!

Buddy Guy is at the pinnacle of Chicago blues, with enough technique to outpace many of the older blues masters but vastly more soul in his playing than the contemporary style-over-substance figures who play an altogether too large role on this list.

In his own words: "It's 50% music and 50% business." With wobbleheads, mugs, T-shirts, and hoodies, he walks the talk. Yes, he can channel Clapton, B.B. King, and Albert King convincingly and also does an excellent impersonation of Eric Johnson when shredding. Finally, he gives great live shows.

BUT to be in the top 5 on any list, a guitarist has to bring something new to the table. The only way Bonamassa qualifies to be in the top 5 of this list is if this list is based on the most impressive guitar/amp collection.

Joe is the Blues. Saw him live recently. Great seats. He plays the guitar better than any other Blues player I've seen or heard. His singing has also improved exponentially. Not much of a personality, just pure Blues business in a classy way.

The show started at exactly 8 p.m., to the second. This guy plays articulately, with great speed. He sweats like a true pro. Can't wait to see the hardest working Blues giant again. The band is so tight, it's scary. Pure tonal heaven.

Extraordinary guitarist and a master of single-string solos. His bends and vibratos had a huge impact on generations after him, for example, SRV, to just name a few. Extraordinary voice as well. Also, my personal favorite.

Albert is the best there is. White guys like Clapton and all the rest are just copycats. They can play, for sure, but do they really have it? I don't think so. The guy who came the closest was SRV.

What do SRV, Clapton, and Moore have in common at the time of smashing through to the mainstream?
They all copied "word for word" Albert King licks!

The reason Gary Moore wasn't number one is because not that many people have ever heard him play. I've heard all these players. Stevie Ray could come close, and maybe Bonamassa too, but unless you listen to everything he has done, you won't agree. He didn't just play blues. He played psychedelic and progressive rock with Skid Row. In Colosseum II, he played progressive rock-jazz fusion with some of his very best guitar work. Then, with Thin Lizzy and solo albums, he just rocked out with good heavy metal, and finally, he fully embraced the blues.

With Albert Collins' "Live at Montreux," the best blues I've ever heard and a great Texas Strut tribute to Stevie. His licks aren't just fast and clean but filled with real feeling and soul.

Let's see here. What rock 'n' roll player who also plays good blues is on this list before this man? Did they not idolize him and play his tunes? "The Sky is Crying"... Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. "Bleeding Heart"... Jimi Hendrix. Jimi Hendrix even called himself "Jimi James" at one point. Come on, folks, put away your rock hats and put on your Madison Blue Shoes...

Greatest slide player of all time.

I'd put Rory Gallagher at the number two spot personally. He was a way better guitar player than Clapton. While Hendrix was a better guitar player, he really wasn't so much a blues player, so I'm not even sure if I'd put him on that list.

Joe Bonamassa even says in a YouTube interview that he doesn't consider himself at Rory's level (when he was being interviewed where he got to play Rory's guitar at two London gigs). Clapton, Slash, Gary Moore, and many others were very influenced by Rory's playing style.

Merging the rock genre with the blues, Johnson has his own unique style and tone. It's blues-based, but he goes for it. Where others play it safe with the same old riffs, Johnson digs in deep and creates a modern yet classic statement. Some say he's in the style of Trower, Travers, and Marino, and there is some truth to that. But I think this guy stands up to some of the great guitarists of the world.

Been a fan of Jay's since the '80s when rock was his world. Fast forward, and Jay has matured into his own style of rock 'n' blues. You can hear many of the great guitarists' influences in some of his music, but it is classic Jay Jesse Johnson's tone and inflection that comes through on every song. Hoping he will record his rendition of Over the Rainbow one of these days, as it is killer!

I cannot believe that nobody has written a comment about this legendary guitarist of blues. The Groundhog was one of mine and millions of others' favorites - very traditional, interpretive blues. Honest and from the heart of a soul that beat in time with life. He will forever be a master in his field, cherished, loved, respected, and constantly reminding people of how true the blues can be.

His rhythm guitar. I've never heard another musician play blues rhythm guitar as well!

A great blues guitarist and singer. Played by his own rules and was unique as a result.

Roy was incredible live - "Roy's Bluz," "I'm Evil," "The Messiah Will Come Again" - had as much fireworks as Hendrix or SRV. Definitely, his older stuff was better, and I especially liked that he was straight Telecaster and amp. His record "Second Album" is one of the best ever - Side 1 is a must-listen. For me, "5 String Blues" is electric blues guitar perfection (and he played most of it with only 5 strings!).

I was just awestruck. Roy's music had me mesmerized for days after I first heard it. It made me want more. Too bad he died the way he did. I believe his death was a cover-up. What do you think? The world was robbed of a great musician.

Number 23, really? He may not be the greatest ever but certainly worth top ten consideration. Saw him in concert about twenty years ago. It was one of the greatest concerts I have ever attended.

Johnny Winter is the greatest guitar player that ever lived! He deserves the number one spot. It is a total insult to his talent having him at number nine!

Great list. Rarely see Roy, Rory, and Johnny in the same top ten. Hard to argue with Clapton's longevity, but Beano was his biggest moment.

This guy is my all-time favorite guitar player. He was as good at blues as any other blues guitarist, and better. Listen to songs like Since I've Been Loving You, Traveling Riverside Blues, When the Levee Breaks, In My Time of Dying, and I Can't Quit You Baby, and you will see what I'm talking about.

Enough said.

Even though he covered those old songs, he still invented new techniques for playing them. He created heavier songs than the originals and greatly used hard rock and blues.

Woah, he's a bit low on this list. If you doubt it, listen to songs like Since I've Been Loving You and Heartbreaker. He really has no rival when he plays blues guitar.

A lot of people in the music industry seem to have forgotten that he even existed, but as far as I'm concerned, he will always be number one. Even fifty years on, I never tire of hearing him play or sing the blues. As Mick Fleetwood said, "Don't forget the voice." He could make a guitar talk and bring you to tears by the feeling that he put into his playing.

Just listen to "The Stumble," the sublime "Slabo Day," or "The Supernatural," and you might appreciate what I mean!

Loved early Fleetwood Mac. Greatest Hits circa 1970, given to me by a mate, led me to Then Play On, Mr. Wonderful, Pious Bird, and others. Great to be able to see some more footage now posted on YouTube.

Told my son Pete Green's Fleetwood Mac era is a different world from the later band. He could not believe just how good he was. He loved his soulful singing and haunting guitar. He found more tracks for me to enjoy, reminding me why I love his music so much.

I think this is a rock 'n' roll guys who like or rate blues deal. Don't get me wrong, I love Stevie Ray Vaughan. I would not have ever been bitten by the blues bug if it weren't for Jimi Hendrix. His playing sent me on a search for more blues after he died and '70s rock got goofy and glam. But Otis Rush... searing and biting sounds... come on, folks!

Pink Floyd aren't blues, but David Gilmour is a blues guitarist who uses blues licks and scales in his Pink Floyd songs. Some of the songs where he uses blues scales and licks: Wish You Were Here's riff is in a blues scale, Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2's blues-like guitar solo, and he also uses some blues licks in Shine On, etc.

David should be in the top ten. He has one of the greatest guitar solos of all time in Comfortably Numb. When you hear him play, you know right away it's him.

How is T-Bone Walker not near the top of this list? He influenced nearly every guitarist before him, either directly or indirectly. Hendrix learned how to play behind his neck by emulating him. Eric Clapton got his phrasing by emulating him. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King were also heavily influenced by him. And let's not forget to mention he was one of the first ones to pick up an electric guitar, which directly inspired B.B. King to start playing electric too.

Listen to the entire T-Bone Blues album, and you will immediately understand that T-Bone is the greatest and most influential blues guitarist of all time.

Probably the most mechanically gifted guitar player still playing right now. People deny him his props because they don't like his pop songs or his personality. Or, they're jealous of the fact that he can get any girl he wants.

But let me tell you, if you've listened to "Where the Light Is: Live in L.A." or if you've just seen him play live at all and you refuse to believe that he is insanely gifted with a guitar in his hand, there's something wrong with you. The man is a stud.

The new generation. He doesn't have any associated sound because he is capable of every style that all revolves around the blues influence. He is the most versatile and academic musician alive today. Anyone who doubts his indubitable capabilities, please just watch the Where the Light Is DVD.

Duane is not number one. He and Dickey are number one. Here's why. As a duo, they rewrote blues guitar. They showed the world that two guitarists, when synchronized as one, take the whole definition of blues lead to a new level. It's never been matched since.

Individually, it comes down to your choice since music is an art form. No problem. Combined, nothing has touched the phrasing these two put together on the Live at Fillmore album. And we haven't really thrown in that he rewrote the book on electric slide. Now, I love SRV because I love the blues, but Stevie's slide work reminds me of the slide work Fleetwood Mac played on their live Chicago album 20 years earlier.

Saw him at Long Beach Arena, CA, on the "Cricklewood Green" tour. Blazing fast and technically perfect. For those into the blues, listen to one of his last albums, "The Bluest Blues." In a word, amazing!