Most Versatile Guitarists
This List contains the Most All-Rounder Guitarists who can play many number of Guitar Styles, Techniques & Guitar varieties across many Genres of Music...
Lenny Breau, though not recognized by the general public, was by far the most versatile guitarist on the planet, and his versatility has not been matched to this very day.
Not only did he perform Country, Jazz, Classical, and Flamenco, he was able to perform those styles with equal authenticity. Unfortunately, like many musicians, drug abuse was a problem, and more than likely played a part in his untimely death. The music world has yet to see a guitarist with versatility of that magnitude.
This guy can play like Chet Atkins one minute, then go one-on-one with jazz great Tal Farlow the next, then play a Sabicas-style flamenco piece the minute after that. Sometimes all of this happens in one song.
The dude's versatility is off the charts. Jose Feliciano should be on this list too.
Eric Johnson (born August 17, 1954) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist from Austin, Texas. Best known for his electric guitar skills, Johnson is also a highly proficient acoustic, lap steel, resonator, and bass guitarist as well as an accomplished pianist and vocalist. Cliffs of Dover, To Dusty, and everything else in between. Very sophisticated style.
Versatile? Extremely.
James Patrick Page is an English musician, songwriter, and record producer who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. JP was really the first versatile guitarist among the guitar gods. His session career was invaluable when he formed Zeppelin. He's not only versatile in his playing, but also in what he is: guitarist, founding member, composer, producer. Who else can say that?
He listened to all kinds of music, and he played all kinds of music in Zeppelin. Blues, rock and roll, country, classical, folk, punk, heavy metal, and reggae are just some of the genres Jimmy Page excelled in. Whole Lotta Love, Rock and Roll, Communication Breakdown, Heartbreaker, Since I've Been Loving You, Stairway to Heaven, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, The Song Remains the Same, Over the Hills and Far Away, Houses of the Holy, Black Dog, The Rain Song, Kashmir, D'yer Mak'er, All My Love, Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, Fool in the Rain, and Achilles Last Stand are prime examples. Jimmy Page should be #1. There's a reason why he's known as the most influential guitarist.
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English musician and songwriter. He is best known as the guitarist in the progressive rock group Yes. Definitely one of the most versatile guitarists, don't you think?
Most versatile? Steve Howe has to be at the top of this list!
Listen to the long version of the "America" cover.
Richard Stephen "Richie" Sambora is an American rock guitarist, producer, singer and songwriter who was the lead guitarist of the rock band Bon Jovi for 30 years. He is known for his work with Bon Jovi from 1983 to 2013. He is a very praised guitarist who played solos for songs like Dry County, Stranger... read more Classical, Country, Pop, Latin, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Metal... You name it, he plays all of them! He's the greatest guitarist of all time.
Just to get a rough idea of Richie Sambora's incomprehensibly incredible range of guitar playing: He was the lead guitarist of Bon Jovi for 30 years and counting. He was responsible for 12 studio albums, 3 compilation albums, 1 live album, 1 box set, 13 video releases, and over 50 singles. As a solo artist, he produced 3 solo albums. He has contributed to more than 500 songs with his divine guitar wizardry.
Just give a listen to Stranger in This Town, Wanted Dead or Alive, Livin' on a Prayer, Keep the Faith, Dry County, You Give Love a Bad Name, Bed of Roses, Always, I'll Be There for You, Born to Be My Baby, Ballad of Youth, One Light Burning, Diamond Ring, Father Time, The Answer, In It for Love, Lay Your Hands on Me, (It's Hard) Letting You Go, My Guitar Lies Bleeding in My Arms, Thank You for Loving Me, Bad Medicine, Runaway, Never Say Goodbye, These Days, Everyday, One Wild Night, Two Story Town, Homebound Train, If I Was Your Mother, Love for Sale, Blaze of Glory, Dyin' Ain't Much of a Livin', Love for Sale, Tokyo Road, Bitter Wine, Next 100 Years, It's My Life, and I can go on and on for hours. And these are excluding dozens of acoustic, compilation, and alternate versions of the same songs. Richie Sambora is the greatest and deserves the #1 spot on this list.
Steven J. "Steve" Morse is an American guitarist and composer, best known as the founder of the Dixie Dregs; and since 1994, the guitar player of Deep Purple.
Phil always seems to create great melodies in whatever he does. It's obvious that he has world-class technique, but it's always about the song and the melody.
His acoustic work is stunning, but I really miss the Les Paul work. His early stuff was so creative and years beyond many of the great players at the time. I've never heard anyone with just a Les Paul and an amp create such a soundscape. Blistering runs, sweeps, volume swells, e-bow, weaving in jazz, rock, classical, etc. I often wonder what he could have been as a member of a band with a creative group of musicians to keep pushing him.
John McLaughlin, also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer.
Brian Patrick Carroll, known professionally as Buckethead, is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who has worked within many genres of music. Buckethead should be at the top of the list. Does anyone know of another guitarist who can play almost any string instrument equally well? Can anyone name a guitarist who has released more than 200 albums?
Even God Himself would have been tired by now, but Bucky has already released a dozen albums in 2015.
I keep listening to more and more of this guy's stuff. It's just incredible how many different genres he can play at an extremely high level - blues, shredding, neo-classical, rock.
Buckethead does it all.
From Padmasana to Soothsayer, from Baptism of Solitude to Final Wars, from Mrs. Beasley to Beaten With Sledges, from For Mom to The Treeman, Buckethead has them all!
First, let's take the masterpiece: Hotel California! Both the electric (1976) and acoustic (1994) versions are amazingly versatile, and Don Felder is the master behind it!
There are plenty of Eagles songs with lots of diversity. He can play rock, blues, country, classical, and more.
Check out the electric and acoustic versions of Hotel California.
End of story.
Mark Freuder Knopfler is a British singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer and film score composer. He is best known for being the frontman of the British band Dire Straits. Sultans of Swing, Brothers in Arms, Private Investigations, Telegraph Road, Tunnel of Love, Money for Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, Your Latest Trick, Walk of Life, It Never Rains, On Every Street, Why Worry, Lady Writer, Once Upon a Time in the West, Love Over Gold, Twisting by the Pool, So Far Away, Heavy Fuel...
I mentioned only 18 of Dire Straits' material here. See how differently beautiful they sound compared to each other!
John Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist, composer and producer. He is best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Compared to his level of skill, John Petrucci is relatively unknown in the modern music industry. From heavy shredders to powerful melodies, to jazz, blues-like sounds, to classical-inspired parts, to emotional melodies - this guy can play it all.
Just listen to Erotomania, The Best of Times, Lines in the Sand, Hollow Years (Live at Budokan), Stream of Consciousness, As I Am, When the Water Breaks, Universal Mind, Paradigm Shift, Biaxident, then listen to some of the songs on his solo album like Glasgow Kiss, Damage Control, Lost Without You, and Jaws of Life. Then you will understand all of his different sounds and know his versatility.
George Harrison (1943 - 2001) was an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and music and film producer who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Early rock, sitar, slide, modern rock, pop... any song you want. The tune is what matters.
He was the best one to have in a band full of great tunes.
Shawn Lane was an American musician who released two studio albums and collaborated with a variety of musicians including Ringo Starr, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Reggie Young, Joe Walsh, Jonas Hellborg and many others. First, listen to Epilogue for Lisa. Next, listen to Get You Back. Then listen to Death Theme, and finally listen to Not Again!
Randall William "Randy" Rhoads was an American heavy metal guitarist who played with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot. He was killed in a plane crash.
Eric Patrick Clapton is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, once as a solo artist and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream. He has also been a member of Derek and the Dominos.
Guthrie Govan is an English virtuoso guitarist and guitar teacher, known for his work with the bands The Aristocrats, Asia, GPS, The Young Punx and The Fellowship, as well as his solo project Erotic Cakes. Guthrie has sheer mastery of almost every guitar technique and a fantastic grasp of the English language. He is a brilliant instructor and is truly modest.
Unfortunately, not many people listen to jazz.
I can't think of anyone who has such a grasp of various guitar styles.
Ridiculously versatile. Just listen to the Aristocrats albums.
In my opinion, the most versatile. Glen played country, rock, blues, and even classical. He was one of the most sought-after studio musicians of the '60s.
A one-man band who needs no backup. He played for all the greats, including Elvis, The Beach Boys, and Neil Diamond. He was also part of the famous Wrecking Crew session musician group.
Jimi Hendrix (born November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970) was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter.Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most... read more
Larry Eugene Carlton is an American guitarist who built his career as a studio musician in the 1970s and '80s for acts such as Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell.
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, such as Steve Vai, Larry LaLonde, Rick Hunolt, Kirk Hammett, Andy Timmons, Charlie... read more
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" was an English rock guitarist. He was one of the three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds (the other two being Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page). Beck also formed The Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice.