Top Ten Current Guitarists
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. Influenced by the greats of old, John Mayer is a true great himself for his generation, having been called a 'master guitar player' by Eric Clapton. He is extremely talented and creatively versatile enough to be a pop icon, highlighting his genius in songwriting and studio production. His incredible ability with the guitar and instant head-to-hands musical translation is far beyond the average player.
John has also been an inspiration to the younger crowd across many genres of music. His true prowess can be seen in his live performances, often outshining his predecessors in action.
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. Incredible guitarist and humble. He can write some of the most beautiful guitar work ever heard and shred with the best of them. Super cool guy too. He has let fans come up and play songs on stage. He sits back loving it.
One of the greatest of all times. Amazing sweeps and takes the dueling guitar to a whole new level with Zacky Vengeance. Listen to anything from A7X and you're sure to be taken by the driving riffs of Gates.
One of the most creative guitarists of the decade. He and Zacky Vengeance combined make up the best duo that can be, and anyone who has heard their solos should know. For example, Bat Country.
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. Who doesn't love Slash? He has influenced countless guitarists. I remember staying up all night playing guitar, trying to learn his songs. The man is brilliant.
He is the all-time God of Guitar. Who are these guys in front of him? Slash means God, and if you don't agree, just go and listen to November Rain.
His music sounds clear, smooth, and powerful all at the same time, every time.
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.
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. Underrated. Listen to Constant Motion and Fatal Tragedy.
Most technical and one of the few modal players left.
A deadly combination of speed and melody.
The Newcomers
Incredible multi-instrumentalist who is absolutely unreal on the guitar.
Most underrated guitar player from one of the greatest bands in rock and roll history, King's X.
Joe Bonamassa is an American blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. When he was only 12 years old, Bonamassa opened for B.B. King. He was born 8th May 1977. He is known to be one of the greatest blues guitarists ever. Always been a huge SRV, Clapton, and King fan. Bonamassa is now included. Clean, smooth, effortless sound. The only description I can think of that does him justice is savant.
Best all-around guitarist. Doesn't constantly overplay. Electric, acoustic, slide, dobro. Blues, rock, funk, country, swing - he can do it all.
Simply an amazing blues and rock guitarist.
Keith Lionel Urban is a New Zealand born Australian country musician. In 1991, he released a self-titled debut album and charted four singles in Australia before moving to the United States the following year. If you've never heard of this guy, I implore you to watch at least some of his videos. He's been doing this for a long time and has been nothing less than exceptional. His body of work and music are based around his love for the guitar and his ability to make it speak and sing, which is unparalleled. The best favor you can do for yourself is to go see him live.
Keith blazes strings the whole show with his unique style, then tributes to guitar gods in a solo, and then loves his audience. Keith made me a country fan, but I don't really view him as country. He is one of the best guitarists playing today and a truly amazing, fun, and entertaining musician.
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is an American guitarist, composer, singer, songwriter, and producer, born and raised on Long Island, New York.
Brian Patrick Carroll, known professionally as Buckethead, is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who has worked within many genres of music. How is Buckethead not higher up on this list? Buckethead is the only one of these guitarists that spans across every genre imaginable, from prog rock to country to avant-garde. How many of the other people on this list can finger tap using four fingers on each hand? Just listen to Soothsayer and you'll know what I mean.
He was born in a coop, raised in a cage.
Children fear him, critics rage.
He's half alive, he's half dead.
Folks just call him BUCKETHEAD!
Buckethead is the world's best guitarist. Seeing him live will change the way you look at other guitarists and the way you see life in general. Buckethead is amazingly talented.
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... read more He really changes the pathway of music and drives it to the heavens. The way he synchronizes each and every note and leads it just makes him the boss.
Yes, yes, yes. Way better than the rest of these guys, especially Herman Li.
It's one thing to be good at guitar, but also playing guitar while singing (with insane high notes) and running around? That's next level.
Yngwie Johan Malmsteen is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter and bandleader who was born on June 30th, 1963, in Stockholm, Sweden. He was known for his neoclassical metal playing style back in the 1980s.
Herman Li is a Hong Kong-born, British Chinese musician, record producer, and lead guitarist for the British Power-Metal band Dragonforce.
Padge is way better than Kirk! No offense to Metallica, they are one of my favorite bands, but Kirk is always using a wah-wah pedal to make his solos, and that's not very hard. Padge does most of his solos with no effects except distortion. His solos are so clean, dynamic, fast, and melodic, fitting perfectly with the tone they're playing.
Better than any other band. His solos are lovely as heaven and clean too. He doesn't mix them or miss any good riff.
Damn, Padge is the best guitar player these days. He should be in first place!
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 The greatest guitarist I have ever seen!
Derek Trucks is an American guitarist, songwriter, and founder of the Grammy Award-winning The Derek Trucks Band. He became an official member of The Allman Brothers Band in 1999. I've watched him grow up into the very best guitarist in the world today. Wonderful person.
In my humble opinion, none of the others even come close to Derek.
Absolutely the best and so very modest.
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. You're kidding, right? Mayer as No. 1? He couldn't play half the riffs Frusciante, Buckethead, Slash, or Vai plays. Frusciante is so much more than what he does with the Chili Peppers. Listen to "The Empyrean" for guitar goosebumps.
Constantly able to adapt and change his sound, yet always sounds amazing.
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. He has that bluesy sound that Led Zep and Hendrix could create.
Mark Thomas Tremonti is an American musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. Matt Bellamy above Mark Tremonti? What a joke. Just take a look at this man's riffs and his unique style of soloing, not to mention his fingerstyle skills. His way of soloing is so unique. Mark should be in at least the top 3 along with Synyster Gates.
Tremonti is better than most of these guitarists on here. I don't know why he is not in the top 10. That's my opinion.
Tremonti is toe-to-toe with Gates, although I think Tremonti is on a brand new level.