Top 10 Current Guitarists

The guitar isn't dead. It just shaved, got a better rig, and started pulling off things no one thought were physically possible.

This list is all about the players who are doing the work right now. The shredders, the crooners, the technical wizards and tone chasers who are pushing six strings into wild new territory or reminding us why the classics still matter. Some are household names. Others have cult followings that treat their pedalboard setups like sacred texts.

You don't have to agree with everyone else's picks. In fact, you're supposed to argue. That's the fun of it. If someone's bending notes in a way that makes your jaw slack and your brain melt, toss them a vote. If another has you wondering how they got famous playing recycled riffs, well... maybe it's time to shift the rankings.

This list changes as you and everyone else weigh in. No panel of critics. No industry politics. Just the players you think are actually worth talking about in this moment.

The Top Ten

John Mayer

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 left before graduating. He moved to Atlanta in 1997 with Clay Cook, where they formed a short-lived two-man band called Lo-Fi Masters... read more

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.
Derek Mount
Seth Morrison
Synyster Gates

Brian Elwin Haner, Jr., better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn, is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the band Avenged Sevenfold. He joined the band in 2001 and has since become recognized for his technical skill and melodic solos. Gates... read more

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.
Shawn Jump
Ben Kasica
Slash

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 has also released solo work and collaborated with... read more

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.
John Petrucci

John Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist, composer, and producer, best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. He is widely recognized for his technical proficiency and complex compositions. Despite his acclaim among musicians and fans of progressive metal, he remains... read more

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.
Kirk Hammett

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.
Prior to joining Metallica, Hammett co-founded the thrash metal band Exodus... 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.
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

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.

The Newcomers

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Clay Cook

Incredible multi-instrumentalist who is absolutely unreal on the guitar.
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Ty Tabor

Most underrated guitar player from one of the greatest bands in rock and roll history, King's X.

The Contenders

Joe Bonamassa

Joe Bonamassa is an American blues rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. When he was only 12 years old, he opened for blues legend B.B. King. Bonamassa was born on May 8, 1977, and has released numerous albums showcasing his guitar skills and musical versatility.

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 Urban

Keith Lionel Urban, born on October 26, 1967, in Whangārei, New Zealand, is a New Zealand-born Australian-American country singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He released his self-titled debut album in Australia in 1991, which produced four singles. In 1992, he relocated to the United States to further... read more

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.
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.
Herman Li

Herman Li is a Hong Kong-born British musician, producer, and lead guitarist for the power metal band DragonForce. He was born on October 3, 1976, in British Hong Kong. Li is widely recognized for his fast guitar playing and use of advanced techniques such as sweep picking and whammy bar tricks.
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

The greatest guitarist I have ever seen!
Matthew Bellamy

Matthew James "Matt" Bellamy is an English musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. He is best known as the lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Muse. Bellamy's dynamic guitar work, falsetto vocals, and classically influenced piano compositions... read more

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 Malmsteen

Yngwie Johan Malmsteen is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter, and bandleader born June 30, 1963, in Stockholm, Sweden. He's renowned for his neoclassical metal playing style. Malmsteen gained prominence in the 1980s with virtuoso albums such as Rising Force (1984).
Michael Paget

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!
Derek Trucks

Derek Trucks is an American guitarist, songwriter, and founder of the Grammy Award-winning group The Derek Trucks Band. He became an official member of The Allman Brothers Band in 1999. He is also a co-founder of the Tedeschi Trucks Band, which he formed with his wife, Susan Tedeschi.

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 Frusciante

John Anthony Frusciante is an American guitarist, singer, producer, and composer. He is best known for his work with the funk rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Frusciante has also been a member of The Mars Volta, Swahili Blonde, Ataxia, and several other musical projects.

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.
Jack White

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. He has also achieved success with other bands, including The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, as well as in his solo career.

He has that bluesy sound that Led Zep and Hendrix could create.
Mark Tremonti

Mark Thomas Tremonti is an American musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He is also the founder of the band Tremonti. Tremonti has won a Grammy Award and is regarded as one of the leading guitarists in modern rock.

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.
Dan Donegan

Dan Donegan is an American musician who plays guitar for the heavy metal band Disturbed. He began learning guitar as a teenager and developed his technique through self-teaching and practice. Before joining Disturbed, he played in a band called Vandal, which was styled after 1980s hair metal.

Certainly the best all-around current guitarist, breathing or otherwise.

Just saw him and Disturbed live. Really impressive.
Coy Bowles
Tosin Abasi

Oluwatosin Ayoyinka Olumide "Tosin" Abasi (born January 7, 1983) is a Nigerian American musician, best known as the founder and lead guitarist of the instrumental progressive metal band Animals as Leaders. Before founding Animals as Leaders, he was the guitarist for the technical metalcore band Reflux.... read more