Best Progressive Metal Guitarists
The Top Ten
1 John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
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.
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. Great guitarist can play all genres. Can mix melodic guitar solos with shredding wrote impactful riffs.
He is probably, the most world's most talented Prog-Metal guitarist if all time
I love Petrucci and I'm horrified that Tony McAlpine is not on the list... Herman Li?
No doubt in it. Best prog metal guitarist.
2 Adam Jones (Tool)
Adam Thomas Jones (born January 15, 1965) is a three-time Grammy Award-winning American musician and visual artist, best known for his position as the guitarist for Tool.
Adam Thomas Jones (born January 15, 1965) is a three-time Grammy Award-winning American musician and visual artist, best known for his position as the guitarist for Tool. Well, to prefice this comment, I am compelled to reiterate the request put before me: please share my opinion. That being made clear, it is my opinion that Adam Jones is, without question, the best progressive metal guitarist. In fact, TOOL, in my opinion, is the best prog metal band of all time. Thank you for providing the opportunity to share my OPINION.
3 Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth)
Lars Mikael Åkerfeldt is a Swedish musician, prominently known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of progressive death metal band Opeth, as well as being the former vocalist of death metal supergroup Bloodbath for three albums up until 2012.
He also has a side project with Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson known as Storm Corrosion. They released their self titled debut in 2012.
Akerfeldt also performed lead vocals on Katatonia's sophomore album "Brave Murder Day". He is best friends with their regular lead singer, Jonas Renkse.
Lars Mikael Åkerfeldt is a Swedish musician, prominently known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of progressive death metal band Opeth, as well as being the former vocalist of death metal supergroup Bloodbath for three albums up until 2012.
He also has a side project with Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson known as Storm Corrosion. They released their self titled debut in 2012.
Akerfeldt also performed lead vocals on Katatonia's sophomore album "Brave Murder Day". He is best friends with their regular lead singer, Jonas Renkse. The best riff master on this list.
4 Brent Hinds (Mastodon)
Brent Hinds is an American guitarist/singer best known as a member of the Atlanta, Georgia metal band Mastodon, in which he shares guitar duties with Bill Kelliher and vocal duties with Troy Sanders and Brann Dailor.
Brent Hinds is an American guitarist/singer best known as a member of the Atlanta, Georgia metal band Mastodon, in which he shares guitar duties with Bill Kelliher and vocal duties with Troy Sanders and Brann Dailor.
5 Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders)
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. He has recorded and released four albums with Animals as Leaders: a self-titled debut, Weightless, The Joy of Motion and their most recent album, The Madness of Many. Guitar World ranks Abasi at #97 on their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of all time.
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. He has recorded and released four albums with Animals as Leaders: a self-titled debut, Weightless, The Joy of Motion and their most recent album, The Madness of Many. Guitar World ranks Abasi at #97 on their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of all time. His skills on the instrument is mad. Second only to Petrucci in terms of prog metal guitarists for me. Guy's a freak on strings.
By far he is the best and amazing guitarist iv seen.he simply deserves to be the first!
6 Joe Duplantier (Gojira)
Joseph "Joe" Duplantier is a French musician best known as the guitarist and vocalist of metal band Gojira.
Joseph "Joe" Duplantier is a French musician best known as the guitarist and vocalist of metal band Gojira.
7 Paul Waggoner (Between the Buried and Me)
8 Michael Romeo (Symphony X)
Michael James Romeo is an American guitarist and a founding member of the progressive metal group Symphony X.
Michael James Romeo is an American guitarist and a founding member of the progressive metal group Symphony X.
9 Marten Hagström (Meshuggah)
10 Piotr Grudzinski (Riverside)
The Contenders
11 Peter Lindgren (Opeth)
12 Daron Malakian (System Of A Down, Scars On Broadway)
13 Michael Wilton (Queensrÿche)
14 Chuck Schuldiner (Death)
Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner (1967-2001) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known as the founder and vocalist, guitarist and bassist of the American heavy metal band Death. He is considered the most influential figure in Death Metal, with some publications referring to Chuck ...read more.
Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner (1967-2001) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known as the founder and vocalist, guitarist and bassist of the American heavy metal band Death. He is considered the most influential figure in Death Metal, with some publications referring to Chuck ...read more.
15 Fredrik Akesson (Opeth, Arch Enemy)
16 Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
Adrian Frederick "H" Smith is an English guitarist, best known as a member of Iron Maiden, for whom he writes songs and performs live backing vocals on some tracks.
Adrian Frederick "H" Smith is an English guitarist, best known as a member of Iron Maiden, for whom he writes songs and performs live backing vocals on some tracks.
17 Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
David Michael Murray is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as one of the earliest members of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden.
David Michael Murray is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as one of the earliest members of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden.
18 Greg Tribbett (Mudvayne)
19 Devin Townsend (Solo, Strapping Young Lad)
Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician, songwriter and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has an extensive career as a solo artist.
Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician, songwriter and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has an extensive career as a solo artist.
20 Maciej Meller (Riverside)
21 Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)
Jeff Loomis is an American musician, best known for his role as lead guitarist in the progressive metal band Nevermore and death metal band Arch Enemy.
Jeff Loomis is an American musician, best known for his role as lead guitarist in the progressive metal band Nevermore and death metal band Arch Enemy.
22 Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah)
Fredrik Thordendal (born February 11, 1970) is a Swedish musician, best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the Swedish extreme metal band Meshuggah. He's considered the originator of the djent technique. Thordendal was rated No. 35 by Guitar World in the top 100 greatest heavy metal ...read more.
Fredrik Thordendal (born February 11, 1970) is a Swedish musician, best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the Swedish extreme metal band Meshuggah. He's considered the originator of the djent technique. Thordendal was rated No. 35 by Guitar World in the top 100 greatest heavy metal ...read more.
23 Anders Nyström (Katatonia, Bloodbath)
24 Fredrik Norrman (Katatonia, October Tide)
25 Buckethead
Brian Patrick Carroll, known professionally as Buckethead, is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who has worked within many genres of music.
Brian Patrick Carroll, known professionally as Buckethead, is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who has worked within many genres of music.8Load More
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