GUITARISTS TOP 50

Note that the #1 criterion considered was the guitarist's musicianship. However, other criteria also considered included their creativity, success, longevity, charisma / stage performance, as well as the influence they have had on other guitar players in the future.

Several reviews for historical albums are available here.

1.

Jimi Hendrix

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Are You Experienced?

(1967)

2.

Eddie Van Halen

Van Halen

Van Halen

(1978)

3.

Jimmy Page

(The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin, The Honeydrippers, The Firm, Coverdale/Page, Page & Plant)

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin IV

(1971)

Read the review

4.

Keith Richards

The Rolling Stones

Exile On Main St.

(1972)

5.

Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry Is on Top

(1959)

Read the review

6.

Jeff Beck

(The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group, Beck Bogert & Appice, The Honeydrippers)

Truth

(1968)

7.

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan &
Double Trouble

Texas Flood

(1983)

8.

Eric Clapton

(The Yardbirds, Cream, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Blind Faith, Derek & the Dominos, Eric Clapton Band)

Slowhand

(1977)

9.

Pete Townshend

The Who

Who's Next

(1971)

10.

Prince

(Prince and the Revolution, Prince & the New Power Generation, The Artist)

Prince and the Revolution

Purple Rain

(1984)

11.

Bo Diddley

Bo Diddley

(1958)

12.

Randy Rhoads

(Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne)

Ozzy Osbourne

Blizzard of Ozz

(1980)

13.

B.B. King

King of the Blues

(1960)

14.

Angus Young

AC/DC

Back In Black

(1980)

Read the review

15.

Joe Perry

Aerosmith

Toys in the Attic

(1975)

16.

Scotty Moore

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley

(1956)

Read the review

17.

Carlos Santana

Santana

Abraxas

(1970)

18.

Tony Iommi

(Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell)

Black Sabbath

Paranoid

(1970)

19.

Joe Satriani

(Greg Kihn Band, G3, Chickenfoot)

Surfing with the Alien

(1987)

20.

Steve Vai

(Alcatrazz, Whitesnake, G3)

Passion and Warfare

(1990)

21.

David Gilmour

Pink Floyd

The Dark Side Of The Moon

(1973)

22.

Kirk Hammett

(Exodus, Metallica)

Metallica

Master Of Puppets

(1986)

23.

Slash

(Guns N' Roses, Slash's Snakepit, Velvet Revolver)

Guns N' Roses

Appetite For Destruction

(1987)

Read the review

24.

Brian May

Queen

A Night At The Opera

(1975)

Read the review

25.

THE EDGE

U2

The Joshua Tree

(1987)

Read the review

26.

James Hetfield

Metallica

Master Of Puppets

(1986)

27.

Ritchie Blackmore

(Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmore's Night)

Deep Purple

Machine Head

(1972)

28.

Mark Knopfler

Dire Straits

Brothers in Arms

(1985)

29.

Richie Sambora

Bon Jovi

Slippery When Wet

(1986)

30.

Curtis Mayfield

Superfly

(1972)

31.

Yngwie Malmsteen

(Steeler, Alcatrazz)

Trilogy

(1986)

32.

Chet Atkins

Mister Guitar

(1959)

33.

George Harrison

(The Beatles,
The Traveling Wilburys)

All Things Must Pass

(1970)

34.

Robby Krieger

The Doors

The Doors

(1967)

35.

Muddy Waters

Hard Again

(1977)

36.

John Lee Hooker

Plays and Sings the Blues

(1961)

37.

Frank Zappa

(The Mothers of Invention)

Hot Rats

(1969)

38.

Albert King

Born Under a Bad Sign

(1967)

39.

Billy Gibbons

ZZ Top

Eliminator

(1983)

40.

John Frusciante

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Blood Sugar Sex Magik

(1991)

41.

Les Paul

The New Sound

(1950)

42.

Buddy Guy

Junior Wells' Chicago Blues Band

Hoodoo Man Blues

(1965)

43.

Joe Walsh

(James Gang, Eagles)

But Seriously, Folks...

(1978)

44.

Ace Frehley

(KISS, Frehley's Comet)

KISS

Destroyer

(1976)

45.

Andy Summers

The Police

Synchronicity

(1983)

46.

Jack White

47.

Alex Lifeson

Rush

Moving Pictures

48.

Fast Eddie Clarke

(Motörhead, Fastway)

Motörhead

Ace of Spades

(1980)

49.

Adrian Smith

(Iron Maiden, ASAP)

Iron Maiden

The Number of the Beast

(1982)

50.

Johnny Ramone

Ramones

Ramones

(1976)

HONORABLE MENTION:

Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly & the Crickets

The "Chirping" Crickets

(1957)

HONORABLE MENTION:

Mick Ronson

(Mott the Hoople,
The Spiders from Mars)

Slaughter on 10th Avenue

(1974)

HONORABLE MENTION:

Mick Taylor

The Rolling Stones

Exile On Main St.

(1972)

HONORABLE MENTION:

Ry Cooder

Paradise and Lunch

(1974)

HONORABLE MENTION:

Duane Allman

(Derek and the Dominos,
The Allman Brothers Band)

The Allman Brothers Band

Idlewild South

(1970)

HONORABLE MENTION:

Zakk Wylde

(Ozzy Osbourne,
Pride & Glory, Black Label Society, Zakk Sabbath)

Black Label Society

Sonic Brew

(1999)