250 Greatest Guitarists

[ProfessorJet]

A list from the imbeciles at Rolling Stone. It's loaded with ridiculous choices and placements. The list often made me want to hurl my computer against the family room wall.

The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time

The 250 Greatest Guitarists: Jimi Hendrix, Prince, St. Vincent, H.E.R. and More

www.rollingstone.com

 

[Fudbutter]

got as far as James Taylor at #196

rubbush article

brought down my head, man

 

[ProfessorJet]

got as far as James Taylor at #196

rubbush article

brought down my head, man

Albert Collins at 117? John McLaughlin at 72? Lou Reed at 96? Reed was a great songwriter but could barely play I-IV-V chords. The friggin' Deal Sisters made the list?!

I could spend a day ripping this POS list to shreds. But why bother? Rolling Stone opinions on artists and bands have been a joke since the rag started.

 

[ProfessorJet]

 

[ProfessorJet]

In case anyone wants to vote in another poll.

Who is the most influential guitarist of all time?

Vote now for the players who changed the course of guitar history

www.guitarworld.com

 

[Fudbutter]

now that poll makes much more sense

So players who influenced permanent change to the way the instrument is played, used and sounds. Hmm.

How's this:

Charlie Christian:
Invented electricity and with that, turned the guitar into a linear solo instrument. "Lester Young with a guitar"

Alvin Lee:
First guy that made everyone start playing fast. You had to be around back then to know who much he wigged everyone out and sent 'em all woodshedding. HM to Page's Heartbreaker which had the same effect

Jimi Hendrix:
The guy was not a good player per se. His skills were primitive and uneducated. There's little he did that you can't duplicate today. The reason most still revere him is really all about his unique personality and hall of fame level writing chops. The reason he changed everything is one of the most important things anyone ever did for guitar playing: he cooked tubes like burnt ends at Arthur Bryant's. Marshall amps weren't built for this (then), but when Jim dimed the V and used his knobs down for level, he invented the sound of the guitar the is the basis to this date. He also taught everyone to slur chords not only as accompaniment, but as part of the lead

Leslie West:
Brought "heavy" into the mix. Pinch harmonics (more woodshedding), LP Jr's on the neck pickup, less is more

Robert Fripp:
Alternate tunings, true composition, Frippertronics. No one has caught up yet

John McLaughlin:
The Godfather of every modern player. Kinda did what Alvin Lee did but in a major level when the world was more ready for it. By taking jazz chops, a Les Paul and (Hi Watts? Marshall?), the need to actually learn the instrument arose. No John, there's no EVH or Vai or Satriani, DiMeola etc, so if you are looking at them as the major influences they are, look to the real souce: McLaughlin


Honorable mentions:

The Pedal Show Guys, Pete Thorn, et al.:
Modern influencers who are making playing pedals more important than actually playing. Tone chasing is now a thing

Steve Hackett:
EVH stated that he learned to do tap from wacthing him. No tap, no metal

Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page:
Unique figuring done by so many that followed

EVH:
Brown sound

... and finally the greatest event for guitar playing in history: The Beatles stepping off the plane in NYC in 1964 followed by an entire generation taking a shot at learning to play


Just a humble opinion from an old man with passing interest in the subject

 

[ProfessorJet]

now that poll makes much more sense

So players who influenced permanent change to the way the instrument is played, used and sounds. Hmm.

How's this:

Charlie Christian:
Invented electricity and with that, turned the guitar into a linear solo instrument. "Lester Young with a guitar"

Alvin Lee:
First guy that made everyone start playing fast. You had to be around back then to know who much he wigged everyone out and sent 'em all woodshedding. HM to Page's Heartbreaker which had the same effect

Jimi Hendrix:
The guy was not a good player per se. His skills were primitive and uneducated. There's little he did that you can't duplicate today. The reason most still revere him is really all about his unique personality and hall of fame level writing chops. The reason he changed everything is one of the most important things anyone ever did for guitar playing: he cooked tubes like burnt ends at Arthur Bryant's. Marshall amps weren't built for this (then), but when Jim dimed the V and used his knobs down for level, he invented the sound of the guitar the is the basis to this date. He also taught everyone to slur chords not only as accompaniment, but as part of the lead

Leslie West:
Brought "heavy" into the mix. Pinch harmonics (more woodshedding), LP Jr's on the neck pickup, less is more

Robert Fripp:
Alternate tunings, true composition, Frippertronics. No one has caught up yet

John McLaughlin:
The Godfather of every modern player. Kinda did what Alvin Lee did but in a major level when the world was more ready for it. By taking jazz chops, a Les Paul and (Hi Watts? Marshall?), the need to actually learn the instrument arose. No John, there's no EVH or Vai or Satriani, DiMeola etc, so if you are looking at them as the major influences they are, look to the real souce: McLaughlin


Honorable mentions:

The Pedal Show Guys, Pete Thorn, et al.:
Modern influencers who are making playing pedals more important than actually playing. Tone chasing is now a thing

Steve Hackett:
EVH stated that he learned to do tap from wacthing him. No tap, no metal

Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page:
Unique figuring done by so many that followed

EVH:
Brown sound

... and finally the greatest event for guitar playing in history: The Beatles stepping off the plane in NYC in 1964 followed by an entire generation taking a shot at learning to play


Just a humble opinion from an old man with passing interest in the subject

Nicely done. You had me at Lester Young.

I always add Chuck Berry. I truly believe that without his unique rhythm and lead attack/approach, rock&roll would never have evolved the same way. Pick any guitarist in any of the rock genres and you will hear some form of Chuck's lead fills and breaks. Plus, there was no better daring songwriter back in the 50s.

 

[Fudbutter]

smartly done, sir

 

[ProfessorJet]

@Fudbutter You know who also doesn't get enough love and recognition? And was a glaring omission on the RS list? John Scofield. That guy is on another planet. Funkiest jazz player out there.

You might dig this interview with Scofield explaining his evolution as a guitarist.

 

[NewMFS62]

Without looking at the list, if Les Paul, the inventor of the electric guitar, isn't #1, it isn't worth anything. Without him, we never would have heard of many of the others on the list.
Later

 

[ProfessorJet]

Without looking at the list, if Les Paul, the inventor of the electric guitar, isn't #1, it isn't worth anything. Without him, we never would have heard of many of the others on the list.
Later

Jimi at #1. Les Paul at #68.

 

[ProfessorJet]

Here's the RS list without all the extra stuff.

250 - Andy Summers (The Police)
249 - Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes/Thunderbitch/solo)
248 - Robbie Kreiger (The Doors)
247 - Ricky Wilson (The B-52s)
246 - Paul Simon
245 - Leslie West (Mountain)
244- Edilio Paredes (from Dominican Republic, in the Bachata genre)
243 - Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner (from The National... + Bryce - Steve Reich, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jonny Greenwood, and Kronos Quartet. Aaron - Taylor Swift)
242 - Lindsey Jordan (Snail Mail)
241 - Keith Urban
240 - Erin Smith (Bratmobile)
239 - Duane Eddy
238 - Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices/Cobra Verde/Death of Samantha/GEM)
237 - Jennifer Batten
236 - Greg Sage (The Wipers/solo)
235 - Laura Marling
234 - John McGeoch (Magazine/Siouxsie & The Banshees/PiL)
233 - H.E.R.
232 - David Williams (session player - Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Kenny Loggins)
231 - Etta Baker
230 - Gustavo Cerati (from Argentina... Soda Stereo/solo)
229 - Barbara Lynn ("You'll Lose a Good Thing")
228 - Steve Jones (Sex Pistols)
227 - Glenn Branca
226 - El Kempner (Palehound)
225 - Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith and Wayne Kramer (MC5)
224 - Marv Tarplin (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles/Smokey Robinson)
223 - Joseph Spence (from The Bahamas)
222 - Molly Tuttle
221 - James Blood Ulmer
220 - Courtney Barnett
219 - Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing (Judas Priest)
218 - Lzzy Hale (Halestorm)
217 - Thomas McClary (Ther Commodores)
216 - Steve Hackett (Genesis/solo)
215 - Kurt Vile
214 - Keiji Haino (from Japan - Aihiyo/solo)
213 - Lucy Dacus
212 - José Feliciano
211 - Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
210 - Kaki King
209 - Gary Clark Jr.
208 - Amadou Bagayoko (from Mali - Amadou and Mariam)
207 - Justin Broadrick (Godflesh)
206 - Hugh McCracken (session heavyweight - Steely Dan, Roberta Flack, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon)
205 - Eric Johnson
204 - Lynn Taitt (reggae/rocksetady session pioneer - Desmond Dekker)
203 - Grant Green
202 - Vince Gill
201 - Garry ‘Diaper Man’ Shider (Parliament/Funkadelic, Bootsy's Rubber Band)
200 - Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram
199 - Bombino (from Niger)
198 - Jerry Reed
197 - Nuno Bettencourt
196 - James Taylor
195 - Greg Ginn (Black Flag)
194 - Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy)
193 - David Lindley (Jackson Browne/Linda Rondstadt/solo)
192 - Lita Ford
191 - Chalmers Edward ‘Spanky’ Alford (D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige, Total, Rapheal Saadique)
190 - Lightnin’ Hopkins
189 - Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
188 - Marnie Stern
187 - Marc Ribot
186 - Steve Lukather
185 - Peggy Jones ("Lady Bo")
184 - Eldon Shamblin (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys)
183 - Roy Buchanan
182 - Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith (Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Bunny Wailer, Sugar Minott, Jacob Miller, Black Uhuru, Mighty Diamonds, Augustus Pablo, Gregory Isaacs)
181 - Larissa Strickland (Laughing Hyenas)
180 - Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
179 - Ernest Ranglin (ska/rocksteady/reggae pioneer)
178 - Skip James
177 - Rodrigo y Gabriela
176 - Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz)
175 - Rory Gallagher
174 - Marty Stuart
173 - Paul McCartney
172 - Chrissie Hynde
171 - D. Boon (The Minutemen)
170 - Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music)
169 - Jessie Mae Hemphill
168 - John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service)
167 - James Williamson (Iggy & The Stooges)
166 - Johnny Winter
165 - Rokia Traoré (from Mali)
164 - Dave Davies (The Kinks)
163 - Wah Wah Watson
162 - Rosinha de Valença (from Brazil)
161 - Tim Henson (Polyphia)
160 - Kim and Kelley Deal (The Breeders)
159 - John Lennon
158 - Johnny Thunders
157 - Pat Metheny
156 - Carl Perkins
155 - Yvette Young (Covet)
154 - Bill Frisell
153 - Otis Rush
152 - Ani DiFranco
151 - Pete Cosey (Miles Davis)
150 - Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females/Noun)
149 - Ron Asheton (The Stooges)
148 - Ike Turner
147 - Memphis Minnie
146 - Mike Bloomfield
145 - Dickey Betts
144 - Odetta
143 - Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo)
142 - João Gilberto
141 - Fredrik Thordendal (Meshugga)
140 - Stephen Stills
139 - Susan Tedeschi
138 - Teenie Hodges (Al Green/Hi Rhythm Section)
137 - Liz Phair
136 - Joe Perry (Aerosmith)
135 - Roger McGuinn (The Byrds)
134 - Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü/Sugar/solo)
133 - Robert Cray
132 - Nils Lofgren
131 - Dimebag Darrell (Pantera/Damage Plan)
130 - Joe Walsh
129 - Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper/Demi Lovato)
128 - Bob Stinson (The Replacements)
127 - Steve Vai
126 - Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
125 - Viv Albertine (The Slits)
124 - Mike McCready and Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)
123 - Steve Howe (Yes, Asia)
122 - King Sunny Ade
121 - Dick Dale
120 - Warren Haynes (Gov't Mule/Allman Brothers)
119 - Donita Sparks (L7)
118 - Adrian Belew
117 - Albert Collins
116 - Ana da Silva
115 - Nels Cline
114 - Robert Quine (Richard Hell & The Voidoids/Lou Reed/Matthew Sweet)
113 - Allen Collins and Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
112 - Rowland S. Howard (The Birthday Party/Crime And The City Solution/These Immortal Souls)
111 - Kelley Johnson (Girlschool)
110 - Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac, solo)
109 - Mick Ronson (David Bowie, Spiders From Mars/Ian Hunter/solo)
108 - Merle Travis
107 - Clarence White (The Byrds)
106 - Peter Buck (R.E.M.)
105 - Slash
104 - Ali Farka Touré (from Mali)
103 - Nancy Wilson (Heart)
102 - Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
101 - John Fogerty
100 - Kerry King (Slayer)
99 - Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders)
98 - Link Wray
97 - Stephen Malkmus (Pavement/Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks)
96 - Mark Knopfler (Dire Strais/solo)
95 - Mary Timony (Helium/solo/Wild Flag/Ex Hex)
94 - Joe Satriani
93 - Leo Nocentelli (The Meters)
92 - Wata (Boris)
91 - Cat Coore (Third World)
90 - Mdou Moctar (from Niger)
89 - Lou Reed
88 - Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
87 - Poison Ivy (The Cramps)
86 - Sonny Sharrock
85 - Larry Carlton
84 - Muddy Waters
83 - Adrian Smith and Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
82 - Wes Montgomery
81 - Bert Jansch
80 - Derek Trucks (Tedeshi-Trucks Band/Allman Brothers)
79 - Ernie Isley (Isley Brothers)
78 - Charlie Christian
77 - Willie Nelson
76 - Joan Jett
75 - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple/Rainbow)
74 - J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.)
73 - Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf)
72 - John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra/Miles Davis)
71 - Franco Luambo (from Republic of the Cong/Zaire)
70 - Django Reinhardt
69 - Robbie Robertson (The Band)
68 - Les Paul
67 - Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine)
66 - Ry Cooder
65 - T-Bone Walker
64 - Carrie Brownstein (Sleeter-Kinney)
63 - Richard Thompson
62 - Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
61 - John Mayer
60 - Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley)
59 - Robert Fripp
58 - Alex Lifeson (Rush)
57 - Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth)
56 - Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
55 - Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones)
54 - Bonnie Raitt
53 - Trey Anastasio (Phish)
52 - John Lee Hooker
51 - Tom Verlaine (Television/solo)
50 - Elmore James
49 - PJ Harvey
48 - Curtis Mayfield
47 - The Edge (U2)
46 - Frank Zappa
45 - Steve Cropper
44 - Johnny Ramone (The Ramones)
43 - Jonny Greenwood and Ed O’Brien (Radiohead)
42 - Vernon Reid (Living Color)
41 - Bo Diddley
40 - John Fahey
39 - Chet Atkins
38 - Angus Young and Malcolm Young (AC/DC)
37 - Pete Townshend (The Who)
36 - Elizabeth Cotten
35 - Eric Clapton (Bluesbreakers/Cream/Blind Faith/Derek & The Dominoes/solo/COVID-19)
34 - Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
33 - Brian May (Queen)
32 - Jack White (White Stripes/solo)
31 - George Harrison
30 - Neil Young
29 - Eddie Hazel (Parliament/Funkadelic)
28 - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
27 - Buddy Guy
26 - St. Vincent
25 - John Frusciante
24 - James Burton (Ricky Nelson/Elvis/Emmylou Harris)
23 - James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
22 - Albert King
21 - Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)
20 - Stevie Ray Vaughan
19 - Freddy King
18 - Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine/Audioslave)
17 - Mother Maybelle Carter (Carter Family)
16 - Robert Johnson
15 - Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)
14 - Prince
13 - Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
12 - Jimmy Nolen (James Brown)
11 - Carlos Santana
10 - Duane Allman (Allman Brothers/Derek and The Dominoes)
9 - Joni Mitchell
8 - B.B. King
7 - Nile Rodgers (Chic/Diana Ross/Sister Sledge/David Bowie)
6 - Sister Rosetta Tharpe
5 - Jeff Beck
4 - Eddie Van Halen
3 - Jimmy Page
2 - Chuck Berry
1 - Jimi Hendrix

 

[NewMFS62]

Unless I missed him Neil Giraldo (Pat Benitar's husband) belongs on that list - maybe around the 80 mark or higher.
Bit I am glad to see many women made the list. They usually don't get their due on R&R lists.
Later

 

[ProfessorJet]

Unless I missed him Neil Giraldo (Pat Benitar's husband) belongs on that list - maybe around the 80 mark or higher.
Bit I am glad to see many women made the list. They usually don't get their due on R&R lists.
Later

Dude, I could spend half a day listing players who should have made the list. No Robin Trower? Rik Emmett (Triumph)? George freakin' Benson?? I don't think Geraldo is on the list.

Agree with you that it's nice to see females represented. But then leave out Orianthi? That chick can play circles around most of the guys on that list.

 

[ProfessorJet]

OMG. I just realized those RS morons left Joe Pass off the list. Arguably, he might be the best jazz guitarist ever. And in that genre, why the fuck isn't Philly's own Jimmy Bruno included?

 

[NewMFS62]

OMG. I just realized those RS morons left Joe Pass off the list. Arguably, he might be the best jazz guitarist ever. And in that genre, why the fuck isn't Philly's own Jimmy Bruno included?

Consider the source.
Later

 

[ProfessorJet]

At some point in the day, I will think of a guitarist who should have been included in the RS list. Today, I thought of Jan Akkerman of Focus. Back in the 70s, I remember Akkerman as having incredible technique and speed for the rock world. A very underrated player for sure.

 

[NewMFS62]

Did I mis Brian May (Queen)?
Later

 

[Fudbutter]

At some point in the day, I will think of a guitarist who should have been included in the RS list. Today, I thought of Jan Akkerman of Focus. Back in the 70s, I remember Akkerman as having incredible technique and speed for the rock world. A very underrated player for sure.

forgot about him too. Questions? Answers, Answers? Questions !!

Not on the most infuental list but certainly an A list player (still holds up too), kinda like Petrucci today

Remember the Beck, Bogert and Appice tour/album? They tried the same thing with Akkerman, Bogert and Appice but I think it was only a tour. Would have loved an album from that.


btw; Did Guthrie Govan make the list? Lots of people citing him as the "top" player these days. I don't see "top" because I don't believe in that but the Erotic Cakes is a pretty good record and his solos on the Steven Wilson albums are worth studying

 

[ProfessorJet]

Did I mis Brian May (Queen)?
Later

Brian May is at #33.

forgot about him too. Questions? Answers, Answers? Questions !!

Not on the most infuental list but certainly an A list player (still holds up too), kinda like Petrucci today

Remember the Beck, Bogert and Appice tour/album? They tried the same thing with Akkerman, Bogert and Appice but I think it was only a tour. Would have loved an album from that.


btw; Did Guthrie Govan make the list? Lots of people citing him as the "top" player these days. I don't see "top" because I don't believe in that but the Erotic Cakes is a pretty good record and his solos on the Steven Wilson albums are worth studying

Good comparison with Petrucci. I would have loved an ABA record, too.

Had not thought of him, but you're dead on about Govan. Very talented young guitarist. EDIT: Did not make the list. And in that vein, where's Paul Gilbert? That dude can play his ass off.