Many musicians have revolutionized music and helped define their respective eras, but there are a few that stand out from the crowd. From energetic riffs to uncompromising strumming they never failed to awaken concert-goers to their transformative power of music. By plugging into their amps and cranking up the volume, the best guitarists of all time have also often harnessed flamboyant stage antics to their awe-inspiring musical prodigiousness. These are 10 of the most iconic guitarists that electrified the world.
10. Neil Young
Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young is sometimes overlooked, but Young’s astonishing run of influential 70s albums often showcased both sides of his unique playing style – a mix of despairing acoustic country-rock and heavily distorted rock tracks with solos that threaten to blow the listener away. In tandem with his masterful songwriting, Young never gave up on pushing sonic boundaries in order to weather changing trends. Whether you treasure Heart Of Gold or you’re partial to Rockin’ In The Free World, Young has always been among the best guitarists, connecting the bohemian spirit of late-60s hippiedom with the world-weary angst of punk-inspired misfits. Must hear: Like A Hurricane
9. Eddie Van Halen
Eddie is a master of riffs: “Unchained” and “Take Your Whiskey Home” are perfect examples. He achieves sounds that aren’t necessarily guitar sounds – a lot of harmonics, textures that happen just because of how he picks–by holding the pick between his thumb and middle finger, opening up the rest of his hand for finger tapping. A perfect example of this is in “Unchained” where it sounds like there’s another instrument in the riff because of the unique style in which he plays. Must hear: Eruption
8. Keith Richards
Few guitarists boast a sound that is distinctively their own, but Keith Richards’ love of drop tuning puts him ahead of the pack. Richards’ potent concoction of rock’n’roll, blues and R&B helped lay the foundations for the rise of the stadium-rock phenomenon in the latter part of the 20th century. Must hear: Gimme Shelter
7. Carlos Santana
A versatile performer, Carlos Santana fused blues-rock feels with Latin American and Afro-inspired sounds, doing far more than most guitarists to widen the sonic scope of rock-and-roll. Always inventive, Carlos Santana’s guitar playing was spirited and exemplary, lifting moods by verging on Caribbean-tinged fusion sounds while never losing touch with the carnival-esque flair of his Mexican roots. From performing at Woodstock to selling 100 million records worldwide, Santana deserves his status as one of the best guitarists. Must hear: Black Magic Woman
6. BB King
The undisputed “King Of The Blues”, BB King is one of the best guitarists to have electrified the blues and popularized it for mass audiences. Active from the 50s right up until his death, King was a seminal figurehead for many guitarists. With his stirring string bends and expressive vibrato, the Mississippi mavern took the guitar he nicknamed Lucille and expertly mined the blues for sorrowful exaltations (The Thrill Is Gone) and even toyed with funk-laced cuts that exposed racial injustice (Why I Sing The Blues). Despite often sticking to the pentatonic scale, King soared well beyond its limitations. Often emulated but never matched, he deserves to wear the crown more than anyone. Must hear: The Thrill Is Gone
5. Brian May
As the lead guitarist of Queen, May’s mix of hard-rock power chords and classicist fretwork fueled Freddie Mercury’s delightfully outlandish rock operas (Bohemian Rhapsody) as well as giving us solos that launched themselves like projectile missiles at the football terraces (We Will Rock You). Across Queen’s diverse body of work, May’s distinctive sound always stands out. While playing live, May has often paid tribute to Jimi Hendrix with his rendition of the UK national anthem, God Save The Queen, giving us further proof of his place among rock royalty. Must hear: Hammer To Fall
4. Eric Clapton
In the 60s, in the days before Hendrix, graffiti could be found daubed on London’s walls declaring that “Clapton Is God”. It’s not hard to see why. From his time with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers to his stint with supergroup Cream, Clapton’s roots-based mastery of the blues has continually impressed throughout his entire career. The influence of Clapton’s mind-boggling proficiency and his continuing commitment to reigniting the blues canon cannot be overstated. Must hear: Layla
3. David Gilmour
Picking up on the psychedelic sonic touchstones paved by Pink Floyd co-founder Syd Barrett, David Gilmour and his iconic “Black Strat” created a guitar sound like no other. His epic solo on Comfortably Numb is rightly considered to be one of the greatest guitar performances of all-time, offering listeners a perfect distillation of his ability to rouse emotion with every note played. By bridging the swamplands of psychedelia with the new terrain of jazz-rock, David Gilmour’s innovative work with Pink Floyd rightly marks him out as one of the best guitarists to ever grace the stage. Must hear: Comfortably Numb
2. Jimmy Page
The mastermind behind hard-rock giants Led Zeppelin is without a doubt the best guitarists who ever lived. Jimmy Page’s clamorous fusion of blues-rock and hyperactive riffs took the revolutionary spirit of Jimi Hendrix’s innovations and turned them into pure magic. Laying the foundation for what would later evolve into heavy metal and stadium rock, Page amplified the seething ire of the blues (Whole Lotta Love) and the allure of exotic sounds (Kashmir) while blending it all with an English folk tradition (Stairway To Heaven). Crafting a mythos like a wizard from days of yore, he dominated the 70s as the world’s most recognizable rock star. Must hear: Stairway To Heaven
1. Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix single-handedly revolutionized rock’n’roll with his virtuosic wail of electric blues. Stealing the thunder from 60s guitar god Eric Clapton, Hendrix’s noisy interpretation of R&B and his hair-raising tendency to play solos with his teeth was the stuff of legend. From the superhuman “Purple Haze” to his definitive cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower,” the legendary guitarist arguably did for rock-and-roll what Beethoven did for classical music. Must hear: Voodoo Child
