Top 10 Guitar Players
Jul 4, 2009 Blue Grass Music, Cajun Music, Clasical Music, Country Music, Easy Listining, Jazz Music, Modern Music, Music, New Age Music, Oldies, Pop Music, R&B Music, Rap Music, Rock Music
Okay, I’m sure you’ve gotten an argument with your buddies at some point, comparing who you think are the top 10 guitar players of all time. We’ve all been there, but here’s the thing that few realize. Music isn’t competition, it’s not about who’s the best at this or that. Plus, there are so many musical genres, that to compare let’s say a metal master and a blues king doesn’t really work all that well. It’s like comparing Country to Rap.
That being said, there’s still a few guitarists that most people consider to be real heavies, and every time these types of lists come up, their names are always mentioned. These guitar players are arguably the most skilled at a specific technique, or are the most influential guitarists to other aspiring musicians, and that’s why they appear on my top 10 guitar players list.
In my opinion, this is the top 10 list of the most influential guitar players:
1. Jimi Hendrix
Need I say more? Jimi Hendrix is commonly found at the top of every “top guitarists” list! He turned the electric guitar into musicl science, playing around with sounds never before dreamed of on the electric guitar. Hendrix has a raw, fuzzy electric sound that is recognizable from the first note, which has been the inspiration of many younger guitarists since. His stage presence is also one of the most mind-blowing and electrifying. “Hey Joe” and “Fire” set the foundation for a solid monument of rock that stands to this day.
2. Jimmy Page
Another Jimmy! The Led Zeppelin guitar master has been very influential to a lot of rockers nowadays, and his guitar licks are legendary and instantly recognizable. His solo of “Heartbreaker” is legendary, and “Black Dog” and “Stairway to Heaven” are earth shattering rock classics. And no one else I know has ever had a guitar solo using a violin bow? That’s from “Dazed and Confused”,
3. BB King
When you say blues, everything all boils down to its master and ambassador: BB King. He paved the way for the newer generation of blues players, from Eric Clapton to John Mayer. BB King’s powerful bending and vibrato are classic blues techniques, still used today. Also, his guitar is also legendary – who else names their guitar Lucille?
4. Chuck Berry
You know that four-note riff that always reminds you of 50’s rock n’ roll? That came from Chuck Berry. Today’s rock n’ roll wouldn’t be the same without the great song that is “Johnny B. Goode”!
5. Keith Richards
Keith Richards is a founding member of one of the age-defying, and arguably one of the most influential active rock bands The Rolling Stones. Don’t tell me you aren’t aware of that memorable distortion-filled three-note riff from “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”! For all the hits the Stones put out that became foundations of other hit songs, Keith Richards also deserves a spot on the top 10 guitarists list.
6. Kirk Hammett
Metal was never the same way with the coming of Metallica. Kirk Hammett redefined hard rock with the pounding solos of “Master of Puppets” and, arguably their most popular song, “Enter Sandman”.
7. Carlos Santana
If you’re talking of instantly recognizable tone, there’s the master of Latin-infused rock, Carlos Santana. Before he started collaborating with other musicians, he was a Latin-rhythm purist, improvising with solos that are full of passion and spiritual meaning. Before hits like “Smooth”, there were the soaring, sustained instrumental solos of “Oye Come Va”, “Black Magic Woman” and other magical hits like these.
8. Kurt Cobain
The misunderstood genius, Kurt Cobain single-handedly ended the era of 80’s hair metal in a totally different way. He favored simple, heavy tunes instead of hair metal’s theatric style, and it reflected better the angst of the time. His most defining contribution to society was the original anthem of misunderstood generations, the four-chord monster “Smells Like Teen Spirit”.
9. The Edge
While many guitar players think of skill as playing at finger-blinding speed, The Edge is known for playing short, spare, and precise repetitive solos. But he and his rolling delay effects created the most passionate, most anthemic rock songs in history, from “Bad” to “Where The Streets Have No Name”. With the Edge at the lead, it’s hard not to scream in triumph.
10. Eric Clapton
A true son of the blues, Eric Clapton had influences in rock, creating classics like “Layla” with his early band Derek and the Dominoes, and progressing to one of the most recognizable blues guitarists, from “Bell Bottom Blues” to his heartbreaking “Tears In Heaven”.
I’m sure a lot of you will have top 10 guitar players lists that are very different from mine, but that’s the effect of musical influences; we have a lot of talented guitarists from a lot of different styles and genres to choose from. Whoever you decide to pick as your top 10 guitarists says a lot about your favorite styles, as well as your personality as a guitarist. Until then, just keep roking and rolling!
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