Famous Guitar Players: Various Genres

Compiling a list of famous guitar players is by no means easy. With numerous guitar players exhibiting a variety of styles and techniques a list can be endless. However, this article aims at shedding light on guitar players in various genres, each showcasing a unique approach towards the guitar.

Compiling a list of famous guitar players is by no means easy. With numerous guitar players exhibiting a variety of styles and techniques a list can be endless. However, this article aims at shedding light on guitar players in various genres, each showcasing a unique approach towards the guitar.

Tonal quality and pickup configuration
The technical ability and feel guitar players display is truly astounding. Every time you play the guitar you explore the unexplored. New ideas and concepts incorporated in different playing styles add uniqueness and bite. The tonal quality of a guitar player depends a great deal on type of guitar gear, and guitar an individual uses.

Method of string attack, and strum pressure also determine the warmth in tone guitarists get. The type of pickup configuration used on an electric guitar differs among guitar players. While some guitarists prefer single coil pick ups others swear by humbuckers, or a combination of both.

String gauges on acoustic and electric guitars vary in accordance with a guitarist’s preference. Phrasing is the key to developing a tonal guitar vocabulary that’s unique. The picking styles and techniques of famous guitar players exhibited in different genres of music are awe-inspiring. Thumbpicks, fingerpicks, plectrums, fingernails and fingers attacking guitar strings produce variation and warmth in sound. If you’re passionate about playing the guitar you’ll realize you’re a student for life. Every time you pick up a guitar it opens your mind to numerous possibilities. For every aspiring guitarist the thrill of exploring the impossible knows no bounds. The names mentioned in the list to follow are just a drop in the vast ocean of talent. Feel free to voice your opinion on guitarists that need to be included in the list of famous guitar players.

Famous Rock/Pop Guitar Players
• Jimi Hendrix
• Jimmy Page
• Ritchie Blackmore
• Carlos Santana
• Jeff Beck
• Joe Satraini
• Steve Vai
• Eric Johnson
• Yngwie Malmsteen
• Paul Gilbert
• Slash
• John Petrucci
• Michael Romeo
• Tony MacAlpine
• Reb Beach
• Alex Skolnick
• Richie Kotzen
• Marty Friedman
• Rory Gallagher
• Jason Becker
• Eric Gales
• Eddie Van Halen
• Jeff Kollman
• Dimebag Darrel
• Vinnie Moore
• Steve Stevens
• George Lynch
• Andy Timmons
• Michael Angelo Batio
• Randy Rhodes
• Zakk Wylde
• David Gilmour
• Guthrie Govan
• Andy Summers
• Mattias Eklundh
• Gary Hoey
• Joey Tafolla
• Buckethead
• Leslie West
• Kirk Hammet
• Vernon Reid
• Steve Howe
• Jeff Loomis
• Dave Meniketti
• John Norum
• Akira Takasaki
• Timo Tolkki
• Chris Impellitteri
• Alexi Laiho
• John Christ

Famous Jazz Fusion/Experimental Guitar Players
• Alan Holdsworth
• Scott Henderson
• Greg Howe
• Shawn Lane
• Frank Gambale
• Al Di Meola
• Robben Ford
• Sean Malone
• Mike Stern
• Bill Connors
• John Scofield
• David Fiuczynski
• Bill Frissel
• Wayne Krantz
• Larrry Carlton
• John McLaughlin
• Frank Zappa
• Bireli Lagrene
• Pat Metheney
• Pat Martino
• Alex Machacek
• John Goodsall
• Hiram Bullock
• Wayne Johnson
• Kazumi Watanabe
• T.J. Helmerich
• Jimi Tunnell
• Toshi Yanagi
• Jeff Richman
• Brett Garsed
• Dean Brown
• David Torn
• Mike Keneally
• John Etheridge
• Terje Rypdal
• Prasanna
• Michael Sagmeister
• Mike Miller
• Ryo Kawasaki
• Alexander Kostarev
• Jean Marc Belkadi
• Issei Noro
• Torsten de Winkel
• Johnny Alegre
• Jimmy Herring
• Tosin Abasi
• Fabrizio Leo
• Jan Akkerman
• Lucien Nocelli
• Peter White

Famous acoustic guitar players
• Michael Hedges
• Andy Mackee
• Tommy Emmanuel
• Steven King
• Leo Kottke
• Erik Mongrain
• Don Ross
• Phil Keaggy
• Preston Reed
• Antoine Dufour
• Justin King
• Stephen Bennet
• Steve Baughman
• John Fahey
• Davey Grahm
• Robbie Basho
• Kaki King
• Billy McLaughlin
• Kotaro Oshio
• Peppino D’Agostino
• Peter Lang
• Tony Rice
• Adrain Legg
• Martin Simpson
• Pierre Bensusan
• Richard Leo Johnson
• Muriel Anderson
• Bill Mize
• Dorian Michael
• Richard Gilewitz
• Peter Finger
• Doug Smith
• Brooks Williams
• Pat Kirtley
• El McMeen
• Will Ackerman
• Alex De Grassi
• Al Petteway
• Michael Chapdelaine
• Tony McManus
• Paul Geremia
• Pat Donohue
• Eric Tingstad
• Gayla Drake Paul
• Ed Gerhard
• Antonio Forcione
• Tim Sparks
• Stefan Grossman
• Andrew York
• David Grier

Famous Blues Guitarists
• Robert Johnson
• Elmore James
• B.B. King
• Buddy Guy
• Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown
• Duke Robillard
• Freddie King
• John Lee Hooker
• Robert Cray
• Roy Buchanan
• Ronnie Earl
• Albert Collins
• Johnny Winter
• Luther Allison
• T-Bone Walker
• Peter Green
• Gary Moore
• Elvin Bishop
• Coco Montoya
• Eric Clapton
• Jeff Healy
• Robin Trower
• Joe Bonamassa
• Hound Dog Taylor
• Matt “Guitar” Murphy
• Wayne Bennett
• Johnny Lang
• Lowell Fulson
• Johnny Copeland
• Stan Webb
• Mike Bloomfield
• Hubert Sumlin
• Son Seals
• Lonnie Brooks
• Chris Vachon
• Fenton Robinson
• Guitar Slim
• Anson Funderburgh
• Sonny Landreth
• Tinsley Ellis
• Luther Tucker
• Smokin’ Joe Kubek
• Kim Simmonds
• Bukka White
• Joe Louis Walker
• Magic Sam
• Alvin Youngblood Hart
• Hollywood Fats
• Johnny “Guitar” Watson

Famous Jazz Guitarists
• Wes Montgomery
• Tal Farlow
• Herb Ellis
• Barney Kessel
• George Benson
• Joe Pass
• Bucky Pizzarelli
• Martin Taylor
• Gabor Szabo
• Lenny Breau
• Eddie Lang
• Johnny Smith
• John Abercrombie
• Lee Ritenour
• George Van Epps
• Jim Hall
• Django Reinhardt
• Charlie Byrd
• Charlie Christian
• Howard Alden
• Les Paul
• Mick Goodrick
• Earl Klugh
• Tommy Tedesco
• Kenny Burrel
• Jimmy Bruno
• Kevin Eubanks
• John Pisano
• Django Reinhardt
• Stanley Jordan
• Phil Upchurch
• Ken Navarro
• Charlie Hunter
• Joe Diorio
• Ted Greene
• Sonny Sharrock
• George Barnes
• Oscar Moore
• Emily Remler
• Grant Geissman
• Mick Goodrick
• Harry Volpe
• Lorne Lofsky
• Robert Conti
• Paul Bollenback
• Sonny Greenwich
• Russel Malone
• Jimmy Raney
• Jeff Golub
• Tuck Andress

Famous Country/Bluegrass/ Rockabilly Guitarists
• Merle Travis
• Chet Atkins
• Ed Bickert
• Hank Garland
• Jimmy Bryant
• Tony Rice
• Roy Nicholas
• Lester Flatt
• Doyle Dykes
• Jerry Douglas
• Eddy Shaver
• Grady Martin
• Leon McAuliffe
• Speedy West
• Clarence White
• Roy Clark
• Doc Watson
• Joe Maphis
• Buddy Emmons
• Brad Davis
• Brian Setzer
• Don Rich
• Joe Carr
• Brent Mason
• Albert Lee
• Scotty Moore
• Carl Perkins
• Dave Alvin
• Roy Smeck
• Sonny Burgess
• Eldon Shamblin
• David Grier
• Bryan Sutton
• James Burton
• Dan Crary
• Danny Cedrone
• James Alan Shelton
• Curly Chalker
• Billy Grammer
• Bill Kirchen
• Red Rhodes
• Brad Paisley
• Al Casey
• Johnny Meeks
• Larry Collins
• Ronnie Dawson
• Junior Brown
• Roland Janes
• Joaquin Murphy
• Cliff Gallop

Famous Bass Guitar Players
• Jaco Pastorious
• Victor Wooten
• John Patitucci
• Stanly Clarke
• Stuart Hamm
• Les Claypool
• Billy Sheehan
• Doug Wimbish
• Geddy Lee
• John Myung
• Michael Manring
• Alphonso Johnson
• Kai Eckhardt
• Anthony Jackson
• Richard Bona
• Jimmy Johnson
• Tony Levin
• Tal Wilkenfeld
• Ric Fierabracci
• Flea
• Steve Bailey
• Gary Willis
• Tetsuo Sakuri
• Bunny Brunnel
• Will Lee
• Gary Grainger
• Jonas Hellborg
• Brian Bromberg
• Miroslav Vitous
• Rufus Philpot
• Dave Holland
• Hadrien Feraud
• Marc Egan
• Jimmy Haslip
• Matt Garrison
• Alain Caron
• Jamaalden Tacuma
• Daryl Jones
• Hugh Hopper
• Dave Carpenter
• Jack Bruce
• Jeff Berlin
• Roy Babbington
• Mick Karn
• Percy Jones
• Lincoln Goines
• Christian McBride
• Dave LaRue
• Eberhard Webber
• Marcus Miller

The above mentioned list is not an attempt to rank guitarists; it’s just a way of saying thank you for the music.

 


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