The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time

[What Would Jesus Do?]

What did Rolling Stone get right . . . and wrong?

The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time

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

www.rollingstone.com

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Long list but I decided to scroll through it. I fully expected that I wouldn't recognize too many names until I got to the last 50 or so, but I know several in the last 50 - and they aren't bad - so I'm interested to see what comes next.

I mean, the "worst" guy on the list is Andy Summers from The Police. Not a low bar.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Do metal guitarists not count? Mark is #5 on this, but nowhere to be found in the overall RS 250?

The 100 greatest guitarists of all time

A comprehensive rundown of the best guitarists of all time, featuring the trailblazers, the early innovators, the best jazz, rock, indie, blues, metal and acoustic players – and the top guitarists around today...

www.guitarworld.com

 

[FAUlty Gator]

Do metal guitarists not count? Mark is #5 on this, but nowhere to be found in the overall RS 250?

The 100 greatest guitarists of all time

A comprehensive rundown of the best guitarists of all time, featuring the trailblazers, the early innovators, the best jazz, rock, indie, blues, metal and acoustic players – and the top guitarists around today...

www.guitarworld.com

Knofler and Clapton seem to be a bit low. I don't recall anyone else being called "God" for the entirety of their prime.

 

[BustingNarratives]

Good list. Christone Ingram will end up top 10 of all time before all is said and done … he is in his mid 20s. Worth seeing if you get the chance.

 

[Breastman]

How is Stanley Jordan not considered to be in the top 250?

There is absolutely no way Kim Deal or Willie Nelson is a better guitar player than Jordan.

 

[SeaPA]

Good list. Christone Ingram will end up top 10 of all time before all is said and done … he is in his mid 20s. Worth seeing if you get the chance.

Yeah, Kingfish is outstanding. Caught him about a year ago at a smaller venue in Tampa

 

[Nole-4-Life]

Neal Schon is always left off these lists and he's a bonafide god.

 

[The Tradition]

Now let's get all 250 of 'em on stage at the same time for a massive jam session!

 

[General Tso]

Too two fitty? I'd have gone with top tree fitty

 

[Bulldogs1974]

How do you even begin to quantify this type of thing?

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

From a fan of more alternative music. I love the work of all below, but I think some are there more for their writing or style than playing:

Too Low:
Steve Jones
John McGeoch (way too low)
D Boon (also way too low)
Adrian Belew
Doug Gillard
Courtney Barnett
Jack White (Not egregious, but top 25 for me)

…All but the more recent Barnett have been on their top 100 lists before.

Too High:
Johnny Ramone
Lou Reed
Joan Jett
Thurston Moore

Just Right:
Poison Ivy (deservedly top 100)
Kurt Cobain (see above)
Carrie Brownstein (same)
Vernon Reid (deservedly top 50)
PJ Harvey (see above)
Johnny Thunders
Ron Asheton
Liz Phair
Greg Ginn
Viv Albertine

Unjustly Snubbed:
Keith Levene
Allan Holdsworth
Pat Smear
Captain Sensible (AKA Ray Burns)

 

[Thunderlips71]

The Edge in the top 50?! GTFO. Tony Iommi is the greatest, end of discussion.

That list sucks, but consider the source. If you ever want a good laugh look up The Rolling Stone’s too 500 albums. They have a bunch of Jay Z, Kendrick Lamar, and Lauryn Hill in the top 50.

 

[BrianNole777]

Is my favorite Jimmy Page #1??

 

[ThorneStockton]

I had either forgotten or never realized that Randy Rhoads and Duane Allman had died so young, 25 and 22 respectively.

I suppose when you first listen to their music decades later, consider the number of hits and how well they are still regarded you just assume that it's a result of careers that were long.

 

[pablow]

Willie Nelson (#77) & Joan Jett (#76) ranked ahead of Wes Montgomery (#82) - slight problem in that Wes is regarded by most as the GOAT jazz guitarist and Willie and Joan are not really top 500 material.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

The Edge in the top 50?! GTFO.

Exactly. And the guy that invented and perfected that guitar sound? Not even on the list…

 

[Aardvark86]

I get that RS has a certain obligation to its genre, broadly defined.

But to not have Delucia or Dimeoloa on it, or more importantly, Django Reinhart at 70?

 

[Aardvark86]

Willie Nelson (#77) & Joan Jett (#76) ranked ahead of Wes Montgomery (#82) - slight problem in that Wes is regarded by most as the GOAT jazz guitarist and Willie and Joan are not really top 500 material.

LOVE Montgomery's rendition of Caravan.

 

[Thunderlips71]

Is my favorite Jimmy Page #1??

I think he was #3 behind Jimmy Hendrix and Chuck Berry. Page is a phenomenal musician all the way around and in my opinion is peerless when it comes to composition and production.

 

[Colonoscopy]

A bit politically correct for my taste

 

[pablow]

I get that RS has a certain obligation to its genre, broadly defined.

But to not have Delucia or Dimeoloa on it, or more importantly, Django Reinhart at 70?

They have Bonnie Raitt (#54), 16 spots higher than Django. Django invented a form of music and is easily top 5 in any credible poll.

 

[FAUlty Gator]

A bit politically correct for my taste

Agreed. I’m having a hard time with half the people placed above Robbie Robertson on that list. But I’m also sure the people composing that list know way more about it than me.

Also didn’t see Roger McGuinn anywhere near where he should have been if at all. He’s the reason for the “LA Sound” right?

Also without looking back was Tommy Tedesco from the Wrecking Crew on there? I’m guessing session players are way underrepresented on that list.

 

[Aardvark86]

They have Bonnie Raitt (#54), 16 spots higher than Django. Django invented a form of music and is easily top 5 in any credible poll.

not to mention the whole "three fingers" thing.

 

[Colonoscopy]

Agreed. I’m having a hard time with half the people placed above Robbie Robertson on that list. But I’m also sure the people composing that list know way more about it than me.

Also didn’t see Roger McGuinn anywhere near where he should have been if at all. He’s the reason for the “LA Sound” right?

Also without looking back was Tommy Tedesco from the Wrecking Crew on there? I’m guessing session players are way underrepresented on that list.

St Vincent ahead of George Harrison.

Ok

 

[SeaPA]

I had either forgotten or never realized that Randy Rhoads and Duane Allman had died so young, 25 and 22 respectively.

I suppose when you first listen to their music decades later, consider the number of hits and how well they are still regarded you just assume that it's a result of careers that were long.

While your thought is still accurate, Skydog was a few weeks shy of his 25th birthday when he died

 

[coasterhawk75]

I would have included Joe Bonamassa, Alex Skolnik, Al Pitrelli, and even Joel Hoekstra. Most of them are much better guitarists then some on this list.

 

[Aardvark86]

I would have included Joe Bonamassa, Alex Skolnik, Al Pitrelli, and even Joel Hoekstra. Most of them are much better guitarists then some on this list.

Joe b - great pull

 

[JRHawk2003]

I hate these lists.

Jimmy Hendrix was a transcendent artist

He will be remembered for a long long time.

 

[GlenHawk]

Scanned the list quickly but noticed it was missing a lot of my favorite bluegrass guitarists.

In my opinion, Tony Rice, Bryan Sutton, Doc Watson, and Billy Strings are better guitar players than a lot of people on this list.

 

[Scott559]

Rory Gallagher way to low on list
Allan Holdsworth not on list, insanity.

Joan Jett because of rhythm guitar chops but not Steve Miller for the same?

 

[SI_NYC]

I really don't want to go through all 250. Where was Buddy Guy ranked?

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Is my favorite Jimmy Page #1??

No, but close enough that us fans don't need to get too pissed off.

OTOH, Knopfler and Clapton aren't high enough.

 

[SSG T]

RS's list always suck, this one is no different.

 

[BrianNole777]

No, but close enough that us fans don't need to get too pissed off.

OTOH, Knopfler and Clapton aren't high enough.

You and I know Jimmy is King.

 

[Finance85]

Disappointing list. Seems like a few aren't on there for their talent, but moreso for their social achievement.

 

[TonyTheTiger.1865]

Billy Ray Vaughn = #1

 

[NDallasRuss]

I didn't look at the whole list but I looked at the top 50.

1. There aren't 19 guitarists better than SRV. There aren't 10.
2. They clearly aren't going off technical skill if Steve Vai and Joe Satriani aren't top 5.

I don't know a lot about music but I'm familiar with some guys that are good at guitaring.

 

[pablow]

No mention of Michael Hedges or the Best ever from Nashville - Hank Garland

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

Knofler and Clapton seem to be a bit low. I don't recall anyone else being called "God" for the entirety of their prime.

Clapton was “God” until he jammed with Jimi Hendrix and left wanting to quit guitar.