Member-only story
The 13 Most Influential Guitar Players of All Time
These guitarists changed rock music forever.
There have been many brilliant guitarists throughout the history of rock music. A quick internet search will lead you to multiple lists touting the best of the best and ranking them. These lists stir up a lot of controversies, and I doubt there has ever been a guitar player or music fan who completely agreed with any of them.
Everyone has their own opinions on how to rank famous guitar players from first to worst, and the subjective nature of music means that there is no right or wrong.
You’re probably not going to agree with this list either, and that’s okay. However, the intention here isn’t to get you to punch your laptop by suggesting that Jack White is a better guitar player than Ritchie Blackmore. Instead, think of this list as more of a historical discussion.
Great guitarists do not appear out of thin air, though it might seem like that sometimes. Even the most talented musicians have guitar heroes who inspired them to pick up the instrument and play or to become better songwriters.
Every guitar player stands on the shoulders of the influential artists who came before them. That goes for you and me, as well as the best players in the world today.
