Guitarists come from all walks of life, but their passion for the instrument is universal. From jazz and classic rock to punk and alternative music, guitarists have long been regarded as some of the most important voices in the sonic landscape. Here we take a look at some of the greatest guitarists of all time, ranked from 11-20 on our list. Get ready to explore iconic guitars wielded by legendary figures like Steve Vai, one of the Allman Brothers, and more!
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (21-30)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (31-40)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (41-50)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (51-60)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (61-70)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (71-80)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (81-90)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (91-100)
20. Steve Vai
Steven Siro Vai is an American guitarist, composer, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a transcriptionist for Frank Zappa, and played in Zappa’s band from 1980 to 1983.
Guitar Maker of Choice: Ibanez
19. Alex Lifeson (Rush)
Aleksandar Živojinović, OC, known professionally as Alex Lifeson, is a Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist and backing vocalist of the progressive rock band Rush. In 1968, Lifeson co-founded the band that would later become Rush, with drummer John Rutsey and bassist and lead vocalist Jeff Jones.
Guitar Maker of Choice: Gibson
18. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
Mark Freuder Knopfler OBE is a British singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Born in Scotland and raised in England, he was the lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of the rock band Dire Straits. He pursued a solo career after the band first dissolved in 1988.
Guitar Maker of Choice: Fender & Gibson
17. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull)
Anthony Frank Iommi is a British guitarist. He co-founded the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath and was the band’s guitarist, leader, primary composer, and sole continuous member for nearly five decades. Iommi was number 25 in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.
Guitar Maker of Choice: Gibson
16. Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield, known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer and musician who was an essential figure in the post-war blues scene, and is often cited as the “father of modern Chicago blues”. His style of playing has been described as “raining down Delta beatitude”.
Guitar Maker of Choice: Fender
15. Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne)
Randall William Rhoads was an American heavy metal guitarist who was a founding member of Quiet Riot and both guitarist and co-songwriter for Ozzy Osbourne’s first two solo albums.
Guitar Maker of Choice: Jackson
14. Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
Richard Hugh Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter. He was a founding member of Deep Purple in 1968, playing jam-style hard rock music that mixed guitar riffs and organ sounds. He is prolific in creating guitar riffs and classically influenced solos.
Guitar Maker of Choice: Fender
13. Brian May (Queen)
Brian Harold May CBE is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and astrophysicist who achieved fame as lead guitarist of the rock band Queen. May was a co-founder of Queen with lead singer Freddie Mercury and drummer Roger Taylor.
Guitar Maker of Choice: Gibson, Fender, Red Special
i. Fender Stratocaster
ii. Fender Telecaster:
iii. Gibson Les Paul Deluxe:
iv. Gibson Flying V:
12. Duane Allman (the Allman Brothers Band)
Howard Duane Allman was an American rock guitarist, session musician, and the founder and original leader of the Allman Brothers Band, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Allman began playing the guitar at age 14.
Guitar Maker of Choice: Gibson
11. Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson Berry was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who pioneered rock and roll.
Guitar Maker of Choice: Gibson
The Allman Brothers, Chuck Berry, and Steve Vai are some of the most influential guitarists in music history. While they may not be as well-known as the top 10 guitarists on our list, their contributions to the world of music are undeniable. We hope you enjoyed reading about these legends and their guitars. Stay tuned for next week’s installment when we’ll countdown the top 100 guitarists from 10 to 1!
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (1-10)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (11 -20)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (21-30)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (31-40)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (41-50)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (51-60)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (61-70)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (71-80)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (81-90)
Top 100 Guitarists and Their Guitars (91-100)
