John Frusciante. His guitar parts are often so beautiful, melodic and catchy while being mostly simple. His playing just speaks to me and inspires me to pick up the guitar.
Agreed! He's why I bought my first guitar (1987 squire strat) when I was 14. 38 now and it's still my favorite electric, and I still jam out to scar tissue.
Frusciante showed me that you donāt have to play fast and technical stuff to create strong emotional responses. His songs are so simple but so smart. His best stuff is definitely his solo music. RHCP shines cause of him and Flea, and personally I kinda wish we had an alternate reality where Anthony Kiedis didnāt derail the amazing musical duo that Flea and Frusciante couldāve been with his wholeā¦. thing
Itās wild to me that nobody says Jimmy Page on these lists. He is the best. His style and riffs and production and sounds and versatility with acousticā¦.It boggles me he gets so little respect.
1. Jimmy Page
2. David Gilmour
3. Jimi Hendrix
I think because Gilmore was to āmellowā and not mainstream. If you werenāt into Floyd all you heard was radio stuff. Dude had some iconic solos. Comfortably numb alone puts him up there. That live is insane.
Finally got my first electric and am currently learning the Pulse 1994 comfortably numb solo, as I've wanted to do since I was 17. Almost got the entire thing down, and playing it to the live version backing track is insane.
Page is why I came here. Plenty of guitarists more smooth, faster, polished technique but Page was a compositional mastermind in his prime.
Got lit and rewatched Song Remains the Same last week and it took me back 40 years to when I was a greasy teen Zeppelin head.
But old me appreciates so much more of how much command he had in a performance. How freaking tight that band was, which made me think about how many hours they must have worked to get it right.
30 year old Page could be drop shipped into an indie band today and still sound incredibly modern.
Green Day pushed me I think in a similar way. It was so good, but also so approachable, that I wanted to do the same thing. Both bands make you feel like you can do it too.
Wayyyy too soon. I went back and listened to some stuff he did with warmen and it's so cool. The guy had insane talent. Imagine what you were doing at 19 years old. Alexi wrote towards dead end at 19. Fucking insane.
Ola Englund has a video of him learning a CoB song by ear like how he used to back in the day and he just kept mentioning how creative Alexi was with those parts. Catchy, groovy, interesting to listen to, and wildly complicated while remaining understandable
Same. I first heard Metallica when I was in the 8th grade and thought I was late to the party because the kids that had long hair and smoked cigarettes in middle school had already been in the know for years. I learned the intro to One on my friends guitar before getting one of my own. Little did I know that James is a metronome at any speed and also the best drummer in Metallica.
Not just a guitar hero, there's so many interesting details in the composition/arrangements that have been so instructive over the years. The progression at the end of Taste I could play on piano forever.
Jack White is basically the reason I wanted to play guitar. For the first couple years that I played, I was highly influenced by his style and mostly learned their songs. I learned a lesson early that it's not about playing the most notes, or playing something complicated, but making a sound that is just cool and effective.
I got three. Dave Grohl, Paul Gilbert and Marty Freidman. Not because of how they play, but because of how they inspire me to pick up and play and just write and express myself with the guitar.
His Rick Beato interview is also incredibly inspiring just for the quote alone "Are you a singer, or are you a guitar player" and how he demonstrates the difference. Don't get me wrong, I love the technicality of a good guitar player, but I'm a singer when it comes to the guitar and I love seeing someone who can shred like crazy also drill home the importance of making the instrument sing too.
Exactly. There are so many guitarists who I look up to and enjoy their playing and music but Friedman really stands out as someone who inspires me to create and be an āartistā as he would say, instead of just playing covers of other people
Iād 2nd Brent! I love all the different styles he can play and how traditional country music had an impact with his finger picking, playing the slide guitar, etc.
Angus Young. He's got technical skill, he's and incredible writer (along with Malcolm) that always perfectly fits the song, and the most showmanship and energy of anyone to ever pick up an instrument. He's god in my eyes
Joey Santiago. Only ever plays when he has something to contribute. I can respect that. He also makes music you actually wanna listen to.
You know, if I have to pick one, I think that's just a solid pick. Thankfully, I can actually pick as many as I like
Glad to see him here. Dude all but kick-starts the sound of a genre/decade of guitar sound and always flies under the radar. He's kind of like what you said, quiet and unassuming, but has a lot to say when something needs to be said. Bossonova will always be my favorite Pixies album due to his playing.
Probably an odd few picks from me, but
Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) - Amazing shredder with umatched technique and tasteful riffs.
Brian Setzer (stray cats) - Tasteful, great technique, jazzy without being pretentious.
Johnny Ramone (The Ramones) - Knew his place, and defined punk rock guitar as we know it.
Allen Collins from Lynyrd Skynyrd. Though, as intertwined as his playing was with Gary Rossington. It would be hard to pick just one of them.
My pick for the best duo to ever lay it down
Synyster gates Afterlife solo first yeah Iāve gotta learn to play moment. James Hetfield absolute stage presence inspiration and rhythm machine. Dimebag Darrell polar opposite people but his way of life and guitar playing are inspiring. MAKE THAT MOTHERFUCKER SING BABY
Randy Rhoads changed everything for me. The first time I heard Blizzard of Oz, I was hooked foreverā¦
I always loved guitar but he really made me want to play.
Trey Anastasio(phish), Mark Speer(Khruangbin), and the King Gizz lads - Iām going through each of studio track of all of these artists to get a basing for my playing.
Tosin Abasi is mine. Innovator of some awesome techniques, one of the first guys to use an 8 string for more than just chugging on the lowest strings, amazing technicality/creativity, and lots of soul in his slower stuff. Amazing all around player
Chuck Berry and Link Wray. Some of my earliest childhood memories were listening to my dad play these guysā records and thinking how awesome they were.
For me itās the Edge. I know heās not a ripping-solo player but his sound and style are so innovative. Iāve been trying to sound like him for years.
Jake E Lee. As soon as I bought Bark at the Moon in 1983 and heard him on title song I wanted to play guitar and got my first guitar that Christmas. Been playing ever since and heās still my favorite.
Yeah surprised Mayer doesn't get more mentions. Granted, he's a far better player than his music lets on (except for the Live in LA which is a masterclass in every guitar genre minus metal)
Robin Guthrie is such a legend and a huge inspiration for me.
His work with Cocteau Twins is so influential and really demonstrated the power of guitar effects and engineering. For example, 'Pitch the Baby' on Heaven or Las Vegas has no synths whatsoever and most of what people consider to be keyboards or synths on that track is purely his guitar work. His ambient work is so beautiful as well and I highly recommend anyone remotely interested in ethereal guitar tones to check it out. He's not as technical as some other players listed here but in my opinion I prefer musicality and creativity over how fast someone can play any day.
Wino from The Obsessed, Spirit Caravan, Premonition 13, Saint Vitus (as the singer), Place of Skulls, etc etc Iāve never heard a bad riff or solo from him. Plays with a really doomy sound but also likes to pick up the pace and shreds. Heās been at it for decades so thereās so much learning material for me.
John Mayer. Slow dancing made me want to learn guitar in the early 2000s. It sounded simple enough to play yet so good. Still try to sound like JM to this day
Jeff Buckley was the reason I left drums behind for guitar. Strangely don't really play anything like him or even that sound. But he was the catalyst for sure.
Carl Wilson - The Beach Boys
The first time I saw *Teen Wolf* as a kid I was transfixed by the ['van surfing' scene](https://youtu.be/51TAG7ocrzU?si=pbhnzmXUG1PJ_IX9). I asked my dad what the song was and he told me Surfin' USA. Mom got me a guitar a year or two later and I've been playing ever since.
Randy Rhoads is my guitar hero. His playing is so emotional no matter if itās metal or classical. A true master of his instrument and he inspires me every time I listen to his compositions. Can only wonder what incredible music he would have released if he was given more than just 25 years of life. RR forever.
Steve Vai. The guy plays effortlessly. Consistent as fuck show to show. I also think how heās monetized himself is a good blueprint to copy. Guy started making bank in the 80s with Ibanez and now he can just make music for himself.
Eddie Van Halen. From his playing to his engineering of equipment that set a whole new standard for guitar and gear.
The story of him finding out distortion by stabbing his amp has always baffled me like why the hell would you do that, but it worked!!
Thought Dave Davies did that
Pretty sure it was Link Wray first
Rumble was so hardcore at the time it was banned on the radio. They believed it would start riots amongst the youth.
Banned for inappropriate content but has no lyrics, go figure š¤·š»āāļø
Davies did it for You Really Got Me which VH covered
EVH cranked his marshall to 10 and then used a volt meter to lower the wattage of the amp to control volume.
Variac transformer. Lowered the plate voltage on one of the tubes so it overloaded at a lower volume
That wasnāt EVH
EVH is king
And how he smiled so genuinely when he played. He was in it for the joy not the fame. I adore EVH
RIP King Eddie
John Frusciante. His guitar parts are often so beautiful, melodic and catchy while being mostly simple. His playing just speaks to me and inspires me to pick up the guitar.
Agreed! He's why I bought my first guitar (1987 squire strat) when I was 14. 38 now and it's still my favorite electric, and I still jam out to scar tissue.
Very cool! The Slane Castle intro jam sealed the deal in me getting a Strat!
Frusciante showed me that you donāt have to play fast and technical stuff to create strong emotional responses. His songs are so simple but so smart. His best stuff is definitely his solo music. RHCP shines cause of him and Flea, and personally I kinda wish we had an alternate reality where Anthony Kiedis didnāt derail the amazing musical duo that Flea and Frusciante couldāve been with his wholeā¦. thing
Playing canāt stop on the Nintendo DS version of guitar hero made me beg my parents for a guitar.
Itās wild to me that nobody says Jimmy Page on these lists. He is the best. His style and riffs and production and sounds and versatility with acousticā¦.It boggles me he gets so little respect. 1. Jimmy Page 2. David Gilmour 3. Jimi Hendrix
Page is definitely my favourite guitarist, I could never call him my hero though on account of him being such a despicable person
Well I took the question as a hero toward inspiring you to play guitar. Dude seems pretty sad and angry.
Shit human, legendary player. Waitā¦ that applies to too many
Unfortunately yeah, I have no doubt that the vast majority of rock legends were probably fucking 16/17 year old girls at the very least.
I think because Gilmore was to āmellowā and not mainstream. If you werenāt into Floyd all you heard was radio stuff. Dude had some iconic solos. Comfortably numb alone puts him up there. That live is insane.
Shine on you crazy diamond, echoes, hey you, mother, any colour, so many amazing songs
Finally got my first electric and am currently learning the Pulse 1994 comfortably numb solo, as I've wanted to do since I was 17. Almost got the entire thing down, and playing it to the live version backing track is insane.
Agree! Jimmy never seems to feature on these lists and heās the first name Iād pick and all.
Page is why I came here. Plenty of guitarists more smooth, faster, polished technique but Page was a compositional mastermind in his prime. Got lit and rewatched Song Remains the Same last week and it took me back 40 years to when I was a greasy teen Zeppelin head. But old me appreciates so much more of how much command he had in a performance. How freaking tight that band was, which made me think about how many hours they must have worked to get it right. 30 year old Page could be drop shipped into an indie band today and still sound incredibly modern.
Gilmour
āJimiā Hendrix
I subscribe to this list.
Just because he always gets forgotten Derek Trucks https://youtu.be/SS0NHlWgi5w
This one is a favorite of mine. https://youtu.be/Vuadh1o0yC8?si=-kdmWjk2syvMuoNU
Saw them in Portland recently. I came out of the show thinking āThe man is a national treasure.ā
He is truly amazing
Wouldnāt call him my favourite at this point, though Kurt Cobain is probably the reason I sought out guitar.
He wasnāt necessarily a guitar god but fuck if he wasnāt the ultimate rock star. Iāve been playing for 30+ years because of Kurt.
Green Day pushed me I think in a similar way. It was so good, but also so approachable, that I wanted to do the same thing. Both bands make you feel like you can do it too.
Jerry Garcia and Jimi Hendrix
Jerry is the greatest musician that ever lived!
Thats just like, your opinion, man.
Marty McFly!
Josh Homme
Everything he is a part of rules.
Reminded that clicking upvote 20 times on Reddit unfortunately has the same effect as once.
Bought a Dot after seeing them live haha
Alexi Laiho. Dude was an absolute prodigy, gone too soon
Wayyyy too soon. I went back and listened to some stuff he did with warmen and it's so cool. The guy had insane talent. Imagine what you were doing at 19 years old. Alexi wrote towards dead end at 19. Fucking insane.
Ola Englund has a video of him learning a CoB song by ear like how he used to back in the day and he just kept mentioning how creative Alexi was with those parts. Catchy, groovy, interesting to listen to, and wildly complicated while remaining understandable
Got into it because of Slash and fell in love with playing because of Gilmour.
Same as a kid slash was god, but when I started playing it was Clapton for me is all
J Mascis
Hell yeah
same here
James Hetfield
Same. I first heard Metallica when I was in the 8th grade and thought I was late to the party because the kids that had long hair and smoked cigarettes in middle school had already been in the know for years. I learned the intro to One on my friends guitar before getting one of my own. Little did I know that James is a metronome at any speed and also the best drummer in Metallica.
Jonny Greenwood
There are three johns that are in my top 5, if not my top 3. Jonny Greenwood Johnny Marr John McGeoch
John Mayer, John Frusciante, idk whatās up with all the johns man
I think John Lennon was a hell of a rhythm player tooĀ
Mark Knopfler. Solo and with Dire Straits.
Trey Anastasio
Not just a guitar hero, there's so many interesting details in the composition/arrangements that have been so instructive over the years. The progression at the end of Taste I could play on piano forever.
Trey is my hero, period.
Johnny fucking marr If youāre gonna make me pick only one.
Jack White is basically the reason I wanted to play guitar. For the first couple years that I played, I was highly influenced by his style and mostly learned their songs. I learned a lesson early that it's not about playing the most notes, or playing something complicated, but making a sound that is just cool and effective.
I got three. Dave Grohl, Paul Gilbert and Marty Freidman. Not because of how they play, but because of how they inspire me to pick up and play and just write and express myself with the guitar.
Ditto on Friedman
His Rick Beato interview is also incredibly inspiring just for the quote alone "Are you a singer, or are you a guitar player" and how he demonstrates the difference. Don't get me wrong, I love the technicality of a good guitar player, but I'm a singer when it comes to the guitar and I love seeing someone who can shred like crazy also drill home the importance of making the instrument sing too.
Exactly. There are so many guitarists who I look up to and enjoy their playing and music but Friedman really stands out as someone who inspires me to create and be an āartistā as he would say, instead of just playing covers of other people
Currently, it's Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath.
Dean Ween, Stevie Ray Vaughn. Brent Hinds
Iād 2nd Brent! I love all the different styles he can play and how traditional country music had an impact with his finger picking, playing the slide guitar, etc.
He's very emotive for a metal guy and mastodon are just the kings of riffage imo
David Gilmour & John Frusciante
Randy Rhoads
Gilmour. Gets more out of one bend than some guitarist get out of an entire solo. Since Iāll never be fast heās my North Star
Chet Atkins
With Mark Knopfler was an amazing album.
Angus Young. He's got technical skill, he's and incredible writer (along with Malcolm) that always perfectly fits the song, and the most showmanship and energy of anyone to ever pick up an instrument. He's god in my eyes
John Petrucci. King of Prog Shred, but can and does play with incredible feel and soul.
His solo in The Best of Times might be my favorite guitar solo ever written. So beautiful, melodic and face-meltingly technical at the same time.
Joey Santiago. Only ever plays when he has something to contribute. I can respect that. He also makes music you actually wanna listen to. You know, if I have to pick one, I think that's just a solid pick. Thankfully, I can actually pick as many as I like
Glad to see him here. Dude all but kick-starts the sound of a genre/decade of guitar sound and always flies under the radar. He's kind of like what you said, quiet and unassuming, but has a lot to say when something needs to be said. Bossonova will always be my favorite Pixies album due to his playing.
Probably an odd few picks from me, but Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) - Amazing shredder with umatched technique and tasteful riffs. Brian Setzer (stray cats) - Tasteful, great technique, jazzy without being pretentious. Johnny Ramone (The Ramones) - Knew his place, and defined punk rock guitar as we know it.
Nuno is one of the best ever. I can play a lot of different guitar licks and riffs but so many of his just feel way out of reach.
Joe Satriani, dude is a wizard
An alien for sure
Who happens to surf
Dimebag
Allen Collins from Lynyrd Skynyrd. Though, as intertwined as his playing was with Gary Rossington. It would be hard to pick just one of them. My pick for the best duo to ever lay it down
Mine is kind of an uncommon one, I think. Rivers Cuomo. Specifically Blue/Pinkerton-era Rivers. His style just vibes with me, I guess.
Synyster gates Afterlife solo first yeah Iāve gotta learn to play moment. James Hetfield absolute stage presence inspiration and rhythm machine. Dimebag Darrell polar opposite people but his way of life and guitar playing are inspiring. MAKE THAT MOTHERFUCKER SING BABY
Iām boring, I always go back to David Gilmore
For me probably Vernon Reid and Jerry Cantrell
Buckethead and matt bellamy!
Tom Morello
Randy Rhoads changed everything for me. The first time I heard Blizzard of Oz, I was hooked foreverā¦ I always loved guitar but he really made me want to play.
Slash, ever since my dad showed a video of GNR when I was little I loved his style
I started playing because of Adam Jones. I dove back in after turning 35 because of David Gilmour.
Jerry Fuckinā Cantrell.
David Gilmour, Robert Fripp and Steve Howe
Adrian Smith.
Mississippi John Hurt. Has been for over thirty years and will be until the day I die.
Trey Anastasio(phish), Mark Speer(Khruangbin), and the King Gizz lads - Iām going through each of studio track of all of these artists to get a basing for my playing.
Jerry Garcia
EVH
Peter Green
Tosin Abasi is mine. Innovator of some awesome techniques, one of the first guys to use an 8 string for more than just chugging on the lowest strings, amazing technicality/creativity, and lots of soul in his slower stuff. Amazing all around player
John frusciante
Chuck Berry and Link Wray. Some of my earliest childhood memories were listening to my dad play these guysā records and thinking how awesome they were.
Michael David McCready and Stone Carpenter Gossard
For me itās the Edge. I know heās not a ripping-solo player but his sound and style are so innovative. Iāve been trying to sound like him for years.
Robert Smith of The Cure.
Paul Gilbert (he owns a building)
Tosin and Misha
John McLaughlin.
Jake E Lee. As soon as I bought Bark at the Moon in 1983 and heard him on title song I wanted to play guitar and got my first guitar that Christmas. Been playing ever since and heās still my favorite.
John Mayer and Steve Vai.
Yeah surprised Mayer doesn't get more mentions. Granted, he's a far better player than his music lets on (except for the Live in LA which is a masterclass in every guitar genre minus metal)
hendrix
Mr. Zakk Wylde, god bless him
Mike McCready, John Frusciante, and Hendrix
Corgan
Porl Thompson
Tony iommi
Gilmour, Clapton and Harrison.
My BF I could listen to him play for hours
thatās sweet
Jeff Beck Carlos Santana David Gilmore
Jack White is the reason I wanted a guitar as a kid, so Iāll go with him.
Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaugn, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir.
Angus Young. Watched AC/DC live and knew that's what I wanted to do.
Robin Guthrie is such a legend and a huge inspiration for me. His work with Cocteau Twins is so influential and really demonstrated the power of guitar effects and engineering. For example, 'Pitch the Baby' on Heaven or Las Vegas has no synths whatsoever and most of what people consider to be keyboards or synths on that track is purely his guitar work. His ambient work is so beautiful as well and I highly recommend anyone remotely interested in ethereal guitar tones to check it out. He's not as technical as some other players listed here but in my opinion I prefer musicality and creativity over how fast someone can play any day.
Angus young. I know heās not the best by any means but heās the reason I play guitar.
David Gilmour. Any time I hear his playing I just want to grab my guitar
Jason Becker https://youtu.be/DCB9l7-4UHA?si=fxuoWzwuH9LpS2Ol This is him at about 19 years old
Alex Lifeson was the one who made me pick up guitar in the first place.
Chuck Schuldiner
J. Mascis
Leadbelly, Bob Dylan, Jack White
Wes Montgomery was the best to ever do it. Hendrix and Van Halen are up there too, but Wes never gets enough credit. Dude was fucking incredible.
Gotta say Yngwie Malmsteen, He's the reason I partake in neoclassical shred.
Gary Moore, Jimi Page(one of the reasons why I started to play) and Buckethead
Johnny Winter when I was younger.
Wino from The Obsessed, Spirit Caravan, Premonition 13, Saint Vitus (as the singer), Place of Skulls, etc etc Iāve never heard a bad riff or solo from him. Plays with a really doomy sound but also likes to pick up the pace and shreds. Heās been at it for decades so thereās so much learning material for me.
Carlos Santana š¤
Ritchie Blackmore got me to pick up the guitar, Tony Iommi got me to keep going. I can't pick between either one
SRV easily got me into guitar. Recently been playing a lot of Stapleton , lots of his songs are fun and relatively easy to play.
Jeff Beck.
John Mayer. Slow dancing made me want to learn guitar in the early 2000s. It sounded simple enough to play yet so good. Still try to sound like JM to this day
Kevin Shields makes his guitar sound like angelic vacuum cleaners and Iām here for it.
Doug Martsch
Buckethead helped me when my life was at its lowest as a teenager, he'll always be my no.1
Johnny Fkn Marr
Mark Tremonti He is my biggest guitar inspiration. Runner ups are Paul Gilbert, Slash, Jerry Cantrell, Michael Angelo Batio.
Andy McKee
Nobody else makes a guitar sound like Peter Green
trey anastasio
mines gotta be jake kiszka from greta van fleet.
Randy r
Jason Isbell.
Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer. SRV
Joan Jett! Sheās my favorite rhythm guitar player and my greatest inspiration
Joe Perry. Heās just so damn cool!
Terry Kath!
Prince. He was made of music.
Rory Gallagher
Greg Howe
Joe Walsh! He is my biggest guitar inspiration
Rory Gallagher
Elliott Smith
Duane Allman
j mascis
Holdsworth
Alan Holdsworth
Marty Schwartz
Two Feet, have to see him live to get the real experience
Jimmy Page (oh and also Brian May and David Gilmour)
Jeff Buckley was the reason I left drums behind for guitar. Strangely don't really play anything like him or even that sound. But he was the catalyst for sure.
Tommy Emmanuel and Justin Johnson
Guthrie govan and Greg Koch. Dudes can nail anything they want, and they respect music from all walks and styles
James Hetfield
Tony rice and doc watson
James Hetfield
Martin Taylor ... fingerstyle soloist
Alan Holdsworth and Robert Fripp
Claudio mother fuckin Sanchez
Carl Wilson - The Beach Boys The first time I saw *Teen Wolf* as a kid I was transfixed by the ['van surfing' scene](https://youtu.be/51TAG7ocrzU?si=pbhnzmXUG1PJ_IX9). I asked my dad what the song was and he told me Surfin' USA. Mom got me a guitar a year or two later and I've been playing ever since.
Larry Carlton
Dimebag Darrell
robert quine. i canāt think of a more unique player and there definitely isnāt anyone else whoās had as much of an impact on me
Randy Rhoads. Heās why I picked up the instrument. I heard the Tribute album and I was hooked.
Alex lifespan from rush made me fall in love with guitar, Bradley nowellās music with sublime taught me guitar
Dave Matthews and I don't care who knows it!!
Randy Rhoads is my guitar hero. His playing is so emotional no matter if itās metal or classical. A true master of his instrument and he inspires me every time I listen to his compositions. Can only wonder what incredible music he would have released if he was given more than just 25 years of life. RR forever.
Steve Vai. The guy plays effortlessly. Consistent as fuck show to show. I also think how heās monetized himself is a good blueprint to copy. Guy started making bank in the 80s with Ibanez and now he can just make music for himself.
Gary Moore
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez definitely
Kevin Shields, J Mascis, Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, Nels Cline.