In 2003, Rolling Stone selected and ranked the one hundred greatest guitarists of all time. Here is the top ten:
- Jimi Hendrix
- Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band
- B.B. King
- Eric Clapton
- Robert Johnson
- Chuck Berry
- Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Ry Cooder
- Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin
- Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones
It’s hard to argue with number one on that list — Hendrix’s playing still sounds fresh, passionate, and vibrant today. He’s the prototypical guitar legend.
I was a little bit surprised to see Duane Allman at number two, but I haven’t listened to very many Allman Brothers recordings. I’ll reserve judgment until I do so.
BB King, a great blues guitarist since the 1950’s, is highly renowned and highly influential. I think he’s a great pick at number three.
At number four is Eric Clapton, my favorite guitarist. I’ve always loved the energy Clapton brings to the table. Mostly though, it’s the songs that Clapton plays, and the amount the guitar contributes to them, that I love. Number four is a very solid spot but if I were to make any change, I’d move him even higher on the list.
Robert Johnson is considered one of the most influential musicians of all time. His twenty-nine career recordings, all from the first half of the twentieth century, are worshiped and constantly covered by blues and rock musicians. Also highly influential was rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry. Even his early recordings, like “Maybellene,” still sound good. I like them both at numbers five and six.
At number eight is Ry Cooder, an American roots musician known for his skill on the slide guitar. He’s perhaps the least celebrated of the guitarists in the top ten. I know very little about him and have never heard his music before.
At nine and ten we have two fantastic guitarists from two of the most beloved rock bands ever, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. Jimmy Page’s solo from Stairway to Heaven is widely acclaimed as one of the best — if not the best — guitar solo of the modern era. His band’s guitar-heavy sound and freewheeling guitar solos have become the template for heavy rock bands. Keith Richards, too, has been highly influential to heavy rock. Some of his guitar riffs, including the one from “Satisfaction,” are perennially stuck in my head.
Overall, it’s hard to have too many objections with that top ten. From what I know and what I’ve heard, every pick is solid.
The rest of the list is as good as the top ten. Looking closely, you see some odd picks, like Eddie Van Halen all the way down at #70 with far more tame and less beloved guitarists filling higher ranks.
One interesting pick is Les Paul at #46. Les Paul is often accredited as inventing the electric guitar. You could argue that without him, this list wouldn’t be possible.
The list is now a few years old. If the list had been made now, I wonder who else would have been included. The only person who comes to mind at having a very good shot at placing well is John Mayer. Though his first album was brushed off as Dave Matthews-wannabe, his recent recordings have impressed critics with their excellent guitar and blues-heavy songwriting and sound.
One complaint I have with the list is that I would have loved to have seen Jim Croce on the list. He only played acoustic guitar, and only released a few albums, but his guitar-work entertains and bedazzles me more than most of the guitarists on this list.
It’s hard to argue with most of the picks on this list, though. Rolling Stone has done an excellent job assembling a thorough and diverse lists of some of the many so-called “Guitar gods.” If you’re interested, check out the complete list.
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