Top 10 Guitarists of All Time
- The Top1058
- Kimberley Howson’s version
- Your version
By Kimberley Howson
The only guitarists you will ever need to listen to, in order to learn the art of 'awesome'!
×Eddie Van Halen
The All Music Guide has described him as "Second to only Jimi Hendrix" - but I happen to disagree (controversial!) - this guy is responsible for causing countless arguments ("just how does that last chord on the chorus of 'Jump' go?") and many hours on a dodgy old keyboard trying to prove my point...
Genius - 'nuff said!
×Jimi Hendrix
He just oozes 'cool' (case in point - renowned for playing a right-handed Fender Strat upside-down), and was named by Rolling Stone magazine in 2003 as the #1 greatest guitarist of all time.
×Keith Richards
He has possibly one of the most interesting faces on the planet - and certainly knows how to work a fretboard. As rhythm guitarist for the Stones for nearly 50 years (blimey), 55 albums later he simply has to be one of the best guitarists the world has ever seen, no?
×Slash
AKA Saul Hudson, was ranked #2 by Time Magazine's "10 Best Electric Guitar Players of All-Time" list (2009). He apparently dropped out of school to give him more time to practice playing the guitar (a seldom positive advert for giving up on compulsory education, if there ever was one), and over his career has performed with over 40 bands/ acts. I was absolutely gutted to miss his set at Glastonbury last year - this is one live act not to be missed! (perhaps next time)...
×Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana really is the dude when it comes to making impossibly hard riffs look as easy as breathing in and out. With a career spanning more than 40 years and some cracking collaborations under his belt including Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, Rob Thomas and Lauryn Hill, this is one guitarist who has kept on top of his game by adapting to the popular music trends of the time and adding his own flavour.
×Eric Clapton
Another British guitar legend, Clapton has played with many influential bands and managed to sustain an incredibly successful solo career with classic hits "Layla" and "While my guitar gently weeps". Definitely one of the more mainstream entries in this Top 10 list, Eric Clapton is a household name across many generations of music lovers for all the right reasons.
×Matt Bellamy
Frontman of Muse, possibly one of the best live bands in the world (in my opinion), Matt Bellamy is the ultimate performer - with a completely unique and distinctive sound, you know to expect a good show from him. And now he has been linked with A-lister Kate Hudson, there's no stopping him!
×Brian May
What is it with great guitarists and unruly hair? It's like an unwritten requirement... but that's by the by. Aside from being pretty wicked on guitar, May's other achievements include: completing a PhD in Astrophysics (after a 30 year break from when he first started his studies), being appointed Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University in 2007, and being an influential animal-rights activist.
×Tom Morello
Anyone who has ever played Guitar Hero will know who this man is - Morello is fortunate enough to have been part of many of the greatest bands of the last decade including Rage Against the Machine (who now have a Christmas number 1 under their belt for 'Killing in the name of') and a fave of mine, Audioslave.
×Herman Li
Serious shredder and double-tapper, only known by me through Guitar Hero (a game that has a lot to answer for), and although Dragonforce isn't typical of my taste in music, I can completely appreciate the skill and talent on show in the form of their creative guitarist, Li.
