The 5 Greatest Rock Guitarists Ever
A somewhat biased guide to the rock guitar gods
To compile a list of the greatest guitar players in the history of rock and roll is no easy task, no matter how short or long it is. Narrowing it down to a mere 5 is particularly daunting. No matter who is included, there will always be many worthy contenders left out. So keep in mind, this is one author’s opinion. Many axemen have earned their spot in the rock and roll pantheon, these are my top 5.
#5 Keith Richards
With all of the legend surrounding Keith Richards, it’s easy to forget what got him to legend status in the first place: Simply co-creating some of the greatest songs in rock history. Satisfaction, Gimme Shelter, Start Me Up…the list goes on and on. Keith usually plays his guitar with open tuning and playing only 5 strings. It’s a formula that has brought him success for 50 years. He’s called the Human Riff for a reason.
Recommended albums: FORTY LICKS, EXILE ON MAIN STREET, TALK IS CHEAP (solo)
#4 Jeff Beck
Of all the guitar aces on this list, Jeff Beck gets probably the least airplay for the same reason he is on this list: His virtuosity extends from rock into many other genres, and because of that many of his albums were simply not as commercial as those of others listed here. But make no mistake: from his days as a Yardbird to his recent “Guitar Shop” releases, Beck has always been at the forefront of rock guitar innovation. He took over for Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds and took them into new and exciting directions during the period that was both their most creative and their most commercial. After leaving the Yardbirds, he formed the Jeff Beck Group, initially featuring future Faces and Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood on bass, and a virtually unknown vocalist named Rod Stewart. They would create two classic blues-rock albums before Beck ventured off into jazz fusion and other genres, never letting his virtuosity slip. In recent years, he has returned to his roots and is currently touring with legendary Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson.
Recommended albums: YARDBIRDS (aka ROGER THE ENGINEER), TRUTH, JEFF BECK’S GUITAR SHOP
#3 Jimi Hendrix
So much has been written about this legend that it is impossible for this author to add anything new. He took the sonic innovations of the Yardbirds, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, and Cream, blended them, added his magic and took guitar playing to a level never reached before (or arguably, since). No one was prepared for him when he hit the scene, playing solos with his teeth, finding innovative twists on songs from other songwriters (Hey Joe, All Along the Watchtower, etc.) that made them sound like they were his very own, and one-upping Pete Townsend by setting his guitar on fire at the Monterey Pop Festival. This, bookended by his legendary performance of The Star-Spangled Banner at Woodstock, ensured him permanent enshrinement on virtually every list like this one.
Recommended Albums: ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?, HENDRIX IN THE WEST, ELECTRIC LADYLAND
Jimi Hendrix
Rancho Bernardo guitar lessons
#2 Jimmy Page
Long before Led Zeppelin landed, Jimmy Page had already established himself as an innovative and dependable session player with the likes of The Kinks and Joe Cocker. Joining The Yardbirds at the tail end of their brief-but-spectacular run, he eventually reformed the band into the New Yardbirds, which quickly morphed into the mighty Zep. As a songwriter, producer, and guitarist, he was virtually without equal for the whole of Led Zeppelin’s existence. Anyone who has attempted the mind-blowing solo at the end of Stairway To Heaven knows how darned near impossible it is to play. And yet, night after night during their tours, there he was, executing it with precision. He, along with Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and the late lamented John Bonham, helped frame the template for hard rock and heavy metal, and his contribution to rock and pop music cannot be overstated.
Recommended Albums: 4TH ALBUM (aka “ZOSO” or “RUNES”), PHYSICAL GRAFFITI, HOUSES OF THE HOLY
#1 Eric Clapton
This man tops many of these lists, and it’s not hard to see why. He started off as a blues purist. Indeed, he left the Yardbirds early on for the very reason they became successful-they were starting to experiment more than he wanted to. This creative difference didn’t stop him from eventually taking blues-rock guitar to new places, particularly during his stint with Cream. This guitar god (“Clapton Is God” was a phrase frequently uttered during the 60s) continued in numerous band and solo projects, from Blind Faith to Derek and the Dominoes to recent duets with JJ Cale and BB King (a profound influence on Clapton). LAYLA features dazzling guitar duels between Clapton and the legendary Duane Allman, and is cited by many as Clapton’s high watermark. Although in recent years he has leaned more towards ballads and mellower rock songs, he can still play blazing rock guitar any time he chooses. After 50 years of touring and recording, Slowhand has no apparent intention of slowing down.
Recommended Albums: JOHN MAYALL’S BLUESBREAKERS FEATURING ERIC CLAPTON, LAYLA AND OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS (Derek and the Dominoes), DISRAELI GEARS (Cream)
Runners-Up
It’s impossible to limit a list of guitar gods to five. Among the many other greats that could have made this list are Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Satriani, Ritchie Blackmore, David Gilmour, Eddie Van Halen, Carlos Santana, Steve Morse, Duane Allman, Alvin Lee and Steve Howe.
No list such as this is ever completely objective. A good guitarist can make an emotional connection in a way few other instrumentalists can. If you haven’t sampled the works of these great axemen, you owe it to yourself to check them out.
Phone Glenn Sutton at: 619-306-3664.
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