When discussing some of the best guitarist of all time, names like Prince, Brian May, and Eddie Van Halen are just a few that spring to mind.
These talented musicians not only perfected the instrument but also elevated it to new heights, contributing to its definition or impact in their own special way. Their unique and easily recognizable sound is what unites them all. When you hear Prince play “Purple Rain,” Eric Clapton play “Layla,” or Jimmy Page play “Stairway to Heaven,” you instantly recognize the song and the guitar virtuoso.
Best Rock Guitarists of All Time Right Now (2025)
The following list of the 10 best rock guitarist of all time includes a few songs from each of their careers that best capture their unique qualities.
1. Jimi Hendrix
The psychedelic rock movement of the 1960s was transformed by self-taught electric guitarist Jimi Hendrix. He was always experimenting with sound, and his onstage antics completed the electric guitar’s modernization through sound effects, sonic experimentation, amplification, and other methods.
Born in Seattle, the musician formed Jimi Hendrix in London before returning to the United States as a superstar following his incredible performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967. He astonished the audience by lighting his guitar on fire in addition to performing a thrilling song.
The guitar anthem “Purple Haze” was a 1967 single. Additionally, he created history at Woodstock with his performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Although his career was far too brief, he made a lasting impact on rock music during his brief tenure. On September 18, 1970, Hendrix passed away from a barbiturate overdose.
2. Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen was a virtuoso electric guitarist who loved playing and practiced all the time. He is considered one of the best rock guitarists of all time. He was an American songwriter and guitarist of Dutch descent who made his musical debut in the 1970s as a member of Van Halen, a band he co-founded with his brother Alex.
Eddie had a hand in changing the electric guitar’s tone. He is described as follows by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame:
With amazing speed and melodic feel, he mastered the art of shredding, displaying amazing, never-before-seen techniques like two-handed finger tapping and dramatic whammy-bar moves.
As captivating now as it was when he recorded it nearly 50 years ago, Van Halen’s nearly two-minute guitar solo on “Eruption,” which was included on the band’s self-titled debut album, is stunning. In addition, he oversaw the guitar solo on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” as a free favor to Quincy Jones.
Even though he passed away from cancer on October 6, 2020, at the age of 65, Eddie Van Halen has had a lasting impact on upcoming guitarists for decades.
3. Brian May
In rock music, he is among the most recognizable guitarists. When you hear him play, you recognize him right away as Brian May.
He and his father designed and constructed his Red Special guitar, and he began to take a distinctive approach to tone and sound when he was a young boy. Many of Queen’s greatest hits, some of which he wrote himself, would later be covered by May using that Red Special.
May always compared the sound of the guitar to “singing,” stating that he tried to discover the “voice” of the instrument. He collaborated on a lot of songs with Freddie Mercury, one of the best rock singers ever, so it’s clear the two got along well.
Whether it was great solos, classic riffs, or lovely melodies, May has always played around with sound, determined to present each song in the best possible light.
His performance in “Bohemian Rhapsody” is truly magical. The song, which many believed would never appeal to rock fans, has grown to be one of the most well-known and beloved songs in the genre.
May is still on tour with Queen, and Adam Lambert is singing. May is an astrophysicist and a virtuoso guitarist.
4. Jimmy Page
He started one of the best rock bands ever after playing with the Yardbirds and working as a session player in London, adding guitar to recordings by the Kinks, Marianne Faithful, the Who, and others. One of the most renowned guitarists in music history, Jimmy Page is known for the songs and variety of sounds he produced with Led Zeppelin.
He made a significant contribution to the heavy rock sound of the early 1970s, but he was not the only one. He combined aspects of electric and acoustic guitars and drew inspiration from a wide range of musical genres.
“Zeppelin would change gears six times in one hour,” as guitarist Joe Perry of Aerosmith observed during Led Zeppelin’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With equal ease, they performed ballads, reggae, rock, funk, and blues. Given that at least half of their greatest songs were acoustic, I find it absurd that some people see them as merely a heavy metal band.
Page wrote a lot of guitar riffs and frequently used a cello bow to change the sound. Both his riff in “Whole Lotta Love” and his solo in “Stairway to Heaven” are considered to be among the best of all time.
5. Keith Richards
He is a guitarist and singer for the renowned British band the Rolling Stones.
Keith Richard lists the Everly Brothers and Chuck Berry as early influences, but Richards would quickly establish himself as a major figure in music history. He is renowned for playing with a lot of chords, which has its roots in blues music.
He has a vast catalog of songs with iconic riffs from his more than 60-year career with the Stones. Among the many others are “Start Me Up,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” and “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction.”
He is well known for his guitar prowess, but a major contributor to the band’s long-term success has also been his solid songwriting collaboration with Mick Jagger.
Among the longest-lasting rock bands in history are the Rolling Stones.
6. Prince
Apart from his exceptional skill, you could tell that Prince was going to be entertaining when he picked up a guitar. He could do it all and was a real showman. He was a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer whose skill had no limits.
Prince “lived” to play music by fusing rock, pop, funk, and rhythm & blues.
Whether he was playing the dynamic power ballad solo on “Purple Rain” or rocking crowds with “Let’s Go Crazy,” his guitar seemed to be an extension of himself.
Prince was one of the most gifted musicians of his era, and no one has ever played the guitar as well as Prince does.
7. Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame three times, is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time. (In 1992 and 1993, respectively, as a member of the Yardbirds, Cream, and as a solo artist.)
The talented songwriter Clapton, who was born in Britain and has a strong blues influence, has always incorporated heart and soul into his songs. He was inspired to write his rock classic “Layla” by his forbidden love for George Harrison’s wife, his best friend. And following his son’s untimely death at the age of four, he penned “Tears in Heaven.”
When “Clapton is God” was spray painted on a wall in London during his Yardbird days, it was the first time his guitar prowess was acknowledged by the general public. Despite his religious allusions, he is a talented musician whose work continues to influence other musicians and aspiring musicians.
Apart from his own well-known songs, Clapton performed the famous solo on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” a Beatles song.
8. Pete Townsend
He is a British musician who served as the Who’s lead guitarist and main songwriter/composer.
One of the pioneers and first rock guitarists to employ amp feedback for musical purposes was Pete Townsend. His extensive repertoire, which includes songs like “Pinball Wizard,” “I Can See for Miles,” “My Generation,” and others, demonstrates his versatility and range from powerful strumming to arresting power chords.
According to Brian May, guitarist for Queen, he cannot imagine rock guitar without him.
People like me would be forever changed by Townshend’s blazing clang of highly amplified but not overly saturated chords, which were sharp-edged monoliths that crashed angrily through our brains like biting rhythmic hammer blows.” May suggested turning up the volume on “My Generation” if you want to feel what I’m talking about.
Townend’s rock opera Tommy, which began as a theme album and later evolved into a movie and Broadway musical, has garnered numerous accolades.
9. David Gilmour
He became the lead guitarist for Pink Floyd the year Syd Barrett, one of the band’s co-founders, left. With his bluesy electric guitar solos in the ensuing years, David Gilmour elevated the band to new heights.
His playing is particularly impressive on seminal albums such as The Wall (1979) and Dark Side of the Moon (1973). The power ballad on Gilmour’s co-written song “Comfortably Numb” is his most well-known solo.
Later in life, he began working on his own solo endeavors and has also worked on projects with other well-known musicians and artists. Gilmour is still touring as a solo artist and writing new songs.
10. Randy Rhoads
He left a remarkable musical legacy despite dying far too young.
Randy Rhoads, a California music teacher’s son, got interested in music at a young age and began playing the guitar before he was ten. As a teenager, he was a co-founder of Quiet Riot. Later, he joined Ozzie Osbourne’s band as a guitarist, helping to revitalize his career. In particular, his contributions to Osbourne’s Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman elevated him to a position of prominence in the rock guitar community.
He continues to inspire young guitarists with his incredible hype speed solos on “Mr. Crowley” and “Crazy Train,” which are unrivaled.
At the tragic age of 25, Rhoads lost his life in a plane crash in 1982.
Before we get into the No. 1 Top Guitarist, we’d like to give some honorable mentions.
Legendary Influence: Honoring Chuck Berry
Many people have contributed to the development and evolution of rock and roll guitar over the years, but it all began with Chuck Berry. With songs like “Maybeline,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” and others, he paved the way for the evolution of rock n’ roll. And his 18-second introduction to “Johnny B. Goode” showed off the electric guitar’s musical possibilities.
Chuck Berry, around 1958, holds his Gibson hollowbody electric guitar while posing for a picture.
Legendary Influence: Honoring B.B. King
The undisputed King of the Blues was B.B. King. His first single, “Three O’clock Blues,” came out in 1951, and by the 1960s, he was a well-known rock and roll guitarist. In 1969, he recorded his biggest hit and signature song, “The Thrill is Gone,” and famously named his guitar Lucille. As a result, the renowned artist received the first of his fifteen Grammy awards.
At the Hammersmith, B.B. plays onstage with his Gibson electric hollowbody guitar, the “Lucille” model. [+]
Legendary Influence: Honoring Chet Atkins
Known mostly for his work in country music, Chet Atkins was a creative guitarist and record producer who also had a significant impact on rock and roll. Despite being well-known for his unique finger-picking style and for inventing the “Nashville Sound,” which helped popularize country music, he had a wider range and influence that affected other genres as well. Atkins contributed to the Everly Brothers’ “Wake Up Little Susie,” Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel,” and other songs.
Atkins, Chet, around 1970.
As we conclude the list with No. 1, we return to our countdown of the Top 10 Rock Guitarists.
Where Can I Listen to Best Guitarists of All Time
Here are the top platforms where you can listen to your favorite guitarists:
🎸 1. Spotify
Explore playlists like 100 Greatest Guitarists and albums from legends like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Eddie Van Halen.
🎶 2. YouTube Music
Watch live performances, solos, and full concerts of the greatest guitarists, plus curated playlists.
🔥 3. Apple Music
Stream remastered classics, exclusive releases, and essential albums from legendary guitarists.
🎵 4. Amazon Music
Access a vast library of classic rock, blues, and metal guitar legends, available in high-quality streaming.
🎧 5. Tidal
For audiophiles, Tidal offers lossless, high-fidelity sound, perfect for enjoying every detail of legendary guitar solos.
Conclusion
These are the best guitarists of all time are still influencing musicians today because they were pioneers and inventors who elevated the electric guitar to such a remarkable level. When you hear one of their songs, solos, or riffs, you can immediately identify the guitarist because each one has such a distinctive sound.
They improved the way it was played, whether it was heavy metal or rock. They truly are guitar heroes.
FAQs
1. Who is considered the best guitarist of all time?
🏆 Jimi Hendrix is widely regarded as the greatest guitarist of all time due to his groundbreaking technique, innovation, and influence on rock music.
2. What thing makes a guitarist the “best” of all time?
🎸 The best guitarists excel in technical skill, innovation, influence, and emotional expression. Factors like genre, speed, creativity, and impact on future musicians all play a role.
3. Who are the top 5 greatest guitarists ever?
🔥 While opinions vary, common names in the top 5 include Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, and Stevie Ray Vaughan—all legends in their own right.
