I collected over 13 lists of the best guitarists of all time and combined them into a single meta-list. The results are below: every guitarist found on three or more of the original source lists, organized chronologically by date of birth. Because most of the “best guitarists” lists I found focused primarily on rock music, I also included lists of best blues, jazz, classical and fingerstyle guitarists.
NOTE: Just because someone is higher on the meta-list than someone else, it doesn’t mean he or she is necessarily better – it just means that one is on more “best of” lists than the other. Also, these are not my personal opinions and I have not even heard some of these guitarists.
For the same list organized by rank (that is, with the guitarists on the most lists at the top), go here.
Andrés Segovia (Andrés Segovia Torres, 1st Marquis of Salobreña) (Spain, 1893-1987) (on 7 lists)
Style: Classical
Django Reinhardt (Jean Reinhardt) (Belgium/France, 1910-1953) (on 8 lists)
Style: Jazz
Associated with: Stéphane Grappelli, Quintette du Hot Club de France
T-Bone Walker (Aaron Thibeaux Walker) (US, 1910-1975) (on 8 lists)
Style: Blues
Robert Johnson (US, 1911-1938) (on 10 lists)
Style: Blues
Lightnin’ Hopkins (Samuel Hopkins) (US, 1912-1982) (on 4 lists)
Style: Blues
John Lee Hooker (US, 1912/1917-2001) (on 4 lists)
Style: Blues
Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield) (US, 1913-1983) (on 5 lists)
Style: Blues
Les Paul (Lester Polsfuss) (US, 1915-2009) (on 6 lists)
Styles: Jazz, country, blues
Associated with: Mary Ford
Charlie Christian (US, 1916-1942) (on 7 lists)
Style: Jazz
Associated with: Benny Goodman
Merle Travis (US, 1917-1983) (on 4 lists)
Style: Country, blues, folk, gospel
Elmore James (US, 1918-1963) (on 5 lists)
Style: Blues
Tal Farlow (US, 1921-1998) (on 3 lists)
Style: Jazz
Associated with: Red Norvo, Artie Shaw, Great Guitars
Herb Ellis (Mitchell Herbert Ellis) (US, 1921-2010) (on 3 lists)
Style: Jazz
Associated with: Oscar Peterson
Johnny Smith (US, 1922-2013) (on 3 lists)
Style: Jazz
Associated with: Stan Getz
Wes Montgomery (John Leslie Montgomery) (US, 1923-1968) (on 7 lists)
Style: Jazz
Albert King (Albert Nelson) (US, 1923-1992) (on 7 lists)
Style: Blues
Barney Kessel (US, 1923-2004) (on 3 lists)
Style: Jazz
Associated with: Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, Billie Holiday
Chet Atkins (US, 1924-2001) (on 8 lists)
Styles: Country, folk, rockabilly
B.B. King (US, 1925-2015) (on 10 lists)
Styles: Blues, R&B
Chuck Berry (US, 1926-2017) (on 10 lists)
Styles: Rock, R&B
Bo Diddley (Ellas Bates, Ellas McDaniel) (US, 1928-2008) (on 4 lists)
Styles: Rock, R&B
Joe Pass (Joseph Passalaqua) (US, 1929-1994) (on 6 lists)
Style: Jazz
Link Wray (Fred Lincoln Wray, Jr.) (US, 1929-2005) (on 6 lists)
Styles: Rock, rockabilly
Associated with: Robert Gordon
Howard Roberts (US, 1929-1992) (on 3 lists)
Style: Jazz, rock, country, pop, R&B
Associated with: The Wrecking Crew
Jim Hall (US, 1930-2013) (on 5 lists)
Style: Jazz
Associated with: Chico Hamilton, Jimmy Giuffre, Art Farmer
Scotty Moore (Winfield Scott Moore III) (US, 1931-2016) (on 6 lists)
Styles: Rock, rockabilly
Associated with: Elvis Presley
Hubert Sumlin (US, 1931-2011) (on 5 lists)
Style: Blues
Associated with: Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters
Kenny Burrell (US, 1931- ) (on 4 lists)
Style: Jazz
Albert Collins (Albert Gene Drewery) (US, 1932-1993) (on 4 lists)
Style: Blues
Julian Bream (UK, 1933- ) (on 5 lists)
Style: Classical
Freddie King (US, 1934-1976) (on 6 lists)
Style: Blues
Grant Green (US, 1935-1979) (on 4 lists)
Style: Jazz
Buddy Guy (US, 1936- ) (on 7 lists)
Style: Blues
Associated with: Junior Wells
(Photo by Art Shay)
Dick Dale (Richard Mansour) (US, 1937- ) (on 6 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Dick Dale & the Del-Tones
John Fahey (US, 1939-2001) (on 7 lists)
Styles: Folk, Americana, roots music
Roy Buchanan (US, 1939-1988) (on 5 lists)
Styles: Blues, rock, rockabilly, country
James Burton (US, 1939- ) (on 5 lists)
Styles; Rock, rockabilly, country
Associated with: Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley/TCB Band
Frank Zappa (US, 1940-1993) (on 5 lists)
Styles: Rock, pop, jazz, classical
Associated with: The Mothers of Invention, Captain Beefheart
Sonny Sharrock (Warren Harding Sharrock) (US, 1940-1994) (on 3 lists)
Style: Jazz, experimental
Associated with: Machine Gun
James “Blood” Ulmer (US, 1940- ) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Jazz, funk, blues
Associated with: Ornette Coleman, Arthur Blythe, Odyssey the Band, Music Revelation Ensemble, Phalanx, Third Rail, New Jazz Art Quartet
Jorma Kaukonen (US, 1940- ) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Rock, blues, folk
Associated with: Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna
John Williams (Australia, 1941- ) (on 5 lists)
Style: Classical
Steve Cropper (US, 1941- ) (on 4 lists)
Styles: R&B, blues, soul, funk
Associated with: Booker T. & the M.G.’s
Lenny Breau (US/Canada, 1941-1984) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Jazz, country, classical, flamenco
Associated with: CKY Caravan, Three
Jimi Hendrix (US, 1942-1970) (on 12 lists)
Styles: Rock, blues
Associated with: The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Band of Gypsies
John McLaughlin (UK, 1942- ) (on 7 lists)
Style: Jazz fusion
Associated with: Miles Davis, Tony Williams Lifetime, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Shakti
Jerry Garcia (US, 1942-1995) (on 6 lists)
Styles: Rock, bluegrass
Associated with: Grateful Dead, Old and In the Way
Photo by Ron Draper
Lou Reed (US, 1942-2013) (on 4 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: The Velvet Underground
Keith Richards (UK, 1943- ) (on 9 lists)
Styles: Rock, blues, R&B
Associated with: The Rolling Stones
George Harrison (UK, 1943-2001) (on 7 lists)
Styles: Rock, pop, Indian classical
Associated with: The Beatles, Traveling Wilburys
Mike Bloomfield (US, 1943-1981) (on 6 lists)
Styles: Blues, rock
Associated with: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Bob Dylan, Electric Flag
Photo by Ron Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
George Benson (US, 1943- ) (on 4 lists)
Styles: Jazz, R&B, soul, funk
Bert Jansch (UK, 1943-2011) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Folk, rock
Associated with: Pentangle
Larry Coryell (Lorenz Albert Van DeLinder III) (US, 1943-2017) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Jazz, jazz fusion, pop, rock, classical
Associated with: The Free Spirits, Fourplay, The Eleventh House, The Guitar Trio
Dickey Betts (Forrest Richard Betts) (US, 1943- ) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Rock, country, jazz fusion
Associated with: The Allman Brothers Band, Dickey Betts Band, Dickey Betts & Great Southern
Joni Mitchell (Roberta Joan Anderson) (Canada/US, 1943- ) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Folk, rock, jazz, pop
Robbie Robertson (Jaime Royal Robertson) (Canada, 1943- ) (on 3 lists)
Style: Rock, roots
Associated with: The Band
Jimmy Page (UK, 1944- ) (on 13 lists)
Styles: Rock, blues, folk
Associated with: The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin
Jeff Beck (UK, 1944- ) (on 7 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group, Beck, Bogert & Appice
Johnny Winter (US, 1944-2014) (on 6 lists)
Styles: Blues, rock
Pat Martino (US, 1944- ) (on 4 lists)
Style: Jazz
Pepe Romero (Spain, 1944- ) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Flamenco, classical
Associated with: The Romero Guitar Quartet
Clarence White (Clarence Joseph LeBlanc) (US, 1944-1973) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Bluegrass, country, rock
Associated with: The Kentucky Colonels, The Byrds, Muleskinner
Eric Clapton (UK, 1945- ) (on 11 lists)
Styles: Rock, blues
Associated with: The Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek & the Dominos
Pete Townshend (UK, 1945- ) (on 7 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: The Who
Ritchie Blackmore (UK, 1945- ) (on 6 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Rainbow, Deep Purple
Neil Young (Canada/US, 1945- ) (on 5 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Crazy Horse
Danny Gatton (US, 1945-1994) (on 4 lists)
Styles: Blues, rockabilly, jazz
Duane Allman (US, 1946-1971) (on 8 lists)
Styles: Rock, blues
Associated with: The Allman Brothers Band, Derek & the Dominos
Robert Fripp (UK, 1946- ) (on 6 lists)
Styles: Rock, jazz fusion
Associated with: King Crimson
Peter Green (Peter Greenbaum) (UK, 1946- ) (on 6 lists)
Styles: Blues, rock
Associated with: John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Fleetwood Mac
Mick Ronson (Michael Ronson) (UK, 1946-1993) (on 5 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: David Bowie
David Gilmour (US, 1946- ) (on 5 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Pink Floyd
Allan Holdsworth (UK, 1946-2017) (on 4 lists)
Styles: Jazz fusion, rock
Associated with: Nucleus, Tempest, Soft Machine, New Tony Williams Lifetime, Gong
Robby Krieger (US, 1946- ) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Rock, blues, jazz fusion
Associated with: The Doors
Carlos Santana (Mexico/US, 1947- ) (on 8 lists)
Styles: Rock, Latin, jazz fusion
Brian May (UK, 1947- ) (on 7 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Smile, Queen
Ry Cooder (US, 1947- ) (on 5 lists)
Style: Folk, blues, country, roots, world
Associated with: Captain Beefheart
Steve Howe (US, 1947- ) (on 5 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Yes, Asia, GTR, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
Joe Walsh (US, 1947- ) (on 4 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: The James Gang, The Eagles
Dave Davies (UK, 1947- ) (on 4 lists)
Style: Rock, pop
Associated with: The Kinks
Paco de Lucia (Francisco Gustavo Sánchez Gómez) (Spain, 1947-2014) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Flamenco, classical
Tony Iommi (UK, 1948- ) (on 6 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Black Sabbath
Rory Gallagher (William Gallagher) (Ireland, 1948-1995) (on 6 lists)
Styles: Blues, rock, folk, jazz
Associated with: Taste
Johnny Ramone (John Cummings) (US, 1948-2004) (on 5 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Ramones
Ron Asheton (US, 1948-2009) (on 4 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: The Stooges, The New Order, Destroy All Monsters, Dark Carnival, New Race, The Empty Set, The Wylde Ratttz
Fred “Sonic” Smith (US, 1948-1994) (on 3 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: MC5, Patti Smith
Larry Carlton (US, 1948- ) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Jazz fusion, rock, pop
Associated with: The Crusaders, Fourplay
Wayne Kramer (US, 1948- ) (on 3 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: MC5
Adrian Legg (UK, 1948- ) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Ambient, jazz
Associated with: G3
Mark Knopfler (UK, 1949- ) (on 7 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Dire Straits, The Notting Hillbillies
Richard Thompson (UK, 1949- ) (on 5 lists)
Styles: Folk, rock
Associated: Fairport Convention, Linda Thompson
Billy Gibbons (US, 1949- ) (on 5 lists)
Style: Rock, blues
Associated with: ZZ Top
Tom Verlaine (Thomas Miller) (US, 1949- ) (on 4 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Television
Mick Taylor (Michael Kevin Taylor) (UK, 1949- ) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Rock, blues, jazz
Associated with: John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Rolling Stones
Lindsey Buckingham (US, 1949- ) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Rock, pop
Associated with: Fleetwood Mac
Joe Perry (Joseph Pereira) (US, 1950- ) (on 6 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Aerosmith, The Joe Perry Project
Eddie Hazel (US, 1950-1992) (on 5 lists)
Styles: Funk, soul, rock
Associated with: Funkadelic, Parliament, P-Funk All-Stars
John Scofield (US, 1951- ) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Jazz, jazz fusion
Associated with: Medeski, Martin & Wood, Trio Beyond
Bill Frisell (US, 1951- ) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Jazz, jazz fusion, classical, Americana
Associated with: Naked City
Phil Keaggy (US, 1951- ) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Folk, Christian, new age, jazz-funk
Associated with: Glass Harp, Compassion All-Star Band
Gary Moore (Robert Moore) (UK/Ireland, 1952-2011) (on 4 lists)
Styles: Rock, blues
Associated with: Skid Row, Thin Lizzy, Colosseum II
Alex Lifeson (Alexandar Zivojinovich) (Canada, 1953- ) (on 5 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Rush
Michael Hedges (US, 1953-1997) (on 3 lists)
Styles: new age, world
Stevie Ray Vaughan (US, 1954-1990) (on 9 lists)
Style: Blues
Associated with: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Pat Metheny (US, 1954- ) (on 5 lists)
Styles: Jazz, jazz fusion
Associated with: Pat Metheny Group
Eric Johnson (US, 1954- ) (on 4 lists)
Styles: Rock, jazz fusion, blues
Steve Morse (US, 1954- ) (on 3 lists)
Style: Rock, jazz fusion
Associated with: Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple, Kansas, Flying Colors
Photo by Bob Mussell
Al Di Meola (US, 1954- ) (on 3 lists)
Styles: Jazz fusion, jazz, world, flamenco
Associated with: Return to Forever
Eddie Van Halen (Netherlands/US, 1955- ) (on 9 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Van Halen
Angus Young (UK, 1955- ) (on 4 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: AC/DC
Tommy Emmanuel (Australia, 1955- ) (on 4 lists)
Styles: Jazz, pop, rock, country
Michael Schenker (Germany, 1955- ) (on 3 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Scorpions, UFO, Michael Schenker Group (M.S.G.)
Randy Rhoads (US, 1956-1982) (on 5 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot
Joe Satriani (US, 1956- ) (on 3 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: G3, Chickenfoot
Martin Taylor (UK, 1956- ) (on 3 lists)
Style: Jazz
Associated with: Stéphane Grappelli, Spirit of Django
Prince (Prince Rogers Nelson) (US, 1958-2016) (on 6 lists)
Styles: Rock, pop, funk, soul, R&B
Associated with: Prince & the Revolution
Thurston Moore (US, 1958- ) (on 4 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Sonic Youth, Chelsea Light Moving
Vernon Reid (UK/US, 1958- ) (on 3 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Living Colour
Warren Haynes (US, 1960- ) (on 4 lists)
Styles: Rock, soul, blues
Associated with: The Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule
Steve Vai (US, 1960- ) (on 3 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Frank Zappa
Photo by David Atlas/Retna Ltd.
The Edge (David Evans) (UK/Ireland, 1961- ) (on 5 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: U2
Marty Friedman (US, 1962- ) (on 3 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Cacophony, Megadeath, Tourniquet, Enzo & the Glory Ensemble
Kirk Hammett (US, 1962- ) (on 3 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Exodus, Metallica
Yngwie Malmsteen (Lars Johan Yngve Lannerbäck) (Sweden, 1963- ) (on 4 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Alcatrazz
Johnny Marr (John Maher) (UK, 1963- ) (on 4 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: The Smiths, Electronic, The The, The Cribs, Johnny Marr & the Healers, 7 Worlds Collide
James Hetfield (US, 1963- ) (on 3 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Metallica
Tom Morello (US, 1964- ) (on 5 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, Prophets of Rage
Slash (Saul Hudson) (UK/US, 1965- ) (on 5 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver
Dimebag Darrell (Darrell Abbott) (US, 1966-2004) (on 4 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Pantera, Damageplan
Kurt Cobain (US, 1967-1994) (on 5 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Nirvana
John Frusciante (US, 1970- ) (on 4 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Jonny Greenwood (UK, 1971- ) (on 6 lists)
Styles: Rock, electronica, classical
Associated with: Radiohead
Jack White (John Gillis) (US, 1975- ) (on 5 lists)
Style: Rock
Associated with: The White Stripes, The Racounteurs
Xuefei Yang (China, 1977- ) (on 3 lists)
Style: Classical
Derek Trucks (US, 1979- ) (on 4 lists)
Style: Rock, blues
Associated with: Allman Brothers Band, Derek Trucks Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band
Andy McKee (US, 1979- ) (on 3 lists)
Style: Folk