Coming up with a list of 10 famous guitarists who changed the way we all play is no easy task. Fame in the music world is not just about producing content that people love. It comes only when the artists touch audiences with their personalities, characters or stage personas. However, here’s a small yet tough round up of 10 famous guitarists who did a remarkably great job.
Jimi Hendrix
A self-taught genius, soloist and melodist, Jimi Hendrix reinvented the world of rock and blues guitar. He’s one of the greatest artists who are still inspiring beginners as well as well-known pro guitarists. Being a lefty, Jimi Hendrix opened doors for left-handed guitar players by showing them that they too can master the beautiful art of guitar playing.
Hendrix made himself stand out in the guitarist crowd with his unique style of playing. He combined different styles alongside original licks and other additions to create a fuller and more organic sound. His guitar was an extension of his body, a gem in his left hand that enabled him to express his ideas and emotions.
Jimi Hendrix died at a young age of 27 years, which made him a member of the infamous Club-27 group of iconic musicians who died at the age of 27, such as Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and Blues-Rock singer Janis Joplin.
His guitar was an extension of his body, a gem in his left hand that enabled him to express his ideas and emotions.
Charlie Christian
Charlie Christian introduced the electric guitar as a lead instrument in a Jazz Big Band setting. Though he wasn’t the first one to play electrified, his performances as a soloist on Benny Goodman tracks like “Flying Home” and “Honeysuckle Rose” pretty much changed the mainstream guitar playing culture.
Christian’s participation in early bebop jamming sessions with Thelonius Monk and Dizzy Gillespie also makes him one of the founding fathers of the genre. Charlie Christian died from tuberculosis at 26.
his performances as a soloist on Benny Goodman tracks like "Flying Home" and "Honeysuckle Rose" pretty much changed the mainstream guitar playing culture.
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton, the world-renowned Brit rocker who pushed the boundaries of rock and blues guitar, secured a definite place in the canon of guitar-heroes with big guitar-based titles like “Cocaine” or “I shot the Sheriff”.
Certainly, one of the most evident talents of Eric Clapton as a guitarist is his fluidity and feel. He can go from an elaborate rock solo (“Layla”) to a heartfelt fingerstyle ballad (“Tears In Heaven”) without skipping a beat. A singer and a guitarist, He listens to the songs he plays from both perspectives and then weaves them together in the most passionate way ever.
Eric Clapton, also nicknamed “Slow Hand”, is still performing on stage today.
He can go from an elaborate rock solo ("Layla") to a heartfelt fingerstyle ballad ("Tears In Heaven") without skipping a beat
Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry first roared into the world of rock’n’roll in 1955. He introduced himself with the two-beat rhythms of “Maybellene” and claimed the genre for his own. Berry blasted into rock stardom with the timeless hit “Johnny B. Goode”, which became so popular that NASA included a recording of it in its space capsule to exemplify the sound of American pop music.
Chuck Berry was the first popular performer to write, play, and sing his own material. He grabbed the youth market with his songs about cars and girls. Dashing and handsome, Berry brought the guitar as the “cool” instruments to a ready audience via appearances on TV and in movies.
Berry was the first popular performer to write, play, and sing his own material. He grabbed the youth market with his songs about cars and girls.
B.B King
A true legend of guitar history, B.B (for Blues Boy) King is the master of electric guitar blues. He wrote numerous classics of the genre, rounding out his songs with a rich voice full of emotions and his characteristic vibrato. With his inimitable touch that breathes soul into the guitar, B.B King has influenced guitar biggies like Clapton and Hendrix. Forever the humble student of the instrument, B.B. King became jazzier and better than ever as his life and career continued well into the 20th century. His loss in 2015 was deeply felt by the music community and, particularly, by the guitarist he influenced.
Forever the humble student of the instrument, B.B. King became jazzier and better than ever as his life and career continued well into the 20th century.
Keith Richards
Known as the “seducer” guitarist, Keith Richards is a luminary. One of the leading members of the famous Rolling Stones along with Mick Jagger, he is among the most talented rock guitarists in history. His obsession with sound and his exclusive playing technique rank him as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Keith Richards’ chord-playing drips so much emotion that it feels as if the guitar is singing notes.
His obsession with sound and his exclusive playing technique rank him as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
Robert Johnson
One of the greatest blues guitarists of all time, Robert Johnson was one of rock’s founding fathers from the pre-World War II Delta blues era. He had the attitude to go with the chops. His haunting and allusive lyrics have inspired singers of all genres. Albeit it’s all upon his virtuoso and innovative solo guitar playing that places him on this list. Johnson’s fretted and slide guitar licks are so timeless that they still pop up in contemporary music. He died at 27 making himself a part of the same iconic Club-27 we mentioned earlier.
His haunting and allusive lyrics have inspired singers of all genres. Albeit it’s all upon his virtuoso and innovative solo guitar playing that places him on this list.
Jimmy Page
One of the leading members of Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page is a rock guitarist like no other. He played with a violin bow on his famous Gibson, alternating blues and rock with joy and passion. Page was among the greatest contributors of rock mythology. His solos were show-stopping and ground-breaking when it came to guitar playing technique at the time. In brief, even his experimenting was so great that it always felt like new music. He is still famously known as “The Wizard”.
His obsession with sound and his exclusive playing technique rank him as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
Carlos Santana
Mexican-born Carlos Santana is an inspiration for numerous artists around the world. He skillfully merged rock, blues, percussions, and samba along with various other musical styles. Santana’s typical lyrical playing resonates the notions of peace, compassion, understanding, and joy. It is his multi-cultural style that made him prominent in the world of music. It is said that the Grammy-winning guitarist’s playing can be identified after hearing just one single note – now that’s something called success for you!
Santana’s typical lyrical playing resonates the notions of peace, compassion, understanding, and joy. It is his multi-cultural style that made him prominent in the world of music.
Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters, also known as “The Lord of the Blues” is an unparalleled guitarist who popularized the bottleneck technique. He is the father of great blues titles such as “Hoochie Coochie Man” and “Rollin Stone” which are considered classics today. Waters transformed the soul of rural South into the sound of the city. He died of a heart attack in 1983 at the age of 68 years old.
Waters transformed the soul of rural South into the sound of the city.
We as modern artists sometimes forget the importance of music history and culture, although it’s the cornerstone of playing any instrument. Reinforcing your musical knowledge by listening to the solos by great guitarists generally improves your sense of rhythm to win over every audience.
Your favorite guitar player didn’t make the cut? Let us know in the comments.
B.B. King Photo by Tom Beetz.
Ready to play?
You can take private guitar lessons at any age, level, and understanding of music here at ModernTone Studios. Choose between in-person sessions at our Bay Area music studio or play in the comfort of your own home through live remote guitar lessons. Come unlock your full musical potential and become the guitar player you always wanted to be.
Let's Talk
Drop us a line and let us know what you are thinking. We typically respond in minutes, but it can take up to 24 hours when things are super busy.
