The best guitarists in history. The best blues artists of all time

Although this list only includes the top 10 guitarists of all time, it would be wrong not to mention such talented musicians like Frank Zappa, Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, BB King, Joe Satriani, David Gilmour and John Petrucci.

Brian Patrick Carroll (born May 13, 1969), better known by his stage name Bakethed, is an American multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. Primarily known for his virtuoso electric guitar playing and eccentric appearance. As of 2012, he has released 40 studio albums, about 40 releases and has participated in the recording of more than 50 works by other musicians. He mainly performs as a solo artist. His music spans areas as diverse as progressive metal, funk, blues, jazz, rock, avant-garde, and more.

John Anthony Frusciante (born March 5, 1970) is an American guitarist, singer, record producer, and composer. Known as former guitarist rock bands Red Hot chili peppers, from 1988 to 1992, and again from 1998 to 2009. Now he has an active solo career. As of 2013, he has released 11 individual albums and two as part of the Ataxia project.

Eric Patrick Clapton (born 30 March 1945) is a British guitarist, singer and songwriter. For a significant contribution to musical culture in 1994, Clapton was awarded the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He is one of the most respected and influential guitarists of all time, and the only musician to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times: rock bands The Yardbirds, Cream and as a solo artist.

Seventh place in the list of the best guitarists in the world is Dave Scott Mustaine (b. September 13, 1961) - American musician, known as the founder, guitarist and lead singer of the thrash metal band Megadeth. Before founding, he played in one of the best rock bands of the 80s - Metallica.

Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer whose work is associated with acid rock, blues rock, and jazz rock. Although it musical career covers only four years, he is rightfully considered the most virtuoso and influential guitarist in history popular music, as well as one of the most famous musicians 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes Hendrix as "maybe greatest musician in the history of rock music.

His composition Hey Joe appears in the Guinness Book of Records as the work that was simultaneously performed by the largest number of guitarists. It was performed by 1876 guitars.

Saul Hudson (born July 23, 1965), better known by the pseudonym "Slash", is a British-American musician and songwriter. More popular as the former guitarist for the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. He is a co-founder of the group Velvet Revolver (since 2002). Released three solo albums.

James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer who is best known as the guitarist, founding member and permanent member of the popular rock band Led Zeppelin. Defined by many fans and critics as one of the best and most influential guitarists in the history of rock music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: with the Yardbirds (1992) and Led Zeppelin (1995).

Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7, 1958) is an American actor, songwriter, singer, and musician. Considered one of the most influential artists in rock music. Prince's work also spans the likes of funk, R&B, jazz-rock and more. In each of them, he was an innovator: he broke all the boundaries of styles and mixed them into one whole, denoting it with his individuality. Throughout his career, Prince has been awarded seven Grammy statuettes, as well as a Golden Globe and an Oscar. Included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Second place in the ranking of the best guitarists in the world is Charles Edward Anderson Berry (born October 18, 1926) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. One of the most influential early rock and roll artists. Berry was one of the earliest musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The musician still performs weekly on Wednesdays at his Blueberry Hill club in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Stevie Ray Vaughn (October 3, 1954 - August 27, 1990) is considered the best guitarist in the world - a famous American guitarist and singer. Despite a short career spanning only seven years, he is regarded as one of the most influential guitarists in the world, as well as one of the most important figures in the blues revival of the 1980s. He died in a helicopter crash on August 27, 1990, at the age of 35. In 1994, a memorial to Stevie Ray Vaughan was erected in Austin, Texas.

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If you decide to learn how to play guitar rock, then your swim in the world of music, one way or another, will begin with the purchase of an acoustic or electric guitar. Now there are quite a few different manufacturers, types and lines of guitars for each of them. Even, sometimes, the eyes run wide. I will touch on the subject of choosing a guitar in future articles, but for now let's look at top ten guitars in the world, in the sound of which you can be more than sure. After all, it is not enough to know a couple of simple chords, learn the pentatonic boxes, be able to play the barre, or own several options for replacing the F chord, you also need to have a good, reliable instrument. A guitar that not only sounds great, but also suits the style of music you choose.

Among the best of the best you will find not only electric guitars, but also acoustic guitars. Since rock artists sometimes give unplugged (acoustic) concerts using all sorts of guitars, in our guitar top will meet and instruments for classical music and jazz. So, welcome to the world of legendary guitars, to the world of the best ever created by man. Luckily for us, these guitars can still be found in music stores in our cities. They are known all over the world because they have become cult, like their producers.

Top 10: The Best Guitars in the World

1. Archtops D "Angelico

Archtops D "Angelico

A guitar luthier named John D'Angelico is the creator of some of the finest jazz guitars in the history of music. The instruments are called archtops. given word came from a combination English nouns arch (arc) and top (top deck). A very accurate name for guitars that don't have flat tops like classical guitars (see below) but curved tops like a violin. Another element that these instruments have in common with violins is the f-shaped resonators. Therefore, if you see an enlarged six-string violin with frets on the fingerboard in the nearest music store, you should know that this is one of the archtops, possibly d'Angelico.
D "Angelico are high-level cans that are still being produced and are mainly used in jazz. Although many famous bluesmen and rockers also like to use these wonderful instruments.

These archtops feature a rich and warm sound, elegant finishes and a careful choice of materials.

Years of release of D "Angelico archtops: from 1932 to 1964, from 2011 to the present day.

Many guitarists like to play not only jazz and blues, but also flamenco and adore classical music. For them, Ramirez classical guitars were created, which most musicians consider the best of their kind. These guitars are named after their creator José Ramirez. They have been produced since the middle of the 19th century and significantly influenced the further production of classical guitars. It was Ramirez who replaced the gut strings with nylon strings, which are now used in classical guitars and give us a rich sound.

Nowadays Ramirez guitars also delight us with great workmanship and deep sound. The price for them is not cheap, but the guitars are worth it. According to the Spanish tradition, the name of Jose Ramirez was carried by several guitar masters - his heirs. He is also considered the founder of the Madrid School of Guitar Making.

Ramirez Classical Guitar Years: mid XIX centuries to this day.

Duo Rodrigo y Gabriela - Orion (Metallica cover)

This wonderful guitar has been in production since 1963. It was thanks to her that we could hear the sonorous and deep sound of such famous bands like the Beatles and the Byrds. These are full body 12 string electric guitars. The ringing sound of the guitars of the early Beatles and Byrds is the hallmark of the Rickenbacker 360-12. You will not confuse the sound of these guitars with any other guitars. The full-bodied design made the sound warm and not as "electric". Since the 1980s, these guitars have again been in demand by a new generation of musicians due to their unique sound.

Rickenbacker 360-12 model years: since 1963.

4. Martin D-28

Since 1931, Martin has been making acoustic and dreadnought guitars. The Martin D-28 is one of those guitars. Its distinctive feature is a booming bass tone and a large body. Thanks to this, compositions performed on the Martin D-28 become recognizable from the first notes. As a result, acoustic guitars with metal strings began to be made with such a design.

Years of production Martin D-28: since 1931.

Perhaps you remember a country virtuoso like Chet Atkins? (Chet Atkins). So, Gretsch 6120 is exactly his favorite musical instrument. However, this guitar was used by many rock and country fans in the 50s and 60s due to its bright sound and full-body construction. Produced since 1954.

Years of production Gretsch 6120: since 1954.

This is Gibson's first solid body electric guitar. It is considered one of the symbols of rock music and one of the most popular guitars in the world. Developed in early 1950 by Ted McCarthy and guitarist Les Paul. It has a rich base sound that makes it an excellent instrument for playing hard rock and heavy metal. The body of the Gibson Les Paul is made with a single cutout. The importance and popularity of this guitar is confirmed by the fact that the Les Paul 1959 Standard today costs no less than $75,000.

Gibson Les Paul Years: since 1952.

This is a famous acoustic guitar with a strong sound and attractive appearance. Gibson J-200 thanks steel strings and a large body began to be actively used by country guitarists. The year of birth of this guitar is 1937. The finish of the guitar is also at the highest level: rosewood with a bright pattern, inlaid bridges with a shape that looks a bit like a mustache. Thanks to these characteristics, the Gibson J-200 has become one of the most popular acoustic guitars in the world, and rightfully entered into top ten guitars in the world.

This is a semi-body guitar. Developed since 1958. Its sound is reminiscent of large archtops and solid body guitars. This is exactly what the developers wanted to achieve when they released the Gibson ES-335. And they did it. The guitar has a distinctive acoustic tone that can be played in both jazz and rock 'n' roll. This guitar was admired by English guitarist Andy Summers.

Gibson ES-335 release years: since 1958.

The world famous solid body electric guitar with two pickups. Spectacular construction and remarkable sound set a new direction in the production of electric guitars. It was introduced in the fall of 1949 and was the first guitar of its kind to be produced in large quantities. Telecaster guitars have become popular among country guitarists. The construction of the guitar consists of an alder or ash body, a maple neck and standard electronics, which remains a classic to this day.

Fender Telecaster Model Years: since 1954.

And closes our top 10 guitars Fender Stratocaster. The guitar was designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton and Frendy Tavares in 1954. It is still being produced, which proves its popularity. Its distinguishing features: original sound, small size compared to jazz archtops and streamlined contours. This is what made it the best electric guitar in the world, and every self-respecting music store should have a couple of Fender Stratocaster guitars in their assortment.

Fender Stratocaster Model Years: since 1954.

This is what the top ten looks like best guitars in the world.

Note

Based review list top 10 guitars from Mark Philips (Music Director of Charry Lane Music) and John Chappel (Chief Editor of Guitar magazine).

I hope that the information turned out to be useful for you and you have chosen your desired guitar among them. And more rock and roll!

Rolling Stone recently decided to update their 2003 list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

RS assembled a panel of renowned guitarists and other experts and asked them to list their favorite virtuosos and explain what made them stand out from the crowd. Keith Richards talks about Chuck Berry, Carlos Santana talks about Jerry Garcia, Tom Petty talks about George Harrison.

Among the experts were even the participants of this very rating: Ritchie Blackmore, Lenny Kravitz, Warren Haynes, Brian May, Tom Morello, Dave Mustaine, Carlos Santana, Eddie Van Halen and others.

The list is headed by the great Jimi Hendrix. Behind him are Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.

So, your attention is presented to the list of the Top 100 great guitarists of all time:

1. Jimi Hendrix

Tom Morello (American Grammy-winning guitarist; played in bands such as Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave-

Jimi Hendrix turned our idea of ​​what rock music could be: his instruments were the guitar, the studio and the stage. On songs like "Machine Gun" and "Voodoo Chile", his guitar becomes the voice of the roaring sixties, and on "Star-Spangled Banner" riots in the streets and bombs are heard. He played casually. Among all his records, there is not a second where you can hear that he is making an effort. The music seems to flow freely through it. His most beautiful song is "Little Wing". A guitarist can analyze this song all his life and still not unravel its secrets, not penetrate into its essence the way Jimi does. He weaves chords and sequences of single notes using moves not found in any textbook.
His solos acted like LSD, taking the listener to that crossroads where the devil himself got punched in the face by Jimi. There is some debate as to which guitarist was the first to use feedback - it doesn't matter, because Hendrix used it better than anyone anyway. He took what became known as funk in the seventies and ran it through a Marshall amp in a way that no one had done since. It is not known what Jimi would be doing today, but he seemed to be a very resourceful person. Maybe he would have become the elder of rock, Sir Jimi Hendrix. Or live somewhere in Vegas... In any case, you can be sure of his title of the greatest guitarist of all time.

Key tracks: "Little Wing", "Purple Haze", "Foxey Lady", "The Star-Spangled Banner", "Hey Joe"

2. Eric Clapton

Eddie Van Halen (American guitarist, founder of the eponymous hard rock band Van Halen)- approx. ed.) explains his choice:

In fact, Eric Clapton is the only guitarist who really influenced me, even though I don't play like him. There is simplicity in his playing, in his style, in the sound and mood of his music. He just took a Gibson, plugged it into a Marshall amp, and that was it. It's the basics, it's the blues. His solos were melodic and easy to remember, I could sing them to you - that's how it should be, guitar solos should be part of the song. I really liked Cream's live recordings, because you can hear that three people are playing on them. When you turn on "I'm So Glad" with "Goodbye", you can clearly hear the three. Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker were jazzmen and they kept Clapton moving forward.
I once read what Eric said about those times: "I had no idea what I was doing." He was just trying to keep up with the others. After the breakup of Cream, he changed. When he started playing "I Shot The Sheriff" and stuff like that, performing with Delaney And Bonnie, his style changed. Or at least it sounded different. He concentrated on singing rather than playing the guitar.
I respect him for everything he did and for what he is doing now, but it was his early work that inspired me and made me pick up the guitar. I can still play some of those solos now - they are forever engraved in my memory. That bluesy sound remains the foundation of modern rock guitar music.

Key tracks:"Bell Bottom Blues", "Crossroads", "White Room"

3. Jimmy Page

Listening to how Jimmy Page plays, you can be carried away into unknown distances. As a lead guitarist, he always plays what needs to be played. this moment He has impeccable taste. His solo in "Heartbreaker" is surprisingly direct, he plays to the limit of his abilities, but still achieves an amazing result. But talking about him, you can not evaluate his guitar playing in isolation from everything else.
Working as a session guitarist and playing in The Yardbirds, Jimmy gained tremendous experience, so when recording the first Led Zeppelin album, he knew exactly what sound he wanted to achieve. He knew how to go beyond the stereotype that it was possible to play the guitar. If you carefully follow the guitar part in "The Song Remains The Same", you can see how it changes, it becomes quieter, then louder, then quieter again. Jimmy wrote, played and produced the songs himself. I can't think of any guitarist since Les Paul who could boast the same.

Key tracks:"Dazed And Confused", "Heartbreaker", "Kashmir".

4. Keith Richards

Niels Lofgren (singer, guitarist from the E Street Band - ed.) explains his choice:

I remember hearing "Satisfaction" as a schoolboy - I was shocked. This combination of riff and chord progression. Keith wrote two- or three-note themes that were more effective than any solo. Listen to him play lead and rhythm guitar on "Gimme Shelter". In my opinion, no one else could create such a gloomy atmosphere. At the same time, there is enough space left between Keith's parts for Jagger's vocals. In addition, Richards is better than anyone else at handling non-traditional settings. I remember playing the chorus of "Beast Of Burden" and thinking, "The chords are right, but it doesn't sound like Keith at all." He used some special tuning, such that the guitar sang. This is the basis of any outstanding guitar part on The records Rolling Stones: Keith finds a tuning that allows him to forget about the technique - pressing, muting the strings - and directly express what he feels. I went to Keith's concert with the X-Pensive Winos. In the dressing room, he started playing the Chuck Berry riff. I've never heard it played like that in my life. I love Chuck Berry, but Keith played much better. Not in terms of technique - his playing was very emotional, and it touched me. Keith means as much to me as Chuck means to him.

Key tracks:"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", "Gimme Shelter".

5. Jeff Beck

Mike Campbell (guitarist and founding member of the Heartbreakers - ed.) explains his choice:

Jeff Beck is a combination of outstanding technique and personal charm. It's like he's saying, "I'm Jeff Beck, I'm here, and I can't be ignored." Already in The Yardbirds, the sound of his instrument was melodic and defiant - juicy, prickly, catchy, but at the same time harmonious. It was immediately clear that he was a serious musician and gave his best. He didn't hold back his strength. In order to play with a vocalist, to have a dialogue with him and to push him, you need a special skill. This is the merit of two albums recorded by Jeff with Rod Stewart: "Truth" in 1968 and "Beck-Ola" in 1969. He does not interfere with Rod, he minds his own business. In addition, Beck managed to expand the boundaries of the blues. "Beck's Bolero" from "Truth" doesn't sound like blues at all, but it's blues at its core. One of my favorite Jeff songs is the cover of "I Ain't Superstitious" with "Truth". It is played with humor - remember that "croaking" guitar.
As great as Clapton is, I don't think he has that sense of humor. Jeff definitely has it. When Beck started playing fusion, I was instantly hooked on the cover of Stevie Wonder's "'Cause We've Ended As Lovers" from Blow By Blow. The sound of the guitar was so pure and gentle that it seemed as if there was a vocal part. But in fact, it was all played by Jeff. Last year I saw him play at a casino in San Diego and his guitar was talking. His playing was so lyrical that the absence of the vocalist was not noticed at all. Jeff is confident, he plays soulfully and does everything to keep his mark and remain a great performer. After that concert, I went home and started studying. You could say he taught me a lesson: If you want to be Jeff Beck, work hard.

Key tracks:"Beck's Bolero", "Freeway Jam", "A Day In The Life", "I Ain't Superstitious", "Heart Full Of Soul".

6. B.B. King

William Gibbons explains his choice:

BB's playing style was influenced by the music he heard in early childhood. He grew up in Indianola, Mississippi, and is old enough to remember the songs of the workers and blues stalwarts like Charlie Patton and Robert Johnson. In addition, he was influenced by the minimalist style of T-Bone Walker. All this is heard in the melodies that BB sings, and in the way his guitar sings. BB plays in short phrases, but very lively, with a rich sound. Him good technique, clear phrasing. He is recognizable, his solos are sophisticated, the melodies are so intelligible that they are easy to record with notes. Not like John Lee Hooker - he's too complex to write down. BB is a born lead guitarist. BB has two signature moves that I was dying to master. He was the first to play this phrase: first he plays two notes, then he changes to another string and plays a note with a slide up. Now you can wake me up at night, and I will play like that. And he also sometimes plays a phrase of two or three notes and takes the last note with a band. Both of these tricks make you want to move - you can fall off your chair. The turning point in his work was in 1965, when BB released "Live At The Regal" - then he found the sound that he does not part with to this day: the front pickup is in antiphase with the rear one, it turns out such a rounded sound. BB also still uses a Gibson amplifier, long out of production. This combination is the secret of his sound. Only BB's guitar sounds like that.

Key tracks:"3 O'Clock Blues", "The Thrill Is Gone", "Sweet Little Angel".

7. Chuck Berry

Keith Richards explains his choice:

When I saw Chuck Berry as a teenager on Jazz On A Summer's Day, he was playing with a bunch of jazz guys. They were brilliant guys—Joe Jones on drums, Jack Teagarden on trombone—but they had that snobbery that jazz guys sometimes suffer from: “Oh, that rock and roll of yours.” And I was struck by the fact that Chuck played them against the grain. He played "Sweet Little Sixteen" and took them all by storm despite being hostile. I think it's the real blues. This is the right approach and real courage. And I myself wanted to be the same, with the only difference that I was white. I listened to Chuck and filmed all his parts. What Chuck learned from T-Bone Walker, I learned from Chuck, Muddy Waters, Elmore James and B.B. King. We are all part of the same family, the pedigree of which goes back thousands of years. All of us, by and large, simply pass on knowledge by inheritance. Chuck played slightly warmed up Chicago blues, the kind of guitar boogie that everyone was playing back then. But Chuck took it to new heights. He was a little younger than the bluesmen of his time, and his songs had more commercial potential, but at the same time they were not pop - this is difficult to achieve. Chuck had drive, and that's what rock and roll is all about. In addition, on early records he had an excellent line-up: Willie Dixon on bass, Johnny Johnson on piano, Abby Hardy or Freddie Bellow on drums. They understood what the essence of his music was, and just swung along with him. You can't think of a better line-up. It's hard to get along with Chuck, and it always annoyed me because he wrote such funny and smart songs. The old son of a bitch just turned eighty-five. I wish him all the best. I would like to go up to him and say: "Hey, Chuck, let's have a drink." But that won't work with him.

Key tracks:"Johnny B. Goode", "Maybellene", "Roll Over Beethoven".

8 Eddie Van Halen

Mike McCready (Pearl Jam guitarist - ed.) explains his choice:

One day, when I was eleven, I was sitting at my guitar teacher's house and he played "Eruption". It seemed like sounds from another planet. I was learning basic chords, AC/DC riffs, Deep Purple and stuff like that. I didn't really get into "Eruption", but it sounded amazing. The impression was as strong as from the first acquaintance with Mozart. Eddie is a master at riffing: "Unchained", "Take Your Whiskey Home", the beginning of "Ain't Talking 'Bout Love". Sometimes he makes the instrument produce sounds that are not typical for a guitar: some overtones, texture of sounds are the result of his specific playing style. A lot of it is in his hands, the way he holds the pick between his thumb and middle finger, which allows him to tap. (When I found out that he plays like that, I tried it myself, but it turned out to be too unusual for me.) But besides the technique, Eddie has a soul.
With him the same thing as with Hendrix - you can play note for note what he wrote, but there will be a twist that will not be repeated. This highlight in Eddie's game is still there. I saw Van Halen live during the reunion two years ago, and as soon as Eddie stepped on the stage, I felt again what I felt as a child. The master is immediately visible.

Key tracks:"Eruption", "Ain't Talking 'Bout Love", "Hot For Teacher".

9. Duane Allman

Robert Randolph explains his choice:

I grew up playing slide guitar in church - my job was to imitate human voice. When the preacher or one of the old choristers stopped singing, we would jump in - we had to pick up the tune and play it exactly as they would sing it. This method Duane Allman brought to a new level. He played much more accurately than his predecessors. When I first heard the old Allman Brothers Band records, I found it strange how similar they sounded to the music I grew up listening to. Listen to "Layla" - especially towards the end, where Dwayne plays with a slide. I put this record on rippit before going to bed. As guitarists, we practice all the time, but this is the case when you want to put the guitar down and just listen.
Eric Clapton told me that he knew that working with Dane would revolutionize guitar music. They knew what they wanted to achieve and they achieved it. Eric recalled that he was very nervous, afraid to play a duet with another guitarist, but it was very easy with Dwayne - he just said: "Let's play!" Dwayne died young. It was clear that if he had survived, he would have played fifty times better. But God was pleased to take his soul, and we still have his music. I have all of Dwayne's records on my iPod. I listen to The Allman Brothers Band almost every day.

Key tracks:"Statesboro Blues", "Whipping Post", "Blue Sky".

10. Pete Townshend

Andy Summers explains his choice:

Pete Townshend doesn't play solo often, which is probably why so many people don't realize how good he is. But he is a very important figure in rock music - a visionary who brought a living spark to it. He's a very aggressive rhythm guitarist - wild in a way. There is an energy in his playing that you rarely see, his music is a reflection of his personality, Pete is a very strong person. He can be called the world's first punk, because it was he who first broke the guitar on stage. Back then, something like this was breathtaking. In addition, he is very educated. He loves to listen to jazz, and he told me that this is the kind of music he would like to play. On "Substitute," the chord progression combined with the D on an open string is influenced by Miles Davis' modal jazz. He started using feedback early - I think it was influenced by the European avant-garde, composers like Stockhausen - because he studied at art school. The loud ringing guitar chords that Pete often used while playing in The Who were a very lucky find, given how intense the bassist and drummer played in this group. You could say that Pete invented the power chord - music Who of the sixties in this sense anticipates Led Zeppelin. Much of what they used was invented by Pete.

Key tracks:"My Generation", "I Can See for Miles", "Summertime Blues".

Help: Rolling Stone

Sometimes, watching the performance of some band or enjoying our favorite composition, we pay attention only to the vocalist-frontman and completely forget about other musicians, namely the guitarists. And they play an equally important role in the work of groups. The best guitarists in the world have long been legendary. This article will focus on them.

Blues 20-30s

The best guitarists in the world in these areas of music are quite famous. Next, we will try to highlight the brightest musicians from a huge number of worthy ones. If a we are talking about the blues of the 20-30s of the last century, then virtuoso musician no doubt is Robert Johnson. Some people seriously believed that in exchange for his skill, he made a deal with the Devil. However, most consider this story just a romantic fiction. But both agree that Johnson's genius cannot be denied. It was thanks to his work that first the blues, and then rock and roll, became what they are now.

The best guitarists in the world for the next decades

If we consider jazz, the guitar has always been considered an accompanying instrument. It was. However, the blues was in for a revolution. One of the first musicians to make this breakthrough is Blind Blake. The game of this master of improvisations and his technique are still considered by many to be the standard. However, time passed, and new characters appeared on the scenes. The most jazzy of all bluesmen is BB King. His signature branding and vibrato made him the king of the blues. Subsequently, his work in one way or another touched everyone who picked up the electric guitar.

Rock'n'roll

The piercing sadness of blues compositions is clearly reflected by the saying: “Blues is when it’s bad good man". However, people are not always sad. Perhaps the very first musician who managed to convey his good mood with the help of a guitar, became Chuck Berry. It was this kind of music that was later called rock and roll. Musicians actively use his guitar moves and ideas even now. Berry's ironic story songs made him a rock and roll poet.

The best rock guitarists in the world

Rock is the successor to the blues and rock and roll. Many people consider Jimi Hendrix one of the founders of this direction. Almost no publication in the field of the history of rock music can do without mentioning him. - the best guitarist in the world according to Time. When his father gave him a guitar for $5 as a gift, he hardly thought that this determined not only the future of his son, but also the future of music in general. Many guitarists consider Hendrix their mentor and teacher. His simply virtuoso guitar technique was not an end in itself. She was just a means by which the musician conveyed his emotions. His perception of the world has turned into unique melodies. Jimmy put some kind of cosmic meaning into literally every note. Many still consider his game not just a skill, but the secret of a magician.

Hard rock and metal

The following decades can be considered the era of hard rock and metal music. Many of the best guitarists in the world played in these directions. You can choose for a long time, but let's focus on those musicians whose names have actually become synonymous with these styles. One of them is This man had no choice but to become the best. When his father bought Richie a guitar, he said that if he did not learn to play, then it would be broken on his head. Blackmore Jr. had to learn. Yes, and how. This guitarist has gone down in history forever. His playing style and riffs have become reference and classic. Many aspiring guitarists try to copy Blackmore's style.

Another icon is the "teacher of the stars" Joe Satriani. Many of the recognized masters learned to play from him. Satriani is considered the teacher of such gurus as Steve Vai, Alex Skolnick, Charlie Hunter, David Bryson, Larry LaLonde, and many others. Joe's performance is simply flawless. His virtuoso techniques, various chips and unexpected harmonies delighted not only the audience, but also his colleagues.

bassists

Sound at low frequencies has long been considered male music. That's why big interest call the best bass players in the world. The magazine, according to a survey of its readers, recognized as such the musician of The Who, John Entwistle. Paul McCartney and James Jamerson are also considered masters of brutal bass notes.

lead guitar

The best solo guitarists in the world - this is a whole list of virtuosos and recognized gurus. One of the great masters of the guitar solo is Ritchie Blackmore, who has already been discussed above. He reached the heights in this area after Deep Purple, when he created the Rainbow team. The musician's solos became slower and more thoughtful. They had so much philosophy and meaning that it is very difficult to find another such master. One of the best solo guitarists can also be called Kirk Hammett.

Modern virtuosos

To date, one of the most brilliant and brilliant masters of the guitar is John Petrucci. He plays progressive metal. His music is unusually complex in technical and compositional terms. The virtuosity of a musician sometimes makes one wonder if there are limits to human capabilities? Judging by the game of the master, they simply do not exist. Some gurus, whom the musician considered his idols, today consider it an honor to play next to him.

Once Joe Pass, who is considered a great improviser, said that the electric guitar was invented not so long ago that people could fully know all its possibilities as a musical instrument. These words are still relevant today. Each subsequent generation of musicians opens up new possibilities for this instrument.

Russian translation of Guitar World article, March 2004. Technical Ecstasy: The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists, by Joe Bosso, Alan di Perna, Dan Epstein, Martin Popoff and Jon Wiederhorn

This is a list of the greatest metal guitarists. This is not a ranking of the fastest or most technical guitarists (although many of the players on our list are). This is a tribute to those Great Ones from which nails can be made, those in whose veins molten metal flows. This material is about those who walk along the road of life, carving fiery sparks, illuminating the road with bright stars for those who follow them.

Highly recommended reading from cover to cover. Almost no one is forgotten and appreciated. There are examples of tracks worth listening to. I'm sure you will discover a lot of new things even in such a sawn genre as heavy metal.

The whole list:
01. Tony Iommi (BLACK SABBATH)
02. Kirk Hammett & James Hetfield (METALLICA)
03. Angus & Malcolm Young (AC/DC)
04. Randy Rhoads (OZZY OSBOURNE)
05. Eddie Van Halen
06. Jimmy Page (LED ZEPPELIN)
07. Dimebag Darrell (PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN)
08. Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY)
09. Adam Jones (TOOL)
10Kerry King & Jeff Hanneman (SLAYER)
11. Dave Murray & Adrian Smith (IRON MAIDEN)
12. Jimi Hendrix
13. Glen Tipton & K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST)
14. Ace Frehley & Paul Stanley (KISS)
15. Slash (GUNS N' ROSES)
16. Ritchie Blackmore (DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW)
17. Yngwie Malmsteen
18. Joe Perry & Brad Whitford (AEROSMITH)
19. Dave Mustaine & Marty Friedman (MEGADETH)
20 Chuck Schuldiner (DEATH)
21. Brian May (QUEEN)
22. Michael Schenker (MSG, UFO)
23. Nigel Tufnel (SPINAL TAP)
24. Jeff Beck
25. Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE)
26. Head & Munky (KORN)
27. John Petrucci (DREAM THEATER)
28. Kim Thayil (SOUNDGARDEN)
29. Vivian Campbell (DEF LEPPARD)
30. Daron Malakian (SYSTEM OF A DOWN)
31. Scott Ian (ANTHRAX)
32. Tom G. Warrior (CELTIC FROST)
33. Chris Degarmo & Michael Wilton (QUEENSRŸCHE)
34.C.C. Deville
35. Marten Hagström & Fredrik Thorndendal (MESHUGGAH)
36. Alex Lifeson (RUSH)
37. Paul Gilbert (MR. BIG, RACER X)
38. Jerry Cantrell (ALICE IN CHAINS)
39. Mantas (VENOM)
40. Jason Becker (DAVE LEE ROTH)
41. Phil Collen & Steve Clarke (DEF LEPPARD)
42. Mikael Åkerfeldt & Peter Lindgren (OPETH)
43. Fast Eddie Clarke (MOTÖRHEAD)
44 Nuno Bettencourt (EXTREME)
45. Warren DeMartini (RATT)
46. ​​Mick Mars (MÖTLEY CRÜE)
47. George Lynch
48. Ted Nugent
49. Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE, BADLANDS)
50. Rudolf Schenker & Uli John Roth (SCORPIONS)
51. Oystein "Euronymous" Aarseth (MAYHEM)
52. Scott Gorham & Brian Robertson (THIN LIZZY)
53. Steve Vai (DAVE LEE ROTH)
54. Reb Beach (WINGER, DOKKEN)
55. Trey Azagthoth (MORBID ANGEL)
56. John Sykes (THIN LIZZY, BLUE MURDER)
57. Hank Shermann & Michael Denner (MERCYFUL FATE)
58. Richie Sambora (BON JOVI)
59. Jon Donais & Matt Backhand (SHADOWS FALL)
60 Stephen Carpenter (DEFTONES)
61. Alex Skolnick & Eric Peterson (TESTAMENT)
62. Brian Tatler (DIAMOND HEAD)
63. John Christ (DANZIG)
64. Scott "Wino" Weinrich (THE OBSESSED)
65. Pepper Keenan & Woody Weatherman (C.O.C.)
66. Tommy Victor (PRONG)
67. Leslie West (MOUNTAIN)
68. Vernon Reid (LIVING COLOR)
69. Glen Buxton & Michael Bruce (ALICE COOPER)
70. Bjorn Gelotte & Jesper Stromblad (IN FLAMES)
71. Jim Matheos (FATES WARNING)
72. Gary Holt & Rick Hunolt (EXODUS)
73. Donald Buck Dharma Roeser (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT)
74. Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY)
75. Robert Fripp (KING CRIMSON)
76. Andre Olbrich (BLIND GUARDIAN)
77. Joe Satriani
78. Frank Hannon & Tommy Skeoch (TESLA)
79. Ty Tabor (KING'S X)
80. Mark Morton & Will Adler (LAMB OF GOD)
81. Dino Cazares (FEAR FACTORY)
82. Pete Townshend (THE WHO)
83. Jon Schaffer (ICED EARTH)
84. Timo Tolkki (STRATOVARIUS)
85. Neil Young
86. Abbath Doom Occulta (IMMORTAL)
87. Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY)
88. Uffe Cederlund & Alex Hellid (ENTOMBED)
89. Leigh Stephens (BLUE CHEER)
90. Jim Martin (FAITH NO MORE)
91. Michael Romeo (SYMPHONY X)
92. Bill Steer (CARCASS)
93. Piggy (VOIVOD)
94. Tony Bourge
95. Sammy Hagar (VAN HALEN)
96. Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM)
97. Akira Takasaki (LOUDNESS)
98. Michael Angelo
99. John Kay & Michael Monarh (STEPPENWOLF)
100. Nick Bowcott (GRIM REAPER)