Top 10 Guitarists of the world

Since guitar players are automatically cool, that means cool guitar players are the coolest of the cool. In this issue, we exalt this elite class of cold—the players who even we would sell our wives and first born just to have some of their mojo rub off on us. Some of them are pioneers who paved a bold, daring path to define new styles of cool, while others are simply the kind of guitarists we want to be when we never grow up.These people are the real reason why the guitar remains the world’s most popular instrument, here’s the list of top 10 guitarists of the world.

Jimi Hendrix

Whether you’re after emotion or technique, Jimi Hendrix is considered the uncontested master of the guitar today. Self-taught genius, experimenter, incredible soloist and melodist, he pretty much invented and reinvented the world of rock and blues, still inspiring both big names and beginner guitarists today, all of whom will have covered “Voodoo Child” at one time or another. He was a part of the iconic Club27 group of musicians who all died at the age of 27, including Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Brian Jones.

Eric Clapton

Modestly known as “God” by fans, Eric Clapton is one of the most famous rock and blues guitarists still actively playing for almost 50 years today.This Brit rocker pushed the boundaries of rock and blues.He’s a great soloist and iconic melodist who quite simply knows how to play everything.Also nicknamed “Slow Hand,” Clapton handles the fretboard with virtuosity. Big titles like “Cocaine” or “I shot the Sheriff” brought him the global success that secured him a definite place in the canon of guitar-heroes.

Jimmy Page

One of the founding and leading members of the famous band Led Zeppelin is naturally third on our list of the top 10 best guitarists on the planet.Known as “The Wizard,” Page is a guitarist like no other, playing with a violin bow on his famous Gibson, alternating blues and rock with joy and passion.He wrote several music pieces with Robert Plant that have entered rock mythology such as “Stairway to Heaven” (what guitarist has not tempted at least once to play the famous intro or final solo?), “Black Dog,” “Whole Lotta Love” and “Since I’ve been lovin’ you.”

Robert Johnson

In less than 29 songs, this blues guitar genius has had a major impact on this musical genre as well as rock guitar.The legend has said that he would have sold his soul to the devil himself to obtain guitar-playing talent: many blues players mocked his guitar playing incompetence.His death was equally mysterious, further heightening the legend surrounding this atypical man. But one thing is clear, even though there remains little written by him, the young Robert Johnson aka “The Genius” revolutionized the world of blues and earned worldwide recognition.

Chuck Berry

He is one of the pioneers of rock’n’roll.At once a guitarist, singer, and songwriter, he has been a veritable source of inspiration for other iconic artists like Elvis “The King” Presley.He revolutionized music by combining two different guitar styles who were begging to be played together, blues and country.And thus rock was born – all you need to do to is listen to his famous song “Johnny B. Goode.”He is the pioneer of music as we know it today and as such, he absolutely earns his place in our top 10 best guitarists on the planet.

Carlos Santana

Word Music precursor, the Mexican-born Santana has inspired numerous artists around the world.Named “The Pope” of rock with Latino vibes, he’s a genius guitarist who discovered the magic formula by skillfully merging rock, blues, samba and percussions, along with other guitar styles.His success is also due to the messages he communicates through his guitar songs with notions of peace, compassion, understanding, and joy.Listen to “Europa” or “Smooth” and you will recognize his typical lyrical playing, and its characteristic warm and saturated sound.

Muddy Waters

His presence among the top 10 best guitarists in the world may come as a surprise but he who is named “The Lord of the Blues” is an unparalleled guitarist who popularized the bottleneck technique.His complete mastery of this accessory and his blues virtuosity allowed him to write the great blues titles that are considered classics today like “Hoochie Coochie Man” or “Rollin Stone.”He’s often considered one of the great blues guitarists of all time along with Willie Dixon, Johnny Lee Hooker or BB King.

BB King

BB (for Blues Boys) King is the master of New Orleans blues. He’s a true legend of guitar history. Although certainly less technical than Stevie Ray Vaughan, he wrote numerous classics of the genre (“Sweet Little Angel,” “Sweet sixteen”), rounding out his songs with a rich voice full of emotions and his characteristic vibrato.Thanks to his inimitable touch that gives real personality to the guitar, BB King has influenced the guitar biggies like Clapton and Hendrix.Working from one sole note, he is capable of telling a story that touches the deepest depths of the human soul.

Keith Richards

One of the leading members of the famous The Rolling Stones along with Mick Jagger, he is still one of the most talented rock guitarists today.Known for being a seducer guitarist!Called The Human Riff, he’s appreciated less for his virtuosity than for his extreme simplicity.For him, it’s preferable to have “2 notes that kill rather than virtuosity for nothing.”He has written and composed rock classics like “Jumpin Jack Flash,” “Satisfaction” and “Paint it black.

Eddie Van Halen

For many musicians, there is a before and after Van Halen.Why? The way guitar is now played changed all because of a measly one minute and 42 seconds, or the time it takes to play his infamous “Eruption.”How is it possible that a single man can play as though a group of guitarists is on stage?Whereas there is just him, his ten fingers and his incredible touch of the guitar neck!Nicknamed “Superman,” every guitar fan is awed after hearing his music and his mastery of the instrument.