No musical instrument has been more instrumental (pardon the pun) in the formation of modern music than the guitar.

Today, it’s the most popular instrument in the world, and whether you’re talking about acoustic or electric guitars, these instruments are the backbone of most genres. If you’re listening to rock, blues, country, folk, jazz, metal, soul or pop, you’re probably hearing a guitar at some point.

Of course, these instruments don’t do anything on their own. Behind the greatest music of all time are some truly extraordinary guitarists who know just how to make the instruments sing. Keep clicking through to find out the 37 incredible guitarists we consider the greatest of all time.

(via @jimihendrix)

1. Eric Clapton

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Eric Clapton made a name for himself in the ’60s, and he really hasn’t stopped rocking since. The English musician is most famous for his work with the Yardbirds and Cream, but has also had a successful solo career. He’s also the only three-time inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, proving he’s the furthest thing from a one-hit-wonder.

2. Keith Richards

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As important as Mick Jagger is to the Rollings Stones, it was guitarist Keith Richards’ iconic riffs that gave those legendary songs the ability to stand the test of time. The English guitarist is known for weaving between both rhythm and lead guitar sections, or even playing all of the guitar parts on certain tracks. Often, it was his most simple riffs that were the most powerfully evocative.

3. Joe Satriani

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Before American musician Joe Satriani found fame as one of the world’s greatest guitarists, he was a guitar teacher whose students included Steve Vai (also on this list) as well as Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, Third Eye Blind’s Kevin Cadogan and Primus’ Ler LaLonde. He’s best known for his solo work but has also toured with Mick Jagger and Deep Purple, and he’s the best-selling instrumental rock guitarist in history.

4. Charo

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Although she’s best known for her sassy demenaor and “cuchi-cuchi” catchphrase here in the U.S., around the world, Spanish-American guitarist Charo is renowned for her incredible musical abilities. She started playing guitar when she was just 9, tutored by the virtuosic Spanish classical guitarist Andés Segovia, and her skills playing flamenco guitar are astounding.

5. David Byrne

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British-American artist David Bryne’s incredible and expensive work is about so much more than just playing guitar, but that doesn’t diminish the incredible things he’s done with the instrument. While he’s had a wonderfully bizarre solo career, he’s best known for being the head songwriter, as well as lead singer and guitarist, of Talking Heads. His work with the band has made him an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

6. George Harrison

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George Harrison may have been known as “the quiet one” of the Beatles, but his work as lead guitarist of the band ensured that he would never be forgotten. The English guitarist wrote some of the band’s most beloved tracks, such as “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun,” and he went on to have an incredible solo career with even more hits once the band ended.

7. Muddy Waters

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American singer-songwriter McKinley Morganfield was better known by the bluesy moniker Muddy Waters, and was pivotal in the development of modern blues music. In addition to making huge contributions to the genre in the U.S., recording blues classics that would soon become standards, he also traveled to England in 1958 and is said to be responsible for the blues resurgence there, eventually giving rise to artists including the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin.

8. Johnny Marr

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Johnny Marr is one of England’s most highly regarded guitarists. While he made a name for himself as part of The Smiths in the ’80s, he also did stints with the Pretenders, Modest Mouse and the Cribs, and found his greatest success as a solo act. The singer-songwriter is known for his innovative jangly guitar sound, and using deceptively simple guitar riffs with multiple layers.

9. Brian May

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To this day, British rock band Queen remains one of the most influential musical acts of all time, and much of that was because of the way guitarist Brian May perfectly complemented the vocals of the unparalleled singer Freddie Mercury. Brian May was appointed a CBE by Queen Elizabeth for his contribution to music, as well as his charity work, and was also inducted into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame as a member of Queen. And on top of all of that, he’s an astrophysicist with a PhD in the science.

10. Stevie Ray Vaughan

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Stevie Ray Vaughan was an American singer-songwriter and producer who, despite his short career in the limelight, is widely regarded as one of the biggest influences in American blues music. He was the frontman of Double Trouble, a band that almost singlehandedly revived the genre of blues rock, paving the way for many to follow.

11. Noel Gallagher

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Though ex-Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher would consider his guitar-playing average, fans understand that the English singer-songwriter’s arrangements are anything but. He’s known for putting simple chords together t craft melodies that are anything but, making songwriting look like a breeze when it’s anything but. There’s a good reason every clichéd guitar sesh around a campfire includes a rendition of “Wonderwall.”

12. Jeff Beck

(via @jeffbeckofficial)

Jeff Beck is one of those artists that many music devotees have heard, even if they’re not familiar with his name. The English artist got his start in The Yardbirds before becoming a solo act, also playing guitar for varied artists including Mick Jagger, ZZ Top, Donovan, Morrissey, Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper and many more. He’s a versatile player spanning genres, including blues rock, electronica and hard rock. He’s also been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—once for his work in The Yardbirds, and another time for his incredible solo work.

13. Paul Simon

(via @paulsimonofficial)

Best known as half of the folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, American musician Paul Simon has had an incredible career lasting more than 60 years. He sang, played guitar and was the primary songwriter for the group, doing on to pen huge hits including “The Sound of Silence” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and is a sixteen-time Grammy winner and two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

14. Jimmy Page

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There’s a reason so many rock guitarists look to English songwriter and guitarist Jimmy Page as a major inspiration. He began his career as a session musician, featured on music by The Who and The Kinks, before (along with fellow artists Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck) becoming a member of The Yardbirds, and eventually finding his biggest recognition as the guitarist of Led Zeppelin. He’s known for his experimental guitar playing, whether he’s using unusual tuning, powerful distortion or using a cello bow to get a truly unique sound out of his guitar. For his work with both The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin, he’s been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

15. Django Reinhardt

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Django Reinhardt might not be a household name, but he’s one of the most important figures in history when it comes to guitar music. The Romani-French guitarist was the first prominent jazz musician to come out of Europe, which was extra remarkable given the fact that a fire injury led to the loss of two fingers, and he had to relearn his craft to work around this limitation. This actually led to his invention of a new jazz style which remains beloved today.

16. Steve Vai

(@stevevaihimself)

American singer-songwriter and producer Steve Vai is considered a pioneer of heavy rock and metal guitar. While he got his start in the industry playing for Frank Zappa, he soon began recording solo albums that reflected his complex and original style. He’s also recorded with everyone from Mary J. Blige to Ozzy Osbourne and Spinal Tap, and he has three Grammys to his name.

17. Joan Jett

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American singer-songwriter and producer Joan Jett is known for being one of the most important women in rock. She was the founding member of the Runaways before fronting Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (the latter of which got her inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame). She’s known for her raw and crunchy guitar sounds, which tended to defy expectations.

18. John Frusciante

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John Frusciante is best known for being the on-again, off-again lead guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, though he also records as a solo artist and under the alias Trickfinger. Though the American guitarist’s early work was mostly inspired by simple punk sounds, he eventually began to channel complex rhythms and blues rock sounds into his playing. He’s also known for his affinity for the sound quality of old guitars. Even though he didn’t attend the ceremony, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with RHCP.

19. B.B. King

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B.B. King was an incredible innovator when it came to playing blues on the electric guitar. The American singer-songwriter and guitarist was known for his elegant blues solos, which utilized string bending techniques that later came to characterize the genre, earning him the nickname “The King of the Blues.” He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

20. Carlos Santana

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Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana is notable for flawlessly blending the genres of rock and Latin American jazz into tracks that are beloved across the globe. He’s known for his soulful playing and the warm tones he evokes from his instruments. He’s also the winner of 10 Grammys, and his band, Santa, is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.

21. Link Wray

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Link Wray is another of the more obscure on this list, but that doesn’t make the American guitarist and songwriter’s contributions to music any less important. His band, Link Wray & His Ray Men, popularized the use of power chords with the 1958 song “Rumble,” which in turn paved the way for the birth of punk and heavy rock.

22. Jerry Garcia

(via @jerrygarcia)

The Grateful Dead would have never been what it was without singer-songwriter and guitarist Jerry Garcia. He fronted the band for its entire three-decade tenure and was known for his long-form improvisation on stage, and turning short tracks into lengthy jam sessions, which became known as the band’s signature live style. Though he didn’t attend, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame as a member of the Grateful Dead in 1994. Because bootlegs of Grateful Dead shows were so common, he’s also one of the most recording guitarists of all time.

23. Peter Frampton

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English singer-songwriter and guitarist got his start playing in bands including Humble Pie and the Herd, but his solo work is what made him most famous. He may be best known for using a guitar with a talk box, which allows musicians to change the sound of their instrument and almost make it “sing” with their voice. He’s yet another inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

24. Nita Strauss

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Nita Strauss may not be an artist you’ve ever heard on the radio, but her incredible talents shredding on the guitar deserve recognition. She’s a touring guitarist for Alice Cooper and also has her own career as a solo artist, with clear hard rock and metal influences. She also comes from a family of many accomplished musicians, and he bloodline goes all the way back to Austrian composer Johann Strauss.

25. Prince

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Prince has an incredible legacy that includes acting, filmmaking and producing, as well as making incredible music. Guitar was just one of the many instruments he played, but he was considered a virtuoso there, with the ability to swap easily between completely different genres and styles. He was special because his music was never just one thing, with his funk rock sound coming to define his hometown of Minneapolis.

26. Chuck Berry

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There’s a good reason American singer-songwriter Chuck Berry was nicknamed the “Father of Rock and Roll.” He distilled the popular rhythm and blues elements into what would become the rock genre, penning tracks including “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Rock and Roll Music” and “Johnny B. Goode.” His playing also included extended solos and attention-grabbing movements which came to define the genre.

27. Graham Coxon

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English singer-songwriter Graham Coxon may be a multi-instrumentalist, but no instrument has made him more famous than the guitar. He’s best known as the lead guitarist and one of the founding members of Blur, but has also had an influential solo career. His playing has historically been complex, weaving in unique progressions in a style that always feels like it’s on the move, and has been noted to play the guitar as if it was a different instrument entirely.

28. Slash

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British-American songwriter and guitarist Saul Hudson is best known as Slash—a name he’s fully earned as one of the most acclaimed rock guitarists of all time. His most famous work has been with the band Guns N’ Roses, resulting in him being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He’s said to write and play entirely by ear, fluidly shaping the sounds to his liking to make exactly the music he wants to make.

29. David Gilmour

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While Syd Barrett was an incredible artist in his own right, Pink Floyd didn’t completely find their stride until English singer and guitarist David Gilmour joined the mix. His bluesy and dramatic sound—and his solos in particular—helped define the progressive rock genre. He was appointed a CBE by Queen Victoria II and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Pink Floyd.

30. Dick Dale

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You might not know the name Dick Dale, but you’ve probably been exposed to his surf rock tunes, whether you’ve heard “Misirlou” in Pulp Fiction or sampled in “Pump It” by the Black Eyed Peas. He was a pioneer for the genre, incorporating Middle Eastern music scales to create action-oriented pieces that perfectly complement surfing huge waves. Many also credit him with being a father of heavy metal, as well as tremolo picking.

31. Joni Mitchell

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Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell’s music has always been artful poetry reflecting on the biggest questions of humanity, and she brings it to life with her signature guitar sound. She utilizes a unique fingerpicking technique that’s all her own, heightened by idiosyncratic tuning to get smooth sounds that are characteristically Joni. In addition to having nine Grammys to her name, she was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

32. Mick Ronson

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English guitarist, songwriter and producer Mick Ronson was never one to steal the spotlight, but he certainly deserved to be under it. He was a session musician for David Bowie and went along to tour with him as one of the Spiders From Mars, and also toured alongside Van Morrison and Bob Dylan. His incredible skills came from his classical training, allowing him to be a boldly expressive player.

33. Tom Morello

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American singer-songwriter and guitarist is known for being a prolific artist as well as for his incredible and unique style of playing the guitar. His most famous work is with Rage Against the Machine, but he’s also played with bands including Audioslave and the Nightwatchman, as well as toured with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. He’s known for his crunchy, bold sound that utilizes two-handed tapping and many effects, including heavy feedback.

34. Jimi Hendrix

(via @jimihendrix)

American guitarist, singer and songwriter Jimi Hendrix left a huge mark on the music industry during his short life. Though his time in the spotlight lasted only four years, he did a lot with it, inventing his own brand of blues rock. He also liked playing loud on highly distorted amplifiers, making use of feedback, which was previously considered an undesirable music effect. He knew how to turn them into music. His band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

35. Pete Townshend

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Pete Townshend, English guitarist, singer and primary songwriter of The Who, is a legend of rock, not just for his work with the band, but also for his own successful solo career. He’s known for his rhythmic, aggressive style , often employing a windmill motion during his strums, and pulling in such various influences as country, R&B, blues, flamenco and so much more. He also invented smashing guitars onstage for spectacle. In 1990, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Who.

36. Jonny Greenwood

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If English multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood is known for anything, it’s his versatility. While he can play a number of instruments, and is always adding more to his arsenal, he’s best known as the lead guitarist (as well as keyboardist) for the band Radiohead. He’s known for his aggressive style, almost attacking the guitar to get his desired sound, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of his band in 2019. On top of all that, he’s also written incredible movie scores.

37. Sister Rosetta Tharpe

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Sister Rosetta Tharpe is another American icon who isn’t a household name, but absolutely should be. The gospel singer-songwriter and guitarist is considered the godmother of rock and roll, incorporating rhythm and blues stylings into incredible gospel music. She played an electric guitar with heavy distortion and joined Muddy Waters on his England tour, spreading her unique style and leading to the development of the British blues sound. Rock music may have never been what it was without her influence.

Can’t get enough of great music? Click HERE for our list of the 30 greatest songs of all time.

The 37 Greatest Guitarists of All Time