{"id":15400,"date":"2019-11-19T14:08:16","date_gmt":"2019-11-19T14:08:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/womentales.wpengine.com\/?p=15400"},"modified":"2021-11-29T19:45:57","modified_gmt":"2021-11-29T19:45:57","slug":"ranking-the-top-42-best-guitarists-of-all-time-do-you-agree-with-our-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/ranking-the-top-42-best-guitarists-of-all-time-do-you-agree-with-our-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Ranking the Top 42 Best Guitarists of All Time. Do You Agree with Our List?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you love music, then you\u2019ve probably enjoyed listening to\na particular guitar riff from a certain rock n\u2019 roll song. Or perhaps blues or\nfolk music is what blows your eardrums away. Whatever the case, there\u2019s no\ndenying that a good pluck of a guitar string can pull at your heartstrings. But\nwhich guitarist produces the best riffs? We\u2019ve compiled a list of 42 top\nguitarists since the musical instrument came to being. Keep reading to find out\nwhether your favorite guitarist makes the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

42. \u00a0Bo Didley<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: theweeklychallenger.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Bo Didley, born Elias Otha Bates, came up with innovative ways to play the guitar, inspiring even modern musicians to follow his steps. His musical style paired with the iconic square guitar has cemented his legacy in many people\u2019s list as one of the best guitarists coming out of Southside Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

41. Johnny Ramone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: vault.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Johnny Ramone helped shape what we now know as punk rock. His heavy yet up-tempo riffs aren\u2019t difficult at all to follow, even by amateur guitarists, but in the 1970s when the Ramones first came out, his playing style was considered revolutionary compared rock music of that age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

40. Jerry Garcia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: youtube.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Fans of the Grateful Dead \u2013 referred to as Deadheads \u2013 will tell you that they are much more than a band. They were a cultural movement that influenced rock music from the early 1960s all the way to the 1990s. Jerry Garcia, the most well-known member, had a trademark fusion style of Spanish, jazz, and basic rock n\u2019 roll. His melodies were both challenging and extremely beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

39. Tony Iommi<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: digitalmusicnews.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Iommi of Black Sabbath was destined not to become a guitarist due to losing the tips of two of his fingers in an accident, but he didn\u2019t let his handicap hold him back. He could have just wallowed in self-pity after his accident, but instead, he created a completely new playing style that helped him compose classics like Iron Mad and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. The man is a legend!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

38. Willie Nelson<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: wsaz.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This man doesn\u2019t need an introduction. Since the dawn of his career, a period that has spanned more than 60 years, he\u2019s released nearly 100 albums \u2013 many of which have reached the number one spot on US Billboard Charts. His guitar, Tigger, and its distinctive strap been with him since his first album launched in 1962. His style is a unique mix of rock, country, jazz, and blues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

37. Joni Mitchell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: usposts.net<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What do you think about Roberta Joan Anderson\u2019s music? Not sure who she is? What if we used her stage moniker Joni Mitchell? She is known for playing the same chords on different songs but with different tunings. While on your, Joni would travel with multiple Ibanez guitars, each with differently sized strings needed to play her more popular songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

36. Buddy Guy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: richestpost.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Buddy Guy was kicked out of his childhood home for strumming his guitar far too loudly for his parents\u2019 liking. No doubt he\u2019s been through more hardships than most of us can handle, especially being an African American born in the 1930s, but with his guitar at his side, he made it big. The Chicago native remains one of the most cited players to influence rock and jazz music to this very day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

35. Tom Morello<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: politico.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A list of the greatest guitarists would be incomplete without mentioning Tom Morello. The guitarist from RATM and Audioslave has made appearances on numerous lists by large publications, including the BBC and Rolling Stone. His style blends hip hop rhythms with punk sensibilities to create an eargasming experience that made RATM so successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

34. Angus Young<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: plugmusix.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Even if you\u2019re not an avid listener of AC\/DC, you should know who Angus Young is. The man\u2019s iconic image of being on stage with his faithful Gibson SG while sporting shorts and a tie is recognizable worldwide. We guess Angus sticks to his family name by dressing up as a school boy whenever he performs. Since first joining AC\/DC when he was 18 years old, he went on to create rock classics like Highway to Hell and Back in Black.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

33. Brian May<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: thefactspost.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The lead guitarist of the infamous bank, Queen, doesn\u2019t just tour and strum his guitar all day long. On the side, he works as an astrophysicist, and a luthier (a guitar builder). In fact, the very guitar that he used when playing alongside Freddie Mercury \u2013 the Red Special \u2013 was created by Brian and his father. Brian is responsible for bringing the world awesome riffs in songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, Don\u2019t Stop Me Now, and Somebody to Love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

32. Bobby Krieger<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: thefactspost.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Doors will mainly be known for their legendary front man, Jim Morrison, but guitarist Bobby Krieger helped keep the band moving. His stripped-down sound filled a lot of the void in the band\u2019s music. Trained in both jazz and flamenco, Bobby has been able to produce some of the most unforgettable riffs and melodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

31. The Edge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: reddit.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

David Evans, nicknamed The Edge, is the guitarist from the legendary Irish band U2. With a front man like Bono, it takes more than talent to match the band\u2019s style, but The Edge is known for having more guitar-playing skills than many of his peers. What\u2019s especially impressive about this iconic musician is that he was self-taught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

30. Billy Gibbons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: straightonmusic.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

At first glance, the leather jacket and sunglasses Billy Gibbons rocks would look more fitting alongside a gang of rough, intimidating bikers. Billy makes up one-third of the legendary country-rock band ZZ Top. His love for music was instilled in him by his father who would take him to see Elvis and BB King. Being around music legends so often, by the time he was 20, Billy was nothing less than a musical genius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

29. Scotty Moore<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: universoretro.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Elvis Presley is, hands down, one of the greatest rock n\u2019 roll performers of all time, but his provocative dance moves and unique singing style wouldn\u2019t have taken him very far without support from Scotty More. Scotty invented the slapback echo effect in the 1950s which helped define the music of that generation. Some of his most well-known performances include That\u2019s All Right and Heartbreak Hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

28. Muddy Waters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: rockhall.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Born McKinley Morganfield, the Mississippian grew up with Delta blues in his blood. He moved to Chicago in his mid-20s where he added his own souther twist to the raw Chicago-type blues. If a man is cited as a major inspiration to Jimi Hendrix, you know he\u2019s got skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

27. Tom Petty and Mike Campbell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: montgomery-herald.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tom Petty is an established guitarist on his own, but it\u2019s impossible to mention Tom Petty without giving shouting out Mike Campbell of the Heartbreakers. Mike contributed several guitar solos to Tom\u2019s first solo album, Full Moon Fever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

26. Frank Zappa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: strictlyrock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Baltimore native born in 1940 has produced more than 60 albums over his career, but his most famous work was alongside the Californian band the Mothers of Inventions. Dabbing in both jazz and Musique Concr\u00e8te, Frank was able to produce sounds that were unheard of on the guitar. His most notable work can be found on his 1981 album Shut Up \u2018n\u2019 Play Yer Guitar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

25. Neil Young<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: zeenews.india.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Godfather of Grunge has been active since the 1960s and has played with the likes of Buffalo Springfield and Crsoby and Nash & Young. His influential musical style helped stem angry rockers like Pearl Jam and Nirvana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

24. David Gilmour<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: scmp.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Though he wasn\u2019t Pink Floyd\u2019s original guitarist, David Gilmour became one of the band\u2019s more prominent members. His love of effects and complex sound production helped make Dark Side of the Moon so iconic. We can all thank David for his songs like Comfortably Numb and Shine On You Crazy Diamond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

23. Joe Perry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: wikimetal.com.br<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Perry, who goes by his middle name Joe, brought us mesmerizing guitar solos in songs such as Dream On, Janie\u2019s Got a Gun, and Walk This Way. He needs to keep his guitar skills properly honed in order to keep up with the likes of Steven Tyler and the other members of Aerosmith. In an issue of Rolling Stone, Joe\u2019s style of play was called blues on steroids. No arguments here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

22. Slash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: thefactspost.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Guns N\u2019 Roses dominated the music scene in the early 1990s. The band\u2019s success mainly came from intense vocals by Axle Rose and the charismatic figure and blazing-hot guitar solos by Saul Hudson \u2013 a.k.a. Slash. Some of the most timeless solos can be heard in Sweet Child O\u2019 Mine and November Rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

21. Buddy Holly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: pinterest.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One of the most influential, albeit short lived, guitarists to ever grace the planet is Buddy Holly. Legendary guitarists like Elton John and Eric Clapton have cited Buddy as being a major influence in their productions, and seeing as how he shaped rock music almost single handedly, we can see why. His sound is completely unique and recognizable even six decades after his passing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

20. Dick Dale<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: pinterest.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It might seem odd that a Bostonian would become one of the most prominent surf rockers, but it makes a lot more sense since he and his family moved to Califor-neye-ay when he was a teenager. As soon as he found himself on the sunny west coast, he immediately took to surfing. His style of play draws on Middle Eastern scales mixed with the music of surfers. Completely unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

19. Freddie King<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: wikipedia.org<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Freddie King, often referred to as the Texas Cannonball for his large figure, was explosive when performing live. He used a metaal guitar pick made for banjoes, but his unusual pick helped produce a unique sound that inspired a generation. Legendary guitarist Eric Clapton said in a 1961 interview that Freddie\u2019s I Love the Woman was what started him on his path to rock n\u2019 roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

18. Kurt Cobain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: donstunes.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

When just 14 years of age, Kurt Cobain was presented a used guitar by his uncle as a birthday present. That simple gift helped pave the path to one of the most popular musical figures in rock history. Along with his Nirvana band mates, they created a unique grungy sound consisting of rock, punk, and folk music that was unheard of at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

17. John Lennon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: thenews.com.pk<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

John Lennon\u2019s unique ability to turn a simple melody into a pop anthem was what cemented the Beatles’ place in rock n\u2019 roll history. songs like Help! and Day Tripper would sound odd if it weren\u2019t for Lennon\u2019s one-of-a-kind flair, despite being one of the unsung heroes of the band.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

16. George Harrison<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: pinterest.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t mention John Lennon without mentioning George Harrison on the same list. Although he was overshadowed by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, George was \u2013 according to the band \u2013 the best guitar player of the three. Tom Petty once stated that George\u2019s style of play was very precise, in tune, and had a beautiful vibrato that was hard to imitate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

15. Albert King<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: zeenews.india.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Many rock n\u2019 roll fans may not have heard of Albert Nelson, but his stage moniker Albert King should definitely ring a bell. The Mississippian, born in 1923, was known as the Velvet Bulldozer for his large build and silky voice. When asked who influenced his style of play in 1968, he stated nobody since he does everything wrong. Do enough things wrong and you\u2019ll definitely get something right, or in Albert King\u2019s case, everything right to a t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

14. Joe Walsh<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: canadianpacificblues.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Joe \u201cFiddler\u201d Walsh of the Eagles was destined to be a musician as soon as he was born. He joined the Eagles late, but the band saw immediate success with their greatest hit Hotel California after Joe came along. Some of his most amazing pieces can be heard in Rocky Mountain Way and Funk #49.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

13. Pete Townshend<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: scmp.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Pete Townshend started his music career as the guitarist for The Who. Although he was a musical prodigy, he never pursued a solo career. His guitar parts in My Generation and I Can See for Miles alone make him deserving of the legendary status of all time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

12. Stevie Ray Vaughn<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: celebsmemoir.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Stevie Ray Vaughn\u2019s guitar skills were just as crazy and the expressions he pulled when performing live. His style is a blend of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and B.B. King, making it a beautiful homage that\u2019s completely unique on its own. If it weren\u2019t for his untimely passing in 1990, he undoubtedly would have produced timeless guitar pieces for fans to get lost in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

11. Prince<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: crazymetalmind.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Artist Formerly Known as Prince was always known as Prince. Like changing his name to a logo, his style of play was done his own, special way. Music fans can hear traces of Jimi Hendrix in his work, but Prince doesn\u2019t agree. In fact, he stated that Santana was a bigger influence in his work than Hendrix. Sadly, the flamboyant musical genius died of an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

10. Duane Allman<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: wunc.org<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Like so many other legendary guitarists, Duane Allman passed at a young age. Robert Randolph once said that had \u201cSkydog\u201d not passed, he would have gotten 50 times better at the guitar. Hard to imagine someone who was already a genius being 50 times better, right? Before his motorcycle accident, he was known for his slide guitar pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

9. Carlos Santana<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: zeenews.india.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Like Jimi Hendrix, Santana is perhaps the definition of Summer of Love guitar playing. Although his guitar playing continues to influence aspiring rock n\u2019 rollers around the world, Carlos\u2019 voice is what made him a legend. He attributed his unique vocals to using LSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

8. B. B. King<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: thefactspost.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Here, we have another Mississippian who shaped contemporary rock music. B.B. King, born in 1925, took grassroots style music \u2013 the music of his hometown \u2013 and made it easy listening to millions around the globe. B.B. King is often recognized as one of the Three Kings of Blues Guitar next to Albert King and Freddie King.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

7. Jeff Back<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: thefactspost.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The English rocker contributed to two highly successful Jeff Beck Group albums before departing and bouncing around from group to group. The songs he is best known for are A Day in the Life, I Ain\u2019t Superstitious, and Heart Full of Soul. Though over 70 years old, he continues to rock stages to this very day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

6. Keith Richards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: scmp.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The immortal Keith Richards became an enigma from his part as the lead guitarist of The Rolling Stones. His unique sound came from his own tampering with the tuning of his guitar, so even though several covers have been made, none are identical to Keith\u2019s unique productions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

5. Eddie Van Halen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: stones-stories.over-blog.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Another person who made a living by producing unique sounds is Eddie Van Halen. The Amsterdam native holds the pick in such a way that many artists stated Eddie is playing an entirely different instrument. Mike McCready of Pearl Jam said in an interview that you can play the pieces Eddie wrote but there\u2019s an X-Factor that impossible to imitate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

4. Chuck Berry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: corbua.co.uk<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Chuck Berry was born in St. Louis in 1926. There, he picked up blues-style music at an early age, and the sound stuck with him after making it big. Best known for his pieces in Maybellene and Roll Over Beethoven, his solos are considered some of the greatest in rock history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

3. Jimmy Page<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: zeenews.india.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The dark yet folky sound of Jimmy Page captivates multiple generations of rock fans. The lead guitarist for Led Zeppelin has an amazing work ethic that involved fine-tuning his guitar to produce the absolute right sound. His most notable work includes Dazed and Confused and Kashmir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

2. Eric Clapton<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: advertisingstage.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Eric Clapton\u2019s guitar work relies on basic yet smooth sounds to produce timeless melodies. The best guitarists are typically trained in blues or have adopted blues music in rock, but Eric has mastered fusing the two together. In the early stages of his career, he played alongside two other jazz guitarists, and in order to keep up, he had to produce his own unique sounds. This is what we can hear from his work in Bell Bottom Blues and White Room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1. Jimi Hendrix<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Source: universoretro.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Our number one spot belongs to the one and only Jimi Hendrix\n\u2013 the man who tops the highest number of lists of best guitarists. The Seattle\nnative was a guitar god who played the instrument upside down, but like so many\npeople on our list, his career was cut short by an early death. His music was\nout of this world, he perfected feedback, and his chords were unheard of in his\ngeneration. There\u2019s hardly a musician out there who doesn\u2019t cite Jimi as being\nan influence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you love music, then you\u2019ve probably enjoyed listening to a particular guitar riff from a certain rock n\u2019 roll song. Or perhaps blues or folk music is what blows your eardrums away. Whatever the case, there\u2019s no denying that a good pluck of a guitar string can pull at your heartstrings. But which guitarist […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":15753,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15400"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15400"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97341,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15400\/revisions\/97341"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}