Here are 20 of our favorite rock guitarists.
Angus Young
As lead guitarist for Australian hard rockers AC/DC, Angus Young has inspired many aspiring guitarists to crank up that amp and wail away on blues-based solos that stand the test of time.
Songs include:
- Back In Black
- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
- Hells Bells
- Highway To Hell
- Shoot To Thrill
- Thunderstruck
- You Shook Me All Night Long
Billy Gibbons
This Texas blues-rocker has served as the frontman for ZZ Top for decades. He is known for his long beard and his tasty guitar chops that have helped produce dozens of hits over the years.
Songs Include:
- Cheap Sunglasses
- Gimme All Your Lovin’
- Got Me Under Pressure
- I Thank You
- I’m Bad I’m Nationwide
- Jesus Just Left Chicago
- Just Got Paid
- La Grange
- Legs
- Sharp Dressed Man
- Tube Snake Boogie
- Tush
- Waitin’ For The Bus
Brian May
This astrophysicist turned guitar great was a co-founder of the group Queen. His melodic playing carries each song to new highs and serves as a perfect counterpoint to vocalist Freddie Mercury.
Songs Include:
- Another One Bites The Dust
- Bohemian Rhapsody
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love
- We Are The Champions
Carlos Santana
As the leader of the band “Santana”, Carlos Santana has been able to bring Latin-infused rock to the limelight. His soaring solos are heavily featured throughout the band’s many hits.
Songs include:
- Black Magic Woman
- Moonflower
- Oye Como Va
Chuck Berry
As the prototype rock guitarist, Chuck Berry has influenced the biggest names in rock throughout the years. His signature licks and stage antics represent what rock and roll is all about.
Songs Include:
- Johnny B. Goode
- Maybellene
- Memphis Tennessee
- Rock And Roll Music
- Roll Over Beethoven
- School Days
David Gilmour
Pink Floyd’s legendary axeman David Gilmour is given plenty of room for his epic guitar solos. Much of the Pink Floyd catalog is heavily instrumental and led by Gilmour’s soulful guitar which can fill up 10 minutes of music without overstaying its welcome.
Songs Include:
- Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)
- Breathe
- Comfortably Numb
- Dogs
- Hey You
- Shine On You Crazy Diamond
- Time
- Us And Them
- Wish You Were Here
Duane Allman
Duane and his brother Greg Allman formed The Allman Brothers Band which became the quintessential jam band. He is perhaps the best slide guitarist of all time. Unfortunately, he died at a very young age, so we didn’t get to enjoy him for long.
Songs include:
- Melissa
- One Way Out
- Whipping Post
- Midnight Rider
- Ramblin’ Man
Eddie Van Halen
Another band founded by brothers was the hard rock act “Van Halen”. With Eddie on guitar and Alex on drums, they quickly became known for their musicianship. Eddie helped pioneer new flashy techniques such as fretboard tapping and whammy bar tricks that sent an entire generation of guitarists back to the woodshed.
Songs include:
- Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love
- Dance The Night Away
- Panama
- Pretty Woman
Eric Clapton
Clapton has been a staple of classic rock for decades. He is well known not only for his work as a solo artist but as a member of several great bands such as Cream and Derek And The Dominos.
- Bell Bottom Blues
- Cocaine
- Crossroads
- I’m Tore Down
- Sunshine Of Your Love
- Wonderful Tonight
George Harrison
As the laid-back member of The Beatles, George Harrison brought restraint to his playing that perfectly complemented the predominantly Lennon/McCartney penned tunes as well as his own compositions.
Songs Include:
- Come Together
- Day Tripper
- Get Back
- Help
- Here Comes The Sun
- In My Life
Jeff Beck
As the guitarist’s guitarist, Jeff Beck can make the guitar talk, squeal, moan, and sing. His largely instrumental catalog might not feature a lot of mainstream hits, but it has kept many guitarists awake at night wondering “how did he do that?”.
Songs include:
- Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers
- Going Down
- Blue Wind
- Greensleeves
- People Get Ready
- You Know What I Mean
Jimi Hendrix
What can be said about Jimi Hendrix that hasn’t already been said? His skill as a tock guitarist is second to none. He was also a pioneer in the use of effects and his stage presence was a sight to behold. His psychedelic presence was a perfect fit for the late 60s, but his music has stood the test of time and still inspires to this day.
Songs Include:
- All Along The Watchtower
- Castles Made Of Sand
- Fire
- Foxy Lady
- Hear My Train A Coming
- Hey Joe
- Little Wing
- Manic Depression
- Purple Haze
- Red House
- Star-Spangled Banner
- The Wind Cries Mary
- Voodoo Child
Jimmy Page
Led Zeppelin was one of the most successful rock bands of all time and Jimmy Page was a major part of its success. He wrote some of the very best riffs in all of rock music and Zep’s many classic albums showcase his fantastic ability and multi-tracking skills.
Songs Include:
- Black Dog
- Dancing Days
- Dazed And Confused
- Heartbreaker
- Immigrant Song
- Kashmir
- Over The Hills
- Ramble On
- Rock And Roll
- Stairway To Heaven
Joe Walsh
Walsh started pumping out hits with James Gang, but soon embarked on a solo career with continued success. Soon he found himself as a hired gun for the rock superband “Eagles”.
Songs Include:
- Hotel California
- Life’s Been Good
- Take It Easy
Keith Richards
There’s no one quite like Keith Richards. He has spent the decades powering one of the great rock bands The Rolling Stones. His open tuning licks and riffs are instantly recognizable and are super fun to play.
Songs Include:
- (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
- Angie
- Miss You
- Paint It Black
- Wild Horses
Mark Knopfler
This fast fingerpicker can really make the guitar talk. As the frontman for Dire Straits, he has recorded and performed some of the most tasteful solos you’ll hear. The details of his playing make for a great study.
Songs Include:
- Money For Nothing
- Sultans Of Swing
- Romeo And Juliet
- Walk Of Life
Randy Rhoads
This classically influenced rocker made a splash as Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist. At first, Randy Rhoads was compared to Eddie Van Halen, but upon closer listening, people realized he was on a completely different track. Unfortunately, he died in an awful plane crash at a young age, so we never really saw his true potential.
Songs Include:
- Crazy Train
- Mr. Crowley
- Dee
- Over The Mountain
- I Don’t Know
Ritchie Blackmore
Another classically influenced rocker can be found in Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple. He took complicated classical music and combined it with basic blues ideas and found a spot right in the middle.
Songs Include:
- Smoke On The Water
- Highway Star
- Space Truckin’
- Woman From Tokyo
Stevie Ray Vaughan
This lightning-fast Texas blues rocker is beloved by both blues and rock audiences. He helped start a blues resurgence in the 80s while finding airplay on rock stations. The intensity and soul found in his solos cannot be matched.
Songs Include:
- Cold Shot
- Crossfire
- Dirty Pool
- Lenny
- Little Wing
- Mary Had A Little Lamb
- Pride And Joy
- Rude Mood
- Scuttlebuttin’
- Texas Flood
- The Sky Is Crying
- Tightrope
- Voodoo Chile
Tony Iommi
As a founding member of Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi helped provide a blueprint for Metal music with his iconic riffs.
Songs Include:
- Iron Man
- NIB
- Paranoid
- Planet Caravan
- Warpigs