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  10. I’ve seen an opportunity to share one of my all time favourite videos & I am taking it! It’s number 6 on the list – Sister Rosetta Tharpe

    nb. I only clicked on the list to see where my favourite guitarist of all time was (Steve Cropper – No. 45). I am going to queue up Otis’ For Your Precious Love & revel in the stunning guitar part

  11. Chrissie Hynde better than Rory Gallagher?
    Ridiculous!
    Dave Davies better than Rory Gallagher?
    Ludicrous!
    Lou Reed better than Rory Gallagher?
    You’re taking the piss now.

    That’s me out.

  14. They obviously have a problem with the name Glenn as they have missed off both Campbell and Tilbrook who should both be on there.
    Also Mark Knopfler at number 96 is just fucking ridiculous.

    • I heartily agree re The Knopf. Of course Jimi was going to be at No 1 – it is Rolling Stone after all – but for my money Mark Knopfler is an infinitely better player. I always thought Hendrix was over-rated, and a lot of his sound came from pedals or his use of distortion. But Knopfler seems able to conjure real emotion with his playing alone, and I’d much rather listen to, say, his lead line on Brothers in Arms than an overblown bit of howling feedback from Hendrix.

      So there, Rolling Stone, take THAT!

  15. I very much doubt Olga from The Toy Dolls makes the list (although I think he should)

    If nothing else, it kept Rolling Stone journos busy for a while (think of the countless Ranking Meetings that took place), and also keeps the readers schtum for a while
    (and also gives this corner of the interweb something to pull to pieces for their ludicrous choices)

  16. Oh! these foolish list shenanigans! It’s all just ridiculous attention seeking.

    Grading has to interest for me! But I would be very keen to know: who are the guitarists who hit the sweet spot for you?

    Du-Cool has mentioned two great favourites of mine: Diblo Dibala and then Barthélémy Attisso (from Orchestra Baobab).

    I’m now going to add Jamaican maestro, Ernest Ranglin:

  20. As soon as a pop music is dissected, all is lost.
    Is the guitar on Penny Lane good? I have no idea, and I’d be mortified if I did, it’s bleedin’ Penny Lane!

    Probably, the tenth most interesting thing about Jimi is that he may, or may not, have been useful with a guitar.

  22. Funny they missed the one who made the best solo of all time. Jan Akkerman of Focus on Answers? Questions Questions…

    Bit of a faux pas.

    And what about Michael Karoli of Can? A singular sound of his own surely? Or Keith Levene of PiL? Another inventive original.

  23. A question just occurred to me. Is there anyone who would admit to NOT liking Hendrix? I feel like even people who don’t like his music that much must at least admit admiring him or grudgingly recognising his talent, no? He seems ubiquitously likeable to me, like Jaffa Cakes or Bank Holiday Mondays.

      • Sir! Sir! That’s me! Sorry, but I’ve never understood why people think JH is so special. True, I’ve only heard his biggest songs (and that’s enough, thank you), but for me there was nothing particularly unique – or even outstanding – about his playing. Other than the aforementioned Knopfler, here are a couple of players I think are better than Hendrix:

        Dave Gilmour: his solos on Comfortably Numb have moved me to tears more than once. DG is the epitome of how to make just a handful of beautiful notes into something huge.
        Steve Rothery: does he have anything like Hendrix’s reputation among civilians or guitarists? Not even close. Does he have more variety in his sound/playing? For me, 100%.

    • Not a huge fan of his music, but clearly he was a genius on the guitar, and generally considered the best there has been

      * his music is very good, but for me a little below the all time greats

  24. Bill Frisell MUST be on the RS list. Pat Metheny too.

    And I suspect there are a few American Primitive guitarists too. They can’t have neglected John Fahey!

    But I suspect that modern virtuoso stars of the folk scene like Ryley Walker from Rockford, Illinois and Welsh virtuoso Gwenifer Raymond (who now lives in Brighton) have not been mentioned.

    Both still alive and raising the roof wherever they play!

    • Bill Frisell at no. 154
      Pat Metheny at no. 157
      John Fahey up there at no. 40
      Ryley Walker nowhere

      And sadly no place for main man, Robbie Basho. For shame!

      • For shame indeed! Thanks for putting me straight on that, DuCool.

        Let’s have a few more that probably didn’t make it onto the RS list.

        D’Gary: self-taught virtuoso from Madagascar.

        Derek Gripper: South African from Cape Town who specialises in transposing the kora music of Toumani Diabate to the guitar.

        Baden Powell. (No! Not the jingoistic general who founded the boyscout movement. As far as I know, he did not play the guitar. )I am of course taking about the bossa nova hitmaker from Brazil, famed for his collaboration with the great poet Vinicius de Moraes.

        Here they are in Paris with none other than Tom Jobim on piano.

        • A bit of research, KFD, would show that Baden-Powell seldom appeared on a campsite without a stout parlour guitar. Used to hammer tent pegs; pressed into service as a spare racquet for French cricket; and, in the evenings, he would regale the chaps around the campfire with selections from Gilbert and Sullivan, to his own guitar accompaniment.

          • I hang my head in shame @fitterstoke. I just googled and read more about RBP’s innovative tunings and delicate fingerwork.

            How did I not know that? It’s no wonder that I never got my Music Badge when I was in the 7th Pinner Cubs.

            I just discovered that Miucha, the young lass who is singing with Vinicius in that clip was the sister of Chico Buarque and the mother of Bebel Gilberto.

            “In 1963, Miúcha went on holiday with friends to Greece, Italy and France. In Paris, in the bar La Candelaria, she met the Chilean singer Violeta Parra, who introduced her to singer and future husband João Gilberto. Miúcha and Gilberto married in 1965 and had a daughter, Bebel Gilberto, in 1966.

            Miúcha died on 27 December 2018, in Rio de Janeiro, at the age of 81.”

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi%C3%BAcha

            From woggles to snoggles: I learn something new every day on the Afterword!

              • No wind up intended, @fitterstroke.

                You amused me enormously with your portrayal of Sir Robert B.P. strumming his guitar by the campfire. Maybe he treated the campers to some of his greatest hits like “The Girl Guide from Ipanema.”

                Now there’s a song just screaming to be written!

                • Baden Powell’s nickname was bathing towel.
                  AI suggests for your song @Kaisfatdad
                  (Verse 1)
                  I was strolling on the beach one day
                  When I saw her in her vest
                  She was a Girl Guide from Ipanema
                  And her skills were put to the test

                  (Chorus)
                  Oh, Girl Guide from Ipanema
                  How you guide us with such grace
                  With your knowledge and your confidence
                  You put a smile on every face

                  (Verse 2)
                  She showed us how to build a fire
                  And how to pitch a tent
                  She taught us all about first aid
                  And how to be resilient

                  (Chorus)
                  Oh, Girl Guide from Ipanema
                  How you guide us with such grace
                  With your knowledge and your confidence
                  You put a smile on every face

                  (Bridge)
                  We learn so much from you each day
                  And we’re grateful for all you do
                  So here’s a thank you from all of us
                  To the Girl Guide from Ipanema, we love you!

                  (Chorus)
                  Oh, Girl Guide from Ipanema
                  How you guide us with such grace
                  With your knowledge and your confidence
                  You put a smile on every face.

                  • That is absolutely hilarious, Hubert. I know girl guides tend to be a little straight-laces and jolly hockeysticks. but I would like to see a little more of the loose-limbed, kittenish, flirty sensuality of the original.

                    Kittenish and flirty are, I suspect, not AI’s strong points!

                    This verse was particularly “impressive”.

                    She showed us how to build a fire
                    And how to pitch a tent
                    She taught us all about first aid
                    And how to be resilient

                    AI versus William McGonagall!!

                    Now there is a clash of titans I would like to see.

                    • Oh, have you seen the girl guide from Ipanema?
                      She walks so gracefully, like a queen of emerald arena!
                      Her eyes like the stars, her hair like a golden stream
                      She is the most beautiful girl that I have ever seen!

                      Her moves are like poetry, so smooth and sublime
                      She shines in the sun, like a diamond in the finest design
                      Her voice like a song, so sweet to the ear
                      She’s the one that the boys from Ipanema adore and revere!

                      Oh, the girl guide from Ipanema, so divine and so rare
                      She’s the queen of the beach, a goddess without compare!
                      So let us all praise her, in our hearts sing her praise
                      For she’s the one that stands out, like a beacon in the haze!

                    • No no no!

                      “a queen of emerald arena!!”
                      Is she a leprechaun now?

                      What is this nonsense?

                      Actually, I find this all quite comforting. AI clearly poses no thread to poets, songwriters, novelists, journalists or anyone who takes pride in their use of language.

  25. Got through the first 100 and stopped because it was too depressing.
    Are any of these in the list?

    Charlie Christian
    Les Paul
    Grant Green
    Bert Jansch
    John Renbourn
    Davy Graham
    Ollie Halsall

    • Les Paul, Grant Green and Bert Jansch yes. The others, don’t think so. The list is very light on jazz guitarists – IIRC no Joe Pass, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis…

  26. Here’s the full list in a simple format:

    250 – Andy Summers (The Police)
    249 – Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes/Thunderbitch/solo)
    248 – Robbie Kreiger (The Doors)
    247 – Ricky Wilson (The B-52s)
    246 – Paul Simon
    245 – Leslie West (Mountain)
    244- Edilio Paredes (from Dominican Republic, in the Bachata genre)
    243 – Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner (from The National… + Bryce – Steve Reich, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jonny Greenwood, and Kronos Quartet. Aaron – Taylor Swift)
    242 – Lindsey Jordan (Snail Mail)
    241 – Keith Urban
    240 – Erin Smith (Bratmobile)
    239 – Duane Eddy
    238 – Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices/Cobra Verde/Death of Samantha/GEM)
    237 – Jennifer Batten
    236 – Greg Sage (The Wipers/solo)
    235 – Laura Marling
    234 – John McGeoch (Magazine/Siouxsie & The Banshees/PiL)
    233 – H.E.R.
    232 – David Williams (session player – Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Kenny Loggins)
    231 – Etta Baker
    230 – Gustavo Cerati (from Argentina… Soda Stereo/solo)
    229 – Barbara Lynn (“You’ll Lose a Good Thing”)
    228 – Steve Jones (Sex Pistols)
    227 – Glenn Branca
    226 – El Kempner (Palehound)
    225 – Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith and Wayne Kramer (MC5)
    224 – Marv Tarplin (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles/Smokey Robinson)
    223 – Joseph Spence (from The Bahamas)
    222 – Molly Tuttle
    221 – James Blood Ulmer
    220 – Courtney Barnett
    219 – Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing (Judas Priest)
    218 – Lzzy Hale (Halestorm)
    217 – Thomas McClary (Ther Commodores)
    216 – Steve Hackett (Genesis/solo)
    215 – Kurt Vile
    214 – Keiji Haino (from Japan – Aihiyo/solo)
    213 – Lucy Dacus
    212 – José Feliciano
    211 – Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
    210 – Kaki King
    209 – Gary Clark Jr.
    208 – Amadou Bagayoko (from Mali – Amadou and Mariam)
    207 – Justin Broadrick (Godflesh)
    206 – Hugh McCracken (session heavyweight – Steely Dan, Roberta Flack, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon)
    205 – Eric Johnson
    204 – Lynn Taitt (reggae/rocksetady session pioneer – Desmond Dekker)
    203 – Grant Green
    202 – Vince Gill
    201 – Garry ‘Diaper Man’ Shider (Parliament/Funkadelic, Bootsy’s Rubber Band)
    200 – Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram
    199 – Bombino (from Niger)
    198 – Jerry Reed
    197 – Nuno Bettencourt
    196 – James Taylor
    195 – Greg Ginn (Black Flag)
    194 – Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy)
    193 – David Lindley (Jackson Browne/Linda Rondstadt/solo)
    192 – Lita Ford
    191 – Chalmers Edward ‘Spanky’ Alford (D’Angelo, Mary J. Blige, Total, Rapheal Saadique)
    190 – Lightnin’ Hopkins
    189 – Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
    188 – Marnie Stern
    187 – Marc Ribot
    186 – Steve Lukather
    185 – Peggy Jones (“Lady Bo”)
    184 – Eldon Shamblin (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys)
    183 – Roy Buchanan
    182 – Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith (Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Bunny Wailer, Sugar Minott, Jacob Miller, Black Uhuru, Mighty Diamonds, Augustus Pablo, Gregory Isaacs)
    181 – Larissa Strickland (Laughing Hyenas)
    180 – Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
    179 – Ernest Ranglin (ska/rocksteady/reggae pioneer)
    178 – Skip James
    177 – Rodrigo y Gabriela
    176 – Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz)
    175 – Rory Gallagher
    174 – Marty Stuart
    173 – Paul McCartney
    172 – Chrissie Hynde
    171 – D. Boon (The Minutemen)
    170 – Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music)
    169 – Jessie Mae Hemphill
    168 – John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service)
    167 – James Williamson (Iggy & The Stooges)
    166 – Johnny Winter
    165 – Rokia Traoré (from Mali)
    164 – Dave Davies (The Kinks)
    163 – Wah Wah Watson
    162 – Rosinha de Valença (from Brazil)
    161 – Tim Henson (Polyphia)
    160 – Kim and Kelley Deal (The Breeders)
    159 – John Lennon
    158 – Johnny Thunders
    157 – Pat Metheny
    156 – Carl Perkins
    155 – Yvette Young (Covet)
    154 – Bill Frisell
    153 – Otis Rush
    152 – Ani DiFranco
    151 – Pete Cosey (Miles Davis)
    150 – Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females/Noun)
    149 – Ron Asheton (The Stooges)
    148 – Ike Turner
    147 – Memphis Minnie
    146 – Mike Bloomfield
    145 – Dickey Betts
    144 – Odetta
    143 – Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo)
    142 – João Gilberto
    141 – Fredrik Thordendal (Meshugga)
    140 – Stephen Stills
    139 – Susan Tedeschi
    138 – Teenie Hodges (Al Green/Hi Rhythm Section)
    137 – Liz Phair
    136 – Joe Perry (Aerosmith)
    135 – Roger McGuinn (The Byrds)
    134 – Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü/Sugar/solo)
    133 – Robert Cray
    132 – Nils Lofgren
    131 – Dimebag Darrell (Pantera/Damage Plan)
    130 – Joe Walsh
    129 – Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper/Demi Lovato)
    128 – Bob Stinson (The Replacements)
    127 – Steve Vai
    126 – Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
    125 – Viv Albertine (The Slits)
    124 – Mike McCready and Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)
    123 – Steve Howe (Yes, Asia)
    122 – King Sunny Ade
    121 – Dick Dale
    120 – Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule/Allman Brothers)
    119 – Donita Sparks (L7)
    118 – Adrian Belew
    117 – Albert Collins
    116 – Ana da Silva
    115 – Nels Cline
    114 – Robert Quine (Richard Hell & The Voidoids/Lou Reed/Matthew Sweet)
    113 – Allen Collins and Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
    112 – Rowland S. Howard (The Birthday Party/Crime And The City Solution/These Immortal Souls)
    111 – Kelley Johnson (Girlschool)
    110 – Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac, solo)
    109 – Mick Ronson (David Bowie, Spiders From Mars/Ian Hunter/solo)
    108 – Merle Travis
    107 – Clarence White (The Byrds)
    106 – Peter Buck (R.E.M.)
    105 – Slash
    104 – Ali Farka Touré (from Mali)
    103 – Nancy Wilson (Heart)
    102 – Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
    101 – John Fogerty
    100 – Kerry King (Slayer)
    99 – Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders)
    98 – Link Wray
    97 – Stephen Malkmus (Pavement/Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks)
    96 – Mark Knopfler (Dire Strais/solo)
    95 – Mary Timony (Helium/solo/Wild Flag/Ex Hex)
    94 – Joe Satriani
    93 – Leo Nocentelli (The Meters)
    92 – Wata (Boris)
    91 – Cat Coore (Third World)
    90 – Mdou Moctar (from Niger)
    89 – Lou Reed
    88 – Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
    87 – Poison Ivy (The Cramps)
    86 – Sonny Sharrock
    85 – Larry Carlton
    84 – Muddy Waters
    83 – Adrian Smith and Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
    82 – Wes Montgomery
    81 – Bert Jansch
    80 – Derek Trucks (Tedeshi-Trucks Band/Allman Brothers)
    79 – Ernie Isley (Isley Brothers)
    78 – Charlie Christian
    77 – Willie Nelson
    76 – Joan Jett
    75 – Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple/Rainbow)
    74 – J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.)
    73 – Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf)
    72 – John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra/Miles Davis)
    71 – Franco Luambo (from Republic of the Cong/Zaire)
    70 – Django Reinhardt
    69 – Robbie Robertson (The Band)
    68 – Les Paul
    67 – Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine)
    66 – Ry Cooder
    65 – T-Bone Walker
    64 – Carrie Brownstein (Sleeter-Kinney)
    63 – Richard Thompson
    62 – Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
    61 – John Mayer
    60 – Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley)
    59 – Robert Fripp
    58 – Alex Lifeson (Rush)
    57 – Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth)
    56 – Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
    55 – Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones)
    54 – Bonnie Raitt
    53 – Trey Anastasio (Phish)
    52 – John Lee Hooker
    51 – Tom Verlaine (Television/solo)
    50 – Elmore James
    49 – PJ Harvey
    48 – Curtis Mayfield
    47 – The Edge (U2)
    46 – Frank Zappa
    45 – Steve Cropper
    44 – Johnny Ramone (The Ramones)
    43 – Jonny Greenwood and Ed O’Brien (Radiohead)
    42 – Vernon Reid (Living Color)
    41 – Bo Diddley
    40 – John Fahey
    39 – Chet Atkins
    38 – Angus Young and Malcolm Young (AC/DC)
    37 – Pete Townshend (The Who)
    36 – Elizabeth Cotten
    35 – Eric Clapton (Bluesbreakers/Cream/Blind Faith/Derek & The Dominoes/solo/COVID-19)
    34 – Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
    33 – Brian May (Queen)
    32 – Jack White (White Stripes/solo)
    31 – George Harrison
    30 – Neil Young
    29 – Eddie Hazel (Parliament/Funkadelic)
    28 – David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
    27 – Buddy Guy
    26 – St. Vincent
    25 – John Frusciante
    24 – James Burton (Ricky Nelson/Elvis/Emmylou Harris)
    23 – James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
    22 – Albert King
    21 – Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)
    20 – Stevie Ray Vaughan
    19 – Freddy King
    18 – Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine/Audioslave)
    17 – Mother Maybelle Carter (Carter Family)
    16 – Robert Johnson
    15 – Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)
    14 – Prince
    13 – Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
    12 – Jimmy Nolen (James Brown)
    11 – Carlos Santana
    10 – Duane Allman (Allman Brothers/Derek and The Dominoes)
    9 – Joni Mitchell
    8 – B.B. King
    7 – Nile Rodgers (Chic/Diana Ross/Sister Sledge/David Bowie)
    6 – Sister Rosetta Tharpe
    5 – Jeff Beck
    4 – Eddie Van Halen
    3 – Jimmy Page
    2 – Chuck Berry
    1 – Jimi Hendrix

  27. Of course it is clickbait trolling nonsense and, from RS’s PoV it is clearly working. It isn’t even trying to be a list of best, merely a long list of guitar sound innovators. And interesting as a result.

  28. I didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry when I saw this.

    177 – Rodrigo y Gabriela

    It makes them sound like umbilical twins! There are two of them but they have to share the ranking.

    But then I saw that the list is full of these duos.

    Angus Young and Malcolm Young (AC/DC)

    Mike McCready and Stone Gossard

    Etc.

    Baffling. And rather humiliating.

      • Imagine Rolling Stone sadly reporting that Rodrigo y Gabriela had parted ways, as a result of one being rated higher than the other in their Best Guitarist poll..

          • @kaisfatdad, I certainly can’t imagine the ABBA girls getting lumped together and rated equally…what I remember well from the 70s was that Agnetha was constantly being hailed as “the pretty one” and “the one with the sexy butt” and every little girl wanting to be her when it was time to mime to ABBA. It didn’t leave me and other brunette girls with a ton of confidence in our appearance!

            But I’m sure that Agnetha and Anni-Frid wouldn’t mind being lumped together on a list of the 100 best guitarists of all time! 😀

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