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However, numerous polls, articles, and fan opinions over the years have highlighted several guitarists as among the best. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of some of the most frequently mentioned guitarists in discussions about the greatest of all time:

  1. Jimi Hendrix – Often cited for his innovative playing style and the impact he had in such a short career.
  2. Eric Clapton – Nicknamed “Slowhand”, his work spans blues, rock, and more.
  3. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) – Known for his riffs and his pioneering of hard rock and heavy metal.
  4. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen) – Brought finger tapping to the forefront and had an enormous impact on rock guitar.
  5. Stevie Ray Vaughan – Revived blues in the 1980s and was known for his passionate playing style.
  6. Robert Johnson – One of the early pioneers of the blues, hugely influential despite having a very short career.
  7. B.B. King – The “King of the Blues” known for his emotive playing and vibrato.
  8. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) – Renowned for his emotional solos and atmospheric sound.
  9. Slash (Guns N’ Roses) – Known for his melodic solos and iconic top hat look.
  10. Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones) – The backbone of the Stones, known for his rhythm work and simple yet effective solos.
  11. Chuck Berry – One of the pioneers of rock and roll guitar.
  12. Duane Allman (The Allman Brothers Band) – Slide guitar master.
  13. Brian May (Queen) – Known for his unique tone and orchestrating layers of guitars in recordings.
  14. Jeff Beck – A guitar virtuoso with a diverse range across genres.
  15. Carlos Santana – Known for his smooth, melodic style.
  16. John Petrucci (Dream Theater) – Renowned in the prog metal scene for his technical proficiency.
  17. Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow) – A pioneering hard rock and metal guitarist.
  18. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) – Often cited as the father of heavy metal guitar riffs.
  19. Chet Atkins – Country and fingerstyle virtuoso.
  20. Django Reinhardt – A jazz guitar pioneer known for his unique style despite a handicap in his left hand.