A great guitarist can turn a good song into something magical. While singers often grab the spotlight, it’s those unforgettable guitar riffs and solos that get stuck in your head for days. Some guitarists don’t just play along with songs – they completely transform them with their unique style and technical skills.
The guitar world is packed with incredible talent across decades of music. Whether you’re just starting to appreciate guitar music, picking up the instrument yourself, or simply want a quick guide to some mind-blowing guitar work, We’ve got you covered.
Ready to dive in? Here are five legendary guitarists who forever changed music, along with three standout performances from each that show why they’re considered the best of the best.
1. Jimi Hendrix: The Guitar Revolutionary
The Left-Handed Virtuoso Who Redefined What’s Possible
Before becoming the icon we know today, Jimi Hendrix paid his dues backing up artists like Little Richard and the Isley Brothers. Everything changed when he moved to London in 1966, where audiences and fellow musicians quickly fell in love with his groundbreaking style.
Hendrix completely revolutionized electric guitar playing by blending blues, rock, R&B, and psychedelia in ways nobody had ever heard before. His influence runs so deep that guitarists today are still categorized as either pre-Hendrix or post-Hendrix in their approach.
Did you know? Despite his incredible skill, Jimi never learned to read music and played everything by ear.
Top Guitar Work by Jimi Hendrix:
- “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” – Listen to how he manipulates that wah pedal! Those blistering runs and controlled feedback show why nobody else sounds like Hendrix.
- “Little Wing” – Somehow Jimi plays chords and melody lines at the same time here, creating a sound so full you’d think multiple guitarists were playing.
- “Purple Haze” – This track introduced the famous “Hendrix chord” (dominant 7♯9) and changed rock guitar forever with its raw, psychedelic energy.
2. Eric Clapton: The Guitar Gentleman
Blues Virtuoso with Soul-Stirring Expression
Eric Clapton started as a blues-obsessed kid who developed his skills with the Yardbirds and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers before forming Cream and later going solo. He crafted his distinctive style by studying American blues masters like B.B. King and Freddie King.
They call him “Slowhand” not because he can’t play fast, but because his impeccable timing, soulful bends, and emotional playing hit harder than mere speed ever could. The fact that he’s been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three separate times (with The Yardbirds, Cream, and solo) tells you everything about his lasting impact.
Fun fact: Clapton got his nickname “Slowhand” because he often broke strings during shows, and audiences would slow-clap while he replaced them on stage.
Top Guitar Work by Eric Clapton:
- “Layla” – That unforgettable opening riff grabs you instantly, and the dual guitar work with Duane Allman creates one of rock’s most passionate performances.
- “Cocaine” – Notice how clean and precise his riffing is here. Clapton proves that sometimes less truly is more.
- “Old Love” – Those crying guitar lines express heartbreak better than words ever could. Pure emotion through six strings.
3. Jimmy Page: The Guitar Architect
Master of Riffs and Multi-Layered Guitar Orchestration
Jimmy Page started as an in-demand session musician in London before joining The Yardbirds and then forming Led Zeppelin, where he basically wrote the blueprint for hard rock and heavy metal.
What makes Page special is how he approaches guitar like a composer, creating complex arrangements that mix heavy riffs, folk elements, Eastern influences, and experimental techniques. He pioneered alternative tunings and studio tricks that changed how guitar-driven music is recorded forever.
Intriguing fact: Jimmy often played guitar with a violin bow, creating haunting sounds that expanded what an electric guitar could do.
Top Guitar Work by Jimmy Page:
- “Stairway to Heaven” – This song evolves from delicate fingerpicking to one of rock’s most celebrated solos, showing every aspect of Page’s immense skill.
- “Black Dog” – Try playing this stop-start riff yourself and you’ll understand why few guitarists can match Page’s swagger and precision.
- “Achilles Last Stand” – Page layered multiple guitar tracks to create a wall of sound with interweaving melodies that feel like a guitar orchestra.
4. Eddie Van Halen: The Guitar Innovator
Technical Wizard Who Revolutionized Modern Guitar Playing
Eddie Van Halen initially played piano before switching to drums and finally guitar, forming Van Halen with his brother Alex in the early 1970s. Because he largely taught himself, Eddie developed techniques that more traditionally trained guitarists would never have discovered.
Eddie’s two-handed tapping technique brought unheard-of speed and fluidity to guitar solos. Add in his creative use of harmonics, dive bombs with the whammy bar, and custom-built gear, and you get sounds nobody thought possible before him. Virtually every rock guitarist since the late 1970s owes something to Eddie’s innovations.
Surprising fact: Eddie built his famous “Frankenstrat” guitar by combining parts from different instruments because he couldn’t afford expensive guitars when starting out.
Top Guitar Work by Eddie Van Halen:
- “Eruption” – This instrumental mind-blower introduced the world to two-handed tapping and changed guitar playing forever in under two minutes.
- “Mean Street” – Check out Eddie’s rhythmic precision here! Those percussive tapping techniques and funky, complex riffs defy conventional playing.
- “Panama” – The perfect blend of hard-hitting riffs and playful, acrobatic soloing shows why Eddie could be both technically brilliant and incredibly fun to listen to.
5. David Gilmour: The Guitar Poet
Master of Melodic Expression and Sonic Landscapes
David Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in 1968, initially covering for Syd Barrett before becoming a permanent member. His distinctive playing style became central to the band’s sound during their most successful years.
What makes Gilmour special isn’t playing a million notes – it’s his extraordinary ability to convey emotion through perfectly chosen notes and gorgeous tone. His signature bending technique and soaring, melodic solos focus on feeling over flash, creating some of rock’s most recognizable guitar moments.
Little-known detail: Gilmour typically records his solos by combining the best parts of multiple takes, focusing on the emotional impact of each note rather than playing straight through.
Top Guitar Work by David Gilmour:
- “Comfortably Numb” – Those two solos are pure magic, with the second one regularly voted among the greatest of all time. It’s the perfect marriage of technique and feeling.
- “Time” – Listen to how he balances delicate acoustic work with that cutting electric solo. Gilmour understands that the spaces between notes matter as much as the notes themselves.
- “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” – That iconic four-note bend sets the stage for expansive soloing that showed guitarists everywhere how to be expressive rather than just impressive.
Beyond the Top Five
While these five players stand among the most influential guitarists ever, the guitar hero world extends way beyond them. We should definitely tip our hats to blues master B.B. King with his instantly recognizable “singing” guitar style, Texas firebrand Stevie Ray Vaughan with his raw intensity, rock pioneer Chuck Berry whose innovation started it all, and countless others who’ve pushed what six strings can do.
Who’s your favorite guitarist? Drop a comment below with your thoughts and the guitar performances that blow your mind!
