List of lead guitarists

The following is a list of significant lead guitarists, arranged in alphabetical order by last name. For rhythm guitarists see list of rhythm guitarists.

Contents

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• Y
• Z

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

A

Duane Allman,1971

Chet Atkins

• Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders)
• "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (Pantera, Damageplan, Rebel Meets Rebel)
• John Abercrombie
• Ryan Adams (The Cardinals)
• Marcus Adoro (Eraserheads)
• Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth)
• Fredrik Åkesson (Arch Enemy, Opeth)
• Jan Akkerman (Focus)
• Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio)
• Johnny Alegre
• Art Alexakis (Everclear)
• Joey Allen (Warrant)
• Paul Allender (Cradle of Filth)
• Duane Allman (The Allman Brothers Band)
• Lee Altus (Exodus, Heathen)
• Dave Amato (REO Speedwagon)
• Christopher Amott (Arch Enemy, Armageddon, Dark Tranquillity)
• Michael Amott (Arch Enemy, Carcass)
• Trey Anastasio (Phish)
• Al Anderson (Bob Marley and the Wailers)
• Emma Anderson (Lush)
• Rusty Anderson (Paul McCartney)
• Christian Andreu (Gojira)
• Apostolis Anthimos (SBB)
• Daniel Antonsson (Dimension Zero, Soilwork)
• Redouane Aouameur
• Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day, Pinhead Gunpowder)
• Tim Armstrong (Operation Ivy, Transplants, Rancid)
• Rob Arnold (Chimaira)
• DJ Ashba (Sixx:A.M., Guns N' Roses)
• Ron Asheton (The Stooges)
• Chet Atkins
• Berton Averre (The Knack)

B

Jeff Beck, 1979

Chuck Berry, 1987

Carrie Brownstein at Coachella, 2012

• Ayub Bachchu (Love Runs Blind)
• Randy Bachman (The Guess Who, Bachman–Turner Overdrive)
• Dave Bainbridge (Iona)
• Dave Baksh (Sum 41, Brown Brigade)
• Russ Ballard (Argent)
• Terry Balsamo (Evanescence)
• Perry Bamonte (The Cure)
• Peter Banks (Yes, Flash)
• Carl Barat (The Libertines, Dirty Pretty Things)
• Marcelo Barbosa (Angra)
• Martin Barre (Jethro Tull)
• Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd)
• Steve Bartek (Oingo Boingo)
• Michael Angelo Batio
• Reb Beach (Winger, Dokken, Whitesnake)
• Norman Beaker
• Corey Beaulieu (Trivium)
• Jan Bechtum
• Jeff Beck (The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group, Beck, Bogert & Appice)
• Jason Becker (David Lee Roth, Cacophony)
• Franny Beecher (Bill Haley & His Comets)
• Adrian Belew
• Andy Bell (Ride, Hurricane #1, Oasis, Beady Eye)
• Carl Bell (Fuel)
• Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy)
• Matthew Bellamy (Muse)
• George Benson
• Chuck Berry
• Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme, Rihanna)
• Dickey Betts (The Allman Brothers Band)
• Jason Bieler (Saigon Kick)
• Simon Binks (Australian Crawl)
• Jón Þór Birgisson (Sigur Rós)
• Anders Björler (At the Gates, The Haunted)
• Ira Black (Vio-lence)
• Frank Blackfire (Kreator, Sodom)
• Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmore's Night)
• Doug Blair (W.A.S.P.)
• Nate Blasdell (I Set My Friends on Fire)
• Mike Bloomfield
• Marc Bolan (T. Rex)
• Tommy Bolin (Zephyr, The James Gang, Deep Purple)
• Joe Bonamassa
• D. Boon (Minutemen)
• Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit, Black Light Burns)
• Johnny Borrell (Razorlight)
• Carlton Bost (Orgy)
• Tony Bourge (Budgie)
• Mick Box (Uriah Heep)
• James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers)
• Tony Bradley (The Distillers, Spinnerette)
• Vito Bratta (White Lion)
• Creed Bratton (The Grass Roots)
• Chris Broderick (Megadeth, Nevermore, Jag Panzer)
• Devin Bronson
• Joel Bogen (Toyah)
• Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney)
• Ben Bruce (Asking Alexandria)
• Roy Buchanan
• Peter Buck (R.E.M.)
• Rob Buck (10,000 Maniacs)
• Buckethead (Praxis, Guns N' Roses, C2B3)
• Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac)
• Jonny Buckland (Coldplay)
• Bumblefoot (Guns N' Roses)
• Vinny Burns (Ten)
• James Burton
• John Butler (The John Butler Trio)
• Glen Buxton (Alice Cooper)
• Roddy Byers (The Specials)

C

Eric Clapton, 1975

• Ernie C (Body Count)
• Charlotte Caffey (The Go-Go's)
• Al Caiola
• Randy California (Spirit)
• Toy Caldwell (The Marshall Tucker Band),
• Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) ^[1]
• Phil Campbell (Motörhead)
• Vivian Campbell (Dio, Whitesnake, Def Leppard)
• Mike Campese
• Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)
• Captain Sensible (The Damned)
• Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional)
• Perfecto de Castro (Rivermaya)
• Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot)
• Danny Cedrone (Bill Haley & His Comets)
• Gustavo Cerati (Soda Stereo)
• Nic Cester (Jet)
• Ross Childress (Collective Soul)
• Charlie Christian
• John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Dinosaurs)
• Eric Clapton (The Yardbirds, Cream, Derek and the Dominos)
• Gary Clark Jr.
• Steve Clark (Def Leppard)
• "Fast" Eddie Clarke (Motörhead)
• Dave "Clem" Clempson (Colosseum, Humble Pie)
• Michael Clifford (5 Seconds of Summer)
• Nels Cline (Nels Cline Trio, The Nels Cline Singers, Banyan, Wilco)
• Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
• Phil Collen (Def Leppard)
• Albert Collins
• Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
• Nathan Connolly (Snow Patrol)
• Ry Cooder
• Kyle Cook (Matchbox Twenty)
• Rusty Cooley
• John Corabi (Ratt)
• Lanny Cordola (Giuffria, House of Lords, Magdalen)
• Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)
• Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers)
• Graham Coxon (Blur)
• Robert Cray
• Paul Crook (Anthrax, Sebastian Bach, Meat Loaf, Marya Roxx)
• Steve Cropper (Booker T. & the M.G.'s)
• Robbin Crosby (Ratt)
• Rivers Cuomo (Weezer)
• Marcos Curiel (P.O.D.)

D

• Denis D'Amour (Voivod)
• Dick Dale
• Brody Dalle (The Distillers, Spinnerette)
• Adam "Nergal" Darski (Behemoth)
• Dave Davies (The Kinks)
• Mahyar Dean (Angband)
• Paul Dean (Loverboy)
• Gene Deer
• Chris DeGarmo (Queensrÿche)
• Isaac Delahaye (Epica)
• Tiago Della Vega
• Dean DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots)
• Tom DeLonge (Blink-182, Box Car Racer, Angels & Airwaves)
• Brad Delson (Linkin Park)
• Warren DeMartini (Ratt)
• Leonard Dembo
• Phil Demmel (Machine Head, Vio-lence)
• Britt "Lightning" Denaro (Vixen)
• Rick Derringer (The McCoys, Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter)
• C.C. DeVille (Poison)
• Don Devore (Amazing Baby)
• Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult)
• Al Di Meola (Go)
• Bo Diddley
• Carl Dixon
• Ian D'Sa (Billy Talent)
• Dave Dobbyn (Th' Dudes, DD Smash)
• Joe Dolce
• Dan Donegan (Disturbed)
• Abbath Doom Occulta (Immortal, I)
• Dr. Know (Bad Brains)
• OL Drake (Evile)
• Jake Dreyer (Iced Earth)
• Oscar Dronjak (Ceremonial Oath)
• Glen Drover (King Diamond, Megadeth, Eidolon)
• Billy Duffy (The Cult)
• Jeff "Mantas" Dunn (Venom)
• Bob Dylan
• Teddy Diaz (The Dawn)
• Perf De Castro (Rivermaya)

E

The Edge, 2005

• Ronnie Earl
• Elliot Easton (The Cars)
• Duane Eddy
• The Edge (U2)
• Lu Edmonds (Public Image Limited)
• Nokie Edwards (The Ventures)
• Mike Einziger (Incubus)
• Tripp Eisen (Dope, Static-X)
• Tinsley Ellis
• Stefan Elmgren (HammerFall)
• Matt Embree (The Sound Of Animals Fighting, Rx Bandits)
• Tommy Emmanuel
• Rik Emmett (Triumph)
• Niklas Engelin
• Thomas Erak (The Fall Of Troy)
• Eric Erlandson (Hole, RRIICCEE)
• Kevin Eubanks (The Tonight Show Band)
• Mike Elgar (Rivermaya)

F

• Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad)
• Tim Farriss (INXS)
• Josh Farro (Paramore)
• Don Felder (The Eagles)
• Neil Finn (Split Enz, Crowded House, Finn Brothers)
• Roger Fisher (Heart)
• Vic Flick (John Barry Seven)
• John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
• Lita Ford (The Runaways) ^[1]
• Jon Foreman (Switchfoot)
• Dave Fortman (Ugly Kid Joe)
• Oz Fox (Stryper)
• Peter Frampton (Humble Pie)
• Bruce Franklin (Trouble)
• Lars Frederiksen (Rancid)
• Ace Frehley (Kiss)
• Glenn Frey (The Eagles)
• Marty Friedman (Megadeth, Cacophony)
• Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
• Fred Frith
• Bill Frisell
• John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
• Vim Fuego (Bad News)
• Koichi Fukuda (Static-X)
• Jim Fuller (Surfaris)

G

• Gus G. (Dream Evil, Firewind, Nightrage, Ozzy Osbourne)
• Steve Gaines (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
• Galder (Dimmu Borgir)
• Noel Gallagher (Oasis)
• Rory Gallagher
• Anthony Gallo (Suicidal Tendencies)
• Cliff Gallup
• Frank Gambale (Chick Corea Elektric Band)
• Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
• Roopam Garg
• Kyle Gass (Tenacious D)
• Synyster Gates (Avenged Sevenfold, Pinkly Smooth)
• Björn Gelotte (In Flames)
• Rocky George (Cro-Mags, Suicidal Tendencies)
• Janick Gers (Iron Maiden)
• Sascha Gerstner (Helloween, ex-Freedom Call)
• Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
• Chad Gilbert (New Found Glory)
• Paul Gilbert (Racer X, Mr. Big)
• Vince Gill
• Brad Gillis (Night Ranger, Ozzy Osbourne)
• David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
• Greg Ginn (Black Flag)
• Hamish Glencross (My Dying Bride)
• Craig Goldy (Giuffria, Dio, Rough Cutt)
• Matt Good (From First to Last)
• Myles Goodwyn (April Wine)
• Pier Gonella (Mastercastle-Necrodeath)
• Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy, 21 Guns)
• The Great Kat
• Gary Green (Gentle Giant)
• Grant Green
• Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
• Brian Greenway (April Wine, Mashmakhan)
• Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead, The Smile)
• Luther Grosvenor (Spooky Tooth, Mott the Hoople)
• Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns, Brides of Destruction, Contraband)
• Buddy Guy

H

Merle Haggard, 2009

PJ Harvey, 2011

Jimi Hendrix, 1967

• Steve Hackett (Genesis)
• Merle Haggard
• Danielle Haim (Haim)
• Ollie Halsall (Patto, Tempest)
• Kirk Hammett (Exodus, Metallica)
• Albert Hammond, Jr. (The Strokes)
• Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
• Kai Hansen (Helloween, Gamma Ray)
• Blake Harnage (VersaEmerge)
• George Harrison (The Beatles, Traveling Wilburys)
• PJ Harvey
• Juliana Hatfield
• Dan Hawkins (The Darkness, Stone Gods)
• Justin Hawkins (The Darkness)
• Pete Haycock (Climax Blues Band)
• Warren Haynes (The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule)
• Justin Hayward (The Moody Blues)
• Eddie Hazel (Parliament-Funkadelic)
• Jeff Healey
• Helmuth
• Jimi Hendrix
• Leon Hendrix
• Jimmy Herring (Widespread Panic)
• Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks, Bad Religion)
• Tony Hicks (The Hollies)
• hide (X Japan)
• Dave Hill (Slade)
• Brent Hinds (Mastodon)
• Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss)
• Hisashi (Glay)
• Hizaki (Versailles, Jupiter)
• Terrance Hobbs (Suffocation)
• Gary Hoey
• Wolf Hoffmann (Accept)
• Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles)
• Randy Holden
• Allan Holdsworth
• Buddy Holly
• Esa Holopainen (Amorphis)
• Gary Holt (Exodus)
• Jason Hook (Five Finger Death Punch)
• John Lee Hooker
• Matt Hoopes (Relient K)
• Jerry Horton (Papa Roach)
• Tomoyasu Hotei (Boøwy, Complex)
• Jimmy Hotz
• Rowland S. Howard
• Steve Howe (Yes, Asia)
• Bill Hudson (Cellador, Power Quest)
• Jon Hume (Evermore)
• Charlie Hunter

I

Tony Iommi, 2009

• Chris Impellitteri
• Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell)
• Ernie Isley (The Isley Brothers)
• Poison Ivy (The Cramps)
• Izzy Stradlin (Guns N' Roses)
• Kenneth Ilagan (The Dawn)

J

• Matthias Jabs (Scorpions)
• Ramon Jacinto
• Tito Jackson (The Jackson 5)
• Jakko M. Jakszyk
• Colin James
• Ron Jarzombek (Watchtower, Spastic Ink, Blotted Science)
• John 5
• Bob Johnson (Steeleye Span)
• Eric Johnson
• Kelly Johnson (Girlschool)
• Lonnie Johnson
• Wilko Johnson (Dr Feelgood)
• Ruud Jolie (Within Temptation)
• Kevin Jonas (Jonas Brothers)
• Adam Jones (Tool)
• Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones)
• Danny Jones (McFly)
• Mick Jones (The Clash)
• Mick Jones (Foreigner, Spooky Tooth)
• Steve Jones (Sex Pistols)
• Stanley Jordan
• Tyler Joseph (Twenty One Pilots)

K

B.B. King, 1985

Kerry King, 2012

Rocky Kramer performing live in 2018

• Kapil Srivastava
• Alex Kapranos (Franz Ferdinand)
• Terry Kath (Chicago)
• Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna)
• Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group)
• Phil Keaggy (Glass Harp)
• Tom Keifer (Cinderella)
• Tim Kelly (Slaughter)
• Ken (L'Arc-en-Ciel)
• Alan Kendall (The Bee Gees)
• Myles Kennedy (The Mayfield Four)
• Albert King
• B. B. King
• Ben King (The Yardbirds)
• Ed King (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Strawberry Alarm Clock)
• Kerry King (Slayer)
• Danny Kirwan (Fleetwood Mac)
• Andreas Kisser (Sepultura)
• Josh Klinghoffer (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
• Bob Klose (Pink Floyd)
• Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
• Kaan Korad
• Joel Kosche (Collective Soul)
• Paul Kossoff (Free)
• Richie Kotzen
• Ivan Kral
• Rocky Kramer
• Wayne Kramer (MC5)
• Robby Krieger (The Doors)
• Richard Kruspe (Rammstein)
• Tad Kubler
• Jan Kuehnemund (Vixen)
• Bruce Kulick (Kiss)

L

• Bernie LaBarge (David Clayton-Thomas)
• Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom, Bodom After Midnight)
• Greg Lake (Emerson Lake & Palmer, King Crimson)
• Larry LaLonde (Possessed, Primus)
• Sonny Landreth
• Shawn Lane
• Jonny Lang
• Andy LaRocque (King Diamond)
• Andrew Latimer (Camel)
• Ronni Le Tekrø (TNT)
• Bernie Leadon (The Eagles)
• Alvin Lee (Ten Years After)
• Jake E. Lee (Ozzy Osbourne, Badlands)
• Duke Levine
• Matty Lewis (Zebrahead)
• Herman Li (DragonForce)
• Alex Lifeson (Rush)
• Jani Liimatainen (Sonata Arctica, Altaria)
• Peter Lindgren (Opeth)
• Rudy Linka
• Lori Linstruth
• James Litherland (Colosseum, Mogul Thrash)
• Kerry Livgren (Kansas)
• Glenn Ljungström (In Flames, HammerFall)
• Nils Lofgren (E Street Band)
• Karl Logan (Manowar)
• Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy, Nevermore)
• César "Vampiro" López (Maná, Azul Violeta, Jaguares)
• Kiko Loureiro (Megadeth, Angra)
• Clint Lowery (Sevendust)
• Arjen Anthony Lucassen
• Paco de Lucía
• Jens Ludwig (Edguy)
• Steve Lukather (Toto)
• George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob)
• Steve Lynch (Autograph)
• Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra)

M

Gary Moore, 2010

• Tony MacAlpine
• Lonnie Mack
• Brian "Too Loud" MacLeod (Chilliwack, Headpins)
• Logan Mader (Once Human, Soulfly, Machine Head)
• Wolf Mail
• Daron Malakian (System of a Down, Scars on Broadway)
• Yngwie Malmsteen
• Christofer Malmström
• Misha Mansoor (Periphery)
• Kee Marcello (Europe)
• Frank Marino (Mahogany Rush)
• Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
• Steve Marriott (Small Faces, Humble Pie)
• Mick Mars (Mötley Crüe)
• Vince Martell (Vanilla Fudge)
• Billy Martin (Good Charlotte)
• Jim Martin (Faith No More)
• Hank Marvin (The Shadows)
• Junior Marvin (Bob Marley and The Wailers)
• J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr)
• Hideto Matsumoto (X Japan)
• Tak Matsumoto (B'z)
• Brian May (Queen)
• John Mayer (John Mayer Trio, Dead & Company)
• Nick McCabe (The Verve)
• Andy McCoy (Hanoi Rocks)
• Mike McCready (Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog, Mad Season)
• Jimmy McCulloch (Wings, Thunderclap Newman, Stone the Crows, Small Faces, The Dukes)
• Roger McGuinn (The Byrds)
• John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra, Shakti)
• Richard McNamara (Embrace)
• Tony McPhee (The Groundhogs)
• Siouxsie Medley (Dead Sara)
• Mickey "Deen Ween" Melchiondo (Ween)
• Michelle Meldrum (Phantom Blue, Meldrum)
• Barry Melton (Country Joe & The Fish)
• Vince Melouney (Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, The Bee Gees)
• Dave Meniketti (Y&T)
• Jim Messina (Poco, Buffalo Springfield, Loggins and Messina)
• Naser Mestarihi
• Pat Metheny
• Phil Miller
• Steve Miller
• Brian Molko (Placebo)
• Wes Montgomery
• Ronnie Montrose (Montrose, Gamma)
• Ben Moody (Evanescence)
• Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy)
• Scotty Moore
• Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth)
• Vinnie Moore (UFO)
• Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave)
• Sterling Morrison (The Velvet Underground)
• Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse Band, Deep Purple)
• Ian Moss (Cold Chisel)
• Jason Moss (Cherry Poppin' Daddies)
• Bob Mothersbaugh (Devo)
• Cameron Muncey (Jet)
• Christian Münzner (Obscura)
• Billy Mure
• James Murphy (Obituary)
• Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
• Dave Mustaine (Megadeth, Metallica)
• Zach Myers (Shinedown)
• Gary Myrick (Havana 3am)

N

Dave Navarro, Santa Barbara 2008

• Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers)
• Mike Ness (Social Distortion)
• Craig Nicholls (The Vines)
• Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick)
• Jon Nödtveidt (Dissection)
• John Nolan (Taking Back Sunday)
• Noodle (Gorillaz)
• Noodles (The Offspring)
• Pontus Norgren (The Poodles, HammerFall)
• John Norum (Europe)
• Ted Nugent (Amboy Dukes, Damn Yankees)
• Anders Nyström (Katatonia, Bloodbath)

O

Pat O'Brien performing live with Cannibal Corpse.

• Jus Oborn (Electric Wizard)
• Ed O'Brien (Radiohead)
• Pat O'Brien (Cannibal Corpse, Nevermore, Exhorder)
• Eddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister)
• Dave Odlum (The Frames)
• André Olbrich (Blind Guardian)
• Mike Oldfield
• Criss Oliva (Savatage)
• Juan Francisco Ordóñez
• Buzz Osborne (Melvins)

P

Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin playing double-necked guitar onstage in 1973

• Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds, The Firm)
• Clive Painter (Broken Dog, The 99 Call, Tram, The Real Tuesday Weld)
• Brad Paisley
• Orianthi Panagaris
• Joe Pass
• Les Paul
• Michal Pavlíček
• Axel Rudi Pell
• Tony Peluso (The Carpenters)
• Carl Perkins
• Luther Perkins (Johnny Cash)
• Joe Perry (Aerosmith, The Joe Perry Project)
• Vicki Peterson (The Bangles)
• John Petrucci (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment)
• Anthony Phillips (Genesis)
• Matt Pike (Sleep, High on Fire)
• Jake Pitts (Black Veil Brides)
• Sergio Pizzorno (Kasabian)
• Dean Pleasants (Suicidal Tendencies)
• Chris Poland (Megadeth)
• Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash)
• Prince
• Rod Price (Foghat)
• Jade Puget (AFI)

R

Django Reinhardt

Keith Richards, 1982

• Roddy Radiation (The Specials)
• Mick Ralphs (Bad Company, Mott the Hoople)
• Larry Ramos (The Association)
• Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth)
• Chris Rea
• Jerry Reed
• Lou Reed (The Velvet Underground)
• Vernon Reid (Living Colour)
• Django Reinhardt
• Arthur Rhames
• Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne)
• Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)
• Gary Richrath (REO Speedwagon)
• Henjo Richter (Gamma Ray)
• Michael Ricketts
• Chris Risola (Steelheart)
• Marc Rizzo (Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy, Ill Niño)
• Jason Roberts (Norah Jones, Hymns, The Candles)
• Darrell Roberts (Five Finger Death Punch)
• Allison Robertson (The Donnas)
• Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy, Motörhead)
• Robbie Robertson (The Band)
• Janet Robin
• Omar Rodríguez-López (At the Drive-In, Mars Volta)
• Tony Rombola (Godsmack, Another Animal)
• Michael Romeo (Symphony X)
• Mick Ronson (David Bowie)
• Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts)
• Ryan Ross (Panic! at the Disco)
• Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
• Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
• Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions)
• Steve Rothery (Marillion, The Wishing Tree)
• Erik Rutan (Ripping Corpse, Morbid Angel, Hate Eternal, Cannibal Corpse)
• Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls)
• Francis Reyes (The Dawn)

S

• Dave "The Snake" Sabo (Skid Row)
• Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi)
• Karl Sanders (Nile)
• Justin Sane (Anti-Flag)
• Carlos Santana (Santana)
• Joey Santiago (Pixies)
• Ralph Santolla (Obituary, Deicide)
• Satchel (Steel Panther)
• Joe Satriani
• Matt Scannell (Vertical Horizon)
• Michael Schenker (Scorpions, UFO, Michael Schenker Group, Contraband)
• Tom Scholz (Boston)
• Neal Schon (Journey)
• Jeff Schroeder (The Smashing Pumpkins)
• Chuck Schuldiner (Death, Control Denied)
• John Scofield
• Andy Scott (Sweet)
• Keith Scott (Bryan Adams)
• Tim Scott
• Sek Loso (Loso)
• Darius Semaña (Parokya ni Edgar)
• Brian Setzer (The Stray Cats)
• Charlie Sexton (Charlie Sexton)
• James "Munky" Shaffer (Korn)
• Dave Sharman
• Todd Sharpville
• Sonny Sharrock
• Kenny Wayne Shepherd
• Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine)
• Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters)
• George Shuffler (The Stanley Brothers)
• Charlie Simpson (Fightstar, Busted)
• Sami Sirviö (Kent)
• Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio)
• Alex Skolnick (Testament, Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
• Skwisgaar Skwigelf (Dethklok)
• Slash (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, Slash's Snakepit)
• Martin Slattery (The Mescaleros)
• Earl Slick
• Hillel Slovak (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
• Brendon Small (Dethklok)
• Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
• Fred "Sonic" Smith (MC-5)
• Robert Smith (The Cure)
• Bruce Springsteen (E Street Band)
• Billy Squier
• John Squire (The Stone Roses, The Seahorses)
• Mark St. John (Kiss)
• Bill Steer (Carcass)
• Leigh Stephens (Blue Cheer, Sister Ray)
• Steve Stevens (Billy Idol)
• Travis Stever (Coheed and Cambria)
• Gina Stile (Vixen)
• Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) ^[1]
• Barry Stock (Three Days Grace)
• Andrew Stockdale (Wolfmother)
• Nita Strauss (The Iron Maidens, Femme Fatale)
• Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy)
• Sugizo (Luna Sea, X Japan)
• Frankie Sullivan (Survivor)
• Tim Sult (Clutch)
• Hubert Sumlin
• Andy Summers (The Police)
• Bernard Sumner (Joy Division, New Order)
• Niklas Sundin (Dark Tranquillity)
• Roman Surman (Wednesday 13, Murderdolls)
• Michael Sweet (Stryper)
• John Sykes (Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake)
• Red Symons (Skyhooks)
• Syu (Galneryus, Animetal)

T

• Ty Tabor (King's X)
• Joey Tafolla
• Akira Takasaki (Loudness)
• Marv Tarplin (Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Smokey Robinson)
• Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
• Mick Taylor (John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, The Rolling Stones)
• Bobby Tench (Streetwalkers, Hummingbird, Van Morrison, Topper Headon)
• Octave Octavian Teodorescu
• Thomas Thacker (Sum 41)
• Tommy Thayer (Black 'N' Blue, Kiss)
• Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
• Hughie Thomasson (Outlaws)
• Mick Thomson (Slipknot)
• Porl Thompson (The Cure)
• Richard Thompson
• Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah)
• George Thorogood
• Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls, The Heartbreakers)
• Steve Tibbetts
• Andy Timmons (Danger Danger)
• Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
• Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius)
• Simon Tong (The Verve, The Shining, The Good, the Bad & the Queen)
• Ray Toro (My Chemical Romance)
• Sam Totman (DragonForce)
• Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad)
• Pete Townshend (The Who)
• Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge, Creed)
• Greg Tribbett (Mudvayne, Hellyeah)
• Joe Trohman (Fall Out Boy)
• Robin Trower (Procol Harum)
• Derek Trucks (The Allman Brothers Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band)
• Nigel Tufnel (Lenny and the Squigtones, Spinal Tap)
• Luca Turilli
• Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys)
• Steve Turner (Mudhoney)
• Ted Turner (Wishbone Ash)

U

• Keith Urban

V

• Steve Vai
• Nick Valensi (The Strokes)
• James Valentine (Maroon 5)
• Sergio Vallín (Maná)
• Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
• Troy Van Leeuwen (Queens of the Stone Age)
• Steve Van Zandt (E Street Band)
• Adrian Vandenberg (Vandenberg, Whitesnake, Manic Eden)
• Jimmie Vaughan
• Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Suzanne Vega
• Tom Verlaine (Television)
• Jacky Vincent (Falling in Reverse)
• Vinnie Vincent (Kiss)
• Virus (Dope, Lords of Acid, Device)
• Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein (Misfits, Kryst The Conqueror, Gorgeous Frankenstein)
• Emppu Vuorinen (Nightwish)

W

• Paul Waggoner (Between the Buried and Me)
• Dick Wagner
• Butch Walker (SouthGang)
• Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie)
• Joe Walsh (James Gang, The Eagles)
• Rich Ward (Stuck Mojo, Fozzy)
• Steve Wariner
• Baz Warne (The Stranglers)
• Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman (The Offspring)
• Jeff Waters (Annihilator)
• Muddy Waters
• Jeff Watson (Night Ranger)
• Mike Wead (King Diamond)
• Chris Weber (Hollywood Rose, U.P.O.)
• Michael Weikath (Helloween)
• Carl Weingarten
• Ben Weinman (The Dillinger Escape Plan)
• Scott Weinrich (The Obsessed)
• Brian "Head" Welch (Korn)
• Paul Weller (The Jam, The Style Council)
• Allen West (Obituary)
• Leslie West (Mountain)
• Bob Weston (Fleetwood Mac)
• Emil Werstler (Chimaira, Dååth)
• Alex Westaway (Fightstar)
• Deryck Whibley (Sum 41)
• Andrew White (Kaiser Chiefs)
• Clarence White (The Kentucky Colonels, Nashville West, The Byrds)
• Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs)
• Jason White (Green Day, Foxboro Hot Tubs)
• John "Charlie" Whitney (Family, Streetwalkers)
• Snowy White (Thin Lizzy)
• Peter Wichers (Soilwork)
• Carl Wilson (The Beach Boys)
• Nancy Wilson (Heart)
• Ricky Wilson (The B-52's)
• Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree)
• Michael Wilton (Queensrÿche)
• Johnny Winter
• Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek (Vader)
• Ronnie Wood (The Faces, The Rolling Stones)
• Link Wray
• Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society)

Y

• Jim Yester (The Association)
• Sami Yli-Sirniö (Kreator)
• Angus Young (AC/DC)
• James Young (Styx)
• Jeff Young (Megadeth)
• Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)
• Thomas Youngblood (Kamelot)

Z

• Dweezil Zappa
• Frank Zappa
• John Zwetsloot (The Haunted)

References

1. "The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2024-02-28.