List of guitarists
The following are famous guitarists, mostly in the fields of metal, rock, and jazz.
Please note that those that are known mainly as famous bass guitarists are listed separately under Famous Rock, Metal, and/or Jazz Bass Guitarists.
 | This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
A
- Ace Andres (The X-15's)
- Jan Akkerman (Focus)
- Duane Allman (Allman Brothers Band)
- Carlos Alomar
- Trey Anastasio (Phish)
- John Andrew Estimated Time Of Arrival, ATA
- Michael Angelo Batio
- Magnus Andersson
- Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)
- Peter Asher (Peter and Gordon)
- Ron Asheton (The Stooges)
- Chet Atkins
B
- Randy Bachman (Bachman-Turner Overdrive)
- David Ball (Soft Cell)
- Perry Bamonte (The Cure)
- Paul Banks (Interpol)
- Martin Barre (Jethro Tull)
- Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd)
- Sam Bass (FOUR REQUIEMS ETCHED)
- Roland Bautista (original Earth, Wind, & Fire guitarist, rejoind group from 1981-1983)
- Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers)
- Brendan Bayliss (Umphrey's McGee)
- Reb Beach (Winger)
- Jeff Beck (The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group)
- Jason Becker (Cacophony, David Lee Roth)
- Joe Becker
- Adrian Belew
- Matt Bellamy (Muse)
- Chuck Berry
- John Berry (Jacob's Dream)
- Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme)
- Dickie Betts(The Allman Brothers)
- Kat Bjelland (Babes in Toyland)
- Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow)
- Mike Bloomfield
- Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi)
- Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit)
- James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers)
- Michelle Branch
- Michael Bruce(The original Alice Cooper band)
- Duff McKagen (Guns N' Roses)
- Luke Buckler (Alpha Centuri)
- Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac)
- Jonathan Butler
- Glen Buxton (The original Alice Cooper band)
- Brandan Buxton
C
- John Cafferty (Soundtrack for Eddie and the Cruisers)
- Chris Caffery (Savatage)
- Randy California (Spirit)
- Glen Campbell
- Phil Campbell (Motörhead)
- Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)
- Cletis Carr {Sneakers}, {Hillbilly Moon}, {Big Whiskey}
- Justin "KID" Carluccio (The Cinder Blocks)
- Al Casey
- Philip Catherine
- Eugene Chadbourne
- Bill Champlin (The Sons of Champlin)
- Chill and Zac
- John Christ (Danzig)
- Jake Cinninger (Umphrey's McGee)
- Eric Clapton (John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds, Cream)
- Steve Clark (Def Leppard)
- "Fast" Eddie Clarke (Motörhead)
- Gilby Clarke (Guns N' Roses)
- Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
- Eddie Cochran
- Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
- Marco Comandè
- Ry Cooder (Captain Beefheart, The Seeds)
- Gaz Coombes (Supergrass)
- Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)
- Larry Coryell
- Robert Cray
- Simon Croft
- Steve "The Colonel" Cropper (Mar-Keys)´
- Viorel Costin (Buricul Pamantului)
D
- Donnie Dacus
- Dick Dale
- Brody Dalle (The Distillers)
- Jean Pierre Danel
- Glenn Danzig (Danzig)
- Brad Delson (Linkin Park)
- Dimebag Darrell (Pantera, Damageplan)
- Lenny Davidson (The Dave Clark Five)
- Dave Davies (The Kinks)
- Ray Davies (The Kinks)
- Justin DeCarluccio (The Cinder Blocks)
- Bo Diddley
- Mike Dirnt (Green Day)
- K.K. Downing (Judas Priest)
- Paul Dye
F
- Nick Falcon (The Young Werewolves)
- Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails, Guns N' Roses)
- Jon Finn (Jon Finn Group)
- John Flansburgh (They Might Be Giants)
- John Floy
- John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
- Tom Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
- Lita Ford (The Runaways)
- Robben Ford
- Chris Foreman (Madness)
- Richard Fortus (Pale Divine, Psychedelic Furs, Love Spit Love, Guns N' Roses)
- Peter Frampton (The Herd)
- Ace Frehley (KISS)
- Matthew Friedberger (The Fiery Furnaces)
- Marty Friedman (Megadeth, Cacophony)
- Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
- John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Bobby Fuller (The Bobby Fuller Four)
david ortega
G
- Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead)
- Noel Gallagher (Oasis)
- Rory Gallagher
- Frank Gambale
- Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
- Danny Gatton
- Andy Gibb
- Barry Gibb (The Bee Gees)
- Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
- Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X)
- David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
- Greg Ginn (Black Flag)
- Bobby Gonzales
- Stone Gossard (Green River, Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog, Pearl Jam)
- Mick Grabham (Procol Harum)
- Valeri Gradinarski (LZ)
- Johnny Graham (Earth, Wind, & Fire); (Solo Artist)
- Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
- Steve Green (play dead) (Play Dead)
- Carl Johan Grimmark (Narnia, Rob Rock, Saviour Machine)
- Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns, Guns N' Roses, Brides Of Destruction)
- Buddy Guy
- Synyster Gates (Avenged Sevenfold)
- Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy)
H
- Steve Hackett (Genesis and solo work)
- Chuck Hammer (Lou Reed, David Bowie, Guitarchitecture)
- Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
- Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray)
- Joel Hanson (PFR)
- Dhani Harrison
- George Harrison (The Beatles)
- Justin Hayward (The Moody Blues)
- Michael Hedges
- Jim "Reverend Horton" Heath
- Jimi Hendrix (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
- James Hetfield (Metallica)
- James Hogan
- Buddy Holly
- Joshua Homme (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age)
- James Honeyman-Scott (The Pretenders)
- Michael Houser (Widespread Panic)
- Greg Howe
- Steve Howe (Yes)
- Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders)
- Hide (X Japan) R.I.P 1964 - 1998
- Billy Howerdel (A Perfect Circle)
I
- James Iha (The Smashing Pumpkins)
- Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
- Scott Ian (Anthrax)
- Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance)
J
- Michael Jackson (HIStory, Invincible)
- Tito Jackson (The Jackson 5)
- Dan Jacobs (Atreyu)
- Al Jardine (The Beach Boys)
- Kallen Jenkin (Stolen Image)
- Joan Jett (The Runaways)
- John 5 (Marilyn Manson) - Now plays instrumental music without Manson
- Eric Johnson (Mariani, The Electromagnets)
- Robert Johnson
- Adam Jones (Tool)
- Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones)
- Mick Jones (Foreigner)
- Mick Jones (The Clash)
- Steve Jones (Sex Pistols)
- Janick Gers (Iron Maiden)
- Billie Joe (Green Day)
K
- Alex Kapranos (Franz Ferdinand)
- Dr Nico Kasanda
- Terry Kath (Chicago)
- Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane)
- Ryo Kawasaki
- Phil Keaggy
- Daniel Kessler (Interpol)
- Albert King
- B.B. King
- Freddie King
- Ken Kitamura (L'Arc~en~Ciel)
- Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
- Richie Kotzen
- Wayne Kramer (MC5)
- Robby Krieger (The Doors)
- Chad Kroeger (Nickelback)
- Richard Kruspe-Bernstein (Rammstein)
- Bruce Kulick (KISS)
L
- Shawn Lane
- Ler LaLonde (Primus)
- Paul Landers (Rammstein)
- Luis Larrate (Boiling Point)
- Grégory Leclair
- Albert Lee
- Alvin Lee (Jaybirds, Ten Years After)
- Gary Lenaire (Tourniquet)
- John Lennon (The Beatles)
- Julian Lennon
- Sean Lennon
- Tweke Lewis (Man, Wild Turkey)
- Ottmar Liebert
- Alex Lifeson (Rush)
- Richard Lloyd (Television)
- Chuck Loeb
- Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (The Mars Volta)
- Steve Lukather (Toto)
- Rein "Undertaker" Luhtaru (Bloody Cunt)
- George Lynch (Dokken}
- Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom)
- Russell Lissack (Bloc Party)
M
- Mick Mars (Motley Crue)
- Kawabata Makoto
- Miguel Magbanua aka Migzii (boiling point)
- Stephen Malkmus (Pavement)
- Yngwie J. Malmsteen
- Kee Marcello (Europe)
- Frank Marino (Mahogany Rush)
- Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
- Gerry Marsden (Gerry and the Pacemakers)
- Grady Martin
- Brian May (Queen)
- John Mayer
- Carlo Marchione
- J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr)
- Ananiah McCarrell
- Nick McCarthy (Franz Ferdinand)
- Paul McCartney
- Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
- Roger McGuinn (The Byrds)
- Al McKay (Earth, Wind, & Fire), (L.A. All Stars)
- Pat Metheny (Pat Metheny Group)
- Dan Miller (They Might Be Giants)
- Ben Mink
- Kim Mitchell
- Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy, Skid Row)
- Greg "G-Mo" Moore (Earth, Wind, & Fire)
- Scotty Moore
- Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth)
- Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave)
- Sterling Morrison (The Velvet Underground)
- Jonathan Morse
- Steve Morse (Deep Purple)
- James Murphy (Death, Testament)
- Matt "Guitar" Murphy
- Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
- Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
- Daron Malakian (System of a Down)
- Victoria Matute (Ghar)
- Luke Milosev
- Mat Martin (TRANSITION)
N
- Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Rich Neagle (Jasta 14, Captain Fantastic, Broken, The Riddle of Steel)
- Ricky Nelson
- Jon Noble (Jacob's Dream)
- Aaron North (The Icarus Line, Nine Inch Nails)
- John Norum (Europe, Dokken)
- Krist Novoselic (Nirvana)
- Ted Nugent (The Amboy Dukes, Damn Yankees)
O
P
- Jimmy Page (The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin)
- Joe Pass
- Ryan Peake (Nickelback)
- Carl Perkins
- Joe Perry (Aerosmith)
- Bryce Perry (Cab)
- John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
- Manfred Pfeiffer (foggY bottom)
- Andy Phillips (Maelstrom)
- Al Pitrelli (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Asia, Megadeth)
- Chris Poland (Megadeth)
- Alberto Ponce
- Elvis Presley
- Jade Puget (Redemption 87, AFI)
- Paul Gray (Slipknot)
R
- Trevor Rabin (Yes)
- Mick Ralphs (Mott the Hoople, Bad Company)
- Johnny Ramone (The Ramones)
- Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth)
- Lou Reed (The Velvet Underground)
- Vernon Reid (Living Colour)
- Rick Renstrom (Rob Rock)
- Sheldon Reynolds
- Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot)
- Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions)
- Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)
- Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser (Blue Oyster Cult)
- Allison Robertson
- Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy, Motörhead)
- Richard Rossi
- Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
- Terje Rypdal
S
- David St. Hubbins (Spinal Tap)
- Adam Sadowski (Scream Blue Murder)
- Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi)
- Carlos Santana (Santana)
- Joe Satriani
- Joe Stump
- Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth)
- Michael Schenker
- Eric Schermerhorn (David Bowie, Iggy Pop, They Might Be Giants)
- Neal Schon
- Brian Setzer (The Stray Cats)
- Del Shannon
- Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine)
- Kenny Wayne Shepherd
- Alex Skolnick (Testament, Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
- Slash (Guns N' Roses, Slash's Snakepit, Velvet Revolver)
- Hillel Slovak (Red Hot Chili Peppers, What Is This?)
- Ivan Smirnov
- Erin Smith
- Fred Sonic Smith (MC5, Sonic's Rendezvous Band)
- Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
- G.E. Smith (Hall and Oates)
- Robert Smith (The Cure)
- Donita Sparks (L7)
- John Squire (The Stone Roses)
- Keith Stalcup (Statler Brothers, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jerry Lee Lewis)
- Paul Stanley (KISS)
- Steve Stevens (Billy Idol)
- Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash snd Young)
- Izzy Stradlin' (Guns N' Roses, Ju Ju Hounds)
- Joe Strummer (The Clash)
- 'Big' Jim Sullivan
- Bernard Sumner (Joy Division, New Order)
- John Sykes
- Steve Harris (Iron Maiden)
- Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boys)
T
- Martin Taylor
- Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones)
- Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
- Johnny Thunders (The Heartbreakers)
- Porl Thompson (The Cure)
- Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention)
- Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
- Paul Tobias/Paul Huge (Guns N' Roses)
- Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius)
- Ray Toro (My Chemical Romance)
- Pete Townshend (The Who)
- Robin Trower (Procol Harum, Robin Trower Band)
- Nigel Tufnel (Spinal Tap)
- Corin Tucker (Heavens to Betsy, Sleater-Kinney)
- Luca Turilli (Rhapsody)
U
V
- Vito Bratta (White Lion)
- Steve Vai (Frank Zappa)(Alcatraz)(Whitesnake)
- Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
- Stevie Ray Vaughan (Double Trouble)
- Ritchie Valens
- Hilton Valentine (The Animals)
- Tom Verlaine (Television)
- Vinnie Vincent (KISS)
W
- Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (a-ha)
- Gordon Waller (Peter and Gordon)
- Joe Walsh (James Gang, The Eagles)
- Jim West ("Weird Al" Yankovic)
- Clarence White (The Byrds, Kentucky Colonels)
- Jack White (The White Stripes)
- Jason White backup guitarist for Green day
- Daniel Whitehouse (Maelstrom)
- John Williams
- Pete Willis (Def Leppard)
- Carl Wilson (The Beach Boys)
- Johnny Winter
- Tom Wright (Slipstream)
- Zakk Wylde
Y
Z
- Roy Z (Rob Rock, Bruce Dickinson)
- Dweezil Zappa
- Frank Zappa
- Vadim Zilberstein (current lead guitarist with Earth, Wind, & Fire)