The 10 Greatest ROCK GUITAR GODS | Ranked

[@mojobag01]

"I'm going off the subject now..." This is why I love this channel.

[@louisminati]

The real ones know Iommis Genius. Thanks for including him. Solid list !

[@Nephilim-81]

You know who was really good. Terry Kath of Chicago. Wow. That guy could really play. Sad he died way too early.

[@tommonk7651]

Great call. Kath has largely been forgotten, and it's a damn shame. He was a monster!!

[@Nephilim-81]

@@tommonk7651 yeah!! I loved his playing on Chicago 2. :) I won’t forget him.

[@davidthrower1553]

Good call…I had forgotten terry Kath in my list

[@Ventoux10]

Well said! Couldn’t believe his playing on CTA, 2, 3.

[@symphonynut3291]

I like his solo on Liberation from Chicago Transit Authority. He could really stretch out.

[@scottdouglas935]

I couldn't agree more about Ritchie Blackmore. Even just his sound is amazing. His presence is ominous. His riffs are iconic and his solos are pure art.

[@Frip36]

"and his solos are pure art." Except when they sound like guitar lesson tutorials. Which is half the time.

[@Dibbdroid]

​@@Frip36stupidity runs deep with this one

[@Frip36]

@@Dibbdroid Yeah, I can't believe I wrote that. I must have been drunk and angry because Ritchie has dumped on all my favorite guitarists. He's on of my favorite. I was picking on Highway Star solo which does sound like a tutorial. Anyway, I need to shut my face when it comes to dissing this God of a guitarist. May his rainbow rise forever.

[@richardigglesden8193]

Another great video. Thanks Andy your students probably don't realise how lucky they are to have a teacher who is so enthusiastic.

[@michaelstrong4956]

Andy, you have inspired me and a few of my musician friends to start making and debating these "best of" lists! Thank you so much...cheers, mate!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Wonderful!...its just fun really...I plan to re do these lists as time goes by...

[@ShreveportJoe]

A fine list... can't really argue with any... even though my prog favorites didn't make the list... Robert Fripp, Steve Howe, Allan Holdsworth. I suppose like Frank Zappa, who described his playing as specialized music that only appeals to certain tastes. Another great video. Keep it up.

[@frankfriedlos3721]

Glad to see Richie Blackmore up there. Anyone remember Alvin Lee? Those rippling guitar runs were sweet.

[@LorraineHinchliffe-vg5cb]

I remember Albert Lee. He was a superb Welsh guitarist.

[@majorpayne8373]

I saw Ten Years After several times. Saw Alvin solo once. One of the greats.

[@CB-xr1eg]

@@majorpayne8373 Albert Lee and Alvin Lee. 2 different guitar players.

[@gillan5]

Ten Year After live: Help Me is hair raising. Alvin is not spoken about. He was songwriter , guitar hero, singer. Best performance in Woodstock. AC/DC would be a good band if they had a singer worth listening. Otherwise it is dreadfull. Michael Schencker: give me a break. Never ever Schencker - and I am German. Having Schencker and not Alvin Lee is beyond me. Gallagher is missing. Beck and van Halen: their music partly is really dreadful to listen to.

[@OkkiePepernoot]

Alvin Lee was an innovator. He should've been on the list.

[@Panzersonor1967]

Andy totally gets it from my perspective. He recognized Schenker and leaves off Clapton. Love it.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

That's why why my top tens bring all the boys to the yard...

[@gregcable3250]

I am OK with leaving Clapton off because he is really a blues player, but with Cream he and his band invented extended playing and is MUCH more influential than any of these guys with the possible exception of Hendrix. Hendrix agreed with his manager to go to England only if he could meet EC--not Beck, not Page, not Iommi, not Blackmore, not any of those guys.

[@davedavid7061]

Well, Townsend does windmill his arm around

[@LorraineHinchliffe-vg5cb]

Peter Green was ahead of Eric Clapton, in the late 60s, in my humble opinion.

[@virgildailey1970]

Who is Schenker?

[@Dan-zq5wt]

All in all, I love Jimmy Page. As we all know, his chops in the purest sense aren’t always as clean as some of the others, but he plays with such balls, urgency and abandon live, and with such charisma (probably the most charisma of all the greats in his prime years). And then in the studio - unrivaled! I just listened to Ten Years Gone - a masterpiece among several he composed - and totally unique. But this list is awesome and on point. And I agree with your assessment of Clapton. Love Cream, but he’s Dockers Rock.

[@coltonbeatty6117]

What is this 'great studio sound' that people like you bring up all the time about Jimmy Page/LZ!?! I am asking seriously, because it doesn't sound special to me. Until reading this opinion on the internet, it never occurred to me to say anything about Led Zeppelin studio album production. I always thought they sounded bad to be honest. So PLEASE explain.

[@Dan-zq5wt]

By “people like me” do you mean Led Zeppelin fans? There are quite a few people like me on this planet. I respect your opinion, I guess it’s all subjective, but I do know the Zep sounds on their albums are widely celebrated by fans and well known musicians, and Page is the producer on those albums. I can’t really explain but I do know you’re opinion is in a minority.

[@coltonbeatty6117]

@@Dan-zq5wt So you don't know how to explain why that studio sound is special, then?

[@Dan-zq5wt]

@@coltonbeatty6117 c’mon dude. Go ask another of 100 million fans if you’re looking for a free lesson. Or ask Andy; he’s a pro and very helpful. I hope that helps, Colton Beatty.

[@coltonbeatty6117]

@@Dan-zq5wt I'll tell you this. I don't know about the 'production value', but I always listened for what the band is actually doing. That doesn't sound special to me, because the band itself sucked. Amateurish and juvenile with sub par songs mostly. I can count with one hand how many tracks from them I like- once in a while. That's pretty poor for a band as celebrated as they are. Jimmy Page was a terrible, sloppy guitarist. That guitar is not 'raw' or 'edgy' or however people like you try to spin it. It's just sloppy and weak. Percussion is on point- that's the only positive I hear. The whole band sound is thin, only three guys on instruments (mostly). Robert Plant screaming... just awful. Led Zeppelin's popularity just proves industry insiders can just shovel sh*t into young people's faces and they'll eat it up. So you can take your attempt to marginalize dislike/indifference to Zep as a minority opinion and shove it.

[@Dan-zq5wt]

Love your intro man. You get it! You have to look at the whole package because that’s what propels the guitar culture and inspires young people to play and rock out!

[@ks4545]

I'm relatively new to your channel and our tastes in music often diverge, but I've loved every single video so far and this one is an all timer!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Awesome, thank you!

[@JimmyRJump]

My top-ten: - Ritchie Blackmore - Alvin Lee - Ted Nugent - Michael Schenker - Tony Iommi - Gary Moore - David Gilmour - Alex Lifeson - Dave Meniketti - Jimmy Page

[@kendetulio4009]

Nice list

[@mattbybee5354]

Anybody leaving Alex lifeson off a guitar legend list is lost

[@dougreed2257]

Rory would blow them all away😊

[@nilsknospe4976]

- Robin Trower - Pat Travers - Frank Marino - John Nitzinger - Bugs Henderson - Frank Zappa - James Black (May Blitz) - Yannis (John) Spathas (Socrates Drank The Conium) - Erkin Koray - there is a song "She´s mine" from a band called Samuel Prody, forgot the name.. - Mick Moody

[@coltonbeatty6117]

Jimmy Page sucked

[@glenschwartz7244]

Love your list! Love the fact you rated Beck, Blackmore and Schenker as high as you did. Wondering what's your take on Lifeson. I think him and Satriani give you so many different moods and great but totally different songs that can give you 100 songs and they would all be great but totally different from each other. Lifeson gives you so many enjoyable rhythms be and a master on guitar effects.

[@ronmercer7766]

Alex Lifeson is the guitarist who often creates parts with a producer's ear. Filling space, creating space, using open strings and early modulation effects to support the tracks. One of the best players ever. A musician. Blowing over a blues rock jam just wasn't going to be his thing.

[@jmeakin4]

The video's great with excellent justifications for each entry; but, Alex Lifeson merits inclusion too - not only for the reasons you state in your comment, along with his expertise in both the lead and rhythm roles, but for his influence on concurrent and subsequent guitarists. As the saying goes, "If Rush isn't your favorite band, they're probably your favorite band's favorite band." A commonality among those in this list is that guitar 'gods' tend to establish a mystique around their persona. The reason Lerxst doesn't get the degree of credibility he merits, and perhaps a reason why he's not on this list, is that he doesn't take himself too seriously, having his class clown approach to life; while he makes complex technique seem easy because of the fun he evidently experiences while playing.

[@BronYrAur26]

Spot on! I usually go into a video like this expecting some glaring omissions or brutal rankings, but I found myself agreeing with you on every point. I might have flipped positions for Eddie and Jimmy only because Jimmy came first and influenced the guys of Eddie's generation, and his body of work is so complete whether it's playing on Sunshine Superman with Donivan or playing Rumble at the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. Kudos for the honorable mention of Robin Trower too! Great video!

[@kevincorrigan7893]

Great list - glad you included Pete Townsend in this and Jeff Beck as high up as you did. Your idea of doing a video on 80s/90s experimental or underground guitarists (Thurston Moore, Tom Verlaine, even someone like John McGeogh) would be very interesting. Thanks for the great videos and don't let the trolls get to you!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I actually get a lot of inspiration from the trolls...

[@trajan6927]

Pete Townshend is a master blaster! Great guitar player, singer/songwriter and showman.

[@trajan6927]

​@@AndyEdwardsDrummeronly two legends can play every instrument at the professional level, sing great, harmonize, write hundreds of songs, dozens of hits, are movie stars, living legends, authors, businessmen, showmen, perfomers, been around for over 60 years, milestones, longevity, influence, radio play, tickets sold, producers, highly respected and they are Pete Townshend and Paul McCartneym

[@vinmorgan2454]

Mr. Andy Edwards who so eloquently discusses fusion, jazz, prog and rock, you once again have put together a top 10 list that is superior and insightful. I agree with you about Clapton post Cream and about Jeff Beck who arguably is the best rock guitarist over the last 50 plus years. I cannot describe what it was like listening to Jimi when he first broke on the scene, it was mind blowing. Keep up the good work Andy! Brit Rock Rules!

[@JohnJarpe]

I am in total agreement about Clapton except I would recognize the album Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs for the masterpiece that it is.

[@vinmorgan2454]

@@JohnJarpe I agree with you 100% about Layla and would also say Blind Faith as well. Both guitarists are great in their own right, I just think that Jeff Beck kept enhancing his craft with new avenues up to his untimely death last year.

[@JohnJarpe]

@@vinmorgan2454 Thank you and amen to your comments. You were in London in The swinging 60s huh? I would have loved you have heard Hendrix at any time but I really would have loved to have seen the who back then has some of those clubs or early concerts you know what the in the seventies that that just would have been incredible. You take care sir!

[@vinmorgan2454]

@@JohnJarpeI was a young teen in USA who was captivated by the British invasion and one group that was a personal to fave was the Yardbirds.

[@Craig-dq5cu]

Rock God's Jimmy Page Blackmore,Jeff Beck,Gibbons,Rick Derringer. Joe Perry ,Whitford Downing/Tipton,Johnny Winter, Tony Iommni.Malcom/Angus Mark Farner,

[@patcandelora8496]

Honorable mention and hat tip to my personal favorite Alex Lifeson!

[@DavyDredd14]

Fave Rock Guitarists : Jeff Beck - Richie Blackmore - Angus Young - Michael Schenker - Eddie Van Halen

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

Not really a Slash fan but he had the look and the persona and that big Les Paul tone.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Definitely hovering outside the ten for me...

[@lawrenceterwilliger6787]

Robin Trower, one of my top favorites! Great topic like your insight!

[@DashGranthamD.A]

Yes, really happy Robin Trower was mentioned.

[@Frip36]

@@DashGranthamD.A Mentioned in the negative sense.

[@teamrail]

Hi Andy, great video as always. It's difficult to argue against any of those choices. My favourite cakes? probably Madeira or Angel Cake. Time for a cake ranking vid 😁😁😁😁

[@GeofHolmes]

So glad you mentioned Fair Warning as a magnificent album.

[@ashevilleguitar]

Good one Andy but I’d have to put Duane Allman in there somewhere :) ✌️

[@clash79]

Yes! I don't think he's familiar with Sky Dog. He didn't even mention him when talking about Clapton and Layla

[@bengraham878]

Definitely one of the tastiest players of all time and did it all by 24 years old.

[@arthurlecuyer1906]

Yep, SkyDog for sure. Add his dueling parter Dickie Betts too. The greatest guitar duo ever

[@colsmusic]

Totally agree with the Clapton comments, Always very safe in my option unlike the entire 10 you picked, next Video I guess will be 10 more that nearly made it ! Great engaging video once again.

[@bjornjagerlund3793]

Great hearing you explain why you choose these guitarists. Many who put up lists are not able to do that, and that makes it nor really interesting. This was very interesting.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks Bjorn...that was the original reason why I started doing this...

[@bjornjagerlund3793]

I totally agree with what you say about the need of technical skills. I think it was the punk scene that ruined the appreciation of skills. I worst you sounded the better. I remember when I started buying records around -72, there was a lot of talk about that the music must develop and that it was just not doing that. Very strange looking back now, but that was the feeling, that rock music did not develop. Then came punk and the critics said: -Finally, something complete new is coming. I remember the first time I heard a punk song on radio. The voice said: -Now we are going to play a punk rock song! How exciting, I thought, finally I will listen to something new. But, w.t.f. It’s sounding exactly like Creedence “Fortunate son”. Whats new about this? It’s sounds old! After that, I lost my confidence in music critics. An it just became dumber and dumber.

[@arunsabherwal6256]

Just started watching it. Nice close to the heart topic ,one name immediately comes to mind and that is Gary Moore 🙏

[@richardjames7905]

It should also be about composition and with that in mind I prefer Richard Thompson who is this country’s best singer songwriter who can play acoustic gigs as well as electric. He is regarded as one of the best electric guitarists in the world and when he does decide to play a solo the construction is well considered and epic. Try the live version of Living On Borrowed Time from the deluxe release of Shoot Out The Lights.

[@edwardyazinski3858]

Always left off and so much better

[@wayneelliott7011]

Richard Thompson should be on every Top 10 List.

[@radiognome371]

Enjoyed your video. Just a few off the top of my head. Rory Gallagher. Steve Hillage and Paul Kossoff

[@olegyamleq7796]

thanks man. love the close up camera. great nose hair shots. :-)

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Glad you like them!

[@Frip36]

I've been telling Andy to back off for years. He won't have it. He's the guy in the otherwise empty elevator who comes in and stands shoulder to shoulder with you.

[@mariobarrela]

Thanks for the list! I also think the same about Clapton, but Layla with Derek and Dominoes and Blind Faith are great like Cream

[@hulldanfan]

Blackmore - The Rock GOAT

[@garyh.238]

I concur!

[@Fogeyspasm]

Nice to see Eddie Van Halen. People really need to listen to his rhythm work. He's like a metronome. His timing was exceptional.

[@spinozacelt]

spot on.It’s understandable his soloing gets all the attention but EVH was the complete package.

[@Mogwaithegreat]

Yep. I'm not actually fussed by his solos, ground breaking or not. It's that amazing rhythm playing that I love.

[@Frip36]

@@Mogwaithegreat You're no Joe Sixpack, am I right? You're not the shirtless sweaty trucker hat Van Halen fan, that's for sure. You separate yourself. You care not for surface flash solos. Your ears go deeper, man.

[@preservedmoose]

Yeah, that's what I noticed about him. A great player and very interesting. Maybe this was how he started? Jamming with his amazing drummer brother.

[@LorraineHinchliffe-vg5cb]

Eddie Van Halen was a game changer. As was Tony Iommi, and he had 2 fingers missing.

[@michaelfavreau7617]

Great episode. Jeff Beck would be my #1 though. It has been almost 60 years since the Yardbirds and Jeff has only improved as a player. He was fantastic in the Yardbirds and is so incredible and much more thoughtful now. Every album and every tour he does he plays better and better. And seems to be having so much fun while doing it. I love Hendrix. But he is # 2

[@ericblair54]

Agree. I'm 74 and have seen every guitarist on Andys list. Jeff Beck is fluid, unpredictable and can't be copied..

[@christopher9152]

YES. He is a true artist with wide-ranging musical interests and top-notch skills.

[@sealisa1398]

Agree...one of his best albums not with attendant commercial success is Rough and Ready. It's all in there - no R&R no Blow by Blow....

[@jjvermeer]

You are one of the few that agree with me. Rough and Ready is such a great, funky album. That second iteration of the Jeff Beck Group, in my opinion, is better than the first with Rod Stewart and the Truth album​. Sadly, Beck didn't think too much of it and went the fusion route, which ultimately worked out for him.@@sealisa1398

[@Frip36]

Just think how much more relevant Jeff Beck would be if he could write songs.

[@Exposure2life]

I enjoyed your list and opinion. Thanks for the rant! Lemon drizzle is number 1 for me!

[@johannhauffman323]

You rock Andy! Absolutely wonderful List. I think Hendrix was heading for a new jumping off point. A new place , less pop , more into where ever he could expand. Or, a safe place to enjoy a tasty Biscuit.

[@pedrohorta6266]

This is a perfect list, in terms of seminal influencers of iconic styles, past and future iterations... and by the end of your video, you're so right, guys like The Edge (and Andy Summers), innovators of the dotted 8th note delay, or Tom Morello, Thurston Moore, and Kevin Shields, i.e, pushing the limits of guitar sound effects, or even Robert Fripp and his dalliances in soundscapes and ambient tape looping deserve mention. Perhaps another video? Love your channel.

[@tomhenninger4153]

I love the list... I love the insights and I agree with you almost exactly. Well done! I was just going over the great guitarists with my uncle. He didnt understand why Hendrix was known as the greatest rock guitarist. I'm happy to as, my analysis is very similar to your comment (just not as good) haha! No nastiness. Come on, talking about music is like what I did with my high school and college buddies. And ever since. Thanks Andy!

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

Those top 2 would also be my own personal top 2 but I actually love listening to Jeff's best work more than I do to Jimi's but both are amazing musicians.

[@kennethdias9988]

Nils Lofgren quietly great. A deep dive into Steely Dan . I enjoyed your Zappa deep dive . Steely Dan was a 70s band with timeless music. Glen Campbell , Gary More great guitar players

[@sealisa1398]

Jeff Beck has always held my admiration - as a young teenager I was besotted by Rough and Ready and it's been an interesting enveloping enjoyment since. That right hand....

[@willemmoller6736]

Great list! I agree with you about Eric Clapton - as a young teen I was inspired to take up the guitar after hearing Cream and I became fascinated with the blues as a result. The Bluesbreakers album and Layla are great as well, but as you say, after that EC became a fairly boring middle of the road artist. He did pioneering stuff with Cream but he's basically musically conservative. Cream were true innovators and they could make the hairs on neck your stand up; you could feel them going out on a tightrope; it felt dangerous. But his music after Layla has been 'safe' - like you say, he doesn't make mistakes. Boring

[@steffenbrix]

I'm so tired of these stupid ideas...middle-of-the-road is worth nothing...innovation above everything. Music comes out of love. Who needs to re-invent love? (Mike Stern quote) Clapton's best stuff is all the way through the 90s. Especially the 24 Nights era. Cream is just mostly pointless crazy jams that lead nowhere. And Jack Bruce's playing in Cream is so annoying and unmusical...

[@paulmartinson875]

First single I ever bought..I can see for miles... saw them live , they were great

[@hybrydsanity5857]

cool list honorable mentions Alex Lifeson , joe Perry I'd personally swap Tony Iommi ahead of angus but that that can go either way to taste. Ritchie Blackmore's Lazy was the game changer for me when i was a kid, but I'm not saying he is number 1. just like the guy below me said Dave Gilmour. Brian May should definitely be in here .I might swap Van Halen and jeff beck although I ironically prefer Jeff beck lol.just bc I see Eddie like the next Jimi.as far as influencing generations. Beck is like the bridge of the 2 i guess. last to come to mind is Randy Rhoads Frank Morino ,oh you just said randy ! .Malmsteen .yes there's the shredders Vai could be on a different list although he's in my top 5 all time. the experimental, Belew ,Edge ,Morello goes on and on .

[@AntarblueGarneau]

I was 17 years old and playing in a band in 1966 when the John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton LP came out. Maybe you weren't even born yet but it is impossible to overestimate the impact of Eric Clapton at that time in that context! He changed all music for all time. Everybody...and I mean everybody followed him. Eddie van Halen said "I worked very hard to sound like Clapton" It was akin to the emergence of Charlie Parker and bebop in the 1940s. Chet Baker said "Man that was a rude awakening!" But everybody had to go Charlie Parker's way. In San Francisco Bluesbreakers introduced us to Eric Clapton! We had no knowledge of him before that. I had heard a little of Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse on a compilation LP "What's Shakin'" I really dug the guitar sound and approach. Warm, punchy sustain like a horn or a voice. At that time the guitar heroes were Mike Bloomfield and Jeff Beck. As you said Clapton introduced distortion, tone and extreme bending. He also introduced the Les Paul craze. Gibson was no longer making Les Pauls. People were on Les Paul hunts searching for original vintage Les Pauls. And they were finding them in garage sales, pawn shops etc. In 1968 Gibson re-introduced the Les Paul line. After Clapton lead guitarists and there licks became the focus in rock bands. And the shit got loud as more and more amps came out like the Marshall stack. Clapton's influence from those times is still pervasive with little kids dreaming of being guitar heroes, the toy "guitar hero" I can even hear Clapton's influence --from that time--in elevators from Musak! I can understand why you left Clapton off the list. If you require constant innovations then Clapton hasn't done that but all the guitarists on your list ae not innovating any longer either! I know Hendrix is not making any innovations! But after making the biggest contribution ever in rock music Clapton has just made enjoyable and tasteful music. And he's made some money.

[@geographyinaction7814]

I agree with Andy though, Clapton started a guitar journey, he started building roads, blazing trails, and then just took the off-ramp and went on the freeway on cruise-control.

[@Inglese001]

@@geographyinaction7814 yeah, that’s why people say listen to ‘early’ Clapton. For the last 40 years, his solos haven’t been very inspiring.

[@Paul-fg6mk]

​@@Inglese001 Yeah, Jimmy Page's solos have not been "very inspiring" either. In fact, he has not had a single memorable solo since 1980, a period of 44 years. Have you thought about and considered that fact?! Clapton has had a good number of “inspiring" solos and songs in the last 44 years.

[@garyh.238]

Very impressive list, and I especially agree on the top five you have picked. I would place those five guitarists in a slightly different order, but only because of my personal preferences, and/ or my view as to their virtuosity: 1) Beck; 2) Blackmore; 3) Van Halen; 4) Hendrix; 5) Page.

[@stevenjohnston2263]

You nearly got it right. 1. Ritchie. 😊

[@garyh.238]

@@stevenjohnston2263 Ritchie would be my absolute favourite. For me he is neck and neck with Beck, but I think Beck is just slightly better in certain ways. Ask me on a different day and I would probably say Blackmore is tops.

[@ursula3438]

Nice list, Andy, I completely agree on your top 2, but now I'm curious about your opinions on John Frusciante, Prince and Mick Ronson.

[@othgmark1]

Mick Ronson so overlooked

[@magiscichoam]

Your analysis and insight are brilliant. Although I don’t agree with some of your comments (especially about the drumming of Keith Moon) I respect the criteria that you use to validate and quantify your perspective. I’m old enough and fortunate enough to have seen live performances of: Cream (1967), Jimi Hendrix (1968, 1969), The Who (1969, 1970, 1971 & 1973), Jeff Beck (1968, 1975), Black Sabbath (1972, 1975), Pink Floyd (1970, 1972, 1977), ELP (1971, 1972, 1977), Yes (1971, 1974, 1977) and many many more. Those performances (especially the guitarists and drummers) forever changed my musical evolution and perspective. Thank you.

[@mrblitzer8705]

Excellent list. Well argued. I respect the fact that your top three separate themselves by being both creative and influential. Speaking of influential I would reluctantly drop Shenker, who is admittedly a monster, in favour of Chuck Berry.

[@thaoandtony]

EVH had a happy pedal, his joy and love of the guitar came through in his playing. When he passed away , a proliferation of demos and bootleg stuff came out on youtube and confirmed to me that he was the best that ever played rock n roll.

[@peterr1001]

I don't know if you could include him as Rock Guitarist, although his band certainly played Rock, amongst many other things, but I would include Brian May who is just simply amazing

[@markjohnson7572]

The thing that makes the guitarists on this list iconic is that the music they created with the groups they played with would simply not existed without them. I can't imagine a Led Zeppelin, Who or Jimi Hendrix Experience with some other blues influenced guitarist in the lead roll.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Exactly...and this is where they differ from monster techicians IMO

[@deansusec8745]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer RB once explained how Yngwie doesn't explore the guitar. He just plays it perfectly. Ritchie, it's true, really loves to improvise and innovate. I love how deep purple sounded much better live than in the studio, evidence of a real rock band. 4 minute songs ended up 12 minutes long!

[@Frip36]

Really? Jimi Hendrix wouldn't sound like Jimi Hendrix if he wasn't Jimi Hendrix? Deep man. Far out.

[@chrisberger4633]

It's the ranks that make this channel a cut above. Keep it up, man! =)

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks, will do!

[@markcapofari8419]

Andy - good show & note that when mentioned Jim Marshall had his shop and Pete Townshend tried out amps John McLaughlin was a sales person then!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

OH WOW....I have a sneaking suspician JM secretly invented rock music...He seems to be the Zelig of the 60s British Rock scene

[@markcapofari8419]

From Andrew Hickey Podcast a History of Rock Music in 500 Songs an excellent and well researched documentary-at 1967 or so now

[@bigdambluesband6295]

I saw a concert in the 90s and MSG was the warmup band for Great White (best known for the Great Fire which happened much later). When Shenker played you knew you were listening to a Guitar God, you were in the presence of greatness and then he was followed by a forgettable hair band. He has never been fully appreciated.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

So true...great guitarist but an absolute guitar god...glad you get it too

[@soundssimple1]

I agree with your top 3 definitely. How strange that all 3 not only mastered the music and the guitar neck but the whammy bar use, for example, Eddie on Eruption, Jeff on A Day In The Life ( at ronnie scotts ) and Jimi on Star Spangled Banner etc. All 3 completely different approaches to guitar but inspiring whammy bar use. Could this also be why they stood out ? Adventurous and Inventive ?

[@devereauxclandestine1272]

Thanks Andy. Solid list. Personally, I might have included E.C. His work with the Bluesbreakers and Cream was a gamechanger and had the cultural reach to merit his inclusion, but yeah, a lot of his later solo stuff is frustratingly bland (on album at least, I never caught him live). Do we have a video of 'Top Ten Portable Snacks' incoming?

[@jimmycampbell78]

I thought Andy nailed it with Eric Clapton.

[@PhilBaird1]

Clapton was always a blues player, not a rock guitarist, even though he strayed into that area. As a blues player he's second to none but he was never a Hendrix, Beck, Blackmore or Van Halen. Those guys took it somewhere else. Eric has always revered the old blues guys and never wanted to be a rock star.

[@joshuafrank4643]

From the perspective of musicians, I think your list does speak to some objectivity. Once you got to #6 on your list, I knew you'd have to include Hendrix and predicted he would come first. There are always great honorable mentions - I agree with another viewer about David Gilmour - yet when you are tasked with discussing 10 specific players, there's just no way to not offend someone. What I love about your list is that while I'm not a big Van Halen or AC/DC fan, I do like their music and appreciate them from the perspective of superb guitar work. Great list here. Cheers!

[@strozerjan8800]

Great video! Glad you mentioned Tom Verlaine.

[@dbarker7794]

Very good. I didn't get into the bands some of these guys played with (AC/DC e.g.) but interesting to hear your choices and reasoning. Thanks. Was good to hear you mention Thurston Moore. Would love to see an Andy video on Sonic Youth. Btw, you're so right about the Stooges. Loved the Battenberg bit at the end.

[@stugerson4838]

Saw Alvin Lee a couple of times

[@nelsono4315]

Andy, love the channel and I love this list. Love your knowledge and enthusiasm. Hard to argue with your choices. However as a huge Gary Moore fan I am disappointed he didn't make the list. Even if one discounts his fusion and blues work Gary was a helluva rock guitarist. Technique and chops for days. A ferocious lead player. And he goes way back. For me no one plays like Gary although someone like John Sykes has captured Gary's spirit. Keep up the great work!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Check out my favourite guitar solos video...I love GM...but he did not have the charisma or influence as those on my list

[@jamesaston410]

Can’t fault this list :) When I saw AC/DC’s live in Paris 1979 video I was mesmerised by Angus, the whole band were brilliant but he was astonishing. Has to be one of my favourite live videos

[@AlmostEthical]

I'd include David Gilmour, who easily slipped from avant garde to mainstream rock, and much in between. He is one of the greatest melodic soloists, always picking just the right note and intonation.

[@SubhadipSen]

What Gilmour lacks in innovation and technical proficiency, he certainly makes up for in the quality of his solo melodies - just the right notes at the right time. In modern times, I love John Mitchell's melodies - though too close to Andy's home to be a hero!

[@ursula3438]

Gilmour, Frusciante, Prince and Mick Ronson would have all made my top 10.

[@offal]

This guy will never include the master of tone, he is as anti Floyd as it gets, and he does it on purpose lol, he is a funk man, a jazz man. this is why EVH and VAI are on the list, when you consider EVH was a pop guitarist and his band were pop according to Angus Young lol, but he has funk. I suppose we allow some technical in the list.

[@Sanctified57]

I think Mark Knopfer deserves an honorary mention

[@andrew13yt]

​@@Sanctified57 He's an absolutely fantastic guitar player, composer and lyricist...but not really a Rock God.

[@pkflash2004]

Loved the end of the video Andy! I'd love to see you, Rick Beato, Pete Pardo, Norman Maslov and some others do a livestream where you discuss your favourite music. My tastes are very similar to yours and certainly with this video it seems we like the same guitarists in the same order, more or less. I grew up idolising Ritchie Blackmore and Jimmy Page, then looked backwards towards Hendrix, loved Schenker and Alex Lifeson, then EVH, then Steve Howe. Discovered Al Di Meola and Allan Holdsworth and went back to Jeff Beck. Loved Adrian Belew, Robert Fripp and Tom Verlaine. Loved John McGeoch, Will Sergeant and The Edge. Over the last 20-30 yrs my favourite guitarists have been Richard Thompson and David Rawlings and alsoappreciated the guitarists that contributed to Steely Dan like Denny Diaz, Skunk Baxter, Jay Graydon and Larry Carlton. Most recently I've been enjoying Robben Ford. This video was a great nostalgic trip for me!

[@robertlear2735]

I saw Jeff Beck in concert about 4 years ago. He is a true guitar god if there ever was one.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Greatest guitar God without a doubt. The only guitarist who is completely undiminished by having Johnny Depp on vocals...

[@cbr9914]

i always liked tony's solos, but it wasn't until i saw him for the first time on the heaven and hell reunion tour with dio (before the album came out) that i realized just how awesome he really is. he absolutely floored me. angus is iconic, but it's malcom who really drove that band. every thrash guy will name check malcome right out of the gate.

[@papalazzzaru]

Live Evil, I'm so happy you mentioned (and revere) it, it was my very first ever LP and to this day I still think Ronnie gives one of the best all-round vocal performances of his recorded career.

[@danzemacabre8899]

Excellent, excellent list, I just have one that I feel that changed the thought process I the 80s nearly at the level of EVH and that's Yngwie Malmsteen ,that first Rising Force and the next couple of albums really inspired the next level neo classical style , he was such an influential force over Vai even in the 80s, I just feel he needs to be on this list, but I can't argue whatsoever of what you decided, one of the best and we'll thought out lists, you even talked me into Pete Townsend

[@anthonysilva5312]

I would say (in no order): Page, Beck, Blackmore, Angus, EVH, Hendrix, SRV, Gilmour, Vai, Brian May Great video!

[@thomassonefors9281]

Thank YOU, We do not have the same exact list BUT you brought along 8/10 of my favorite guitarists and band along sida them. AND you have Jeff Beck on your list and Angus Young.... They are not my favorite guitarists but they HAVE to be on ANY list af the greatest of all times for all the right reasons. Thank you!

[@FernandoCoto-gx1zi]

My Top 10 of favorite guitarists are mostly of Jazz/Rock Fusion and Prog in no particular order: John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, Al Di Meola, Steve Howe, Steve Hackett, Larry Coryell, Pat Metheny Jan Akkerman, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck. In the Rock genre I would list Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore, Gary Moore, Alvin Lee, Jimi Hendrix, Toy Caldwell, Billy Gibbons, Mick Taylor, Danny Kirwan, Dickey Bettd, Johnny Winter, Robin Trower, Mike Bloomfield, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Peter Green, Frank Marino, Duane Allman, Kim Simmonds, Paul Kossoff, Tommy Bolin, Rory Gallagher, Randy Bachman, Ted Turner, Steve Miller, Joe Walsh, Carlos Santana, Tom Scholz, Uli Jo Roth, Eric Johnson, Leslie West, Michael Schenker, Tony Iommi, Eddie Van Halen, Terry Kath, Stephen Stills, Tommy Bolin, Randy California, Lindsay Buckingham, Rod Price, Angus Young, Brian May, Buck Dharma, Frank Zappa, Jerry Garcia, Randy Rhoads, Ronnie Montrose, Ted Nugent, John Cipollina, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Eric Clapton, Randy Bachman, Roy Buchanan, and many more.

[@wisardofw]

Good list. One that is always overlooked and I'm not sure he should be on that list but he's the most under-rated rock guitarist and that is Frank Marino.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I absolutely loved Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush when I was growing up...what a great band and a great guitarist.

[@jimmycampbell78]

Another few names who are underrated/overlooked: Robin Trower, Alvin Lee, Rory Gallagher. Another 70s one who is bluesy like Clapton but a better version is Gary Moore.

[@Frip36]

@@jimmycampbell78 Gary was always in blast mode, seems to me. Could have used a bit more taste.

[@chrismitton1839]

Fantastic video once again! I have a question for you. What are the 10 greatest (intentionally) comedic songs in rock? In my mind there are certain artists like Morrissey and Zappa and Ian Dury that might make the list. But interested in your thoughts. PS. can't wait for the 10 Greatest Cakes| Ranked.

[@zootallures6470]

Love seeing Jeff Beck so high on the list. And you have one more joining the _no-Clapton chorus._ When you are making these lists you can maybe include an Honorable Mention section of 3-5 too. You have mentioned Clapton, Verlaine, Gallagher but would they make the HM list?

[@alexkorneyko6792]

Totally agree on Ritchie Blackmore. Very understated genius.

[@pindrop9536]

Technically great, very basic and uninspired writer.

[@garyh.238]

@@pindrop9536 For Blackmore's composition prowess, you might want to check out Stargazer and Gates of Babylon.

[@garyh.238]

An absolute genius and waaaaay underrated.

[@markperry9427]

Great video and I'm probably in agreement with it all. Totally agree about Eric Clapton, when you watch him up against Robbie Robertson in The Last Waltz, Robbie blows him off the stage. When Jack Bruce was putting a band together, he wanted a jazz drummer to fill Ginger's shoes, Billy Cobham and a jazz guitarist, and he picks Deve "Clem" Clemson of Colosseum, who plays what Clapton could never play, jazz/blues/rock. I would put both of those guitarists ahead of Clapton.

[@MrCherryJuice]

A few things: - Clapton (b. March 1945) was turning 21 when he recorded 'Blues Breakers'. - He first got his ripping sound recorded with the Bluesbreakers on 'I'm Your Witchdoctor'/'Telephone Blues' in 1965, with Jimmy Page producing (Page was a house producer for the Immediate label). It was Page who had to quell the anxieties of the recording engineers. It was similar for the 'Blues Breakers' album, though producer Mike Vernon (later produced Mayall's 'A Hard Road' w/Peter Green on guitar) knew what to expect and instructed engineer Gus Dudgeon (later produced Elton John) to figure out a way to capture that sound at volume. - Yes, Pete Townshend and John Entwistle were involved in the development on Marshall. In addition to wanting more volume (the original Marshall JTM45 was based on a Fender Bassman, though using similar British components) they requested an 8 x 12" cabinet (!) that proved too big to handle, so had it cut in two, resulting in the 4 x 12 cabinet...which they piled on top of each other to create the Marshall 'stack'. John Entwistle also asked stringmaker James Howe for bass strings similar to piano strings, thus creating the 'roundwound' strings that made his bass sound so bright (Chris Squire also epitomised that sound). - From the minute he debuted with the Yardbirds, Jeff Beck was absolutely the greatest. - Any suggestion of Jimi Hendrix and jazz is surely inspired by Mitch Mitchell's jazz drumming. BTW, Mitch worked at Jim Marshall's shop (Marshall was his drum teacher) and was involved with the first public eisplay of the Marshall JTM45 at the Ealing Club, which is where Alex Korner, Cyril Davies & Blues Incorporated, with Charlie Watts drumming, Jack Bruce on upright bass, Dick Heckstall-Smith on sax and John McLaughlin on guitar launched the British blues scene. - Nice to see Clapton get recognition but not inclusion. Peter Green, Mick Taylor and Danny Kirwan also warrant mention. On the American side, John Cippolina, Rick Derringer, Skunk Baxter, Jerry Miller, and Terry Kath were also notable way back then.

[@garanceadrosehn9691]

Looks like you've made it to 5K subscribers! Congrats! (or is KZbin rounding-up the number?)

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

No I did...now as I write 5004...perhaps one of those is Eric???

[@RobTeeJr]

I graduated from high school in the 60's and saw all of the artists mentioned in their prime including Hendrix and in my opinion only Beck really evolved and pushed his art. I agree with you regarding Clapton and I also wondered about what direction Hendrix would have taken. Would he been Miles Davis' early Pete Cosey? What would the combination of Miles, Mclaughlin and Hendrix produced? I would hope that he wouldn't end up being a retro casino act.

[@narosgmbh5916]

Everything would have depended on how many rehabs he had gone through and what therapy had washed his head. Also think a little bit economically. A Miles Davis musician had maybe 3-4k monthly revenue in the late 60's/ early 70's. A Miles Davis musician played for little money and earned a good reputation. Davis and Hendrix are in completely different economic spheres. Hendrix can buy Davis, but Davis cannot buy/pay for Hendrix BTW have you ever seen Cream live?

[@RobTeeJr]

@@narosgmbh5916 RE: Hendrix and Miles. Who knows, its all hypothetical. I saw Cream in New Haven CT in 68.

[@narosgmbh5916]

I asked you about Cream live because I was wondering if Clapton, if only he existed as a Cream guitarist, would have ended up on guitar gods Olympus. Yesterday I watched Cream live concerte on youtube and explained it to me. Even then he would not have ascended to Olympus. He's got some iconic riffs, but he's actually the guitarist in a trio where the rhythm section took the lead.

[@petercicco4360]

The "Battenberg" inclusion started to feel like a Monty Python bit. I got a big grin on my face. Cheers, Andy.

[@MarkFinney1964]

Great list, and given the premise of innovation and debt owed by rock music to these guys, I would not argue with any of the choices. That said, if I were compiling such a list, I would have found a way of squeezing Alex Lifeson into it, though I don't know which of the team you picked I would drop.

[@harrycuerden5266]

Good stuff. Been a Beck fan since Cosa Nostra and Truth still a fan.

[@mainzergirl9610]

Great list! It inspired me to relisten to Whole Lotta Rosie. That outro!!

[@TheJohnmb46]

In the late '80s we had a heavy metal covers band and needed another guitarist! We got a few guys to audition then this guy (Frankie) just walked in, plugged in and nailed Eruption then dropped into You Really Got Me, we all got in - played it and he was hired!

[@jeff2446]

Completely agree regarding Clapton. However, there are some things I like about him, such as the solo he contributed to While My Guitar Gently Weeps and, in addition to his writing and playing with Cream, his writing for some of the Derek & the Dominos stuff (e.g., Bell Bottom Blues and some others). On a separate topic, I highly recommend searching out the band Chicago’s performance at Tanglewood from 1970. In their early incarnation they were white hot, extremely tight, energetic, and inventive. And Terry Kath was quite the guitarist.

[@dbarker7794]

You must be old, man! 😄 Seems only us old-timers remember Terry Kath. His playing on that Chicago double album is outstanding.

[@lukameah853]

Andy took the time to listen and comment on one of my Jazz Fusion tracks. That's something Rick wouldn't do. Andy is a class act.

[@herculesrockefeller8969]

Andy may be a class act, but you do realise that Rick has 640X more subscribers than Andy? As such, he probably gets hundreds of requests a month to listen or comment on music. He also has to line up guests than Andy can't get, and that takes time. There's more to Rick's gig than sitting there and opining on music.

[@deansusec8745]

@@herculesrockefeller8969 he started somewhere, after he got the popularity is when the stars started coming to him. There is room for both of them, but Andy has a very refreshing way of talking.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

When I'm as big as Rick I won't do that anymore...I'll just be there kicking back with Mary Spender and pushing my book don't you worry...

[@car-or-ock616]

Fascinating take on Clapton. I revere him for his work with Delaney & Bonnie and the first two LPs. For the honourable mentions list: Duane Allman. Is it a bit 'colonial' to relegate Neil Young to a showman? Though I get what you are saying and I totally agree: One thing to be wildly popular. Quite another to 'innovate', invent, take it to the next level (or 'to the beyond' with Hendrix). What about Keith Richards? To point to the obvious: the riff on Start Me Up. Even the Edge never quite got one like that. I am curious, from the Canadian west coast (Jimi's grandma lived in Vancovuer, the building is still there... though maybe not for long), what is your take on US east coasters: Dylan, Paul Simon, and Springsteen. There seems to be an implicit bias in the presentation away from folk/classical guitar-and the Jersey street scene-towards straight-ahead screaming sounds. Which is good. However, Day in the Life matches all the criteria fro Prog (except perhaps decibel levels), yet it's not hard edge.

[@davewaterford281]

Another great list Andy. Good to see the inclusion of Pete Townsend - doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Disappointed that Brian May didn't get on the list - but where would he have appeared on this list and who would have been removed?

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thats the thing...who do you remove? Brian May is a fantastic guitarist but not as influential as many on the list and definitely not as iconic...

[@MrMaynardWR]

It's a perfect list. I think in a perverse alternative universe you could include Robert Fripp (#11?)

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Is he a guitar anti-god...it's another list I need to do....

[@MrMaynardWR]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer You have to love a short haired, conservatively dressed rock guitar player who speaks like an Oxford professor and plays while seated.

[@footwearisoptional8766]

sooo... I need to absorb this. Ritchie Blackmore made your top five Ritchie Blackmore who usually doesn't even make the top 50 when people are listing off the 100 greatest. Ritchie Blackmore whose solos wrap themselves 'round my brain, slither down my spine and run a finger up the inside of my leg.... Made your top five. I love you, man.

[@Innerspace100]

Blackmore rarely gets the credit he deserves. Especially when people in America do such lists, for some reason. I think Purple made more of a mark here in Europe than they did over there.

[@garyh.238]

@@Innerspace100 Exactly! We have chatted recently somewhere else about Ritchie. It's an American rock music media thing, the dissing of Blackmore. He, along with Deep Purple (after 1974) and his band Rainbow were almost virtually ignored in America. A number of reasons for it, but certainly a large part of it falls at the feet of rock journalists and poor management / marketing.

[@garyh.238]

Yes indeed, finally Ritchie gets some love! Waaay overdue. A stellar guitarist who gets overlooked.

[@davidschecter5247]

Dick Dale worked with Leo Fender earlier than that, although the sound Pete and Dick were going for were very different.

[@geoffccrow2333]

Andy when You mentioned jump by van halen it made me think of something. Another example of him taking a back seat..have you noticed how on VH albums most of his guitar is amazing rhythm guitar on side channels. And i think blackmore did a lot of this too. So much creative rhythm guitar lines the two of them did on top of amazing creating solos.

[@nazznate]

I'm happy to see Jeff Beck so high on the list. And for all the right reasons

[@jeffhadland3705]

Thanks again 😊. #1 Jimmy Page #2 Michael Schenker #3 Eddie Van Halen #4 Steve Morse #5 Gary Moore #6 Alex Lifeson #7 Rik Emett #8 Jerry Cantrell #9 Robbie Blunt #10 Uli Von Roth.😊

[@Frip36]

Robbie Blunt? It's Uli John Roth Lifeson, Emett? LOL. We got a Canuk in the house. Schenker ahead of Eddie? How many good songs after Phenomenon way back in '74? 5? 7? Maybe 9? Jerry Cantrell. Where do you get off man? The only thing you got right was Page at #1.

[@paulgmarriott]

RIP Jeff Beck. I can scarcely believe that earlier today, I downloaded a Yardbirds album from Spotify, only to learn hours later that Jeff had died after 'suddenly contracting' bacterial meningitis. Absolutely gutted! 😪. I hope, Andy, you'll next be doing a retrospective of the life and genius of unquestionably the finest British guitarist ever to have lived. Loving your channel, by the way.

[@johnjackson3735]

Richie Blackmore, Jimi Hendrix, Tony Iommi, Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Alex Lifeson, Mick Taylor, Brian May, Pete Townsend, Michael Schenker, Steve Howe, David Gilmour, Steve Hackett, Duane Allman

[@OsvaldoPaese1]

Very entertaining video but I wish you would have added Tom Morello or John Fruciante as they are more modern and they each have a distinct style. But still very entertaining! Greetings from Chicago.

[@brianpatterson7332]

I really enjoyed this. Even where I might disagree, you put forth a very strong case for your choices. Would you consider Gary Moore another great bridge from the 70s to 80s rock? The fist album he ever played on, Skid by Skid Row, recorded in 1970 when he was just 17 years old, was years ahead of its time, I think. It had all sorts of mad unexpected jazzy changes, was mostly extremely heavy for the time, and even features an alt-country track (before alt-country was a thing). Even though it's a raw Moore, before he'd fully developed his style, there' something wonderful about it and in my opinion it's by far the best album Moore worked on and the best rock album recorded in Ireland. Mind you, it's not well known or very influential. Then there's Colosseum II, where he played some great jazz fusion (he claimed to have no knowledge of music theory before joining that band and that Don Airey had to teach him what was required). I reckon Moore was the fastest rock guitar hero on the scene before the onslaught of the 80 technicians, and certainly one of the most expressiver players ever. He didn't really make a name on the US before his blues era, but then I don't think the (also magnificent) Michael Schenker did either. Give it a listen - go on! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iInGdmx9i8mImNE (I'd be interested in hearing your opinion of Noel Bridgeman's drumming also. Noel was a stalwart of the Irish music scene in many styles - and a lovely man - until his death a couple of years ago). At the very least, please listen to the last track and masterpiece of the album, Felicity. I loved your take on Angus Young's playing - I heard some leading session guitarists in Dublin talk about him in similar terms in what used to be Dublin's leading bar for jazz and blues music, the now sadly closed JJ Smyth's.

[@ArtLogins]

I've discovered shredders with Vai at 13. Jazz with Metheny at 15. Prog with Fripp at 19.... Now I'm 40 and I'm into Deep Purple.... although I'm playing Electronic music with jazzrock improvising on top... because it's the 20s... 😀😀😀