The 20 Most Underrated Guitarist Of All Time!

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

Auto Correct mistake on #10 that was suppose to say Philip SAYCE!!!

[@TheSpydersBand]

Noticed that but he does have the sauce.

[@maxdevlin4349]

I agree, Marshall Chipman...

[@innocentoctave]

Yeah, blame autocorrect, Robert ... 😜

[@michaeldantoni4292]

You need to listen to some Savatage to check out the guitar work. Listen to Streets or Edge of thorns

[@sronnoc13]

What about Jerry Cantrells name. That’s wild that you got that one wrong. Alas, You’re dead on about Ian Thornley.

[@Clarence2Worley]

Elliot Easton from the Cars would make my list.

[@kennyfoster655]

Criminally underrated

[@CorbCorbin]

He’s one of the players, that I was inspired by, to use the vocal melody, as a starting point, or to put somewhere, within a lead, while also building solos that are just perfect for the song.

[@RonG40]

First person I thought of. Spot on.

[@artheriford]

That would most certainly be one of mine.

[@mariog5896]

Of course!! This is the man!

[@newgunguy4176]

Frank Marino.

[@ianramage1593]

Definitely. Frank was shredding before it was a thing.

[@paulsegura4738]

I was fortunate to have seen Frank about 7 times starting back in 1977 at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. I remember The Dictators opened for Frank and got more boos than I could count. My son ordered a signed copy of Frank live at the Agora Theater for Father's Day and I listen to it at least once a month. Frank should have been either first or last on this list.

[@bosinski_music]

Damn right! One of the greatest of all time.

[@newgunguy4176]

I don't think underrated actually exists. I think most guitarists considered underrated are actually unknown or less famous than others. Underrated is a guitarist that is better than most people realize. For example, Keith Richards. Insanely famous, but even guitarists don't understand how good he really is.

[@bubbyp7741]

I haven’t listened to him in forever but you are definitely correct

[@Bumblebee71121]

Frank Hannon from Tesla. Incredibly underrated in my opinion.

[@mikemantis41]

To the uninitiated 😉

[@jenner2408]

You are spot on with Allen Collins. Great player.

[@Jeffy2n]

Alex Lifeson, being the Guitarist with the "world greatest drummer" and a top 5 Bassist, and somehow he is looked upon as average. I would suggest listening to there early stuff like "Working man" or "2112".

[@dwaijer]

YES! more rush 🙂 also Steven Rothery and John Mitchell

[@kennyfoster655]

Alex is one of my all time favorites...

[@bandred1]

Alex is my favorite🎸

[@roscoepcoltrane23]

Best live guitar sound I’ve ever heard and I’ve seen all of the shredders. Rush Live was something to behold.

[@PepeAtreides-s3b]

Facts

[@joehennessy6809]

Frank Marino is criminally underrated in MHO. Nobody can touch what he does.Incredibly emotional player.

[@kevinlampen2364]

Agreed I own all his vinyls ... my favourite track by him ...go strange

[@victorvaldenegro4001]

Ty Tabor from Kings X is sooo underrated! His tone is totally his own along with his style. Kings X as a band is hugely underrated! Unbelievable power trio!

[@BlugubriousMusic]

I just replied with him too!

[@Lowend_Chug]

Agreed

[@ericporter1255]

Kings X should have been much bigger than they are.

[@BlugubriousMusic]

@@ericporter1255 Brother, you are preaching to the choir! Saying that for decades! Totally agree.

[@fuzzydunlop1988]

Definitely

[@OhhWeOhh]

As a Canadian, the late, great Jeff Healey always comes to mind

[@nateg7973]

Steve Stevens & Billy Duffy always come to mind.

[@GuitarGeorge22]

Great call, Steve Stevens blew my mind in person at kings of chaos

[@dbrown6451]

SS is a bad ass!

[@kennyfoster655]

Steve is the man

[@andypostema4269]

Steve Stevens did this brilliant medley last time I saw him and all was going well until he tried to incorporate part of Stairway to Heaven into the mix. Kept botching the same line over and over again and started pretending to yell at his own hand and eventually moved on to something else. Great to see him have good sense of humor about it but it was quite strange, considering that was the least complicated part of his medley.

[@scottc4471]

Gary Moore and Trevor Rabin

[@henrystoll]

Gary Moore was a monster! Trevor Rabin absolutely took YES to a different level in terms of not just being an artsy fartsy band, but actually kickin some rock n roll ass! Saw Yes twice with Trevor and twice with Steve Howe. Howe is an amazing player, but boring! Rabin kicks total ass in every single direction!

[@mr.smithgnrsmith7808]

Moore?! Dude is neck n neck with SRV…NOBODY thinks he is “underrated “///wtf

[@scottc4471]

@@mr.smithgnrsmith7808 Never broke out in the US like overseas… always opened or played small venues. Not as widely known as the other big name guitarists. Saw him in 1987 playing to a packed club of about 400 or so.

[@richardcummings1167]

Buck Dharma & Neil Geraldo

[@stevebnarasky7994]

I love BOC, severely under rated!

[@thorolsen8057]

Robin Trower

[@thorolsen8057]

Mick Box from Uriah Heep

[@herbb8412]

Neil, the master of the 5-second solo! 😊 he does get a lot of sound out of that ting, though.

[@RustINpeace-l1w]

Buck Dharma is actually a pretty scary guitarist if you watch his live stuff.

[@jimmills8618]

Roy Clark too. Genius country picker.

[@bubbyp7741]

Roy Clark is possibly the greatest, both Jimi and Eddie said he was the goat and that says a lot

[@johnnance1414]

Hardly underrated.

[@jimmypennell8831]

Glen Campbell as well

[@johnnance1414]

@@jimmypennell8831 not underrated. Everyone knows Glen.

[@posarelli]

Ty Tabor is waaaay underrated. Should deserve to be in this list.

[@godawg1023]

The best tone on those early King’s X albums! There is no one like Ty Tabor.

[@notonyourlife7939]

Amen...Ty is the man. 👍

[@VicVanity]

Ty Tabor ,Paul Reynolds from a flock of seagulls

[@kennyfoster655]

KINGS X!!!

[@ericolson326]

I prefer to call Ty underknown, since everyone I've met who's ever heard him rate him very highly. 😄

[@jameswilson6374]

Rick Derringer, Johnny Winter, Jeff Heally and Randy Bachman. They all rocked hard!🎸

[@brianjohnson7612]

Steve Morse, Brad Gillis, Steve Howe, Alex Leifson, Jan Ackerman, Ronnie Montrose, Rick Derringer, Leslie West, Johnny Winter, Dave Hill, Lonesome Dave (Foghat).

[@frankboyd.]

Rick Derringer duelling guitars with Johnny Winter was amazing.

[@loulagro2315]

Half of the guys on your list are definitely NOT under rated, in fact their playing has been talked about for decades.....

[@12floz67]

Definitely Steve Morse.

[@brianjohnson7612]

@@loulagro2315 But you don't see their name on any list of best guitar players, yet you find Prince, Hendrix, and a number of others that make the list.

[@CorbCorbin]

@@loulagro2315 Yeah, it’s like Robert having Cantrell on the list. Hes often on top 50, if not top 20 lists, of greatest guitarists, going back to the late 90’s.

[@CraigFossier]

It may have been said before but Terry Kath for early Chicago was a machine!! Check out the live at Tanglewood from 1970

[@rockrollresale2668]

There's a reason Hendrix loved him and had them open for him. Rumor has it he was going to try and combine bands at the end.

[@luvmedrums4057]

You know it...Monster player

[@MG-lm9nw]

that is an incredible concert!

[@CraigFossier]

@@luvmedrums4057I know. It’s hard to believe he was playing like that in 1970

[@Mike383HK]

Jimi Hendrix told Terry Cath he was better than him and wanted to do an album with him.

[@shawn3334]

I think Lindsey Buckingham is very underrated.

[@giloro85]

He's actually overrated. Joan Baez beats him at finger picking, Greeny at electric lead.

[@PJErvin]

Deondre Cole: Sorry Lindsay, we left you off again…

[@jeff-ds2pr]

Huge fan of him, that being said, I would agree with your statement say 25 years ago, not so much today. Think he's gotten his props in recent times.

[@VictorM.Rodriguez-d8h]

I think his Celtic style of playing was not worthy of mentioning.

[@JeffG-922]

Agree.

[@Paul_Warren_Wolfe]

A guy everyone should listen to is Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser. Not only did he write (Don't Fear) the Reaper, he plays amazing guitar on songs like "Then Came the Last Days of May", "I Love the Night" and "Astronomy".

[@benlichtman8033]

Stairway to the stars also has some unreal playing featured

[@jcruisioso5975]

Buck is the man.

[@didyeah_bluesband2282]

On your feet....is huge Rock monument and Buck has fire burning for us

[@soundslikebstome]

CRIMINALLY underated. His solos are otherworldly.

[@ludwig7974]

He's so respected he got to play a part in "we're stars" with Dio as the metal side of charity songs. A great, great tune.

[@joemeier659]

Gary Richrath from REO Speedwagon

[@stevensass3933]

YES!!

[@cruzcampo007]

He was a beast on guitar

[@RollTideRising]

ALL DAY LONG

[@alexanderbrown4250]

Nobody was playing like him in 1977.

[@cruzcampo007]

@@alexanderbrown4250He was way ahead of his time…His solo work on Roll With The Changes is still one of the most badass displays of pure rock n roll genius ever done, in my humble opinion. RIP Gary!

[@mikaari2110]

I found Frank Marino and Rory Gallagher extremly underated, also Roby Krieger...

[@seansullivan7928]

I'll agree, with you I wad waiting hear Fronk Marino I think his version of all al9ng the watchtower is a bit better than Hendrix

[@darrenangle4493]

Good choices. Frank Marino and Rory Gallagher were always 2 of my favorites to listen to back in the day. And still are today...

[@MK-tj5bf]

To me the most underrated is Tony MacAlpine. Wish him to be healthy after his fight with cancer

[@ianmartens5286]

I gotta agree with this list. Frank Marino is another widely underrated player. A force of nature for sure imo

[@pourkeehablakeencha4585]

Neil Geraldo- Elliot Easton- G.E. Smith come right to mind for me...

[@norseman61]

Great choices! Elliot Easton’s guitar compositions within The Cars songs are works of art. How he can meld his rockabilly style with synths and New Wavish (kind of) songs is magic (no pun intended). Also, if you haven’t already, check out the Pat Benatar performance on Austin City Limits. Neil Geraldo really stretches out!

[@popeye089]

GE blows me away every time

[@JohnWDGTandTele]

That is an INCREDIBLE group of guitarists that are underrated!

[@georgepace7011]

OMG - these are exactly the three I was going to suggest! Many of the players in the video I would consider less well known but not underrated, i.e. no one who has heard them fails to recognize their brilliance (Andy Timmons, Doug Rapaport, Richie Kozen). Greg Koch is another one of these: not nearly as well known as he deserves but an other-worldly talent. Whereas Geraldo/Easton/Smith (or at least their bands) are well known but grossly under-appreciated.

[@garycook4030]

Absolutely

[@guitarman1129420]

Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash) Mike Oldfield !!! Andy Latimer Nick Johnston Steve Rothery Leslie West Rory etc etc etc

[@NobodySnowMusic]

Dean Deleo from STP is the definition of underrated, this guy is an awesome guitarist/songwriter,and never got the credit he deserved.

[@dbrown6451]

I like Dean as a rhythm player but his leads are not anything special. Also, his brother feeds him a lot of riffs I believe. From the interview with Rick Beato that was my takeaway.

[@ltgray2780]

Agree💯

[@Dave-nm3xc]

He's a great musician.

[@whiskybravo4648]

@@dbrown6451I bet they’re delicious, properly seasoned riffs that he’s being fed lol. They both write tasty riffs for STP.

[@coreyclark6505]

@@dbrown6451yeah, Robert wrote a ton of that early material. Dean has a great feel and tone and contributes more later on though.

[@NoBSMusicReviews]

Kidos for adding Fogarty. Definitely underrated, as he overshadowed himself because of his stellar sogwriting.

[@MrHattrick63]

Ive always felt Michael Schenker is underrated , great melodic player

[@petebrown3715]

Criminally underated. Sandwiched between EVH and Rhoads.

[@sabbster1157]

Best melodies and by far the best vibrato. Schenker was Rhoades hero

[@v3rlon]

And you are not wrong.

[@dapawaz8310]

Schenker, absolutely. Jabs too.

[@oslowilde6961]

He is underrated but I feel Uli Jon Roth was better

[@BrentAdams]

Paul Kossoff has always been one of my favorite Guitar Players. Amazing..... and another was Buddy Whittington that I listened to with John Mayall and the Blues Breakers (John found some amazing guitarists!)

[@robcunningham152]

I don't think Gary Richrath from REO gets enough credit. Killer tasteful solo's in all those songs.

[@norseman61]

This is a great addition. The poor bastard had to squeeze in as much REAL rock and roll as he could between Kevin Cronin’s sissy vocals. Gary was the whole point of listening to REO for me, at least in the High Infidelity era.

[@dragonpundit.6443]

Big influence...from the Live album...wore it out!

[@michaelficarro2591]

Amazing player

[@Paul_Warren_Wolfe]

I saw REO in 1985, Gary is as good as it gets for rock and roll guitar.

[@steponacracker3865]

REO was basically a college band and had a lot of followers. When High Infidelity came out, they had paid their dues and deserved the recognition they got from that album, but it wasn't quite the same... more commercial. Loved Gary's riffs and solos.

[@gasolinechlorine]

For rock, I'd say Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult, and Joe Walsh of the Eagles often get overlooked. For alt rock, Buzz Osbourne of the Melvins and Daniel Johns of Silverchair tend to get overlooked as well - at least for technique. And for Metal, I'd have to give it to Kirk Windstein of Crowbar. That man is truly another Toni Iommi.

[@Fred_Jones563]

Johnny Marr of the Smiths is criminally underrated. Also Lowell George of Little Feat.

[@yoshizukuri]

Rik Emett, Jeff Healey (both Canadians), hardly ever hear people talk about them. It has to change.

[@ottomattix86]

What Jeff did was INCREDIBLE.

[@timhall7297]

Rik is legendary player he deserves much more credit !

[@alexdayhay]

Totally agree with you and I would put Collin James with those two!

[@BrianMason1000]

And Randy Bachman taught by Lenny Breau both Camadian too!

[@KaptainCanuck]

Very rarely are Canadians on these lists.

[@jarrodgoulart1762]

Danny Gatton! Oh wait everyone knows he was one of the most incredible guitar players that " no one knew".

[@steverid]

Being a huge fan of Stevie Ray Vaughn, and thinking he was the greatest at that time. I watched Gatton play circles around SRV. Nine-thirty Club in DC. way back in the 80's. Was totally blown away by his playing.

[@TheCountofToulouse]

Gatton was on a whole other level

[@Vito_Tuxedo]

Yeah, you got it. Danny Gatton is NOT underrated by anyone who has ever heard him play. I put Danny in the same league with Clarence White; just absolutely incredible players who are worshipped by those who know about them, but are largely unknown by the vast majority of people...especially those (like me) whose roots are in rock'n'roll, but who (unlike me) are mostly unaware of the greatness that lies outside that genre.

[@russk1971]

Steve Gains, Nancy Wilson, Terry Kath, Alex Liefson, Lita Ford, Vince Gill, Jeff (skunk) Baxter, Will Ray, John Jorgensen, Ry Cooder, Glenn Campbell, Danny Gatton, Paul Simon, John Sykes, Reb Beach, Gary Moore, Lester Flatt, George Harrison, Don Felder,

[@benlichtman8033]

Add Roy Clarke and Brad Paisley and good to go

[@PepeAtreides-s3b]

Also Add Mike Bloomfield

[@ianramage1593]

Many of yours are also on my list. I would also add David Lindley. He could play anything (very well) with strings.

[@netwrkgee]

So many underrated guitar players this list could be top 100

[@RacerX888]

Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter from Alice Cooper's "Nightmare" band. Two of the best guitarists ever. Colin James from Canada, absolute killer guitarist!

[@ryosukejoe9615]

Rik Emmett, Blues Saraceno, Criss Oliva, Ian Crichton, Uli Jon Roth

[@DannyHood-j]

Criss Olivia, Sabotage? Uli roth finally got some underground recognition (in the states) sky guitar academy? I loved old scorpions with uli Roth. I didn’t see uli jon Roth until 2008 during (Under dark sky? ) I seen many guitarist my first concert was Blackmores rainbow Pat travers, I’ve seen yngyang malmsteen twice yng-yang. Also Vinny Moore, micheal Angelo. Many more I can’t think of.. Uli Jon Roth above all absolutely most TERRIFYING. Endless duel harmonies ULGY demented chord changes into catastrophic meteorite BOMBARDMENT. Snarling black marble

[@phatmoocow]

Love the Ian Crichton add!

[@seanmiller7889]

Yep glad to see someone else mentioning Ian Crichton.

[@jfo3000]

​@DannyHood-j Uli, the Godfather of Neo Classical shred, that plays with Hendrix volume whammy of Doom. Otherworldly.

[@RB-oc7ti]

Love seeing Myles F’N Kennedy (AlterBridge, solo, Mayfield Four) on this list! Top tier rock vocalist of the last twenty plus years; but is under-known as a consummate guitar player and songwriter! Btw - he and Ian Thornley (also great to see here) have been buddies since Myles’ Mayfield Four days. They have helped each other over the years exchanging guitar and vocal tips with each other. Myles credits Ian with the inspiration to his writing the beautiful AlterBridge song ‘watch over you’ - after Thornley encouraged him to try open G tuning on his guitar.

[@josefinasalgado777]

I think Tom Keifer is super underrated, both his solo work and in Cinderella is quality! He writes awesome songs with great riffs and cool solos, and he also has one of most unique voices in rock!

[@JoeandAngie]

Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner!

[@DonDeering]

Rock 'n' Roll Animal

[@jfo3000]

The head cutters!

[@lisaayers1975]

Great list and also great lists in the comment section..Robin Trower was one of my favorite underrated guitar players..He played with so much feeling and could bend a note around a telephone pole and back..Bridge Of Sighs,Daydream and Little Bit Of Sympathy are a few of my favorites by Robin .

[@aladickes]

Yep. Seen Robin multiple times and he never disappoints. Looks like Grandpa. Rips like Hendrix

[@jfo3000]

Those Trower albums, all special. Jimmy Dewar killing it with the vocals too. Soul and feel to the bone. Oh yeah, he COULD bend that string around a telephone pole!

[@mattdelany6799]

Nah. All Hendrix parrots. Check out Tory Slusher. The current best guitarist in the world.

[@dlmyrs]

Gary Richrath….hugely underrated. Bends like no other guitarists (except Gilmour). Devin Townsend- amazing career and amazing guitarist.

[@shocko77]

Rory Gallagher Edit:Ill add Jerry Reed too

[@Paul_Warren_Wolfe]

Jerry Reed is amazing... as is Roy Clarke

[@petebrown3715]

Jerry Reed, Roy Clark and Glenn Campbell.

[@zeke7142003]

Good call on Jerry Reed. Also, Glenn Campbell could be the best ever yet a lot of people only know him for his TV show. When he was asked if he was better than Clapton and some others he said he could play their stuff better than they could, and he probably could.

[@ianramage1593]

@@zeke7142003m Glen was amazing. There are so many great country players.

[@darrelavery9809]

​@@zeke7142003He must have been awesome if EVH wanted a lesson from him.

[@bengtj.nilsson2732]

John Lee Hooker, Mick Green, Alvin Lee, Peter Green, Wilco Johnson, there are so many...

[@DonaldWeir-v6i]

Canada’s Kim Mitchell. The most interesting stuff to me is his work with Max Webster. Excellent player and under appreciated.

[@RonH-tf7gi]

Might as well go for a soda

[@mikestillwagon5675]

I played my Universal Juveniles cassette until it was almost transparent.

[@CD_Character]

I first saw Max Webster playing a Pub Night at Seneca College in Toronto in '75 or '76. Then I saw them opening for Rush in '77. My brothers hadn't heard Webster before this, but became great fans.

[@cheenu711]

Without even watching the video, John Sykes. Made Whitesnake a successful band, it's criminal that most people don't know that he wrote all those riffs on the 1987 album.

[@fuzzydunlop1988]

​@@ManuelBothansextremely tasty vibrato

[@danielperkins4610]

Your buddy, Vince Gill!

[@markrobinson8410]

Tommy bolin, kazumi watanabe, phil keaggy, steve Hackett, carl verheyen, greg koch

[@jcruisioso5975]

Tommy Bolin ! Yeh

[@auroraromano7404]

Tommy bolin for sure ... Not only some tasty playing and nice stylings on the solo LP's and competent good rocking with James gang but he helped create the 70s fusion style with billy Cobham on spectrum. I hear Jeff beck changed his direction after hearing Tommy's playing with billy. Some people list lifeson and schenker up above but for the Gen x ers and boomers Alex and Michael have always been highly rated. Props to Phil keaggy he is awesome too.

[@denonhd8]

@markrobinson Hells yeah, lKazumi Watanabe! I’ve been a fan since I first heard him, in 1983. 😺

[@schlep4730]

Great list ! Yes, Andy Summers sold millions of albums, and yes, is underrated. Probably because he was more of a textural player who didn't play a ton of notes with blazing speed in The Police. His playing served the song.

[@stevie-con67]

Similar to Peter Buck from REM.

[@bandred1]

Ian Bairnson from the Alan Parsons Project is very underrated in my opinion🎸

[@TheGuitarCurator]

Yep, Ian Thornley. I've been saying it for years. He's amazing. He is an incredible slide player and can totally shred with the best of them. Don't forget his rhythm playing... just wow. I went and saw him on his solo tour in 2016; had front row tickets. Little did I know that we were also sitting on his side of the stage! He proceeded to rip my face off. Just amazing.

[@mikestillwagon5675]

And his playing and songwriting are entirely devoid of cliches.

[@RB-oc7ti]

Yes! And I love that his good buddy Myles Kennedy is also recognized on this list! They have shared both guitar and vocal tips with each other over the years! Two of my favorites! 💪

[@1overcomer333]

Robin Trower.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

You're going off-topic by mentioning Robin Trower. Remember, the subject here is UNDERRATED guitarists, and Trower has always been considered an icon. But you're not the only one, I see quite a few other guys posting comments naming guitarists who were NEVER "underrated". By the way: the 2nd best concert/show I ever attended, ( and I attended so many concerts of many of the greats back in the 70's ), was Robin Trower performing in a large nightclub here in my town of Melbourne Florida back around 1990......give or take a year. Even though his hey days as a top billing arena performer was back in the 70's..........and I never got to see him back then, he was still 100% as great in the 90's. I wasn't "too young" back in the 70's to have attended a big Trower concert, I simply couldn't make it when he came through Florida back then. The way he played the night I saw/heard him, if ya didn't know better, anyone could've swore BRIDGE OF SIGHS "had just been released".

[@eddieholmes3236]

Richard Thompson. Completely original at a time when everyone was playing blues rock. Check out the solo on “The Dog in Me”.

[@michaelcottle6270]

"Guitar Heroes" is another good RT showcase but a live "Calvary Cross" is where he shines...

[@DanAddison]

100%. Any video like this I’m straight in the comments with Richard Thompson and also Marc Ribot.

[@HoratioFitzbastard]

He's been doing it for so long too.

[@Newbyrock23]

vivian campbell. He taught me so much. How to serve a song, burn when appropriate, fill in where necessary. He’s a humble player, but can scare you all while wearing a smile. Hilariously underrated. Scary good player. Great list overall dude! You my man, are also underrated. You won’t say it about yourself. But we know.

[@sedition4267]

Harry Cody from Shotgun Messiah and Ty Tabor from King's X should definitely be on the list.

[@markfleming8438]

As a guitarist, 2 guys from the country world don't get the recognition and that's Chet Atkins and Glenn Campbell. Glenn is a shredder that most don't know about and Chet was probably one of the best guitarists around. My dad always kept steering me to Chet and I would Poo-Poo it until I actually checked him out and was blown away. Again, maybe not the 2 you'd put in this top 20 list but always worth checking them out. And Glenn will surprise you if you've never really looked at his stuff. Alice Cooper & Glenn became good friends before Glenn passed.

[@kanoray2608]

TBH Jerry Reid was better than both. They'd agree too I reckon.

[@ludvigbydal7812]

Billy Gibbons, the best Texas electric blues rock man, great guitar player and style innovator with ZZ Top. Not over complicated solos but very catchy and singing, for me has a lot of merit.

[@artheriford]

I love the Rev, but I don't think he's really underrated.

[@stephenrosenfelder4452]

@@artherifordwas going to say the same. He is rated!

[@artheriford]

@@stephenrosenfelder4452 I hope I am that cool when I am 74 years old. Hell, I hope I make it to 74!

[@richwilck8889]

Neil Gerardo should also be included. Thoughts?

[@manwithumbrella]

Dave Mason, one of the finest wah solos on "Shouldn't have took more than you Gave", Tom Johnston of The Doobie Bros.

[@erajad]

BILL NELSON! Bill Nelson is so underrated he doesn't even get on to underrated lists. The guy was, and is, an amazing player, song writer, singer, producer... BILL NELSON!!!!

[@blakshine3416]

Adventures in a Yorkshire landscape , immense

[@erajad]

@@blakshine3416 Love it! Almost included it in my comment - particularly love the version on Live! In the Air Age. :)

[@erikguidotti8640]

Damon Johnson, Scott Gorham, Gary Richrath, Terry Kath... there's four glaring ommisions for ya right there.

[@mknewlan67]

Gary Moore, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell just 3 I rarely ever see listed in guitarists lists. Moore’s rock era in the 80’s was pretty epic. Country guitarists almost never make these lists. Also Jake E Lee. Outstanding guitarist

[@bergie450]

Kim Mitchell, Ian Thornley, Joey Landreth. All very respected but still deserve so much more

[@CD_Character]

Not news to you Erick... Everyone knows Alex Lifeson, but in the early days Rush would tour with Max Webster (Kim Mitchell). They finally collaborated in the studio, recording "Battle Scar" for Webster's "Universal Juveniles".

[@scottjswenson]

Just read this, might as well go for a soda now :)

[@brutalslam8443]

Kim Mitchell could shred

[@Veggamattic]

Since you are mentioning Canadians...how about Jag tanna or Frank fucking Marino...he is a monster!

[@bergie450]

@Veggamattic jag!!! Yes! Paul Dean

[@chriskethan5952]

What a great list. I like all of your choices! I would add Gary Richrath Alex Lifeson Johnny Winter Ronnie Montrose All very overlooked and underappreciated! Cool video

[@SEGREDOSPROIBIDOS1]

I’m glad you mentioned Keith Urban, his first album with The Ranch is a gem. I’d have included Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

[@hopsnbarley8309]

Saw KWS with Buddy Guy a couple years ago and Kenny blew us away. Seems like a genuinely good dude too.

[@maxslade6532]

Great choices, Keith urban was a session player along with Tommy Emmanuel back in the 80,s doing work on Aussie rock bands albums. The country thing came later. Love Jonny and KWS.

[@partrickstowman8039]

Ed King, Buck Dharma

[@RJ-bn5uw]

I would have liked Robbie Robertson in here somewhere . Is " off the scale subtle " genre ever gonna be popular? Cause that coolness soaks into your vertebrae . . .

[@gaussian5499]

Jeff Carlisi, Scott Gorham, Tommy Bolin, Steve Gaines.

[@marcblum5348]

Jeff Healey!

[@Eric-fb2wp]

Roy Buchanan the Telemaster. Johnny Winter and his Iconic Firebird. Brent Mason. How about Dwight Yoakams guitarist on Guitars and Cadillacs Pete Andersen.

[@leftymike5625]

Ty Tabor from Kings x. Way underrated.

[@JohnWDGTandTele]

Great, great guitarist!

[@EricStrain-rg2go]

Richie Kotzen, John Sykes, Jake E. Lee

[@jamesm1938]

Mike Campbell definitely belongs on the list - especially when you throw in the "under appreciated" caveat.

[@MookieMaroni]

He's been at the top of my own underrated list for decades.

[@Jakexx01]

I agree! What first tickled my ears about Mike Campbell was the fact that he really understood his responsibility within the Heartbreakers. He has always been the wizard of getting IN AND OUT of a solo. And more often than not, did it with outstanding tone and WITHOUT a blizzard of meaningless notes. Campbell and the rest of the Heartbreakers contributions laid down the foundation for Tom's lyrics.

[@JimForan1234]

Tom Petty underutilized him

[@rob589]

Peter Frampton even in his heyday was regarded as some sort of pretty boy lightweight pop star but he would blow most of these guys off the stage

[@danman9510]

Chris Duarte ! Love his playing

[@Nblades78]

Big ups for Ian Thornley and John Fogarty. I always thought Joe Walsh was fairly underrated too.

[@hms2407]

Robert Baker is the most underrated guitar player. Guy would take you on a journey w his playing.

[@Newbyrock23]

No lies detected.

[@donaldyoung9838]

Robert Baker

[@donaldyoung9838]

Rik Emmett

[@donaldyoung9838]

Billy Squire

[@killedbycoconuts]

Rob is underrated, and he would never admit it.

[@catmoonmedia8223]

John McGeoch of Magazine, Siouxsie, PIL, etc… The whole ‘80s Goth, chorus & flange was because of him, along with some amazing and great guitar parts such as Spellbound. His iconic use of a Yamaha SG1000 along with a MXR flanger defined the ‘80s

[@rvpjohn]

Great list-especially Andy Timmons and Craig Ross. Would've liked to see Frank Marino on the list but understand there are so many! Thanks

[@Veggamattic]

Frank is a hurricane!

[@anthonyking4528]

I always thought that Ian Bairnson of The Alan Parsons Project is way underrated-not a shredder but seriously I can’t think of a tastier player-the solos in Eye In The Sky and Turn Of A Friendly Card are just so melodic in my opinion

[@budgetguitarist]

Ian is my favorite guitar player. My second favorite is Brian May. Ian had me from the opening guitar "solo" at the beginning of Prime Time. Even his early work with Pilot is great, like the improv at the end of "Penny in my Pocket." That's a great example of improv in the box.

[@racerex3159]

Keith Scott is very underrated.

[@TheSpydersBand]

Check out his guitar tech Keith Underwood. Whoa!

[@curtisoeser5133]

Kudis for putting Allen Collins in here. Needle was definitely Allens riff as were the lions share of Skynyrd songs. Allen was the creative spark in the band. Incredible rhythm player

[@seanzinger]

Keith is one of my favorite guitar players of all time. The crossroads with him and John Mayer is absolutely glorious.

[@mikedigesu4756]

Ian Crichton from Saga. No one ever talks about this guy and he truly deserves more respect!

[@BillCidell]

Gary Richrath with REO Speedwagon. Great live player.

[@scottv8410]

phil keaggy, guthrie govan, scott henderson, frank gambale, steve howe.

[@StevenAlwine]

I was wondering how long I'd scroll before I saw someone mention Phil Keaggy. He's such a melodic player. Absolute killer on acoustic as well.

[@JDB1184]

@@StevenAlwineYes !!

[@kevinvirnelson7868]

Astonishing how so many people don't seem to know about Phil Keaggy I've seen him about dozen times both with a band and solo acoustic sets and there are very few guitarists I would put on his level

[@zarathustrajazz]

Phil Keaggy lack of exposure to a wider audience borders on criminal. Jaw-dropping talent.

[@UrbanLegend9669]

1 George Lynch 2 Mick Mars 3 Paul Gilbert 4 Doug Aldrich 5 Jeff Watson 6 Neal Schon 7 Alex Lifeson 8 Tracii Gunns 9 Jarry Cantrell 10 Mike McCready 11 Nuno Bettencourt 12 Vito Bratta 13 Jeff Waters 14 Buckethead 15 Mark Tremonti 16 Wes Boreland 17 Billy Gibbons 18 Jeff Healey 19 Myles Kennedy 20 David Lee Roth

[@robbnutter4665]

Toy Caldwell (Marshall Tucker Band), Unknown Hinson (Stuart Baker), BB "Chung" King (The Buddha Heads), Martin Cilia (Australian surf music), Cal Kramer (Southern River Band). My fave CCR song (that shows off John's ability) is "Ramble Tamble" off of "Cosmo's Factory".

[@jfo3000]

Toy Caldwell was incredible. There's a live black and white Can't You See here on the tube that gives me chills every single time.

[@HoratioFitzbastard]

​@@jfo3000Same. One of my favourite vids on YT.

[@mattwisemusic]

Robert this is a great list. Ian Thornley is the top of the underrated heap for me. He’s amazing. I have to put in a plug for some of my heroes. Ty Tabor. Vernon Reid. Vito Bratta. Vito didn’t put out much, but yet you could study his playing for a lifetime. Some of the best solos ever recorded.

[@colakeith1]

Toy Caldwell of the Marshall Tucker Band was PHENOMENAL!!l but very underrated. Also, was a prolific songwriter.

[@mjmarcjohnston]

Big Wreck and Ian Thornley have been at the top of my music list ever since I first saw them live in 1998!

[@ottomattix86]

Alvin Lee, Johnny Ramone, Josh homme, Ian D'Sa, and Jack white. Jack actually blew me away a few years ago with his full band.

[@travgpeters1]

Ian Thornley . a couple of years back a friend of mine invited me to a concert . said he had a spare ticket for a big wreck show . i remember i said . oh they had that one big song awhile back . did not think much as i accepted his invite . thought it was going to be a boring show . but man oh man . the show blew me away . Ian Thrornley could play man . really play , been a fan ever since

[@fuzzcous]

Joe Perry & Neal Schon were highly regarded at one point but have seemed to be forgotten.

[@BlugubriousMusic]

I had to stop at this many... Ty Tabor (King's X), Elliot Easton (Cars), Audley Freed (Cry of Love, lots of others), Doyle Bramhall II, Tony MacAlpine, Eric Gales, David Hidalgo (Los Lobos), David Grissom, Ian Moore... great vid... glad Ian Thornley made the cut.

[@jamesdeananderson1411]

Ian Thornley is the most underrated ARTIST on the list. Absolute MONSTER. Props to Suhr, (maybe the most underrated guitar company), for endorsing him.

[@armanneto]

Richie Kotzen was the first name that came to my mind, but I knew you'd put him on the list. He is my favorite guitarist and one of my favorite musician ever. I missed Eric Gales thou. A living underrated legend. But I liked to see Myles Kennedy, Craig Ross, Andy Timmons, Keith Urban and Rich Robinson being mentioned. Great list!

[@CraigSJ2020]

Steve Winwood is clearly underrated he plays virtually every instrument and is aMaster of them all check out Steve playing Dear Mr Fantasy live (on KZbin) then you’ll know

[@hughmaxwell8143]

Would agree with you except that Mr. Winwood is pretty much acknowledged as the great one he is. This list is supposed to be for the overlooked.

[@CraigSJ2020]

@@hughmaxwell8143 so we agree

[@clarktippens4847]

Love that you added Steve! Gets overlooked on these lists a lot. And yes that part of gods of war was Steve! Cheers😎

[@TX_Bluesman001]

Nailed it on Kotzen, Cantrell and a couple others. How's about Harry Kody, Bruce Boulliet, and Jason Becker?