Top 10 Progressive Rock Guitarists

[@KlD_B]

Gilmour has sent more people to space than Nasa

[@kennet7837]

So true!

[@thed00merguy]

Nice pfp and name

[@glumonion1454]

Some of Roger Waters disciples would claim he sent them to sleep😂

[@bastingmittenmc]

Not only people, he also sent a disc

[@God-th1me]

the fact that king crimson has two guitarists in this list goes to show the absolute powerhouse that they have been through their 50 something years of existence

[@JamosHeat]

Definitely. Also Fripp and Belews creative style extends out of prog and into other genres. Ambient, jazz rock, new wave, hard rock. They have such a unique sound. I much prefer king crimson to most prog.

[@Janusz-i7u]

Hackett, Oldfield, Howe, Fripp, Gilmour, Belew IMO

[@NowhereMan7]

Isn't this list just some guys opinion though? Thereby what it "goes to show" is as meaningless or meaningful as the next mans? Martin Barre would be higher on my list. Jethro Tull live for in the 70s were on another level to Camel for example.

[@kurtredlitz2862]

I've never heard of King Crimson. That just 'goes to show' how irrelevant they are.

[@JamosHeat]

@@kurtredlitz2862 Alot of times, the underground bands and the bands that are uncompromising are the bands that influence more. The quote around velvet underground is that they “only sold 10 thousand copies but every one of them started a band” influence and creativity far surpasses popularity imo.

[@MailsonFonteles]

1. Gilmour 2. Howie 3. Lifeson 4. Fripp 5. Petrucci 6. Hackett 7. Belew 8. Adam Jones 9. Michael Romeo 10. Akerfeldt. for me.

[@rockinbobokkin7831]

I like your list better

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Pink Floyd wasn't progressive. Psychadelic rock, he's be high on the list.

[@yasserahmed4245]

Have you seen andy Latimer play before?

[@MailsonFonteles]

@@bricefleckenstein9666 it is progressive too. Just like Rush. Animals, Wish You Where Here and Meddle are.

[@MailsonFonteles]

@@yasserahmed4245 Yes. I like him. I always hear Mirage

[@that_trans_dude942]

Now do Prog drummers and Prog bassists

[@brixenlang3207]

neil peart gonna be no. 1

[@facemcshooty6602]

BRUFORD BRUFORD BRUFORD

[@JamosHeat]

Bruford and Tony Levin. I’m not biased 😂

[@that_trans_dude942]

@@JamosHeat Lol. I love Bruford and Levin but I was gonna say Geddy and Neil. I'm also not biased. 🤣

[@snowdenwyatt6276]

Mostly just going to be the drummers and bassists for these bands (like Myung & Portnoy). They'll have to dredge up one more band since King Crimson is repped twice on this list...

[@松泰-r1o]

Allan Holdsworth！

[@danguee1]

Not prog

[@松泰-r1o]

UK?

[@松泰-r1o]

@@danguee1 UK

[@mallorga1965]

More jazz/fusion than prog.

[@jaredkerkhof9347]

I missed the 3 most underrated prog guitarist ever. Jan Akkerman, Focus😢 Steve Rothery, Marillion😮 George Kooymans, Golden Earring❤

[@川井ヒカル]

I love Jan Akkerman, too.

[@Spontaneou]

Frank Zappa deserves to be on this list

[@cancercentral9997]

I agree

[@johnb2905]

With Steve Vai

[@Mag777Nus]

Trevor Rabin is also a great one! 😉

[@kimhungrige8522]

Just watched some King Crimson videos again. Robert Fripp has been an idol since the 80's, and Adrian Belew is amazing. ❤

[@videosbaisam]

I think Robert Fripp might be the most technically skilled guitarist out there, but I get why Gilmour is on top

[@absurdcheesecake]

Gilmour has accomplished more, and has much more powerful solos.

[@joaquinlezcano2372]

@@absurdcheesecake Fripp too

[@ViktorCZ42]

Fripp on Red, my god is that an album

[@absurdcheesecake]

@@ViktorCZ42 that I cannot argue with

[@BP-or2iu]

Well that’s not even remotely true.

[@georgebeltran3742]

Camel were soo underrated

[@AverageRockEnjoyer]

David Gilmour is by far one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

[@youtoo2233]

Depends on what you mean by great, who is great to one person may suck to another

[@Thelightfool]

By far one of the? What does that mean?

[@youtoo2233]

@@Thelightfool you must be young

[@Thelightfool]

@@youtoo2233 the sentence has no meaning. David gilmour is one of the greatest. David gilmour is by far one of the greatest. "David gilmour is by far the greatest". Now that's correct

[@youtoo2233]

@@Thelightfool the "greatest" is subjective. Greatest how? Who is great to you may suck to others. You see?

[@tirbachannel501]

Steve Rothery... Marillion

[@mushroomengineer3021]

REAL

[@ArthurMol-ib5tg]

Steve Rothery is so so good

[@brianharrigan2996]

Glaring omission

[@capcompass9298]

You got there before me. His guitar is etherial.

[@gusarmstrong563]

Steve Howe was Guitar Player Magazines guitar player of the year for five consecutive years.

[@SeboDigital]

Howe in 1st and Gilmour in 2nd. Fripp to the last (love KC and his guitar, but... he´s weak near these heroes)

[@gusarmstrong563]

@@SeboDigital, Agreed.

[@markford6154]

Yes were progressive royalty and Steve Howe, is a far better musician than any listed here.

[@brentlineberry4098]

Steve Howe was a monster!

[@troycfrantz]

Is. Not quite dead yet.

[@Veggamattic]

He was no better than Rabin...especially as a composer.

[@川井ヒカル]

I agree. Steve How’s performance was so awesome that nobody can even copy him. At best no body can play better than he does. Who can play the guitar in stead of him?

[@Thin_Whlte_Duke]

Gilmour's riffs and solos are iconic

[@BlueMarioGangsta]

Фрипп тоже заслуживает внимания, все таки его гитарная игра на "Heroes" Боуи сделала песню легендарной

[@legionlibertyofrussia]

My top: 1) David Gilmour 2) Robert Fripp 3) Alex Lifeson 4) Steve Hackett 5) John McLaughlin 6) Andy Latimer 7) Steve Howe 8) Allan Holdsworth 9) Frank Zappa 10) Mike Oldfield

[@stevenreid2571]

Oooo John McLaughlin very underrated guitarist.

[@legionlibertyofrussia]

@@stevenreid2571, yeah. Andy Latimer too

[@mushroomengineer3021]

I would replace Howe with Petrucci but I get the point, thats also a solid ranking

[@danguee1]

@@stevenreid2571 Not prog. Neither is Holdsworth. Both brilliant brilliant guitarists. This is a prog guitarist list, tho....

[@stevenreid2571]

@@danguee1 subjectively speaking, I definitely think Mahavishnu Orchestra is a prog rock band.

[@happydays8171]

Saw Steve Howe at a Yes concert. Had 2 guitars strapped around him, and one on a stand in front of him. Amazing watching him do those Yes songs live.

[@jimalaimo8467]

Fine list. Steve Hillage should be included in any prog guitarist Top 10 list.😊

[@troycfrantz]

Solo & GONG!

[@giovannigrieco2627]

Grande David !!!!!!!!!!!❤

[@_TDS_is_Terminal]

Great list but I would have put Steve Howe at the top.

[@sam8160]

Same

[@danguee1]

Yes - greatest guitar composer of a generation. And a pretty good exponent, too.

[@SeboDigital]

Agree.

[@_TDS_is_Terminal]

@SeboDigital The guy is 77 years old and still ripping up the fretboard. I guess arthritis doesn't run in his family. LoL

[@SeboDigital]

@@_TDS_is_Terminal yep!

[@1TakoyakiStore]

I know Steve Howe gets a lot of credit (and rightly so), but both Peter Banks and Trevor Rabin before and after Howe deserve a lot of credit as well.

[@jamman6]

Trevor Rabin from YES... yes!

[@juliofranco-uq2yx]

Preciosa lista , es bueno reconocer que hay cientos de excelentes guitarristas diferentes a los de siempre "clásicos inalcanzables * ....page, Clapton y demás ....! Aplausos..!!

[@mikegandy7963]

Petrucci should be in the top 3

[@Future_Doggo]

John Petrucci, Mikael Akerfeldt, and David Gilmour are my personal top three progressive rock/metal guitarist.

[@user-ud7gv3br5d]

Rare Latimer appreciation, dude's a beast in mirage some of the best guitar parts I've ever heard

[@jimmyoconnell6167]

Gilmour no1 100%

[@misterb1897]

Yes. I’d put Howe at 2.

[@mrnip2]

Agreed. He’s 110%

[@zaidanahnaf9431]

What? How?

[@lumpy9964]

So overrated

[@SeboDigital]

@@misterb1897 why?

[@Electricshrock]

If you included Al Holdsworth, on account of his time in UK, he would have to be in the top three.

[@fabianofarias8134]

He played on Soft Machine also.

[@HamiltonVanMan]

My favorite guitarist is Gary Moore.

[@KasperDuras]

I'm happy that Andy Latimer made it onto the list

[@nyiar9599]

Outside of prog people may not know him but us who hear prog know he's a beast.

[@Jorgehaas]

Wow, dude, David Gilmour is rally great, but Steve Howe is a giant. Carpe Diam. 🔥

[@michaelallen3207]

Gilmore is the goat 🐐🐐🐐

[@lumpy9964]

He’s overrated AF

[@Dub96]

@@lumpy9964 definitely not. Just saw him live and it was absolutely incredible

[@indismart998]

​@@lumpy9964 he is not overrated. Fast doesn't mean better, nobody in the world can make a Guitar speak like how he does. Easily one of the top 5 guitarist ever.

[@kennet7837]

Gilmour is nowhere near the most technical player on this list, but he has the best tone and feel of any guitar player I've ever listened to (and that's many btw).

[@josefranciscocortazarpardo3607]

Como innovador original y creador de nuevos sonidos... Para mi Robert Fripp sin duda el más avanzado

[@jorgeluisdelgadootero3632]

Hombre de cultura.

[@johnsrous1616]

Ya gotta move Martin Barre up the list at LEAST 6 speces.

[@nedmac624]

Alex Lifeson is #1 for me

[@kevinstott9481]

Same

[@edljnehan2811]

He's good he's just not a progressive rock guitarist in the same sense that Jan akkerman of focus is Steve h o w e or Robert Fripp

[@jjam5575]

Rush fan, and I sympathize... But you're not getting him ahead of Gilmour. Not ever.

[@edljnehan2811]

@@jjam5575 why not, Pink Floyd are not a progressive rock band in the true sense of what a progressive rock band is. I can't quite figure out what it is with all the David Gilmour fanboys. I've seen him in the early early days back in the days Before Dark Side of the Moon even and he's really not that good when you compare him to some of the others.

[@williamsmith8522]

@@edljnehan2811 I don’t like Pink Floyd all that much and all of these guys are very good. Gilmour is great though, but still this is a list of greats.

[@jeanfrancois125]

Steve and Steve😊

[@_TDS_is_Terminal]

Those two had a band together back in the eighties. It was called GTR. It was Hackett, Howe and three guys I've never heard of.

[@johnb2905]

And Vai

[@jeanfrancois125]

@@johnb2905 yes !

[@tomtrana3449]

Very good choice.

[@morganneher8643]

I always loved that exact move Petrucci did in UAGM and the line right after it 🔥

[@davidjgreer9477]

The flutter?

[@absurdcheesecake]

Prog rock has some phenomenal guitarists, but Gilmour is #1 any day.

[@juerv1]

David Gilmour is clearly the number one, maybe not only on the Progressive list.

[@mauser5680]

I called it with Gilmour at #1, but I'd honestly put Fripp at the top spot. Technical skill aside, I think Fripp is a far more flexible guitarist than Gilmour, as shown in his work with other artists like on David Bowie's 'Heroes'. I like Gilmour, don't get me wrong, but Fripp's such an underrated and utterly amazing guitarist that I think he deserves top spot. Hell, dude made his own tuning.

[@josepedro8968]

Mike Oldfield is the only one with is solo career, kind of Mike Oldfield & Band. Like him a lot. Also Barre, with great rock Solos in the middle of the concert (saw in 2001), Camel a lot of time I heard at home for the great sound ambient, Close to the Edge of Yes lot of time put a tape record near bed just to sleep with the great sound, King Crimson is to much for me, but funny the videos with is wife Thoya, and the great Toni Levin Mr Ming play with them last year on tour. Steve Hackett is exactly this and others Lamb wonderful songs, a Peter Gabriel masterpiece and go out Genesis to play the first solo Trilogy with completely new sound 180 degrees and great musicians.. Toni Levin, David Rhoades, David Sancious and Manu Kactche, after Jerry Marota.. Gilmour... Is Gilmour. Everyone wonderful, diferent Bands and style sounds. We all got lucky..!

[@zachoneill6570]

What was that Mike Oldfiled performance?

[@zaphodbeeblebrox4349]

Hey guys, where is Ian Chrichton from SAGA?

[@5Cd2]

Fripp and Belew always ahead of Gilmour. They helped to develop new ways of understanding guitar playing. Gilmour is an incredibly sensitve guitar player, who easily creates atmospheres and transmits feelings and moods, but that is not what progressive rock is about. In that sense, Howe is also ahead of Gilmour. Then, Dave Barre is a very good guitarist, and Jethro Tull (just a week ago sw them in a concert in Munich, by rthe way) is one of my favourite bands (together with King Crimson and VdGG), but he did not open new ways for guitarists. Frank Zappa or Dave Torn or even Hendrix should be there (Hendrix was going to form a quartett together with Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer when he died. It would have been called HELP. Thus, he was ready to enter a progressive rock band)

[@chrisyasus8912]

The perfect top 5 S.Hackett Spectral Mornings

[@dianerodriguez1650]

Love David Gilmore. He makes me comfortably numb.

[@JoseFrancisco-lg3lh]

Que seleção maravilhosa 😊

[@TonyCentaur]

Steve Howe should be #1, even though I hate how he has treated the legacy of YES.

[@mihmih7623]

Gilmour is my favorite. Technically he is not the first, but so melodic

[@fabianofarias8134]

my top10: Fripp, Howe, Holdsworth, Gilmour, Latimer, Oldfield, Akkerman, Hackett, Barre & Trower

[@федорруденко-ц7ь]

Кроме Петруччи и Гилмора никого не знаю....

[@yellowsun3164]

What song is oldfield playing? I’ve actually never heard of him and he sounds super intriguing

[@juanluisgalvezghiggo6618]

The song is Platinum. Hes such an underrated guitarist. His solos in Ommadawn and Amarok (first that come to mind) are incredible

[@yellowsun3164]

@ thanks so much! I did a good digging on him and man, he’s incredible!

[@laurentfoure1489]

For me you can make to Andy Powell and Ted Turner of original line up Wishbone Ash ❤ and many others of course ..

[@deep_purple1365]

can someone tell me what genisis song that was plz?

[@taquitoperez3311]

Firth of fifth

[@Jerry-terry-jerry]

Oh Vai goodness.

[@JasonGilardi-d7w]

Gilmour for life

[@edljnehan2811]

And just where the hell is Jan akkerman of focus who could blow all of these guys away blindfolded.

[@marcelboogaard3809]

Thank you

[@edljnehan2811]

@@marcelboogaard3809 it just pisses me off he's one of the greatest guitarists on the planet and never gets any love for recognition from anyone. He can do everything Jazz Rock classical Blues the guy's a genius every bit as good as Jeff Beck

[@marcelboogaard3809]

@@edljnehan2811 I’ve seen Jan play a couple of times and actually met him briefly. He’s quite happy with not being in the limelight. I made a comment on this topic 10 how he was guitarist of the year in 1973. We know how good he is and that’s fine by me. I do the same with Rory Gallagher.

[@edljnehan2811]

@@marcelboogaard3809 whenever I need to remind myself just how great he is I just bring up the focus live and rare videos from 1970 to 76 they take you on a trip with focus in the studio as well as in concert all through their early years and it always helps burn it back in my brain again.

[@philipditchfield439]

Jan is brilliant but cud be considered more jazz rock fusion than purely prog rock.

[@gmoney1592]

This is actually a really good list . Some of the best guitarists of all times. David Gilmour is definitely #1

[@barnabarinludocratique6262]

Andy Powell from Wishbone ASH

[@russell1371]

Chris DeGarmo of Queensryche

[@Geezer-yf8hv]

I’ve never really consider Gilmour or Pink Floyd as “Prog Rock”. Most of their music is based in most standard blues structures, most not that complicated. But they WERE very progressive in their ideas and production for music and performances. The production quality of their albums was amazing! And many bands followed their example. When I think of prog, I think of extremely fast over complicated, abruptly changing time signatures, etc. Like ELP, Kansas, Dream Theater, and Tool, (although Tool doesn’t really fit in any genre. Tool is its own genre)! Glad to see Alex from Rush included! He doesn’t get enough credit. Rush was always very Prog, but many just don’t consider them so, (maybe since they were so popular and sold so many records, IDK)?

[@ArthurMol-ib5tg]

Andrew Latimer 2

[@eldd1294]

Steve Hackett

[@yonatangoldhirsh7150]

Gilmour is my favorite guitarist, but if we’re talking prog rock chops he can’t touch Howe, Lifeson or Fripp.

[@marcelboogaard3809]

In 1973 Jan Akkerman was Melody Maker guitarist of the year. He played for a prog rock band called Focus and he’s not on the list? OKAY

[@mushroomengineer3021]

Focus is really underrated (i've been on their show for 50 anniversary, but with new bassist and guitarist)

[@danguee1]

For one year, one magazine - 51 years ago? I think you have your answer right there: top-50 definitely

[@marcelboogaard3809]

@@danguee1 then go and look how many of the top 10 have been guitars of the year. You’re not Clapton in disguise are you?

[@davidgilmour21]

Thanks mate!

[@troycfrantz]

Where is Steve Hillage?

[@harleydavidsonetmarlboroma9857]

John Petrucci is the most technical

[@edgardotorres8106]

Steve Howe 👍

[@delby66]

I'm a bit biased when it comes to this list, but I would have had Steve Howe at #1 and Steve Hackett at #2. Then take your pick. I saw Steve Hackett bring his band to Toronto last year and the man is a fantastic guitarist. They played the entire Foxtrot album for it's 50th anniversary. What a show.

[@captainravioli1364]

I’ve been deep into dream theater for two and a half years now and this is the first time seeing a clean shaved Petrucci lmao

[@davidlaw689]

No Alan Holdsworth ? This Top 10 is incomplete

[@matty2495]

id say that petrucci is more prog metal and would be higher on that list than prog rock

[@RateOfChange]

Does anyone knownthe name of the song Mike Oldfield was playing?

[@nooneknows413]

zappa at 1

[@ru-vn3436]

What's the song that Steve Hackett is playing? 😲

[@Rafael__Cordeiro]

Sergio Dias - Os Mutantes

[@still-standingrunner810]

If it were up to me, Robert Fripp would be number 1

[@michaelsena7445]

I've never heard of these people before except yes

[@elizabetheaton3882]

Oh, David Gilmore and Alex Lifeson!!!

[@ru4nz186]

what is the name of robert fripp's song

[@Gerry_di_Rivia]

The Guitar line in echoes is something amazing

[@RyanPeterson-u3g]

Alex is my #1

[@aji.w.sasongko]

Progressive is always white man.... Progressive is always hard listening... The real artist are black person... They made music easy listening...

[@flaviomioto6343]

Martin Barre and Alex Lifson

[@willvelasco]

Steve Rothery, Nick Barret.

[@mikesimonian484]

What would you categorize Steve Morse as?

[@mushroomengineer3021]

That was solid actually. I think Petrucci and Howe should swap places, but i kinda understand the point here

[@YimmyyaRashoo]

Martin Barre is easily Top 3 ....#10 is ridiculous

[@martyayy]

Petrucci should be # 1

[@liambaete188]

Jan akkerman?

[@nopudarte77]

How is there no Zappa 🤔

[@spicybarf]

Petrucci is definitely the most technically skilled tho

[@RateOfChange]

Mike Oldfield is as technically skilled as Petrucci

[@rafgamez2358]

What is the song at Mike Oldfield?

[@juanluisgalvezghiggo6618]

Platinum

[@jbrezz4470]

Wow , this is the first list you got the #1 correct !!!! lol

[@pooryorick831]

I never think of Pink Floyd as prog. To me they are a blues based rock and roll band. Most prog is complicated. Many motifs are taken from classical music or jazz. Pink Floyd is simple. Most of it is written around the first chords you learn as a beginner guitar player. You can learn the chords for "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" as an intermediate level olayer. You can pick them out with your ear. But good luck trying to learn "Close To The Edge" by ear. The best I ever did with Yes was the intro to "Roundabout." Even the longer Floyd pieces are not the same as Yes, Genesis, King Crimson and so on. That little semantic point is the only objection I have to David Gilmour. He is one of the greatest of all time otherwise. Over-all, it's a good list. 🙂👍🏻

[@Tomsk80]

Omg all of this is soooo wrong.

[@chriskarley384]

Prog Magazine has 6 of their albums in their top 100 greatest list.But You know what? I'm kinda with ya.You make excellent points if that is your reasoning for bringing Gilmore down this list.Would you slot him around the 20 mark maybe? JC

[@chriskarley384]

​@@Tomsk80What's your top ten?🎸🎶

[@Tomsk80]

@@chriskarley384 Gilmour number 1 atleast.

[@matthew6427]

I'm with you. Floyd has some proggy stuff but I wouldn't consider them a prog band either. I love them & Gilmour is the goat so if you consider them prog, he should be #1 but he wouldn't be on my list either.

[@monsantres5082]

like the fuck mate if we compare technichal skill john petrucci gets it

[@JBGuitars17]

Pretty good list but I think Alex lifeson should have been 2nd and not 3rd

[@philipditchfield439]

Disagree, he is not that good