Top 7 fingerstyle acoustic guitar players_

Top 7 fingerstyle acoustic guitar players in the world.
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7topTube team

[@stevep8961]

Richard Smith...superb arranger and player.

[@aksy1121]

Dude, ever heard of Igor!? He is rock on guitar finger style, man!! He deserved to be on the list!

[@uhanalainen]

Aksy VAKS Most known is not the same as best.

[@Dr.RichardMcBallsack]

Aksy VAKS Honestly I agree with you. Though not taking away from Igor, hes an amazing fingerstyle guitar player, he really is like another guy mentioned most known is not the same as best and Igor lacks the complex back beat and time signitures that (most of these guys) bring to the table. Theres at least one guy on this list who should not be and replaced with Igor.

[@aksy1121]

Igor Presnyakov Although,only Igor is enough to type in youtube and you see many Awesome fingerstyle videos of this legend! ;) Enjoy bro!

[@aksy1121]

Sure mate. there are some duo of him with his son. For sure, you gonna like it, he is so fucking smooth with the instrument!! :)

[@stainesjohn5491]

omg igor is best, he shud be here

[@NallDave]

When you get guitarists this good it is difficult to say that one is better than the other as they have developed such individual styles.

[@FriesinNF]

Without youtube i know nothing about These Great Artists! What a Joy, thanks!

[@jamesj9998]

There are so many great guitar players out there. It's not a competition.. just enjoy them and be amazed.

[@janchristophers.magdayo3380]

Great! Tommy is on top one "The one man band" i agree on that he is the best.

[@rbplaysa99olson]

There are so many great players, lists like this are hard to agree on. I'm amazed how many great players are on KZbin doing cover tunes. Lot's of talent out there!

[@MartinSmith]

30 years ago Phil Keaggy was using open tunings, two handed harmonics, playing percussively !! CHECK HIM OUT!!

[@ron88303]

Yes. He's on my top list.

[@Rutek1998]

Missing one more player - Sungha Jung ;) Good players, good technique ;) . Greetings from Poland :D

[@PhilTraynor]

Very pleased to see my friend Adam Rafferty in the mix here! Your list is hard to take issue with; but man it's also hard to picture a list like this without Vicki Genfan, Pete Huttlinger, Al Petteway, Robin Bullock, Steve Baughman, or Todd Hallawel on it. :) So many great players, so short a list. :)

[@PhilTraynor]

And Peter Finger, Rolly Brown, Stephen Bennett, Tony McManus....:)

[@zulkifliebinjaffar.zulkifl9337]

All Guitarist here outstanding ...skillful n e Best among e Best....till came here small n simple Man...by e name....Alip Ba Ta(ABT),living in simple hut of Indonesia...Wizard of e Wizard...Master of fingerstyle....

[@MarkBreton]

Phil Keaggy not on the list? Hmmm....lists. Gotta love em!

[@krejdloc]

Number one should be shared : Segovia / Atkins in either order. The tappers and drummers can all go get some practice , except for Tommy . Its not a crutch for him.

[@FloydTheWolf]

Ewan Dobson!

[@asdfky0901]

I totally agree with this video awesome!

[@santiagobluerain9370]

Number 8 🎸,thank you.

[@gordonmurphy4035]

My addition would be Leo Kottke.

[@frombaerum]

yes and richard smith

[@goodun6081]

@@frombaerum , also Adrian Legg, Richard Thompson, and Martin Simpson. Bruce Cockburn as well.

[@lvgeorge]

Why are these Best of Acoustic KZbin Videos leaving out Leo Kottke, I'm baffled! He was one of the Innovators of Acoustic Guitar 'Musical Excellence' from the 70's up until today! However, we all have our Favorites and there are many many Great Guitarists in the World. IMO, Acoustical Guitar Music, Warms the Heart & Soul!

[@SWHBOYCE]

John Fahey ring a bell or three ?...Peter Lang and the old blues players in the south rediscovered by Fahey and Henry Vestine in the early '50's...et al...way too many to mention here now ; in the future ?

[@NCYWG]

Agree with Tommy at #1 but some of the other choices are totally off!

[@georgewilson5665]

#1 Lenny Breau. Discovered by Chet Atkins and later inspired scores of great guitarists, including Tommy Emmanuel

[@jerrylanglois7892]

Chet said lenny was the best, and he was right... too bad he's so overlooked.

[@nubie34]

How can you not have Stefan Grossman and John Renbourn on here, their 'Spirit Levels' is my all time fave KZbin video. Saw John play only two weeks ago he was fantastic, he will be greatly missed.

[@benperea8483]

Such amazing guitarists! Tommy Emmanuel is definitely #1 !!!

[@70goldtop]

I like the actual fingerpicking and note variation. Not a big fan of that slappy percussive stuff,even when the bass players do it.

[@stephanguitar9778]

Yep, sounds more like a percussionist who happens to do a bit of a guitar and they all sound the same. Missed Richard Smith too.

[@2552jewel]

wow super play!! and player is so cutemake me smiling

[@scotthewlett4918]

Nice collage. Whoever put this together seems to be a fan of players who explore in open tunings.

[@nexiss001]

Tommy Emmanuel is just... epic!

[@diegoLesnock]

Kelly Valleau, Leandro Kasan and Tobias Rauscher.

[@w8gamescomconexton]

Fabio lima!

[@Samuel-qs2eu]

Wow this is just awesome! Man dawn cool!

[@Samuel-qs2eu]

No damn

[@silasdossantossousa2089]

Top de Maaaiiis!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@figloalds]

Where is Mike Dawes?

[@0dir373]

I know right...

[@yeleoh]

Fuck off

[@yeleoh]

***** idk i just feel like it

[@Theweeze100]

Phil Keaggy, dude you need a longer list!!!

[@jerrywanimation]

this is amazing :)

[@pawpawtx]

1-2 & 5 .... awesome.

[@rickharris7357]

Great list but surprised I didn't see Michael Hedges.

[@PaulRocheGuitar]

I never really comment on these but I wondered if you guys thought Mark Knopfler should have been in there ?Technically he is a fingerstyle guitarist ... musically he would be one of my favourite players. I think these polls or top 10's are good for arguments sake and you may find a name or player you havent heard of as you scroll thru the comments, but as for ranking them - thats never a good idea. Anyway just my own opinion on the matter.

[@paulj312002]

He isnt bad but he's not anywhere near top dog in this genre.

[@christopherhale1963]

@@paulj312002 you must have not heard him play lol

[@christopherhale1963]

He should be on any guitar list

[@christopherhale1963]

@@paulj312002 check out his dual with Chet Atkins

[@om-ie2fp]

I completely agree!!! Adma rafferty, antoine dufour,andy mckee Don ross,tommy emmanuel...

[@oscarmendez5660]

Hey man excelent selection, i agree.... but i think that today any musician who play with passion and soul is the most important.... remember that music is subjetive and isn´t a competition... greets from Colombia!

[@chobeeboy44]

Phil Keaggy...."THE WIND AND THE WHEAT".....check it out.

[@WapuMclfy]

You forgot Steve Howe and most important JERRY REED !!!!!!!!

[@pdef1949]

Agreed on Jerry Reed and believe it or not, Jim Stafford. And where are Michael Hedges and Pierre Bensusan?

[@jeremysautomobile]

Well, you nailed 3 of them. Andy, Don, and Tommy.

[@Nichime]

In the list I known Kotaro Oshio and Tommy Emmanuel , Kotaro my favorite , the others in it's style are great musicians too and by the comments I see I must to hear their music too, to much talent to enjoy,thanks

[@paulj312002]

According to who? What about Lawrence Juber? Martin Simpson? Tony Mcmanus?

[@_Dio_Brando_69]

I can understand no Sungha Jung, but come on, no Mike Dawes? He's a God.

[@tuckergreene3847]

no mike dawes, no jon gomm, no calum graham...*sigh*...

[@dustinandshanel]

Why not sungha Jung?

[@_Dio_Brando_69]

Sungha's overall skill is equal to or less than these guys. His learning speed is astonishing and his skill is memorable, but looking at him from further back, he's about the same as everyone on this list. Mike Dawes' level is unreal. If uncle Chet hadn't died before youtube came around, he would probably agree.

[@Braham21]

Jesus Christ Jesus is right, Mike dawes is amazingly good he definitely deserves a spot on this list.

[@chewypc]

Jesus Christ I agree that Mike Dawes should definately be on this list. He and Antoine Dufour are my personal favorites. The only reason I can think of for Dawes not to be on this list is he was really just starting to make a name for himself when this video was made. If the list was remade today I have no doubt he would at least be on it if not at the top.

[@thesongs3575]

maestro!!

[@persjoblom218]

Richard Thompson, he is a great electric guitar player as well.

[@romanoznobishin947]

without Michael Hedges any fingerstyles top list is nonsense!

[@Julesacu]

I agree. The list is terrible and clearly made by someone without a decent knowledge of the history of fingerstyle guitar. As for Antoine Dufour being on there at all - his stuff is really not that difficult and his constant percussive string hits totally overused and completely tiresome. To have him on there and not Hedges is a joke.

[@calebscrazyamazinglife1795]

I agree it also needs Alex Misko

[@jman12849]

@@Julesacu antoine dufour's stuff is not that difficult?? can you play 'To Run in a Dream', 'These Moments'? he uses far less percussion in his songs than you seem to think. I agree that Hedges should be on there, though.

[@floriantinschert5542]

Or Mark Knopfler. I mean,, c'mon.

[@Mrbumbons1]

Amen.

[@VladimirChernyshovGuitar1]

Michael Hedgges, Eric Roche, Jon Gomm, Thomas Leeb, Mike Dawes?????

[@tommybear4458]

Vladimir Chernyshov Mike Dawes is the goat

[@gflyer45]

All excellent players. I do agree with Tommy at #1. Not just for his skill, but he is a total musician. I’ve seen him instantly blend in with other players in almost any genre. His command of the instrument and musical vocabulary are legend.

[@jsswan1]

These players are all wonderful. I think though that one has to look at who has had the most pervasive presence and influence on those who have come along since. I think there are 4 people who really have made the most difference: Two of these are Chet and then his incredible successor Tommy. The other two that round out the big picture and cannot be forgotten are Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges.

[@vilsonrodriguesjunior8669]

Kotaro is the 1º for me

[@ukhio]

yup yup he is the best!!!

[@2011littlejohn1]

I'm pretty certain that if you asked Tommy Emanuel if he felt he had ''taken Chet Atkins to the next level.'' He would not agree and also if he should be in some list where Chet Atkins isn't even second never mind first he would blush. These other guys make good drummers with their chord tuned instruments and capos.

[@mertsoyluoglu9791]

Great comment ..

[@ChrisCrostonMusic]

Tommy Emmanuel started fingerstyle guitar because of Chet Atkins

[@shearn666]

Chris Croston agreed, if hammers & pulloffs were banned the list would be a LOT shorter

[@mrmangiapatatearrost]

You miss one of the greatest. Sir Jerry Reed

[@deweycheatemandhowe2446]

Big Love-Lindsey Buckingham.Very original.Few can touch him!

[@arnoldfaustino9449]

this list is good as long as Tommy E is number 1 & Kotaro Oshio is included...well I would also mention Mariusz Goli...and the great Pat Metheny...

[@pdef1949]

Metheny is a definite omission, as are many more.

[@bobbybongo5918]

Chet Atkins. THE BEST EVER!

[@bigdood]

Absolutely agree with this list...nobody will EVER be as good as the great Tommy E... we are indeed fortunate to live in a time when we can see the all-time master in his prime! Also, the placement of Adam Rafferty on this list is a superb find...because Adam has only been doing fingerstyle for about six years or so... he was a jazz guitarist prior to his changing styles... and he can only get exponentially better! I look for him to rise to #2 on your list in the next 5 or 6 years as he has improved immensely in the last few years!

[@ron88303]

LOL; absolutely disagree with the list ... except I agree Tommy should be on it. Michael Hedges, Pierre Bensusan, Mike Dawes, Leo Kottke, Phil Keaggy, Kent Nishimura, along with Tommy. I'll leave the last spot open.

[@Emanual0607]

Check out Doyle Dykes playing "Wabash Cannonball". He sounds like 3 guitarists playing simultaneously when he mimics a train with the guitar.

[@FrankBrown007]

You should include a disclaimer: "Classical guitarists and acoustic blues guitarists were not considered for this list." :/

[@weepysum47]

I was hoping kaki king or mike dawes would be on this list

[@meditativehobby8088]

There are countless numbers of justifiable combinations involving musicians both on and off this list, they are all geniuses in their own unique ways...There should be homage paid to the traditional forefathers like Chet Atkins/Jerry Reed/Merle Travis and of course the modern revolutionary, the late Michael Hedges...However I think Andy McKee has taken Michael's legacy to the next level the same way Tommy took Chet's legacy to the next level. Drifting was the 3rd song Andy McKee had ever written and is by far the most popular fingerstyle piece on KZbin, he deserves a higher ranking. It takes way more than being a young prodigy like Sungha to be compared to these fingerstyle giants. It takes being a young prodigy in addition to decades of practice and exponential growth, only then will you get the caliber of fingerstyle musicians like RICHARD SMITH -- who undoubtedly should be somewhere on this list being that he's taken 1st Place at the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championships and has been inducted into the thumbpickers hall of fame. Don't take my word for it, KZbin "Tommy tells the truth" and listen to Tommy Emmanuel's perspective on Richard Smith's rightful fingerstyle legacy.

[@JamesScottGuitar]

Also, what criteria are you using to Establish who The Best are?

[@pdef1949]

These lists must be considered to be a "my personal favorite picks" list rajther than an actual comparison.

[@asktheraccoon]

This is not so bad, but Paco de Lucia could fit in this list and John Butler could've been special prize.

[@filiprogina1753]

Where is Igor Presnyakov??

[@cynicreviewer]

Not on this list because he's nowhere near the level these guys are at

[@Omarheartsgames]

***** Are you stupid or something? Idk why Igor is not here, he's a beast on the guitar. And all we saw here was like younger ppl, and some old, Igor got 30 years more of experience than most of them. Even Sungha Jung should be here, that kid is so extremely talented for his age. And Igor is pretty damn good, dude. Get your shit togheter.

[@crazystas777able]

Omarheartsgames yes, you're right.

[@cynicreviewer]

Omarheartsgames hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.......ha

[@deadramaster]

Omarheartsgames Chet atkins, don ross neither of them are young.. lol

[@KenSwiatek]

Preston Reed is awesome!

[@andr00NZ]

Congrats on being No1 Tommy. Your place is beyond question.

[@tylerwalker6498]

Tommy Emmanuel is freakin amazing. He is the best by far.

[@ron88303]

One of the best.

[@damjanm2414]

sungha jung? peter gergely? kelly valleau? better than they... :)

[@7topTube]

No way man! Sungha Yung is eight on the list. ;-)

[@sitiimanina]

7topTube callum Graham?

[@ImAwkohh]

Peter has only been playing fingerstyle for 2 years. 10 years of guitar total.

[@GoldenReyd]

7topTube But hes Asiaan! But seriously tho i understand that hes not good enuf for Top7 but yea he started playing guitar wen he was 7 and now he is 18 :)

[@user-tr6gx9gc8u]

Sungha Jung is amazing. But he's not legend yet

[@cynicreviewer]

Guys, 1. The list is subjective to his opinion. 2. It's not a proper "top" anything, it's just meant to show some of these guitarists to people who might be interested

[@646879]

as with all lists we can add our own favorites: Martin Tallstrom, Naudo, Scotty Anderson (when he plays acoustic)....Igor P, Damjan Pejnowski, THe Gypsies:Stochelo, Birelli, Sylvain Luc.....Many More....impossible to list "the best" just your preference....

[@azazelhcs3752]

You know what... I'M SO GLAD that the video of that Harvard guy or something playing guitar with a video titled "unbelievable, worlds best guitarist" or something DIDN'T make it here... If he was here, i'd have to find some quiet place to contemplate the stupidity of people.

[@watso-007]

Charles Cook im totally totally agree with u

[@paulmay7777]

Don Ross but no Pierre bensusan? I suggest you check him out and redo the list.

[@michaelcraig9449]

I think surely there are many more.. of these I like Chet and Tommy the best.. they seemed to be actually playing songs. These others just seemed to be performing guitar Olympics..

[@paulshene6931]

I always enjoy seeing others choices. Sometime I agree sometimes not. It’s still good fun.

[@czzzd7501]

where pierre bensusan is

[@buddelly]

Leo Kottke?

[@MrJdsenior]

To my ears and eyes, I still haven't seen ANYONE ELSE do the stuff Tommy does...and he seems to have a repertoire of about 6000 songs. If you know of one, let me know. Other favs are Gomm, Dawes, Hedges (of course), Tuck A., Justin Johnson, and probably about a dozen others I am forgetting right now. Just saw Justin's video for the first time recently and was blown away...makes a pile of bones, or a shovel, or an ironing board, or an 18 stringer sound like nobody else I've heard, not the same style, but awesome. One I would have included here, from way back, is Jim Stafford, first guy I ever saw, as a kid, play something difficult with only his left hand, and he was funny.

[@SAZIZMUSIC]

Sungha Jung, Yuki Matsui, Igor presnyakov ... they deserve honorable mention ... anyway 7 is really very small number to fit enormous number of great fingerstyle guitarists.

[@Marseille5]

Decent tastes, but some colossal mistakes amond the celebrities : - Michael Hedges (without whom no Don Ross, no Andy McKee, no whatever modern fingestyle guitarists would've existed) ; - Jerry Reed (inventor) ; - Merle Travis (visionnary) ; - Jon Gomm (unrealistic monster) ; - Mike Dawes (magician). Among the KZbin amateurs, I'd rather quote two very unrated geniuses : Martin Tallstrom and Emil Ernebro. I highly, highly recommend you discover them. Though Adam Rafferty is an awesome musican, Sungha Jung and above all Igor Presniakov are quite overrated in my opinion...

[@paulj312002]

First there was Merle, then Chet, then Jerry then Buster...then those other guys.

[@zepulece]

where is micheal hedges? :O

[@yeleoh]

Fuck off

[@bultacowally]

+Alianforza hey Alianforza...i like your style man!! you are my kind of people...yeah i know...FUCK OFF!!!

[@WilliamTheresini]

People are awesome!

[@MGreen-vz6yb]

Tommy! #1

[@hoangbuu1371]

and Tobias Rauscher, Maxim Chigintcev, Gabriella Quevodo ???

[@stephanguitar9778]

Gabriella is a vey good amateur but more listenable to than percussionist players.

[@LimTind]

Petteri Sariola? John Gomm?

[@shionchan1725]

As long as Oshio Kotaro is here, I'm fine with the list. Though I'm quite interested with the other artists now. Though Tommy Emmanuel has always been a favorite of mine.

[@SmittyWerbenJager56]

This might be the first countdown/list type thing that I can actually agree with

[@WyreForestBiker]

Jon Gomm !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@VladimirSavov]

What about Sungha Jung? His so young yet amazing! He definetly deserves to be on the list!

[@mariaelizabethcaringal6605]

ughh. yeah, he's young and adorable..also multi talented so why he is not in the list, >.< I already expected that he's on it come on people. #justice. haha. just kidding XD

[@nicolesummers2404]

Wowdemor WDA I was thinking the same thing. He should be on the list :D

[@kappy0405]

Nicole Summers You guys are nuts. Sungha's great, and he will one day be near the top, but he's prolly not top 100 right now, despite being the most popular. As someone else said above, "most well known does not mean "best""

[@paulmckenzie6008]

Wowdemor WDA He's amazing, but I only know that he does covers of other peoples work. Doesn't actually write his stuff; which is fine, but this video is looking at artists.

[@nicolesummers2404]

samyazza23 I was just about to say that. He does arrange stuff on his own

[@omalley1877]

Where's calum Graham and kataro oshio used the "Phoenix rising" riff for "fight", he just plays it at a slightly different tempo

[@TheFossie12]

Adam Rafferty's arrangement of Superstition! Veery cool phrasing & chord progressions specially at the close. Classy. What was that gat....? I'm inspired

[@sarojpandey8903]

where is john williams? ho is one of the perfect guitrist.

[@mDoThis]

Igor Presnyakov???

[@falconclan1204]

Sungha is young, a music prodigy, can sing and play a little piano what's not to love :)

[@marqy007]

Thankyou for naming Tommy Emmanuel to #1. He seems to be far and away so much more entertaining, a superb composer, exquisite control and ability bar none. Humble and humourous and just such a likable guy that can make one laugh and cry at the same time with his supreme, peerless ability. Long live Tommy!! King of Strings!

[@volejcore3933]

Igor Presnyakov?Sungha Jung?Ulli Boegershausen?

[@heavysaber9431]

sungha as a prodigy can rise to the top no one can master guitar at the age of 6

[@ackhoapham]

+YJ K lol you can fuck off

[@anomalous9771]

Volej Core, man sungha jung needs to learn more

[@bolshevik_1917]

Alexandr Misko, for example ?

[@xXC4rcassXx]

Antoine Dufour on 7th place? lol I think he has the talent, technique and the level of composition to be on the first place, around the ones you metioned here, you also missed, Erik Mongrain, Jon Gomm, Mike Dawes, Thomas Leeb and Michael Hedges

[@ron88303]

A couple of them are in my top seven.

[@richardsrensen4219]

it is of course very subjektiv who is the best players but i agree with no 1

[@parkjammer]

All 7 positions should be occupied by Tommy Emmanuel. The others might be fit to shine his shoes.

[@jaredmatthew6057]

+parkjammer So how bout Chet who developed the style and inspired Tommy to play?

[@parkjammer]

Agreed... I missed his segment.

[@willjooo]

Tommy Emmanuel's playing doesn't speak to me at all. Great guitarist, but personally, I find his style rather sloppy. I prefer a more clean, refined sound similar to someone like Andy McKee. ...just my opinion.

[@parkjammer]

willjooo Depends what you're looking for. There's a place for precision with little variation (a la classical). Many classical instrumentalists who move from classical to jazz or to pop are either freed from precision and allowed to loosen up or they have to learn to loosen up. Often true of Broadway singers as they move to rock or pop. I like to see/hear the technique of those with precision... for a while. But most of the time I like those that loosen up. Just a thought.

[@willjooo]

parkjammer Makes sense - to each his own.

[@jmorra]

Yikes! No Pierre Bensusan?

[@DangerDavez]

Tobias Rauscher, Calum Graham and Sungha Jung are certainly the next generation of great fingerstyle artists. We'll be seeing them on these lists very soon. Surprised Jon Gomm didn't make it over Adam Rafferty. Good list though. You included Don Ross so it's good enough for me.

[@charliewhelan9488]

Buster Jones and Eric Roche are both worth a listen. No Jerry Reed was a surprise