









Mag βοΈ β Rolling Stone has once again stirred the discussion by releasing its acclaimed β250 Greatest Guitarists of All Timeβ list, an expansive update of previous rankings. (Theprp.com it)
Hereβs a quick run-down of the Top 10 from their most recent list:
- Jimi Hendrix β hailed for his breathtaking innovation, showmanship and enduring influence. (105.7 WAPL | The Rockin’ Apple)
- Chuck Berry β credited for pioneering rock guitar and blending blues with a youthful spark. (digital.abcaudio.com)
- Jimmy Page β the architect of some of rockβs most iconic riffs and sonic structures. (105.7 WAPL | The Rockin’ Apple)
- Eddie Van Halen β transformed what rock guitar could be with technical brilliance and show-manship. (Q101 (WKQX-FM))
- Jeff Beck β a guitarist who pushed boundaries, genre-hopping fearlessly and influencing multiple generations. (105.7 WAPL | The Rockin’ Apple)
- Sister Rosetta Tharpe β a visionary who bridged gospel and electric guitar, redefining the instrumentβs role in popular music. (Medium)
- Nile Rodgers β funk guitar maestro whose rhythmic clarity and groove-driven style made huge impact. (Medium)
- B.B. King β the king of blues guitar, blending emotion with precision and influencing countless artists. (Medium)
- Joni Mitchell β recognized for her acoustic and electric guitar work, placing high as one of the few women in the upper echelon. (Q101 (WKQX-FM))
- Duane Allman β known for soulful slide guitar and his work with the Allman Brothers Band, his legacy remains powerful. (105.7 WAPL | The Rockin’ Apple)
Why this matters:
- The list spans genres beyond rockβblues, funk, jazz, gospel, soulβshowing the guitarβs evolving role in music. (digital.abcaudio.com)
- It reinforces that influence and innovation matter just as much as technical virtuosity.
- Some placements sparked debate within the guitar communityβwith strong disagreement about whoβs in, whoβs left out, and where people rank.
If you like, I can pull the full Top 50 from the list (with brief blurb for each) and highlight a few surprising entries that caused chatter.