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Jan 16, 2023 · We took 170 guitarists from our big list and grouped them into six categories: classic rock, blues, heavy metal, shred, indie/alternative and a ‘best right now’ contemporary poll. Six categories and six polls later, we had some results. The winning guitarists make up 80 of the 100 you’ll see here.
- The Best Jazz and Fusion Guitarists of All Time
Thumbs Up! Putting a finger on Montgomery’s amazing playing...
- The Best Jazz and Fusion Guitarists of All Time
- Elton John
- Freddie Mercury
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Billy Joel
- Little Richard
- Stevie Wonder
- Steve Winwood
- Paul Mccartney
- Bruce Hornsby
- Carole King
Indisputably one of the most famous piano players alive today, Elton John’s unique compositions blended elements of pop and rock that no one had seen before. John’s family was quick to recognize his talents. He’d reportedly mastered the piano by age 3, playing complex pieces and making them look easy. As he grew older, he revealed his compositional...
A legendary talent lost too soon, Freddie Mercurywas the frontman of the British rock band Queen. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest singers and song composers of all time. While Mercury is famous for playing piano in many of the band’s favorite songs, he wasn’t some piano guru or child prodigy. Instead, he brought bravado, energy, and ...
You might know Jerry Lee Lewisby his other name — the Killer, and he sure does kill at the piano. He rose to fame during the 1950s and ’60s and is best known for pioneering rockabilly music, a sub-genre that blends rhythm and blues with country music. Lewis is famous not only for his extraordinary musical talent but also for his flamboyant personal...
Born in the Bronx in 1949, Billy Joeldidn’t have an infantile calling for the piano like some others on this list. His mother forced him to play, a decision that music lovers worldwide are grateful for. Thanks to her influence, Joel went on to create timeless hits such as “Piano Man” and “New York State of Mind.” These songs have become staples in ...
After learning to play piano in church, Little Richard, born in 1932 in Macon, Georgia, developed his own style of rock that would send shockwaves through the music community. Richard is best remembered for his incredibly frenetic play styleWhether he was performing in front of a small crowd or a large audience, Richard brought an infectious energy...
One of the most recognizable pop stars alive today, Stevie Wonder is a former child prodigy turned multi-platinum music legend. Born blind, Wonder first learned to play piano in his church. While he is best known for his exceptional piano skills, Wonder’s musical talents extend far beyond this instrument. He is also highly proficient at playing the...
Rising to fame in 1963 as the keyboardist of the Spencer Davis Group, Steve Winwoodis a well-known figure in blues, pop-rock, and blue-eyed soul music. In 1967, Winwood decided to depart from the group to form Traffic. His solo career truly took off during the 1980s, when he established himself as one of the most popular keyboardists of that era. W...
A founding member of the Beatles, Paul McCartneyis best known for singing and playing guitar in the iconic 1960s rock group. However, he’s also an uncommonly good piano player with an exceptional ear and wild compositional talent. Throughout his time with the Beatles, McCartney often took to the piano to contribute to some of the band’s most iconic...
Born in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1954, Bruce Hornsbyattended Berkeley Music School and pursued a career as a keyboardist with his brother, John, in Los Angeles. There, famed musician Huey Lewis picked him up and recorded and produced much of his music. He eventually formed Bruce Hornsby and the Range, a group of different talents who topped the c...
Recognized as one of the most influential and successful musicians, songwriters, and pianists of all time, Carole Kinghas left an incredible mark on the music industry. She’s written or co-written 118 songs for Billboard’s Hot 100 throughout her career, and her solo album Tapestrywas the record holder for the longest-running #1 album for a female a...
- Brian May (Queen) First on our list is Brian May, one of the founding members of the iconic band Queen. He holds a spot as one of the most influential and well-known guitarists, songwriters, and performers of all time.
- Jimi Hendrix. Born Johnny Allen Hendrix, Jimi Hendrix was a legendary electric guitarist and one of the most prominent figures in music history. He got his first acoustic guitar from his father, and soon after, he joined his first musical group, the Velvetones.
- Jimmy Page (Led Zepplin) Next on our list is world-renowned guitarist, songwriter, and producer Jimmy Page. He founded one of the most influential rock bands to ever exist: Led Zeppelin.
- Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen) Co-founder of the popular rock band Van Halen is Eddie Van Halen himself, leading songwriter and guitarist the group. He was born in the Netherlands, but his family soon moved to Pasadena, California, where he and his brother took music lessons.
Jun 6, 2024 · From Liszt to Lang Lang, many of the greatest musicians both past and present have been immensely skilled pianists. But with so much competition in the field, it takes a truly special piano player to sparkle above the rest.
- Brett Milano
- Jimi Hendrix. Let’s face it, rock will never come up with a more visionary guitarist. Not only did Jimi Hendrix expand the sonic possibilities of what a guitar could do, but he also found uncharted places that a guitar could take you to.
- Chuck Berry. The blues had a baby, they called it rock’n’roll, and the guitar intro on Chuck Berry’s “Maybelline” was the moment of conception. Berry was a master of the short and tasty solo (though you can check out 60s albums like Concerto In B Goode if you want to hear his solos at length), and there’s been no worthy rock guitarist who hasn’t absorbed a little Chuck.
- Wes Montgomery. During his too-short career, this jazz great was rightly renowned for his octave technique (playing phrases on two strings an octave apart, giving a clear sweet tone), and his aggressive thumb strokes (something Jeff Beck and others emulated).
- BB King. You might say that BB King was half of the greatest vocal duo in blues history. The other half was his guitar, Lucille, whose elegant, pleading tone said everything that the words couldn’t completely express.
Oct 13, 2023 · There are huge stars like Prince, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young, and behind-the-scenes masters like Memphis soul great Teenie Hodges and smooth-rock assassin Larry Carlton.
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Working their magic on the 88 keys in front of them in repertoire ranging from brilliantly crafted Bach and mercurial Mozart to the flamboyant fireworks of Liszt and Rachmaninov, the best pianists inspire admiration and adulation in equal measure. Here is our handpicked selection of the 20 greatest pianists of all time.
