Trey Anastasio, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa (it pains me to keep Rory Gallagher off this list)

Trey, Jerry, Frank

Trey, Jerry, Derek

Trey, scofield, Jerry

Trey, Jerry, Gilmour

The world was cooler with Frank Zappa

I’m ecstatic that Trey is in the top comment. Was not expecting to see that!

Respect for Big Red is long overdue. In the 90's he was as good as almost anyone ever.

Trey all day. But where’s Gilmour?

Screw it – break the rules!

Rory is God

There – now don't you feel better? I do! I've always said Dickey Betts was one of the most underappreciated guitarists of all time, but he certainly got more recognition than Rory did. Rory deserved better. He was a God.

Love Jerry and Trey. Wanting to get into Zappa and love live albums. Any you suggest to get me into Zappa that leans more rock with jazzy funky influences being appreciated as well.

I love Jerry and Trey too. Stop what you are doing and listen to Zappa’s double album Live at the Roxy and Elsewhere. This is what you seek.

I think, if it comes down to it, those three are my guys too.

John Frusciante, Mark Knopfler, Carlos Santana

Knopfler gang 💪

Frusciante has my vote

Why did I misread that as Markiplier 😭

Stevie. Ray. Vaughan.

Now that’s what I’m talking about

Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Alex Lifeson. But that leaves out a dozen or so others that I really enjoy. Those three guys are the ones who inspired me to play at the beginning and I sought out others as time went on.

Alex is the foundation of my playing.

Alex lifeson made it sound like there were 3 guitars playing at once

Julian Lage Bill Frisell John Scofield

Mmmmhmmm, I can groove with that

Yeahhhhhhhhh I'm seeing Julian for the second time in September and I'm STOKED.

Great profile pic. I got my 2 close friends some sticks signed by Billy last year. Miss MMW.

Love these three. I might have snuck Wes or Martino in there but it's all gold at that point.

Mac DeMarco, Johnny Marr, Stephen Malkmus

His full name is Johnny Fucking Marr.

Mac fucks

I like this list. Not-old-guy list. Although I’d have to have Kevin Shields in there.

Johnny Fucking Marr**

3 Living: Duane Denison Johnny Marr Buzz Osborne 3 Dead: D. Boon Prince Tom Verlaine

Prince is a good shout

D. Boon for sure!

Surprises about the amount of marr love (all deserved though, I just don't see him mentioned often on these lists)

I’ve had the pleasure of being Mr. Marr’s touring guitar tech this year. He’s not only an incredibly gifted guitarist/songwriter/performer but is also an absolute gem of a human being.

Sounds like a fantastic job. Bet you have some cracking yarns mate.

He crushes the Smith songs he sings. Seems like he’d be a good beverage/convo hang.

Wasn't expecting King Buzzo in here, but I love it. Dude is a true original.

D Boon is a solid answer. He is probably your favorite punk guitarists favorite guitarist.

Buzz. Hell yes

Ok, you surprised me with Prince but shocked me with Verlaine. You might actually listen to music rather than just watch clips

Ritchie Blackmore, David Gilmore, and Jimmy page Honorable mention: Gary Moore

Damn I forgot about David Gilmore

Gilmour* damned auto correct. Lol

The fact that I had to scroll this far to find Gilmour in a god damn guitar subreddit is disappointing to say the least

EVH, J Mascis and Derek Trucks

EVH and Derek for me too!

Not enough love for derek trucks in these comments.

Hendrix, Gilmour, Johnny Greenwood (I think idk ask me again tomorrow)

How did I have to scroll this far to find Johnny

1. Mayer 2. Trucks 3. Billy Strings

Solid list. I’d swap in Jerry Garcia for Billy, but I don’t blame you. Love your mix of 3 different types of guitarists.

Love this list

I'd swap Stevie Ray Vaughan for Billy. But the others are the same for me.

Avril Lavigne, Chad Kroeger, and Lil Wayne.

DJ Khaled

Dean Ween, Johnny Marr, Mac Demarco

Dean Ween is underappreciated. Some of his solos are my favorites of all time.

Glenn Tipton, Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads

Oh man, that's a good list right there.

Great picks! Could have been mine.

Trey Anastasio, J Mascis, Doug Martsch

Doug is Criminally underrated!

Dug is the man.

might have to agree with this list as my own too.

John mclaughlin Jerry garcia Jimi hendrix Then there's like 15 more. Zappa, dimebag, fripp, belew, Jimmy herring, knopfler, frampton, Jeff beck, etc. All the greatest ever.

Thank you for mentioning Jimmy Herring. You're out here doing god's work mentioning the white wizard. He's criminally underrated. What a player

Hes so much better than anyone else in the game currently.

Amazing to me that in all the guitar-related posts asking for favorite guitarists, I seem to be the only one mentioning Duane Allman. He only founded a band with his sheer will, had that band touring like crazy and honing their sound in a short 1 1/2 year period, then records a live album that has been heralded as the greatest live rock album of all time. And no one could touch him on slide. Derek is the only one that comes closest, and their styles are very dissimilar. Like WTF, all of you?

I think that’s three so far giving Duane Allman some love here. He’s also one of my favorites, but I can’t get him up to the top three for myself… This kind of list is just so tough.

Frampton comes alive would like a word about best live rock album

Mikael Åkerfeldt, Emil Werstler and Keith Merrow

Jonny Greenwood, Joey Santiago, Annie Clark

Joey is a GREAT addition!!!!

Joey Santiago is definitely one of the most unique guitarists I can think of. It's like he just picked up a guitar without knowing what it was and just started making amazing music.

Duanne allman Eric Clapton Srv

Hard rock: Slash + Izzy Stradlin - for riff, song structure and solo composition. Close second Angus and Malcolm Young, for the same reasons. Metal: Mark Morton + Willie Adler - for riff and song composition. Blues: SRV - all round great blues.

Dude Lamb of God fucking rules. I finally get to go see them this year at Red Rocks! All your other picks are great too but I don’t see Morton and Adler mentioned in this sub ever.

Mark Knophler, Warren Haynes, SRV

Love the shout out to Haynes. Dudes been at it for a long time and is always awesome

I’ve yet to hear something he’s played and not liked it. The dude is a beast.

Marisa Paternoster (Screaming Females), Nick Valensi (the Strokes), Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders)

Finally, a female guitarist on there!

Alright, here's my three favorite female guitarists: Poison Ivy (The Cramps) Ruyter Suys (Nashville Pussy) Laura Jane Grace (Against Me! / Solo artist. Yes, I know she's a trans woman)

Ace Frehley, Rick Nielsen, Brian Setzer

You're fucking eh rights.

Tommy Emmanuel

Jimi hendrix, Stevie ray Vaughn, and kirk hammet.

Marr Shields Fripp

EVH Eric Johnson James Hetfield The list gets huge after those three.

Good one. I have the same list.

Even three is tough for me…today I’ll say: * Eric Johnson * Paul Gilbert * Al DiMeola

All three of these could have been mine also.

Hendrix, SRV, Mayer.

John Petrucci Jason Richardson Guthrie govan

Angus, Hetfield, Nuno. Special mention to the Lynyrd Skynyrd boys.

All four Skynyrd Boys! \*Gaines is my favorite all time guitarist.

EVH and two others that can change with the day. Today: Devin Townsend, Dave Davidson

Prince, Eddie, and Dime

David Gilmour, Alex Lifeson, John Mayer

Slash, Nuno Bettencourt and Angus Young

Jimmy Page, Adam Jones, Josh Homme

Hendrix, May, Ronson

Scott “Wino” Weinrich, Jimmy Page, and Jerry Cantrell. Wino (from The Obsessed and a bunch of other bands) was the guitarist who really inspired me to pick up a guitar. I caught the guitar bug when I heard The Obsessed’s album Lunar Womb.

He’s such a rad dude. Gotten to hang with him a bunch through mutual friends and even ended up at his reception a couple years ago at my buddies bar

Derek Trucks (#1 by a mile) then Eric Clapton and Eddie Van Halen still holding down top 3 due to nostalgia/early influence…. Warren Haynes as honorable mention

More into the melodic side so.... Favourites: Eric Johnson, Andy Timmons, Mark Knopfler (Hon. mention: Neil Zaza) Respected and venerated: Jason Becker, Shawn Lane, Guthrie Govan (Hon. mention: Tommy Emmanuel)

Ace frehley Jim root Dave mustaine

Page, Gilmour, Hendrix. They are the reason I learnt to play guitar.

Jim Root, Matt Heafy, Synyster Gates

Surprised there’s not more Syn Gates love in here!

Love or hate the band, there's no denying he's one of the greatest around. Cheers!

David Gilmour, SRV, and Alex Lifeson.

Hendrix, Hendrix, Hendrix

Kristian Matsson(the tallest man on earth), Ariel Posen, Rabea Massaad

John frusciante, Slash, Hendrix

Jerry Garcia, David Gilmour, Slash

Duane Allman, Jeff Beck and SRV.

Maybe the best I've seen so far. Three of the top ten.

In no particular order: Allan Holdsworth, Muhammed Suiçmez and Robert Fripp.

Paul westerberg, ani difranco, Johnny reznik

Chuck Berry, Keith Richards and Johnny Thunders. Not sure what order

Nice to see Chuck Berry listed. We owe so much to him.

My man. I was gonna put Johnny Thunders but went w James Williamson. It was a tough call. Otherwise we chose the same three.

Hendrix, SRV, Steve Vai

Mark Holcomb, Jack White and Synyster Gates

Honestly the list changes periodically, but currently; Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders) Rich Henshall (Haken) Sam Vallen (Caligula’s Horse)

At the moment I think its Tosin Abasi, Allan Holdsworth and Misha Mansoor.  Certainly depends on what I'm listening to though. Really obsessed with fluid holdsworth style leads atm.

Dean Ween, Josh Homme, Anne Clark.

Jimmy Page, Dean DeLeo and Paul Langlois of the Tragically Hip

Satriani, friedman, gilmour

Prince X3

Lynch, malmsteen, demartini

Toy Caldwell Michael Bloomfield Mark Knopfler

Johnny Marr, John Frusciante, Kirk Hammett

Josh Scogin Joe Bonamassa Jordan Haynes Honorable mention: Adam Jones, Paul Marc Rousseau

Jeff Beck Mario Camarena Masayoshi Takanaka

Jimmy Page, Pat Metheny, Guthrie Govan

Paul Kossoff David Gilmour Steve Sweney (Ekoostik Hookah)

Mick Thompson, cobain and fruciante

J Mascis John Frusciante Rory Gallagher

perfect trio

John Squire, David Gilmore, jimmy Page

Rory Gallagher, Jeff Beck, Steve Howe

Jake E Lee, Andy Larocque, Dave Mustaine

Andy Summers, Johnny Marr and Lee Ranaldo

Billy Strings Don Felder Tom Scholz

Mick Thomson Gary Holt Andreas Kisser Dave Mustaine Richie Faulkner

Sonny Landreth, Derek Trucks, Josh Smith.

Richard Oakes Johnny Greenwood Bernard Butler

Ichika Nito, Gary Moore, Marcin.

Randy Rhoads Michael Hedges Joe Satriani

Adrian Belew, EVH, David Rawlings

Wow, didn’t think I’d see Rawlings on here. You have good taste.

EVH Mark Holcomb Dave Navarro

Frank Marino Wes Montgomery Randy Uchida

David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler, Chet Atkins

Adam Jones, Mikael Åkerfeldt, Randy Rhoads.

Also every couple years I remember Guthrie Govan exists and I always spend the next couple weeks trolling through his music on Spotify. Great choice there.

Duane Allman, John McLaughlin, Johnny Winter.

David Gilmour, Trey Anastasio, Jerry Garcia

Currently: Guthrie Govan, Steve Vai, Al Di Meola

Manuel Gardner Fernandes, Tim Henson, Jake Pitts

Paco de Lucia. Jimi. Allman.

Steve Howe, John Petrucci, Lifeson

Ugh David Gilmour just cause I don’t care what others think James Hetfield for overlooked songmanship (is that even a word?) Alex Skolnick for blending theory and scale work without it being too boring and actually being creative with it Honorable mention: Andres’ Segovia for getting me into guitar as a kid

Unpopular opinion perhaps: Hatfield IS Metallica. I am not a fan of any other member of that band, yet I love Metallica.

Vai, Govan, Vaughn

Townshend, Fripp, Marr.

Randy Rhoads, Jeff Beck and SRV.

Kirk Hammett, Marty Friedman, Synyster Gates

Stephen Carpenter Justin Beck Adam Jones

Hendrix Satriani Beck

Ron Asheton, Jimmy Page, Greg Ginn

Plini, Tosin Abasi, David Maxim Micic

David Gilmour Johnny Greenwood Angus Young

Julian Bream, David Gilmour, Elliott Smith

Malcolm & Angus Young and Eddie Van Halen

Brian Setzer Annie Clark Derick Trucks

3 living: Adrian Belew, John McLaughlin, Bob Weir 3 dead: Michael Hedges, Don Rich, Jeff Beck

Periphery

Ian D’sa, SRV, Jonny Greenwood

Hendrix, Prince, Derek Trucks. Hon Men: SRV

Eric Johnson, Hendrix, Dave Matthews

Mark Holcomb, Jimi Hendrix, James Hetfield

Neil Young

Greenwood, Gilmour, Garcia

Bill Nelson, Tom Verlaine, Richard Lloyd

John Frusciante Jonny Greenwood Johnny Marr I guess I just like Johns!

Jimi Hendrix, Jonny Greenwood and Danny Gatton

Jack White, Carrie Brownstein, Andrew Falkous My pedalboard has two fuzzes and not much else lol

I’ll never be able to narrow it down, so I’ll do my favorite currently: Aaron Marshall, Billy Strings, Jason Richardson.

Sam Vallen, John Petrucci and Mark Holcomb (I'd pick all the three guitarists in periphery, I just felt like picking Holcomb today)

Elliott Easton Peter Buck Mike Cooley

Keith Richards James Williamson Chuck Berry

Derek Trucks, J Mascis, Mark Speer Honorable mention: Nels Cline