Top 20 best guitarists of all time - Brian May and Jimi Hendrix top list

24 November 2023 , 15:33

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Brian May has been named the greatest guitarist of all time, followed by Jimi Hendrix (Image: Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images)

Brian May, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton have topped a list – of the greatest guitarists of all time, according to a survey.

Mark Knopfler, of Dire Straits, and Guns n' Roses legend, Slash, rounded out the top five – while Chuck Berry, Eddie Van Halen, and Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, also made the top 20 list.

And when it comes to the most iconic guitar riffs, the hit Guns N' Roses track, “Sweet Child o' Mine”, topped the list – 35 years after its 1988 release.

The rock hit was followed by Prince's 1984 power ballad, “Purple Rain”, and “Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits – with Deep Purple's “Smoke On The Water” riff also ranking among the top five.

Meanwhile, AC/DC saw two song entries in the top 20 greatest guitar riffs list – “Thunderstruck”, and “Back In Black” – with Angus Young from the band also named among the greatest guitarists.

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The findings came from a survey of 2,000 music fans, commissioned by Sky Arts ahead of its new show, Greatest Guitar Riffs, featuring axe legends Andy Summers, Tony Iommi, and Nancy Wilson.

Top 20 best guitarists of all time - Brian May and Jimi Hendrix top list

And Guns n' Roses have the best guitar riff, with their rock hit, Sweet Child o' Mine (SWNS)

A spokesman for the show said: “Do not fret – for here is the definitive run down of the great guitar riffs of all time, showcasing top masters of the electric six string. It’s the ultimate air-guitar playlist.

“Whether it’s the late, great Jimi Hendrix, the stalwarts such as Iron Maiden and Led Zeppelin, or the new artists coming through, rock n’ roll will never die. There’s new talent coming through constantly. The appetite for new tunes and sweet riffs is as great as it ever has been.”

In fact, the research, carried out by OnePoll, found an overwhelming 83% said they prefer music with guitars in it – so it is perhaps no surprise that 81% said a memorable guitar riff was vital to a good rock song.

Being unique (41%), and helping you identify the song within seconds of it starting (37%), were the other key factors in making a guitar riff great.

The “golden age” of the riff was the 1970s, according to 30% of music fans – while 21% felt the 80s had the most to offer.

Worryingly, more than half (53%) said the guitar riff is dying out – with 74% of those believing this is a bad thing. But there’s still hope yet, as a whopping 65% felt the guitar is one of the coolest instruments you can play.

The electric guitar is considered the most important instrument to make a song truly great (58%), ahead of the drums (58%) and bass (41%).

A spokesman for Sky Arts said: “Among music fans, the guitar is absolutely essential to making sure you’re hitting the right notes. Across all genres, its impact is undoubted, and its coolness unquestionable – as seen by our survey results.

“The new wave of guitarists have a lot to live up to, but we know there’s more great music than ever being made – it’s about making sure you’re looking and listening in the right places.”