The following is a list of significant lead guitarists , arranged in ascending alphabetical order of their last name. For rhythm guitarists see list of rhythm guitarists .
A
Duane Allman ,1971Chet Atkins Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders )"Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (Pantera , Damageplan , Rebel Meets Rebel )John Abercrombie Ryan Adams (The Cardinals )Marcus Adoro (Eraserheads )Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth )Fredrik Åkesson (Arch Enemy , Opeth )Jan Akkerman (Focus )Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake , Dio )Johnny Alegre Art Alexakis (Everclear )Joey Allen (Warrant )Paul Allender (Cradle of Filth )Duane Allman (The Allman Brothers Band )Lee Altus (Exodus , Heathen )Dave Amato (REO Speedwagon )Christopher Amott (Arch Enemy , Armageddon , Dark Tranquillity )Michael Amott (Arch Enemy , Carcass )Trey Anastasio (Phish )Al Anderson (Bob Marley and the Wailers )Emma Anderson (Lush )Rusty Anderson (Paul McCartney )Christian Andreu (Gojira )Apostolis Anthimos (SBB )Daniel Antonsson (Dimension Zero , Soilwork )Redouane Aouameur Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day , Pinhead Gunpowder )Tim Armstrong (Operation Ivy , Transplants , Rancid )Rob Arnold (Chimaira )DJ Ashba (Sixx:A.M. , Guns N' Roses )Ron Asheton (The Stooges )Chet Atkins Berton Averre (The Knack )
B
Jeff Beck , 1979Chuck Berry , 1987Carrie Brownstein at Coachella , 2012Ayub Bachchu (Love Runs Blind )Randy Bachman (The Guess Who , Bachman–Turner Overdrive )Dave Bainbridge (Iona )Dave Baksh (Sum 41 , Brown Brigade )Russ Ballard (Argent )Terry Balsamo (Evanescence )Perry Bamonte (The Cure )Peter Banks (Yes , Flash )Carl Barat (The Libertines , Dirty Pretty Things )Marcelo Barbosa (Angra )Martin Barre (Jethro Tull )Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd )Steve Bartek (Oingo Boingo )Michael Angelo Batio Reb Beach (Winger , Dokken , Whitesnake )Norman Beaker Corey Beaulieu (Trivium )Jan Bechtum Jeff Beck (The Yardbirds , Jeff Beck Group , Beck, Bogert & Appice )Jason Becker (David Lee Roth , Cacophony )Franny Beecher (Bill Haley & His Comets )Adrian Belew Andy Bell (Ride , Hurricane #1 , Oasis , Beady Eye )Carl Bell (Fuel )Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy )Matthew Bellamy (Muse )George Benson Chuck Berry Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme , Rihanna )Dickey Betts (The Allman Brothers Band )Jason Bieler (Saigon Kick )Simon Binks (Australian Crawl )Jón Þór Birgisson (Sigur Rós )Anders Björler (At the Gates , The Haunted )Ira Black (Vio-lence )Frank Blackfire (Kreator , Sodom )Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple , Rainbow , Blackmore's Night )Doug Blair (W.A.S.P. )Nate Blasdell (I Set My Friends on Fire )Mike Bloomfield Marc Bolan (T. Rex )Tommy Bolin (Zephyr , The James Gang , Deep Purple )Joe Bonamassa D. Boon (Minutemen )Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit , Black Light Burns )Johnny Borrell (Razorlight )Carlton Bost (Orgy )Tony Bourge (Budgie )Mick Box (Uriah Heep )James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers )Tony Bradley (The Distillers , Spinnerette )Vito Bratta (White Lion )Creed Bratton (The Grass Roots )Chris Broderick (Megadeth , Nevermore , Jag Panzer )Devin Bronson Joel Bogen (Toyah )Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney )Ben Bruce (Asking Alexandria )Roy Buchanan Peter Buck (R.E.M. )Rob Buck (10,000 Maniacs )Buckethead (Praxis , Guns N' Roses , C2B3 )Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac )Jonny Buckland (Coldplay )Bumblefoot (Guns N' Roses )Vinny Burns (Ten )James Burton John Butler (The John Butler Trio )Glen Buxton (Alice Cooper )Roddy Byers (The Specials )
C
Eric Clapton , 1975Ernie C (Body Count )Charlotte Caffey (The Go-Go's )Al Caiola Randy California (Spirit )Toy Caldwell (The Marshall Tucker Band ),Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers )[ 1] Phil Campbell (Motörhead )Vivian Campbell (Dio , Whitesnake , Def Leppard )Mike Campese Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains )Captain Sensible (The Damned )Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional )Perfecto de Castro (Rivermaya )Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot )Danny Cedrone (Bill Haley & His Comets )Gustavo Cerati (Soda Stereo )Nic Cester (Jet )Ross Childress (Collective Soul )Charlie Christian John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service , The Dinosaurs )Eric Clapton (The Yardbirds , Cream , Derek and the Dominos )Gary Clark Jr. Steve Clark (Def Leppard )"Fast" Eddie Clarke (Motörhead )Dave "Clem" Clempson (Colosseum , Humble Pie )Michael Clifford (5 Seconds of Summer )Nels Cline (Nels Cline Trio , The Nels Cline Singers , Banyan , Wilco )Kurt Cobain (Nirvana )Phil Collen (Def Leppard )Albert Collins Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd )Nathan Connolly (Snow Patrol )Ry Cooder Kyle Cook (Matchbox Twenty )Rusty Cooley John Corabi (Ratt )Lanny Cordola (Giuffria , House of Lords , Magdalen )Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins )Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers )Graham Coxon (Blur )Robert Cray Paul Crook (Anthrax , Sebastian Bach , Meat Loaf , Marya Roxx )Steve Cropper (Booker T. & the M.G.'s )Robbin Crosby (Ratt )Rivers Cuomo (Weezer )Marcos Curiel (P.O.D. )
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Denis D'Amour (Voivod )Dick Dale Brody Dalle (The Distillers , Spinnerette )Adam "Nergal" Darski (Behemoth )Dave Davies (The Kinks )Mahyar Dean (Angband )Paul Dean (Loverboy )Gene Deer Chris DeGarmo (Queensrÿche )Isaac Delahaye (Epica )Tiago Della Vega Dean DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots )Tom DeLonge (Blink-182 , Box Car Racer , Angels & Airwaves )Brad Delson (Linkin Park )Warren DeMartini (Ratt )Leonard Dembo Phil Demmel (Machine Head , Vio-lence )Britt "Lightning" Denaro (Vixen )Rick Derringer (The McCoys , Edgar Winter , Johnny Winter )C.C. DeVille (Poison )Don Devore (Amazing Baby )Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult )Al Di Meola (Go )Bo Diddley Carl Dixon Ian D'Sa (Billy Talent )Dave Dobbyn (Th' Dudes , DD Smash )Joe Dolce Dan Donegan (Disturbed )Abbath Doom Occulta (Immortal , I )Dr. Know (Bad Brains )OL Drake (Evile )Jake Dreyer (Iced Earth )Oscar Dronjak (Ceremonial Oath )Glen Drover (King Diamond , Megadeth , Eidolon )Billy Duffy (The Cult )Jeff "Mantas" Dunn (Venom )Bob Dylan Teddy Diaz (The Dawn )Perf De Castro (Rivermaya )
E
The Edge , 2005
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Gus G. (Dream Evil , Firewind , Nightrage , Ozzy Osbourne )Steve Gaines (Lynyrd Skynyrd )Galder (Dimmu Borgir )Noel Gallagher (Oasis )Rory Gallagher Anthony Gallo (Suicidal Tendencies )Cliff Gallup Frank Gambale (Chick Corea Elektric Band )Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead )Roopam Garg Kyle Gass (Tenacious D )Synyster Gates (Avenged Sevenfold , Pinkly Smooth )Björn Gelotte (In Flames )Rocky George (Cro-Mags , Suicidal Tendencies )Janick Gers (Iron Maiden )Sascha Gerstner (Helloween , ex-Freedom Call )Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top )Chad Gilbert (New Found Glory )Paul Gilbert (Racer X , Mr. Big )Vince Gill Brad Gillis (Night Ranger , Ozzy Osbourne )David Gilmour (Pink Floyd )Greg Ginn (Black Flag )Hamish Glencross (My Dying Bride )Craig Goldy (Giuffria , Dio , Rough Cutt )Matt Good (From First to Last )Myles Goodwyn (April Wine )Pier Gonella (Mastercastle -Necrodeath )Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy , 21 Guns )The Great Kat Gary Green (Gentle Giant )Grant Green Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac )Brian Greenway (April Wine , Mashmakhan )Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead , The Smile )Luther Grosvenor (Spooky Tooth , Mott the Hoople )Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns , Brides of Destruction , Contraband )Buddy Guy
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Merle Haggard , 2009PJ Harvey , 2011Jimi Hendrix , 1967Steve Hackett (Genesis )Merle Haggard Danielle Haim (Haim )Ollie Halsall (Patto , Tempest )Kirk Hammett (Exodus , Metallica )Albert Hammond, Jr. (The Strokes )Jeff Hanneman (Slayer )Kai Hansen (Helloween , Gamma Ray )Blake Harnage (VersaEmerge )George Harrison (The Beatles , Traveling Wilburys )PJ Harvey Juliana Hatfield Dan Hawkins (The Darkness , Stone Gods )Justin Hawkins (The Darkness )Pete Haycock (Climax Blues Band )Warren Haynes (The Allman Brothers Band , Gov't Mule )Justin Hayward (The Moody Blues )Eddie Hazel (Parliament-Funkadelic )Jeff Healey Helmuth Jimi Hendrix Leon Hendrix Jimmy Herring (Widespread Panic )Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks , Bad Religion )Tony Hicks (The Hollies )hide (X Japan )Dave Hill (Slade )Brent Hinds (Mastodon )Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age , Kyuss )Hisashi (Glay )Hizaki (Versailles , Jupiter )Terrance Hobbs (Suffocation )Gary Hoey Wolf Hoffmann (Accept )Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles )Randy Holden Allan Holdsworth Buddy Holly Esa Holopainen (Amorphis )Gary Holt (Exodus )Jason Hook (Five Finger Death Punch )John Lee Hooker Matt Hoopes (Relient K )Jerry Horton (Papa Roach )Tomoyasu Hotei (Boøwy , Complex )Jimmy Hotz Rowland S. Howard Steve Howe (Yes , Asia )Bill Hudson (Cellador , Power Quest )Jon Hume (Evermore )Charlie Hunter
I
Tony Iommi , 2009
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K
B.B. King , 1985Kerry King , 2012Rocky Kramer performing live in 2018
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Bernie LaBarge (David Clayton-Thomas )Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom , Bodom After Midnight )Greg Lake (Emerson Lake & Palmer , King Crimson )Larry LaLonde (Possessed , Primus )Sonny Landreth Shawn Lane Jonny Lang Andy LaRocque (King Diamond )Andrew Latimer (Camel )Ronni Le Tekrø (TNT )Bernie Leadon (The Eagles )Alvin Lee (Ten Years After )Jake E. Lee (Ozzy Osbourne , Badlands )Duke Levine Matty Lewis (Zebrahead )Herman Li (DragonForce )Alex Lifeson (Rush )Jani Liimatainen (Sonata Arctica , Altaria )Peter Lindgren (Opeth )Rudy Linka Lori Linstruth James Litherland (Colosseum , Mogul Thrash )Kerry Livgren (Kansas )Glenn Ljungström (In Flames , HammerFall )Nils Lofgren (E Street Band )Karl Logan (Manowar )Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy , Nevermore )César "Vampiro" López (Maná , Azul Violeta , Jaguares )Kiko Loureiro (Megadeth , Angra )Clint Lowery (Sevendust )Arjen Anthony Lucassen Paco de Lucía Jens Ludwig (Edguy )Steve Lukather (Toto )George Lynch (Dokken , Lynch Mob )Steve Lynch (Autograph )Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra )
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Gary Moore , 2010Tony MacAlpine Lonnie Mack Brian "Too Loud" MacLeod (Chilliwack , Headpins )Logan Mader (Once Human , Soulfly , Machine Head )Wolf Mail Daron Malakian (System of a Down , Scars on Broadway )Yngwie Malmsteen Christofer Malmström Misha Mansoor (Periphery )Kee Marcello (Europe )Frank Marino (Mahogany Rush )Johnny Marr (The Smiths )Steve Marriott (Small Faces , Humble Pie )Mick Mars (Mötley Crüe )Vince Martell (Vanilla Fudge )Billy Martin (Good Charlotte )Jim Martin (Faith No More )Hank Marvin (The Shadows )Junior Marvin (Bob Marley and The Wailers )J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr )Hideto Matsumoto (X Japan )Tak Matsumoto (B'z )Brian May (Queen )John Mayer (John Mayer Trio )Nick McCabe (The Verve )Andy McCoy (Hanoi Rocks )Mike McCready (Pearl Jam , Temple of the Dog , Mad Season )Jimmy McCulloch (Wings , Thunderclap Newman , Stone the Crows , Small Faces , The Dukes )Roger McGuinn (The Byrds )John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra , Shakti )Richard McNamara (Embrace )Tony McPhee (The Groundhogs )Mickey Melchiondo aka Dean Ween (Ween )
Michelle Meldrum (Phantom Blue , Meldrum )Barry Melton (Country Joe & The Fish )Vince Melouney (Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs , The Bee Gees )Dave Meniketti (Y&T )Jim Messina (Poco , Buffalo Springfield , Loggins and Messina )Naser Mestarihi Pat Metheny Phil Miller Steve Miller Brian Molko (Placebo )Wes Montgomery Ronnie Montrose (Montrose , Gamma )Ben Moody (Evanescence )Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy )Scotty Moore Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth )Vinnie Moore (UFO )Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine , Audioslave )Sterling Morrison (The Velvet Underground )Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs , Steve Morse Band , Deep Purple )Ian Moss (Cold Chisel )Jason Moss (Cherry Poppin' Daddies )Bob Mothersbaugh (Devo )Cameron Muncey (Jet )Christian Münzner (Obscura )Billy Mure James Murphy (Obituary )Dave Murray (Iron Maiden )Dave Mustaine (Megadeth , Metallica )Zach Myers (Shinedown )Gary Myrick (Havana 3am )
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Dave Navarro , Santa Barbara 2009
O
Pat O'Brien performing live with Cannibal Corpse .
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Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin playing double-necked guitar onstage in 1973
R
Django Reinhardt Keith Richards , 1982Roddy Radiation (The Specials )Mick Ralphs (Bad Company , Mott the Hoople )Larry Ramos (The Association )Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth )Chris Rea Jerry Reed Lou Reed (The Velvet Underground )Vernon Reid (Living Colour )Django Reinhardt Arthur Rhames Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot , Ozzy Osbourne )Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones )Gary Richrath (REO Speedwagon )Henjo Richter (Gamma Ray )Michael Ricketts Chris Risola (Steelheart )Marc Rizzo (Soulfly , Cavalera Conspiracy , Ill Niño )Jason Roberts (Norah Jones , Hymns , The Candles )Darrell Roberts (Five Finger Death Punch )Allison Robertson (The Donnas )Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy , Motörhead )Robbie Robertson (The Band )Janet Robin Omar Rodríguez-López (At the Drive-In , Mars Volta )Tony Rombola (Godsmack , Another Animal )Michael Romeo (Symphony X )Mick Ronson (David Bowie )Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts )Ryan Ross (Panic! at the Disco )Francis Rossi (Status Quo )Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd )Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions )Steve Rothery (Marillion , The Wishing Tree )Erik Rutan (Ripping Corpse , Morbid Angel , Hate Eternal , Cannibal Corpse )Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls )Francis Reyes (The Dawn )
S
Dave "The Snake" Sabo (Skid Row )Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi )Karl Sanders (Nile )Justin Sane (Anti-Flag )Carlos Santana (Santana )Joey Santiago (Pixies )Ralph Santolla (Obituary , Deicide )Satchel (Steel Panther )Joe Satriani Matt Scannell (Vertical Horizon )Michael Schenker (Scorpions , UFO , Michael Schenker Group , Contraband )Tom Scholz (Boston )Neal Schon (Journey )Jeff Schroeder (The Smashing Pumpkins )Chuck Schuldiner (Death , Control Denied )John Scofield Andy Scott (Sweet )Keith Scott (Bryan Adams )Tim Scott Sek Loso (Loso )Darius Semaña (Parokya ni Edgar )Brian Setzer (The Stray Cats )Charlie Sexton (Charlie Sexton )James "Munky" Shaffer (Korn )Dave Sharman Todd Sharpville Sonny Sharrock Kenny Wayne Shepherd Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine )Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters )George Shuffler (The Stanley Brothers )Charlie Simpson (Fightstar , Busted )Sami Sirviö (Kent )Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio )Alex Skolnick (Testament , Savatage , Trans-Siberian Orchestra )Skwisgaar Skwigelf (Dethklok )Slash (Guns N' Roses , Velvet Revolver , Slash's Snakepit )Martin Slattery (The Mescaleros )Earl Slick Hillel Slovak (Red Hot Chili Peppers )Brendon Small (Dethklok )Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden )Fred "Sonic" Smith (MC-5 )Robert Smith (The Cure )Bruce Springsteen (E Street Band )Billy Squier John Squire (The Stone Roses , The Seahorses )Mark St. John (Kiss )Bill Steer (Carcass )Leigh Stephens (Blue Cheer , Sister Ray )Steve Stevens (Billy Idol )Travis Stever (Coheed and Cambria )Gina Stile (Vixen )Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield , Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young )[ 1] Barry Stock (Three Days Grace )Andrew Stockdale (Wolfmother )Nita Strauss (The Iron Maidens , Femme Fatale )Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy )Sugizo (Luna Sea , X Japan )Frankie Sullivan (Survivor )Tim Sult (Clutch )Hubert Sumlin Andy Summers (The Police )Bernard Sumner (Joy Division , New Order )Niklas Sundin (Dark Tranquillity )Roman Surman (Wednesday 13 , Murderdolls )Michael Sweet (Stryper )John Sykes (Tygers of Pan Tang , Thin Lizzy , Whitesnake )Red Symons (Skyhooks )Syu (Galneryus , Animetal )
T
Ty Tabor (King's X )Joey Tafolla Akira Takasaki (Loudness )Marv Tarplin (Smokey Robinson and The Miracles , Smokey Robinson )Andy Taylor (Duran Duran )Mick Taylor (John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers , The Rolling Stones )Bobby Tench (Streetwalkers , Hummingbird , Van Morrison , Topper Headon )Octave Octavian Teodorescu Thomas Thacker (Sum 41 )Tommy Thayer (Black 'N' Blue , Kiss )Kim Thayil (Soundgarden )Hughie Thomasson (Outlaws )Mick Thomson (Slipknot )Porl Thompson (The Cure )Richard Thompson Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah )George Thorogood Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls , The Heartbreakers )Steve Tibbetts Andy Timmons (Danger Danger )Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest )Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius )Simon Tong (The Verve , The Shining , The Good, the Bad & the Queen )Ray Toro (My Chemical Romance )Sam Totman (DragonForce )Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad )Pete Townshend (The Who )Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge , Creed )Greg Tribbett (Mudvayne , Hellyeah )Joe Trohman (Fall Out Boy )Robin Trower (Procol Harum )Derek Trucks (The Allman Brothers Band , Tedeschi Trucks Band )Nigel Tufnel (Lenny and the Squigtones , Spinal Tap )Luca Turilli Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys )Steve Turner (Mudhoney )Ted Turner (Wishbone Ash )
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V
W
Paul Waggoner (Between the Buried and Me )Dick Wagner Butch Walker (SouthGang )Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie )Joe Walsh (James Gang , The Eagles )Rich Ward (Stuck Mojo , Fozzy )Steve Wariner Baz Warne (The Stranglers )Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman (The Offspring )Jeff Waters (Annihilator )Muddy Waters Jeff Watson (Night Ranger )Mike Wead (King Diamond )Chris Weber (Hollywood Rose , U.P.O. )Michael Weikath (Helloween )Carl Weingarten Ben Weinman (The Dillinger Escape Plan )Scott Weinrich (The Obsessed )Brian "Head" Welch (Korn )Paul Weller (The Jam , The Style Council )Allen West (Obituary )Leslie West (Mountain )Bob Weston (Fleetwood Mac )Emil Werstler (Chimaira , Dååth )Alex Westaway (Fightstar )Deryck Whibley (Sum 41 )Andrew White (Kaiser Chiefs )Clarence White (The Kentucky Colonels , Nashville West , The Byrds )Jack White (The White Stripes , The Raconteurs )Jason White (Green Day , Foxboro Hot Tubs )John "Charlie" Whitney (Family , Streetwalkers )Snowy White (Thin Lizzy )Peter Wichers (Soilwork )Carl Wilson (The Beach Boys )Nancy Wilson (Heart )Ricky Wilson (The B-52's )Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree )Michael Wilton (Queensrÿche )Johnny Winter Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek (Vader )Ronnie Wood (The Faces , The Rolling Stones )Link Wray Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne , Black Label Society )
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References
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