Who’s the Best Guitarist of All Time? That’s the Wrong Question.
February 21, 2025
Written by: Christopher Sopher © 2022-2024
Published by: Christopher Sopher Media LLC © 2024
Every time I see the question—Who is the best guitarist of all time?—I feel my brain short-circuit. Not because I don’t love guitarists, but because it’s the wrong damn question. It’s lazy. It’s tired. It’s the same echo chamber over and over. Hendrix, Clapton, Page, Van Halen, blah blah blah. We know those names. They’re legends, no doubt. But does anyone actually stop to listen anymore? Or are we just repeating the same answers like we’re programmed to?
What’s the real question? What’s the one that makes you stop scrolling and actually think?
Try this: Who’s the most underrated guitarist?
Now that’s a question that sparks something. Because now you’re digging. Now you’re exploring. Now you’re wondering, Oh, who’s that? Never heard of that guy before. That’s the question that leads you down a rabbit hole into something new, something fresh, something that actually makes you feel something.
For me, I started making my own list—my Five Most Underrated Guitarists—and trust me, narrowing it down was brutal. Because the truth is, there is no single “best” guitarist. It depends on the genre. It depends on the mood. It depends on how the soundwaves hit your ears, roll over your skin, and make you feel.
Here’s my five:
1. Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) – Bluesy, gritty, raw. His tone feels alive.
2. John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers) – The definition of emotion in every note.
3. Tommy Bolin (Deep Purple, James Gang, Solo) – A shapeshifting guitar god.
4. Rory Gallagher – A firestorm of blues energy that somehow still doesn’t get enough love.
5. Mick Ronson (David Bowie’s right-hand man) – The architect behind Bowie’s sound.
And I could stop there, but that’s just one category. What about acoustic guitarists? Jazz players? Rhythm players?
What about the tone chasers, the mad scientists who built their sound? Guys like:
• Eddie Van Halen – Stripping down and rebuilding his guitar, hot-rodding his amps, engineering the perfect brown sound that no one else could match.
• Brian May – Built his own damn guitar with his dad from a fireplace mantle and bicycle parts. His tone? Unmistakable.
• Hendrix – Flipping his guitar, rewiring everything, making his amps do things they were never meant to do.
And then you get into the virtuosos—the guys who make the guitar sing like a human voice. Joe Satriani. Steve Vai. Eric Johnson. But even though they’re mind-blowing, sometimes you hear it and you think, Something’s missing. Because sometimes, it’s not about shredding. It’s about feel.
That’s why I always come back to David Gilmour. My personal favorite. He plays fewer notes, but every single one means something. It carries weight. He makes the guitar breathe. It’s not about speed—it’s about emotion.
And let’s not forget Andy Summers (The Police)—one of the most underrated ever. The guy didn’t just play guitar; he orchestrated mood. His use of chorus, jazz-influenced voicings, space—it’s unreal.
This is why the “best guitarist of all time” debate is bullshit. You can’t pin it down. There’s too much out there, and it’s all so different. Instead, the real question is: Who’s the guitarist that makes you feel something? Who sends that wave through your body? Who catches your ear in a way that stops you in your tracks?
For me, sometimes it’s a legend like Gilmour. Sometimes it’s a random unknown shredding away in a Facebook video, some guitarist who no one knows, but damn, they got it.
That’s the beauty of music—it’s about discovery. And if you’re still asking, Who’s the best? maybe you’re asking the wrong question.
—Christopher Sopher
About the writer:
Christopher Sopher is a writer, lyricist, poet, and music reviewer who thrives on breaking conventions and pushing creative boundaries. His work isn’t just meant to be read—it’s meant to be experienced. Through envisioned storytelling, he crafts immersive narratives that pull readers in, challenging them to think creatively, not passively. His writing isn’t about following rules—because for him, there are none. Whether analyzing music, writing poetry, or producing full albums in record time, Sopher’s work demands engagement. Every piece he creates is designed to ignite thought, stir curiosity, and pull readers into a space where creativity has no limits.