In our list of the Greatest Instrumental Guitarists Of All Time, we looked at the top 20 guitar players who made their mark on the instrument purely through their instrumental work. We didn’t include any singers on this list, so people like Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix were not included. In this list, we look at 10 of the best buskers – those that perform for money in public places such as on streets and subways.
Busking is a great way for developing musicians to get more experience in front of an audience and to earn a little bit of cash. There are plenty of great buskers out there and many have gone on to bigger things. Some have even become household names.
Here are 10 great guitar buskers from around the world who have done just that:
1. Ed Sheeran
2. Damian Rice
3. KT Tunstall
4. Rod Stewart
5. Ben Harper
6. Jewel
7. Tracy Chapman
8. James Bay
9. Jack Johnson
10. Mumford & Sons
As we’ve already seen with drummers, there’s a very good chance that if someone is the best at one thing, they may also be the best at another. That certainly seems to be the case when it comes to guitarists.
So tonight, I’m looking at the 10 greatest instrumental guitarists of all time. What I mean by “instrumental” is that they don’t sing (although some do sing and play). What I mean by “greatest” is that these 10 guitarists have had a huge influence on other guitarists, whether it be technique-wise or just because they are awesome.
I’m sure someone will complain about who’s not on this list, so let me say right now: I’m not saying that these are better than Clapton or Hendrix or any other great guitarist; all I’m saying is that they are, in my opinion, the most influential instrumental guitarists of all time.
This list is based on the music I listen to which is mostly instrumental guitarists. I love the guitar and have listened to so many great guitarists over the years, some of them are not even in this list. But these are my favorite top 10 instrumental guitarists of all time.
10. Steve Vai
9. Yngwie Malmsteen
8. Joe Satriani
7. Buckethead
6. Tom Morello
5. John Petrucci
4. Eric Johnson
3. Allan Holdsworth
2. Paul Gilbert
1. Jason Becker
Some of the greatest guitar players to ever walk on this earth have never sang a note. Their fingers do all the talking. Some have used that as an excuse to be lazy, but many have taken it as a challenge to be even more creative and innovative than their counterparts who are also blessed with a voice.
Those are the ones we love. The ones whose technique and tone have something to say in its own right. Here’s a list of some of the best instrumental guitarists of all time, in no particular order:
Django Reinhardt
Joe Satriani
Jimi Hendrix
Steve Vai
Eddie Van Halen
Tom Morello
Eddie Hazel
Allan Holdsworth
Jimmy Page
Randy Rhoads
Guitar players are often the most overlooked of all musicians. Though they may not be the ones who are singing the songs, they’re generally the ones who write them and add that special little something to the music that makes it unique. Instrumentalists can make a song come alive, when there are no words to tell people how you feel.
To celebrate these players, we’ve made a list of the 10 greatest guitarists of all time. These players have inspired millions of people to pick up an instrument and shape their own sound with its strings. This list is in no particular order, but we’ve tried to fill it with a diverse group of some of the best guitarists out there.
No matter what genre of music you like there will be someone on this list for you. Whether you’re into blues, jazz or rock and roll, we can guarantee that at least one person on this list will inspire you to pick up your instrument and start playing.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on our list! Do you disagree with any of our choices? Let us know in the comments section below!
The Best Guitar Buskers: Top 10
When you’re out and about doing what you do, chances are that at some point you’ll come across a busker (a.k.a. street musician) performing for a small crowd of pedestrians on the sidewalk. Most of the time, these musicians are just average Joes trying to make a buck or two; but every once in awhile, you’ll stumble upon an extremely talented individual playing an amazing set on their guitar (or other instrument).
These musicians have been part of the fabric of city life for centuries and with the rise of social networks, it’s become easier than ever for them to gain recognition for their talent and hopefully turn their passion into a full-time career.
Regardless of whether they’re playing on a street corner or in your local coffee shop, we all love great guitarists, so today we’re paying homage to ten of the most impressive buskers we’ve seen online in recent years.
Check out our list below and let us know what you think in the comments section!
In the early days of the electric guitar, it was often used as a novelty instrument to accompany singers. But guitarists soon discovered that the instrument had a distinctive sound of its own, and today it is one of the most popular instruments in rock music. Learn more about the electric guitar, from its history and development to famous players and musical styles that feature this instrument.
History of the Electric Guitar
The first electric guitars were created in the 1930s. In 1939, Les Paul and his partner designed an electric guitar with a solid body. This allowed the guitarist to play loudly enough to be heard over other instruments and by audiences. The first commercially successful electric guitars were made by Les Paul, who developed several other innovations in electric guitar design over his career.
The solid body design of Gibson’s electric guitars brought about a new class of music in the 1960s known as hard rock, or heavy metal. Led by bands like The Beatles, The Who, and The Rolling Stones, electric guitarists began playing fast, loud riffs based on blues music.