Greatest Specialty Guitarists

Criteria: These 'Specialty Guitarists' represent the finest talents in their respective guitar style. (R&B/Soul, Avant Garde, Classical, and Flamenco Guitar)

50 Greatest R&B/Soul Guitarists

1. Steve Cropper
(60's sessions, Booker T & the MG's)
2. Bo Diddley
3. B.B. King
4. Ernie Isley
(The Isley Brothers)
5. Chuck Berry
6. Jimmy Nolen
(The J.B.'s)
7. Albert King
8. Curtis Mayfield
(The Impressions)
9. Robert Cray
10. Mickey "Guitar" Baker
(50's session guitarist)
11. Eddie Hazel
(Funkadelic)
12. Peter Tosh
(The Wailers)
13. Joe Messina
(The Funk Brothers, Motown sessions)
14. Nile Rodgers
(Chic)
15. Leo Nocentelli
(The Meters)
16. Robert White
(The Funk Brothers, Motown sessions)
17. Marv Tarplin
(The Miracles)
18. Sister Rosetta Thorpe
19. Lowman Pauling
(The 5" Royales)
20. Snooks Eaglin
21. Eddie Willis
(The Funk Brothers, Motown sessions)
22. Robert Ward
(Ohio Untouchables)
23. Duane Allman
(60's session guitarist)
24. Bobby Womack
25. Prince
26. "Wah Wah" Watson
(70's session guitarist)
27. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson
28. Ike Turner
29. Reggie Young
(60's and 70's session guitarist)
30. Roebuck "Pops" Staples
(The Staple Singers)
31. Dennis Coffey
(70's session guitarist)
32. Bob Marley
33. Jimmy Johnson
(The Muscle Shoals)
34. Floyd McDaniel
(The Four Blazes)
35. Carl Hogan
(Tympany Five)
36. Freddie Stewart
(Sly & the Family Stone)
37. Micheal Hampton
(Funkadelic)
38. Walter "Papoose" Nelson
(guitarist for Fats Domino)
39. Mabon "Teenie" Hodges
(backing guitarist for Al Green)
40. Pete "Guitar" Lewis
(backing guitarist for Johnny Otis)
41. Chips Moman
(60's and 70's session guitarist)
42. Al McKay
(Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band)
43. Arthur Porter
(The Midnighters)
44. Billy Butler
(50's Session guitarist)
45. Lucius Tawl Ross
(Funkadelic)
46. Dewey Terry
(Don & Dewey)
47. Rene Hall
(50's Session guitarist)
48. Catfish Collins
(Funkadelic)
49. Vernon Burch
(The Bar-Kays)
50. Charles Wright
(Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band)

50 Greatest Avant Garde Guitarists

  1. Derek Bailey
  2. Fred Frith
  3. Henry Kaiser
  4. Eugene Chadbourne
  5. James Blood Ulmer
  6. Sonny Sharrok
  7. Glenn Branca
  8. Sonny Greenwich
  9. Bill Frisell
10. Mark Ribot
11. Rene Lussier
12. Keiji Haino
13. Pierre Dorge
14. Nels Cline
15. Loren Mazza/Cane Connors
16. Rauol Bjorkenheim
17. Elliot Sharp
18. Joe Morris
19. Hans Reichel
20. Marc Ducret
21. Raymond Boni
22. Masayuki Takayanagi
23. David Torn
24. David First
25. Thurston Moore
26. Robert Fripp
27. Casper Brotzmann
28. John Jasnoch
29. Nick Didkovsky
30. Frank Zappa
31. Otomo Yoshihide
32. Arto Lindsay
33. Mark Howell
34. John King
35. Nicky Skopelitis
36. Phil Kline
37. Buckethead
38. Jean Paul Bourelly
39. Christy Doran
40. Judy Dunaway
41. Mark Stewart
42. Jim O'Rourke
43. Bern Nix
44. Carolyn Master
45. Brandon Ross
46. Lee Renaldo
47. Jon Spencer
48. Ken Valitsky
49. Davey Williams
50. Tisziji Muñoz

30 Greatest Classical Guitarists

  1. Andres Segovia
  2. John Williams
  3. Julian Bream
  4. Christopher Parkening
  5. Manuel Barrueco
  6. David Russell
  7. Pepe Romero
  8. Elliot Fisk
  9. Sharron Isbin
10. Sergio Assad
11. Odair Assad
12. Celin Romero
13. Aliro Diaz
14. Narcisco Yepes
15. Angel Romero
16. Alvaro Pierre
17. Eduardo Fernandez
18. William Kanengiser
19. Scott Tennant
20. Roberto Aussel
21. Carlos Barbosa-Lima
22. Aniello Desidero
23. Wolfgang Lendle
24. Celso Machado
25. Aniello Desiderio
26. Sharon Wayne
27. Jose Feliciano
28. Emilio Pujol
29. Laurindo Almeida
30. Lily Afshar

15 Greatest Flamenco Guitarists

  1. Sabicas
  2. Paco De Lucia
  3. Ramon Montoya
  4. Carlos Montoya
  5. Paco Pena
  6. Tomatito
  7. Vincente Amigo
  8. Nino Ricardo
  9. Fahem
10. Tomas Michaud
11. Paco del Gastor
12. Manuel Cano
13. Paco Cepero
14. Pedro Bacan
15. Raimundo Amador
Edited By:
Last Updated: 2004-10-24