100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists Criteria: This list is intended for those musicians whose primary instrument throughout their careers has been or is now the acoustic guitar. It is based upon their individual originality, innovation, technique & influence within this genre.
Let the debate begin! The history of hard rock and metal is littered with blistering riffs delivered by incredible shredders providing memorable licks that just beg you to either pick up a guitar yourself or do your best air guitar if one isn't handy. But which guitarist is the best of all-time? That's a debate that set our Loudwire staff buzzing.What makes for the greatest guitarist of all time? Is it the signature riffs you can't get out of your head? Is it the undeniable skill the axeman has that makes them the envy of all? Is it the influence they've given to the next generation?
Is it the legacy they've created with years of hits and defining the sound of an era? The short answer is all of the above.