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. It does NOT include the Pioneers of Blues, Jazz, Classical, or the Latin acoustic influenced genre's such as Flamenco, or those modern guitarists who have recorded or performed their music in an occaisonal "unplugged" setting.
Greatest Acoustic Guitarists
1. Michael Hedges
2. Leo Kottke
3. Phil Keaggy
4. John Fahey
5. Adrian Legg
6. Merle Travis
7. John Renbourn
8. Bert Jansch
9. Tommy Emmanuel
10. Norman Blake
2. Leo Kottke
3. Phil Keaggy
4. John Fahey
5. Adrian Legg
6. Merle Travis
7. John Renbourn
8. Bert Jansch
9. Tommy Emmanuel
10. Norman Blake
11. Doc Watson
12. Preston Reed
13. Laurence Juber
14. Martin Simpson
15. Tony Rice
16. Don Ross
17. Robbie Basho
18. Pierre Bensusan
19. Jorma Kaukonen
20. Sandy Bull
21. John Martyn
22. William Ackerman
23. Billy McLaughlin
24. Doyle Dykes
25. Steve Tibbetts
26. David Bromberg
27. Peter Lang
28. Kelly Joe Phelps
29. Clarence White
30. Davy Graham
31. El McMeen
32. Monte Montgomery
33. Matthew Montfort
34. Gayla Drake Paul
35. Peppino D'Agostino
36. Bill Mize
37. Al Petteway
38. Peter Finger
39. Ralph Towner
40. Alex deGrassi
41. Nick Webb
42. Pat Kirtley
43. Peter Huttlinger
44. Sam Pacetti
45. Stephen Bennett
46. Richard Smith
47. Kaki King
48. Martin Carthy
49. Peter Rowan
50. Joni Mitchell
51. Richard Gilewitz
52. Stefan Grossman
53. Richard Leo Johnson
54. Miles Gilderdale
55. Craig Chaquico
56. Greg Carmichael
57. Doug Smith
58. Peter Ostroushko
59. Michael Chapdelaine
60. D.R. Auten
61. Dirk Freymuth
62. Eric Tingstad
63. Peter Roller
64. Paul Geremia
65. Douglas Niedt
66. William Coulter
67. Tim Farrell
68. Arlen Roth
69. Larry Pattis
70. Benjamin Woolman
71. Jaquie Gipson
72. Roy Harper
73. Muriel Anderson
74. Artie Traum
75. Robin Bullock
76. Thom Bresh
77. David Wilcox
78. Tracy Moore
79. Steve Baughman
80. Brooks Williams
81. Tim Reynolds
82. Edward Gerhard
83. Pat Donohue
84. Mike Dowling
85. Tony McManus
86. Dave Mallany
87. Tim Sparks
88. David Grier
89. Orville Johnson
90. Sean Harkness
91. George Villiers
92. Rick Ruskin
93. Greg Neaga
94. Dorian Michael
95. Charles David Alexander
96. Tom Long
97. Jerry Reed
98. Jim Earp
99. Kenny Sultan
100. Michael Dunn
12. Preston Reed
13. Laurence Juber
14. Martin Simpson
15. Tony Rice
16. Don Ross
17. Robbie Basho
18. Pierre Bensusan
19. Jorma Kaukonen
20. Sandy Bull
21. John Martyn
22. William Ackerman
23. Billy McLaughlin
24. Doyle Dykes
25. Steve Tibbetts
26. David Bromberg
27. Peter Lang
28. Kelly Joe Phelps
29. Clarence White
30. Davy Graham
31. El McMeen
32. Monte Montgomery
33. Matthew Montfort
34. Gayla Drake Paul
35. Peppino D'Agostino
36. Bill Mize
37. Al Petteway
38. Peter Finger
39. Ralph Towner
40. Alex deGrassi
41. Nick Webb
42. Pat Kirtley
43. Peter Huttlinger
44. Sam Pacetti
45. Stephen Bennett
46. Richard Smith
47. Kaki King
48. Martin Carthy
49. Peter Rowan
50. Joni Mitchell
51. Richard Gilewitz
52. Stefan Grossman
53. Richard Leo Johnson
54. Miles Gilderdale
55. Craig Chaquico
56. Greg Carmichael
57. Doug Smith
58. Peter Ostroushko
59. Michael Chapdelaine
60. D.R. Auten
61. Dirk Freymuth
62. Eric Tingstad
63. Peter Roller
64. Paul Geremia
65. Douglas Niedt
66. William Coulter
67. Tim Farrell
68. Arlen Roth
69. Larry Pattis
70. Benjamin Woolman
71. Jaquie Gipson
72. Roy Harper
73. Muriel Anderson
74. Artie Traum
75. Robin Bullock
76. Thom Bresh
77. David Wilcox
78. Tracy Moore
79. Steve Baughman
80. Brooks Williams
81. Tim Reynolds
82. Edward Gerhard
83. Pat Donohue
84. Mike Dowling
85. Tony McManus
86. Dave Mallany
87. Tim Sparks
88. David Grier
89. Orville Johnson
90. Sean Harkness
91. George Villiers
92. Rick Ruskin
93. Greg Neaga
94. Dorian Michael
95. Charles David Alexander
96. Tom Long
97. Jerry Reed
98. Jim Earp
99. Kenny Sultan
100. Michael Dunn
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The Best Rock Guitarists On Acoustic
(Plus their best acoustic guitar work)
(Plus their best acoustic guitar work)
1. Duane Allman
(Little Martha)
2. Bruce Cockburn
(Islands In A Black Sky)
3. John Petrucci
(Misunderstood)
4. Richie Blackmore
(Possum's Last Dance)
5. Eddie Van Halen
(316)
6. David Gilmour
(Wish You Were Here)
7. Joe Satriani
(Tears In The Rain)
8. Buckethead
(Big Sur Moon)
9. Eric Johnson
(Song For George)
10. Steve Howe
(Mood For A Day)
11. Randy Rhoads
(Dee)
12. Steve Vai
(Burnin' Down The Mountain)
13. Eddie Van Halen
(Spanish Fly)
14. Yngwie Malmsteen
(Farewell)
15. Steve Morse
(Ghostwind)
16. Stephen Stills
(Treetop Flyer)
17. Steve Howe
(The Clap)
18. Billy Gibbons
(Asleep In The Desert)
19. John Petrucci
(Hour Glass)
20. Eric Johnson
(Desert Song)
21. Jimmy Page
(Going To California)
22. Jeff Beck
(Love Is Green)
23. Ronnie Montrose
(No Beginning/No End)
24. Slash
(Patience)
(Little Martha)
2. Bruce Cockburn
(Islands In A Black Sky)
3. John Petrucci
(Misunderstood)
4. Richie Blackmore
(Possum's Last Dance)
5. Eddie Van Halen
(316)
6. David Gilmour
(Wish You Were Here)
7. Joe Satriani
(Tears In The Rain)
8. Buckethead
(Big Sur Moon)
9. Eric Johnson
(Song For George)
10. Steve Howe
(Mood For A Day)
11. Randy Rhoads
(Dee)
12. Steve Vai
(Burnin' Down The Mountain)
13. Eddie Van Halen
(Spanish Fly)
14. Yngwie Malmsteen
(Farewell)
15. Steve Morse
(Ghostwind)
16. Stephen Stills
(Treetop Flyer)
17. Steve Howe
(The Clap)
18. Billy Gibbons
(Asleep In The Desert)
19. John Petrucci
(Hour Glass)
20. Eric Johnson
(Desert Song)
21. Jimmy Page
(Going To California)
22. Jeff Beck
(Love Is Green)
23. Ronnie Montrose
(No Beginning/No End)
24. Slash
(Patience)
Some Album listening recommendations:
Oracle - Michael Hedges
Beyond Nature - Phil Keaggy
The Legend of Blind Joe Death - John Fahey
Six & Twelve String Guitar - Leo Kottke
How Can I Keep From Singing - Gayla Drake Paul
Quah - Jorma Kaukonen
Manzanita - Tony Rice
Only - Tommy Emmanuel
Metal - Preston Reed
Stream - Tim Reynolds
Beyond Nature - Phil Keaggy
The Legend of Blind Joe Death - John Fahey
Six & Twelve String Guitar - Leo Kottke
How Can I Keep From Singing - Gayla Drake Paul
Quah - Jorma Kaukonen
Manzanita - Tony Rice
Only - Tommy Emmanuel
Metal - Preston Reed
Stream - Tim Reynolds
Edited By: Rick Varner
Last Updated: 2018-12-06