The guitar has been a staple of American music ever since the late 1800s. It has also become an integral part of many other genres, including rock, country, blues, and jazz. The instrument is versatile enough to be played in any genre of music and can be found on recordings from artists as diverse as Mozart to Metallica. You might think that there are hundreds or thousands of influential guitarists, but this list will show you just ten who have had a significant impact on popular culture and changed the face of what it means to play the guitar today.
Elvis Presley:
Elvis was one of the first musicians to use his body while playing live. He would twist, turn, dance, and shake in ways never before seen on stage. While his guitar staggered to the floor, he would continue sweating it out in front of audiences around the world. Elvis also had style and fashion on lock, which was rarely seen in guitar players. This made him one of the most influential musicians of all time.
Chuck Berry:
Chuck started showing off his skills on the guitar and piano at a very early age. He started his band in 1955 called The Blue Caps, but he was arrested for an armed robbery shortly after. It took Chuck three years to get out of jail, during which time he wrote many charts topping songs such as Johnny B. Goode, Maybellene, and Roll Over Beethoven. His music often features a very distinctive beat and has influenced artists such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Jimi Hendrix.
B.B. King:
Born on September 16th, 1925, he started playing the guitar at age 12 under the encouragement of Muddy Waters. B.B invented the guitar technique called cross-stringing, which is a method used to play chords that are higher up on the neck, commonly referred to as ‘sliding.’ He also inspired countless musicians by playing onstage until his late 80s. B.B died in 2015 at age 89, but he played several live shows in the months before his death.
Jimi Hendrix:
Born on November 27th, 1942, James Marshall Hendrix was known as one of the most flamboyant and iconic guitar players in music history. He didn’t have a signature sound, but his style incorporated rock, psychedelia, and funk elements. Jimi has been a major inspiration to artists like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Eddie Van Halen, who is quoted as saying, “I personally think that Hendrix was the greatest player ever.”