Guitarists are musicians who have captivated audiences for centuries. In today’s society, the greats are considered gods among humans.

There are so many greats out there. It is near impossible to make a list of 100, let alone 20. Everyone’s list will vary depending on influences and particular likes and styles. This is my list of the best guitarists of all time. Here are numbers 20 through 11.

20. Tom Morello 

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While not being the most talented guitarist on this list, Tom Morello is absolutely one of the most creative. Throughout his stints in the 1990s and 2000s with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, Morello captivated audiences with his unique style of playing, making his name by mastering various effects including experimenting with the guitar’s toggle switch. To this day, my rebellious inner teenager emerges every time I hear “Bulls on Parade.”

19. Frank Zappa 

The real question is ‘what couldn’t Frank Zappa do?’ A man who was not necessarily know for his commercial success, but one of the biggest influences nonetheless. His compositions were as much jazz as they were experimental. His works have influenced some of the best guitarists such as Phish’s Trey Anastasio and Umphrey’s Mcgee lead axe man Jake Cinninger.

18. Keith Richards 

Keith Richards epitomizes the definition of a rock star. Throughout his long and illustrious career with The Rolling Stones, a rock band some critics might consider the greatest of all-time, Richards solidified his position as a hall of fame worthy musician. He is not the flashiest player, but his style, which is similar to that of Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters, will forever ring in our ears. According to Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of 100 greatest guitarists, “Richards has created, and immortalized on record, rock’s greatest single body of riffs.”

17. Chet Atkins 

Chet Atkins was not in the original top 20 when this list was first made. However, after spending some time listening to some of his more famous work, I thought it was important to put him on the list. “Mr. Guitar,” as he is also known, is absolutely the most country on the list, being a creator of the Nashville sound. Atkins brought country music into popular culture with his finger-pickin’ style with songs like “Mr. Sandman” and “Yakety Axe.”

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16. Chuck Berry 

When I think of Chuck Berry, the first things to pop into my head is the opening riff to “Johnny B. Goode.” A rock and roll pioneer, Berry is one name that has to come up in conversation. His style blended country with Chicago Blues, and his fast-paced solo’s gave him a sound his own, one that has been portrayed throughout the history of rock and roll.

15. Les Paul 

Lester Polfus, also known as Les Paul, is a name I cannot leave off this list. His influence on music as we know it today is so vast. He made the list although, I can admit I’m not too particularly familiar with his work as a musician. Paul designed a solid-body electric guitar in 1941 called “The Log,” with a sound so sweet, it would be the guitar of choice for some of the most well known guitarists for years to come. The guitar was later produced in 1952 by Gibson and has since been one of the best selling guitars out there.

14. Neil Young 

Canadian-born guitar legend, Neil Young got his start early, playing in bands throughout high school. Young’s success primarily comes from the 60s and 70s, playing with Crosby, Stills and Nash, Buffalo Springfield and his solo work with Crazy Horse. The beginning section to his famous song “Down By the River” was the first thing I ever learned on guitar, still finding myself playing it often three years later. He could play acoustic folk and hard rock interchangeably just as well as anyone.

13. Jerry Garcia 

The first time I heard the music of the Grateful Dead, my world changed. It captivated me in ways no other music had before, and that was largely in part thanks to Jerry Garcia. Garcia’s background in bluegrass and blues led him to the creation of a style of playing totally unique. His long subtle solos became the sound for the counterculture of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Garcia and the Grateful Dead have one of the largest and most dedicated fan bases out there and their unique style lives on at music festivals across the country years after his passing in 1995.

12. Santana 

Carlos Santana is most well known for creating a fusion of rock and Latin-influenced music, portrayed through his blues-based guitar playing. His high pitched guitar style mixed with Latin and African percussion made him a rock and roll innovator. “Black Magic Woman” is a song everyone knows the riff too. His guitar cries with every movement down the fret board, a sound only he could produce.

11. Randy Rhoads 

Randy Rhoads was a heavy metal guitarist who made a name for himself with Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne’s Blizzard of Ozz. Probably his best known work came with Ozzy on “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley.” Rhoads changed how neo-classical metal was played, his style influencing some of metal’s biggest names such as Dimebag Darrell and John Petrucci.

Check tomorrow’s DAILY EGYPTIAN for the top 10.