When you listen to different genres of music you come across guitar players that have an affinity towards warmth, feel, phrasing without sacrificing their technical abilities. This post brings to life the best melodic guitar players.

The stuff guitar players come up with is incredible. As a guitar player and listener I love listening to both technical guitarists and melodic guitar players. While many technical guitarists dwell in the realms of scales and techniques without compromising on feel, many melodic guitar players go ahead with what becomes their natural instinct on the guitar. I consider some melodic guitar players poets in every sense of expression; Jeff Beck for me is one of the few melodic guitarists that can bring an empty canvas to life, truly expressive. Another guitarist I can’t get enough of is Eric Johnson. Every time this guy plays he amazes you.

His dexterity on the fret board combined with his tone and phrasing techniques create a hypnotic aura for listeners.

Albums by melodic guitar players are mood changers. Melodic instrumental guitar players have the ability to take you from A to point Z, it just happens, if you know what I mean. It’s a misconception among many that technical guitarists are not melodic. That is not true, not true at all. I listen to a number of technical guitar players and I can say this, it’s another level of playing without compromising the roots of melody.  Here’s a list of some of my favorite melodic guitar players from different genres. This list includes melodic shredders and technical melodic guitar players as well. These are in no particular order.

1. Jeff Beck

 

2. Eric Johnson

 

3. Carlos Santana

 

4. Joe Satraini

 

5. Andy Timmons

 

6. Robben Ford

 

7. Gary Moore

 

8. Steve Vai

 

9. Yngwie Malmsteen

 

10. Slash

 

11. Paul Gilbert

 

12. Eric Clapton

 

13. Steve Lukather

 

14. Mark Knopfler

 

15. John Petrucci

 

16. Nuno Bettencourt

 

17. Jason Becker

 

18. Andy Summers

 

19. Steve Morse

 

20. Gary Hoey

 

21. Michael Lee Firkins

 

22. Ted Nugent

 

23. Al Di Meola

 

24. Michael Angelo Batio

 

25. Chet Atkins

 

26. Django Reinhardt

 

27. Vinnie Moore

 

28. Randy Rhoads

 

29. Alan Holdsworth

 

30. Zakk Wylde

 

31. Michael Schenker

 

32. Ritchie Blackmore

 

33. Brian May

 

34. Marty Friedman

 

35. Tony Iommi

 

36. Mikael Akerfeldt

 

37. Alex Lifeson

 

38. Eddie Van Halen

 

39. Jimmy Page

 

40. Reb Beach

 

41. Vito Bratta

 

42. Richie Kotzen

 

43. Akira Takasaki

 

44. Joey Tafolla

 

45. Neil Zaza

 

46. George Lynch

 

47. Brett Garsed

 

48. Kenny Wayne Shepherd

 

49. Danny Gatton

 

50. Robert Fripp

 

51. Brent Mason

 

52. Leslie West

 

53. Carl Verheyen

 

54. Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter

 

55. Greg Howe

 

56. Neal Schon

 

57. Steve Stevens

 

58. Mattias IA Eklundh

 

59. Jimi Hendrix

 

60. Ron Thal

 

61. Blues Saraceno

 

62. Guthrie Govan

 

63. Michael Romeo

 

64. Roine Stolt

 

65. Jan Akkerman

 

66. Peter Green

 

67. Richie Sambora

 

68. George Bellas

 

69. Eddie Clarke

 

70. Marcel Coenen

 

71. Alex Hutchings

 

72. Jake E. Lee

 

73. Keith Scott

 

74. Scott Henderson

 

75. Phil Keaggy

 

76. Lary Carlton

 

77. Earl Klugh

 

78. Tim Pierce

 

79. Jack Thammarat

 

80. Christophe Godin

 

81. Larry Mitchell

 

82. John Mayer

 

83. Michael Landau

 

84. Jimmy Herring

 

85. Johnny Hiland

 

86. Andy Powell

 

87. Charly Shaona

 

88. Tony MacAlpine

 

89. Dan Huff

 

90. Marco Sfogli

 

91. Brian Setzer

 

92. Shawn Lane

 

93. Dave Martone

 

94. Lars Eric Mattsson

 

95. Joop Wolters

 

96. Ethan Brosh

 

97. Rob Marcello

 

98. Magnus Karlsson

 

99. Alex Masi

 

100. John Sykes