The improvisational lines in jazz guitar are testimony to the fact that the jazz genre encompasses a diverse range of influences. This space showcases a list of the best jazz guitar players.

Guitar players in the jazz genre may not have achieved the desired commercial success, however the fact remains… jazz guitarists have had a profound influence on guitar players from various music genres. Jazz guitarists are known for their unique ways of utilizing notes in a scale. Improvised pentatonic lines are often used in jazz solos. Soloing concepts in jazz have becoming exceedingly popular with guitar players in various music genres. In the jazz genre there are different types of playing styles and techniques showcased by guitar players.

Guitarists in jazz have unique picking techniques. While belting a solo, it’s the picking technique that adds bite and warmth to the overall sound.

Jazz chord voicings and comping form the core of jazz guitar playing. Walking jazz chord progressions are popular with different types of jazz. Modal playing is the highlighting feature in many solos by jazz guitarists. Many jazz guitarists use arpeggios when they break into a solo, and this soloing concept adds dynamism and feel to jazz contexts.

Jazz Guitar Concepts

Playing behind the beat or ahead of the beat is common in jazz. When you listen to a jazz solo you realize its melodic phrases that construct a solo. A number of jazz guitarists utilize legato phrasing in their solos to enrich the overall dynamism. Groove and time-feel are important aspects in chordal voicings and soloing. Jazz guitarists like to space their notes giving a clutter-free effect. The use of grace notes, muted notes and slide notes are creatively used by jazz guitarists. Palm muting during solos adds variety and warmth to textural playing. Another aspect about jazz guitarists is their in-depth knowledge on theory. Jazz guitarists like to experiment and improvise with chord voicings. Many jazz guitarists love to explore ideas with 9th, 11th and 13th notes as they change chords.  

Modern Jazz Guitar

A number of jazz guitarists also like to explore ideas of playing melodies in parallel octaves. Jazz guitar players love improvising on scales and chords. Soloing approach among guitarists in jazz varies drastically. Modern jazz guitar players love to us a flurry of legato techniques and tapped notes to create sonic soundscapes. Textural chord voicings and hybrid picking are immensely popular with modern-day jazz guitar players.  Polyphonic musical structure is exceedingly popular among jazz-fusion guitarists. Rapid chord shifts and chord solos form the essence of swing jazz and bebop. Every guitar player likes expresses the ‘jazz idiom’ in a lucid manner, and this aspect gives jazz guitarists unique identity. 

The lines below showcase a list of the best jazz guitarists.

100 Greatest Jazz Guitar Players

1. Charlie Christian
2. Wes Montgomary
3. Django Reinhardt
4. Eddie Lang
5. Joe Pass
6. Tal Farlow
7. Pat Metheny
8. Herb Ellis
9. George Benson
10. Barney Kessel
11. Jim Hall
12. Earl Klugh
13. John McLaughlin
14. Al Di Meola
15. John Scofield
16. George Van Eps
17. Chet Atkins
18. Kenny Burrell
19. Sonny Sharrock
20. Alan Holdsworth
21. Johnny Smith
22. Lenny Breau
23. Grant Green
24. Howard Alden
25. Ed Bickert
26. Bucky Pizzarelli
27. Martin Taylor
28. John Abercrombie
29. Ted Greene
30. Billy Bauer
31. Frank Vignola
32. Pat Martino
33. Bill Frisell
34. Robert Conti
35. Charlie Byrd
36. Peter Bernstein
37. Jimmy Raney
38. Stanley Jordan
39. Joe Beck
40. Russell Malone
41. Larry Coryell
42. Julian Lage
43. Freddie Green
44. Lee Ritenour
45. Emily Remler
46. Bill Connors
47. Jim Mullen
48. John Pizzarelli
49. Mark Whitfield
50. Kurt Rosenwinkel
51. Derek Bailey
52. Mike Stern
53. Howard Roberts
54. Bobby Broom
55. Hank Garland
56. Larry Carlton
57. Joe Diorio
58. Carl Kress
59. George Barnes
60. Les Paul
61. Gustavo Assis-Brasil
62. Paco de Lucia
63. Eddie Durham
64. Jimmy Bruno
65. Russ Freeman
66. Wayne Krantz
67. Steve Khan
68. Luis Salinas
69. Matthew Stevens
70. Ben Monder
71. Nir Felder
72. Snoozer Quinn
73. Gene Bertoncini
74. Paul Bollenback
75. Miles Okazaki
76. Tony Mottola
77. Royce Campbell
78. Jonathan Kreisberg
79. Gary Potter
80. Bireli Lagrene
81. Adam Rogers
82. Lionel Loueke
83. Mary Halvorson
84. Nels Cline
85. Gilad Hekselman
86. Terje Rypdal
87. Jakob Bro
88. Bobby Brown
89. Corey Christiansen
90. Rex Abbasi
91. Lage Lund
92. Jack Peterson
93. Stochelo Rosenberg
94. Ken Navarro
95. Vic Juris
96. Jesse Van Ruller
97. Mary Osborne
98. Billy Butler
99. David Fiuczynski
100. Randy Napoleon

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