Welcome to our first-ever Greatest Guitarist poll, where 128 guitarists go head to head, round by round, in a bracketed format, all to crown your choice for the Greatest Guitarist of All Time.
We filled 124 of 128 slots with the names of a host of incredible guitarists (dead and living) — players chosen for their technical ability as well as their importance and creativity, not to mention how influential they've been. We asked you to vote in the final four names, which you did. Now the 128 slots are filled, and we're already well into Round 3.
You might come across one or two interesting style matchups in this poll, which may lead some of you to wonder, "How do you compare a shred guitarist to a blues guitarist?" Aside from how good a player is at his or her given style, here are some things to take into consideration:
• Influence: Who inspired more kids to beg their parents for a guitar for Christmas? Who inspired a wave of copycats?
• Chops/Versatility: Is the guitarist in question a one-trick pony or a master of many styles?
• Body of Work: Who had the more consistent career? Who has played on more classic albums?
• Creativity: Who pioneered new techniques? Who sounds the most radically different from what came before them?
You can check out full results via our regularly updated bracket here.
Today features one of our marquee matchups of Round 3, with Eddie Van Halen taking on Slash. The winner of this matchup will move on to face Randy Rhoads in Round 4. Who will survive? Vote now!
Readers Poll: The Greatest Guitarist of All Time — Van Halen Vs. SlashFriday's matchup saw David Gilmour (65.23%) defeat Angus Young (34.77%). View the full bracket.
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Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time Readers Poll: Round 1 — "Floods" (Dimebag Darrell) Vs. "Hot for Teacher" (Eddie Van Halen) (6/18/2013) A few years ago, the editors of Guitar World magazine compiled what we feel is the ultimate guide to the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time. The list, which has been quoted by countless artists, websites and publications around the world, sta... |
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Video: 14-Year-Old Tina Covers Van Halen's "Eruption" Solo (5/23/2013) While it's nothing new to find 12-, 13- and 14-year-old guitarists on YouTube who make us adults feel like, well, lame-o guitar players, we thought you'd appreciate this recently posted (May 20) video of 14-year-old "Tina" playing a convincing —... |
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Charity Auction to Feature Guitars Signed — or Owned — by Steve Vai, Van Halen, Slash, Rush and More (4/18/2013) More than 40 autographed guitars will be up for grabs this weekend at the 2013 Stars Guitars charity auction in Dearborn, Michigan. Proceeds from the annual event will benefit the Charles A. Main, MD Pediatric Cancer Survivor Scholarship Fund o... |
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Eddie Van Halen Teams Up With LL Cool J (4/2/2013) Eddie Van Halen and LL Cool J have teamed up for two songs on LL's upcoming new album Authentic, set to release on April 30. The rock icon joined the legendary rapper in the studio for two genre-defying songs on LL's new album. The first track,... |
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Exclusive Videos: Adrenaline Mob's John Moyer and Russell Allen Discuss Covering Van Halen's "Romeo Delight" (3/11/2013) Adrenaline Mob have released two more videos of the band in the studio recording Van Halen's "Romeo Delight." The song is from the band's upcoming release, Coverta, an eight-track EP featuring covers of some of the band’s favorite songs. The vi... |
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Exclusive Video: Mike Orlando of Adrenaline Mob Discusses Recording Van Halen's "Romeo Delight" (3/4/2013) Adrenaline Mob have released a second video of the band in the studio covering Van Halen's "Romeo Delight." The song is on the band's upcoming release, Coverta, an eight-track EP featuring covers of some of the band’s favorite songs. Longtime Po... |
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From the Archive: Billy Corgan Interviews Eddie Van Halen in 1996 (11/2/2012) Here's a feature from the April 1996 issue of Guitar World, for which Billy Corgan interviewed Eddie Van Halen. To see the complete cover, and all the GW covers from 1996, click here. Make no mistake. Eddie Van Halen can still kick your a--. The... |
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Wolfgang Van Halen Has Run-In with Boy Band One Direction (10/18/2012) By all accounts, Wolfgang Van Halen has been having a ball on the road with Tremonti in recent weeks, filling in while his father recovers from emergency surgery following a severe bout of diverticulitis. But it would appear that Wolfgang and h... |
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Poll: The Greatest Guitarist of All Time, The Finals — Eddie Van Halen Vs. Brian May (10/8/2012) Welcome to the Finals of our first-ever Greatest Guitarist poll! It all started a few months back, when 128 132 guitarists went head to head, round by round, in a bracketed format. We filled all but four of the slots with the names of incredible... |
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Poll: The Greatest Guitarist of All Time, Round 6 — Eddie Van Halen Vs. Alex Lifeson (10/3/2012) Welcome to the Final Four portion of our first-ever Greatest Guitarist poll! It all started a few months back, when 128 132 guitarists went head to head, round by round, in a bracketed format. We filled all but four of the slots with the names o... |
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Poll: The Greatest Guitarist of All Time, Round 5 — Eddie Van Halen Vs. Joe Satriani (9/26/2012) Welcome to the Elite 8 portion of our first-ever Greatest Guitarist poll! It all started a few months back, when 128 132 guitarists went head to head, round by round, in a bracketed format. We filled all but four of the slots with the names of i... |
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Wolfgang Van Halen Assumes Bass Duties for Tremonti Tour (9/13/2012) This week, Alter Bridge/Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti kicked off his first-ever solo tour in support of his solo debut, All I Was. As an added treat for fans, Tremonti will be joined by friend and Van Halen bassist Wolfgang Van Halen for the to... |
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Poll: The Greatest Guitarist of All Time, Round 4 — Eddie Van Halen Vs. Randy Rhoads (9/5/2012) Welcome to our first-ever Greatest Guitarist poll, where 128 132 guitarists go head to head, round by round, in a bracketed format, all to crown your choice for the Greatest Guitarist of All Time. We filled all but four of the slots with the nam... |
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Interview: Eddie Van Halen Talks 'A Different Kind of Truth' (8/30/2012) On the first leg of Van Halen’s A Different Kind of Truth tour, toward the end of the band’s set, there was a moment during the middle of Eddie Van Halen’s solo spot in the show where the world seemed to stop spinning. Even the techs, security ... |
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Interview: Wolfgang Van Halen Talks Bass, 'A Different Kind Of Truth' and More (7/30/2012) The current version of Van Halen is to music what a street rod is to the automobile. With David Lee Roth back as the band’s frontman, Van Halen has restored its classic appeal, but at the same time the addition of 21-year-old Wolfgang Van Halen ... |
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