List of lead guitarists

The following is a list of significant lead guitarists, arranged in ascending alphabetical order of their last name. For rhythm guitarists see list of rhythm guitarists.

A

• "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (Pantera, Damageplan, Rebel Meets Rebel)
• Ryan Adams (The Cardinals)
• Marcus Adoro (The Eraserheads)
• Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth)
• Fredrik Åkesson (Arch Enemy, Opeth)
• Jan Akkerman (Focus)
• Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio)
• Art Alexakis (Everclear)
• Paul Allender (Cradle of Filth)
• Duane Allman (The Allman Brothers Band, Derek and the Dominoes)
• Christopher Amott (Arch Enemy, Armageddon)
• Michael Amott (Arch Enemy, Carcass)
• Trey Anastasio (Phish)
• Al Anderson (Bob Marley and The Wailers)
• Dariush Ansari
• Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day, Pinhead Gunpowder)
• Tim Armstrong (Operation Ivy, Transplants)
• Rob Arnold (Chimaira)
• DJ Ashba (Sixx:A.M., Guns N' Roses)
• Ron Asheton (The Stooges)
• Chet Atkins
• Trey Azagthoth (Morbid Angel)

B

• Ayub Bachchu (Love Runs Blind)
• Randy Bachman (The Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive)
• Rob Baker (The Tragically Hip, Stripper's Union)
• Dave Baksh (Sum 41, Brown Brigade)
• Terry Balsamo (Evanescence)
• Perry Bamonte (The Cure)
• Carl Barat (The Libertines, Dirty Pretty Things)
• Marcelo Barbosa
• Mick Barr (Orthrelm)
• Martin Barre (Jethro Tull)
• Aaron Barrett (Reel Big Fish)
• Rob Barrett (Cannibal Corpse)
• Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd)
• Steve Bartek (Oingo Boingo)
• Michael Angelo Batio
• Reb Beach (Winger, Dokken, Whitesnake)
• Norman Beaker
• Corey Beaulieu (Trivium)
• Jan Bechtum
• Jeff Beck (The Yardbirds)
• Jason Becker (David Lee Roth, Cacophony)
• Franny Beecher (Bill Haley & His Comets)
• Andy Bell (Ride, Hurricane #1, Oasis)
• Carl Bell (Fuel)
• Matthew Bellamy (Muse)
• Chuck Berry
• Nuno Bettencourt
• Dickey Betts (The Allman Brothers Band)
• Simon Binks (Australian Crawl)
• Jón Þór Birgisson (Sigur Rós)
• Anders Björler (At the Gates, The Haunted)
• Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmore's Night)
• Doug Blair (W.A.S.P.)
• Mike Bloomfield
• Marc Bolan (T. Rex)
• Joe Bonamassa
• D. Boon (Minutemen)
• Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit, Black Light Burns)
• Johnny Borrell (Razorlight)
• Tony Bourge (Budgie)
• Mick Box (Uriah Heep)
• James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers)
• Tony Bradley (The Distillers, Spinnerette)
• Vito Bratta (White Lion)
• Creed Bratton (The Grass Roots)
• Chris Broderick (Megadeth, Nevermore, Jag Panzer)
• Devin Bronson
• Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney)
• Roy Buchanan
• Peter Buck (R.E.M.)
• Buckethead (Praxis, Guns N' Roses, C2B3)
• Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac)
• Jonny Buckland (Coldplay)
• Bumblefoot (Guns N' Roses)
• Chris Burney (Bowling for Soup)
• Vinny Burns (Ten)
• James Burton
• John Butler (The John Butler Trio)
• Glen Buxton (Alice Cooper)
• Roddy Byers (The Specials)

C

• Ernie C (Body Count)
• Charlotte Caffey (The Go-Go's)
• Toy Caldwell (The Marshall Tucker Band)
• Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
• Phil Campbell (Motörhead)
• Vivian Campbell (Dio, Whitesnake, Def Leppard)
• Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)
• Captain Sensible (The Damned)
• Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional)
• Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot)
• Danny Cedrone (Bill Haley & His Comets; "Rock Around the Clock")
• Nic Cester (Jet)
• Ross Childress (Collective Soul)
• Charlie Christian
• John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Dinosaurs)
• Eric Clapton (The Yardbirds, Cream)
• Steve Clark (Def Leppard)
• "Fast" Eddie Clarke (Motörhead)
• Phil Collen (Def Leppard)
• Albert Collins
• Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
• Nathan Connolly (Snow Patrol)
• Ry Cooder
• Kyle Cook (Matchbox Twenty)
• Rusty Cooley
• John Corabi (Ratt)
• Lanny Cordola (Giuffria, House Of Lords, Magdalen)
• Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins)
• Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers)
• Graham Coxon (Blur)
• Robert Cray
• Steve Cropper (Booker T. & The MG's)
• Robbin Crosby (Ratt)
• Rivers Cuomo (Weezer)
• Marcos Curiel (P.O.D.)

D

• Dick Dale
• Brody Dalle (The Distillers, Spinnerette)
• Dave Davies (The Kinks)
• Tony De La Rosa
• Paul Dean (Loverboy)
• Gene Deer
• Chris DeGarmo (Queensrÿche)
• Tiago Della Vega
• Dean DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots)
• Tom DeLonge (Blink-182, Box Car Racer, Angels & Airwaves)
• Brad Delson (Linkin Park)
• Warren DeMartini (Ratt)
• Leonard Dembo
• Michael Denner (Mercyful Fate)
• Rick Derringer (The McCoys, Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter)
• C.C. DeVille (Poison)
• Don Devore (Amazing Baby)
• Buck Dharma (Blue Oyster Cult)
• Al Di Meola (Go)
• Bo Diddley
• Carl Dixon
• Ian D'Sa (Billy Talent)
• Dan Donegan (Disturbed)
• K. K. Downing (Judas Priest)
• Dr. Know (Bad Brains)
• Ol Drake (Evile)
• Glen Drover (King Diamond, Megadeth, Eidolon)
• Billy Duffy (The Cult)
• Jeff "Mantas" Dunn (Venom)
• Bob Dylan

E

• Elliot Easton (The Cars)
• Duane Eddy
• The Edge (U2)
• Nokie Edwards (The Ventures)
• Mike Einziger (Incubus)
• Randy Ellefson
• Stefan Elmgren (HammerFall)
• Rik Emmett (Triumph)
• Niklas Engelin
• Eric Erlandson (Hole, RRIICCEE)
• Kevin Eubanks (Tonight Show Band)

F

• Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad)
• Tim Farriss (INXS)
• Don Felder (The Eagles)
• Dave Felton (Mushroomhead)
• Aaron Fink (Breaking Benjamin)
• Neil Finn (Split Enz, Crowded House, Finn Brothers)
• Roger Fisher (Heart)
• Vic Flick (John Barry Seven)
• Robb Flynn (Machine Head)
• John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
• Matthew Followill (Kings of Leon)
• Lita Ford (The Runaways)
• Jon Foreman (Switchfoot)
• Dave Fortman (Ugly Kid Joe)
• Peter Frampton (Humble Pie)
• Bruce Franklin (Trouble)
• Ace Frehley (Kiss)
• Glenn Frey (The Eagles)
• Marty Friedman (Megadeth, Cacophony)
• Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
• John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
• Koichi Fukuda (Static-X)
• Jim Fuller (Surfaris)

G

• Gus G. (Dream Evil, Firewind, Nightrage)
• Steve Gaines (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
• Galder (Dimmu Borgir)
• Noel Gallagher (Oasis)
• Rory Gallagher
• Cliff Gallup
• Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
• Synyster Gates (Avenged Sevenfold, Pinkly Smooth)
• Björn Gelotte (In Flames)
• Rocky George (Suicidal Tendencies)
• Janick Gers (Iron Maiden)
• Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
• Chad Gilbert (New Found Glory)
• Paul Gilbert (Racer X, Mr. Big)
• David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
• Greg Ginn (Black Flag)
• Craig Goldy (Giuffria, Dio)
• Matt Good (From First to Last)
• Myles Goodwyn (April Wine)
• Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy, 21 Guns)
• The Great Kat
• Gary Green (Gentle Giant)
• Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
• Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead)
• Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns, Brides of Destruction)
• Buddy Guy

H

• Steve Hackett (Genesis)
• Ollie Halsall (Patto, Tempest)
• Kirk Hammett (Metallica, Exodus)
• Albert Hammond, Jr. (The Strokes)
• Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
• Kai Hansen (Helloween, Gamma Ray)
• George Harrison (The Beatles, Traveling Wilburys)
• Dan Hawkins (Stone Gods)
• Justin Hawkins (The Darkness)
• Warren Haynes (The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule)
• Justin Hayward (The Moody Blues)
• Matt Heafy (Trivium)
• Jeff Healey
• Helmuth
• Jimi Hendrix
• Leon Hendrix
• Jimmy Herring (Widespread Panic)
• Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks, Bad Religion)
• Dave Hill (Slade)
• Brent Hinds (Mastodon)
• Nick Hipa (As I Lay Dying)
• Hisashi (Glay)
• Terrance Hobbs (Suffocation)
• Gary Hoey
• Wolf Hoffmann (Accept)
• Randy Holden
• Allan Holdsworth
• Buddy Holly
• Gary Holt (Exodus)
• Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss)
• John Lee Hooker
• Matt Hoopes (Relient K)
• Jerry Horton (Papa Roach)
• Tomoyasu Hotei (Boøwy, Complex)
• Steve Howe (Yes, Asia)
• Bill Hudson (Cellador, Power Quest)
• C.B. Hudson (Blue October)
• Jon Hume (Evermore)

I

• Chris Impellitteri
• Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
• Ernie Isley (The Isley Brothers)

J

• Matthias Jabs (Scorpions)
• Dan Jacobs (Atreyu)
• Lars Johansson (Candlemass)
• John 5
• Eric Johnson
• Lonnie Johnson
• Ruud Adrianus Jolie (Within Temptation)
• Adam Jones (Tool)
• Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones)
• Danny Jones (McFly)
• Mick Jones (The Clash)
• Mick Jones (Foreigner, Spooky Tooth)
• Steve Jones (Sex Pistols)

K

• Alex Kapranos (Franz Ferdinand)
• Ben Kasica (Skillet)
• Terry Kath (Chicago)
• Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna)
• Ryo Kawakita (Maximum The Hormone)
• Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group)
• Tom Keifer (Cinderella)
• Tim Kelly (Slaughter)
• Ken (L'Arc-en-Ciel)
• David Kennedy (Angels & Airwaves)
• Myles Kennedy (The Mayfield Four)
• Albert King
• B. B. King
• Ben King (The Yardbirds)
• Ed King (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Strawberry Alarm Clock)
• Kerry King (Slayer)
• Andreas Kisser (Sepultura)
• Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
• Antti Kokko (Kalmah)
• Joel Kosche (Collective Soul)
• Paul Kossoff (Free)
• Richie Kotzen
• Wayne Kramer (MC5)
• Robby Krieger (The Doors)
• Richard Z. Kruspe (Rammstein)
• Tad Kubler
• Jan Kuehnemund (Vixen)
• Bruce Kulick (Kiss)
• Matias Kupiainen (Stratovarius)

L

• Bernie LaBarge (David Clayton-Thomas)
• Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom)
• Larry LaLonde (Possessed, Primus)
• Shawn Lane
• Jonny Lang
• Andy LaRocque (King Diamond)
• Andrew Latimer (Camel)
• Roope Latvala (Children of Bodom, Sinergy)
• Ronni Le Tekrø (TNT)
• Bernie Leadon (The Eagles)
• Alvin Lee (Ten Years After)
• Jake E. Lee (Ozzy Osbourne)
• John Lennon (The Beatles)
• Duke Levine
• Matty Lewis (Zebrahead)
• Herman Li (Dragonforce)
• Alex Lifeson (Rush)
• Jani Liimatainen (Sonata Arctica, Altaria)
• Peter Lindgren (Opeth)
• Lori Linstruth
• Russell Lissack (Bloc Party)
• Kerry Livgren (Kansas)
• Nils Lofgren (E Street Band)
• Karl Logan (Manowar)
• Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)
• Clint Lowery (Sevendust)
• Arjen Anthony Lucassen
• Jens Ludwig (Edguy)
• Steve Lukather (Toto)
• George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob)

M

• Tony MacAlpine
• John-Angus MacDonald (The Trews)
• Lonnie Mack
• Benji Madden (Good Charlotte)
• Tim Mahoney (311)
• Huntington Majors
• Daron Malakian (System of a Down, Scars on Broadway)
• Yngwie Malmsteen
• Kee Marcello (Europe)
• Frank Marino (Mahogany Rush)
• Kenny Marquez (Renegade)
• Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
• Steve Marriott (Small Faces), (Humble Pie)
• Mick Mars (Mötley Crüe)
• Vince Martell (Vanilla Fudge)
• Jim Martin (Faith No More)
• Hank Marvin (The Shadows)
• Junior Marvin (Bob Marley and The Wailers)
• J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr)
• Hideto Matsumoto (X Japan)
• Tak Matsumoto (B'z)
• Brian May (Queen)
• Nick McCabe (The Verve)
• Andy McCoy (Hanoi Rocks)
• Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
• Jimmy McCulloch (Wings, Thunderclap Newman, Stone the Crows, Small Faces, The Dukes)
• Roger McGuinn (The Byrds)
• John McLaughlin (Shakti)
• Tara McLeod (Kittie)
• Richard McNamara (Embrace)
• Dave Meniketti (Y&T)
• Pat Metheny
• Phil Miller
• Tim Mills (Iced Earth)
• Brian Molko (Placebo)
• Ronnie Montrose (Montrose, Gamma)
• Ben Moody (Evanescence)
• Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy)
• Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth)
• Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave)
• Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse Band, Deep Purple)
• Mark Morton (Lamb of God)
• Ian Moss (Cold Chisel)
• Jason Moss (Cherry Poppin' Daddies)
• Cameron Muncey (Jet)
• James Murphy
• Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
• Dave Mustaine (Metallica, Megadeth)
• Gary Myrick (Havana 3am)

N

• Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers)
• Keith Nelson (Buckcherry)
• Craig Nicholls (The Vines)
• Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick)
• Pontus Norgren (The Poodles, HammerFall)
• John Norum (Europe)
• Ted Nugent (Amboy Dukes)

O

• Jus Oborn (Electric Wizard)
• Pat O'Brien (Cannibal Corpse)
• Dave Odlum (The Frames)
• André Olbrich (Blind Guardian)
• Criss Oliva (Savatage)
• Juan Francisco Ordóñez
• Buzz Osborne (Melvins)

P

• Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds, The Firm, Black Crowes)
• Michael "Padge" Paget (Bullet for My Valentine)
• Mark Parry (The Manvils)
• Les Paul
• Ryan Peake (Nickelback)
• Axel Rudi Pell
• Carl Perkins
• Luther Perkins (Johnny Cash)
• Joe Perry (Aerosmith, The Joe Perry Project)
• Vicki Peterson (The Bangles)
• John Petrucci (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment)
• C. J. Pierce (Drowning Pool)
• Matt Pike (Sleep, High on Fire)
• Sergio Pizzorno (Kasabian)
• Chris Poland (Megadeth)
• Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash)
• Jade Puget (AFI)

R

• Roddy Radiation (The Specials)
• Mick Ralphs (Bad Company, Mott the Hoople)
• Johnny Ramone (The Ramones)
• Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth)
• Vernon Reid (Living Colour)
• Pete Reilly (The View)
• Django Reinhardt
• Arthur Rhames
• Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne)
• Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)
• Henjo Richter (Gamma Ray)
• Michael Ricketts
• Billy Riker (3)
• Chris Risola (Steelheart)
• Marc Rizzo (Soulfly)
• Darrell Roberts (Five Finger Death Punch)
• Allison Robertson (The Donnas)
• Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy, Motörhead)
• Robbie Robertson (The Band)
• Omar Rodríguez-López (At the Drive-In, Mars Volta)
• Tony Rombola (Godsmack, Another Animal)
• Michael Romeo (Symphony X)
• Mick Ronson (David Bowie)
• Jim Root (Slipknot, Stone Sour)
• Ryan Ross (Panic at the disco)
• Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
• Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
• Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions)
• Erik Rutan (Morbid Angel, Hate Eternal)
• Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls)

S

• Dave "The Snake" Sabo (Skid Row)
• Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi)
• Claudio Sanchez (Coheed and Cambria)
• Karl Sanders (Nile)
• Carlos Santana (Santana)
• Joey Santiago (Pixies)
• Ralph Santolla
• Joe Satriani
• Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth)
• Michael Schenker (Scorpions, UFO, Michael Schenker Group)
• Tom Scholz (Boston)
• Neal Schon (Journey)
• Jeff Schroeder (Smashing Pumpkins)
• George Shuffler (The Stanley Brothers)
• Chuck Schuldiner (Death, Control Denied)
• Keith Scott (Bryan Adams)
• Tim Scott
• Sek Loso (Loso)
• Brian Setzer (The Stray Cats)
• Charlie Sexton (Charlie Sexton)
• James "Munky" Shaffer (Korn)
• Todd Sharpville
• Hank Shermann (Mercyful Fate)
• Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine)
• Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters)
• Charlie Simpson (Fightstar, Busted)
• Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio)
• Alex Skolnick (Testament, Trans Siberian Orchestra)
• Slash (Guns N' Roses, Snakepit, Velvet Revolver)
• Martin Slattery (The Mescaleros)
• Hillel Slovak (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
• Brendon Small (Dethklok)
• Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
• Robert Smith (The Cure)
• Bruce Springsteen (E Street Band)
• Billy Squier
• John Squire (The Stone Roses, The Seahorses)
• Mark St. John (Kiss)
• Bill Steer (Carcass)
• Leigh Stephens (Blue Cheer, Sister Ray)
• Steve Stevens (Billy Idol, Steve Stevens)
• Travis Stever (Coheed and Cambria)
• Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)
• Jeff Stinco (Simple Plan)
• Andrew Stockdale (Wolfmother)
• Sugizo (Luna Sea, S.K.I.N.)
• Muhammed Suiçmez (Necrophagist)
• Tim Sult (Clutch)
• Andy Summers (The Police)
• Bernard Sumner (Joy Division, New Order)
• Niklas Sundin (Dark Tranquillity)
• John Sykes (Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake)
• Red Symons (Skyhooks)
• Syu (Galneryus, Animetal)

T

• Ty Tabor (King's X)
• Joey Tafolla
• Akira Takasaki (Loudness)
• Brian Tatler (Diamond Head)
• Mick Taylor (John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, The Rolling Stones)
• Bobby Tench (Streetwalkers, Hummingbird, Van Morrison, Topper Headon)
• Thomas Thacker (Sum 41)
• Tommy Thayer (Black 'N' Blue, Kiss)
• Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
• Hughie Thomasson (Outlaws)
• Mick Thomson (Slipknot)
• Porl Thompson (The Cure)
• Richard Thompson
• Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah)
• George Thorogood
• Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls, The Heartbreakers)
• Andy Timmons (Danger Danger)
• Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
• Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius)
• Simon Tong (The Verve, The Shining, The Good, the Bad & the Queen)
• Sam Totman (Dragonforce)
• Pete Townshend (The Who)
• Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge)
• Greg Tribbett (Mudvayne, Hellyeah)
• Robin Trower (Procol Harum)
• Derek Trucks (The Allman Brothers Band)
• Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys)
• Steve Turner (Mudhoney)

U

• Chris Urbanowicz (Editors)

V

• Steve Vai
• Nick Valensi (The Strokes)
• James Valentine (Maroon 5)
• Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
• Steve Van Zandt (E Street Band)
• Adrian Vandenberg (Vandenberg, Whitesnake, Manic Eden)
• Jimmie Vaughan
• Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Suzanne Vega
• Vinnie Vincent (Kiss)
• Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein (Misfits, Kryst The Conqueror, Gorgeous Frankenstein)
• Emppu Vuorinen (Nightwish)

W

• Dick Wagner
• Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie)
• Joe Walsh (James Gang, The Eagles)
• Baz Warne (The Stranglers)
• Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman (The Offspring)
• Jeff Waters (Annihilator)
• Muddy Waters
• Mike Wead (King Diamond)
• Chris Weber (Hollywood Rose, U.P.O.)
• Carl Weingarten
• Ben Weinman (Dillinger Escape Plan)
• Brian "Head" Welch (Korn)
• Leslie West (Mountain)
• Deryck Whibley (Sum 41)
• Andrew White (Kaiser Chiefs)
• Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs)
• Jason White (Green Day, Foxboro Hot Tubs)
• Peter Wichers (Soilwork)
• Carl Wilson (The Beach Boys)
• Nancy Wilson (Heart)
• Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree)
• Michael Wilton (Queensrÿche)
• Johnny Winter
• Link Wray
• Ronnie Wood (The Faces, The Rolling Stones)
• Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society)

Y

• Angus Young (AC/DC)
• James Young (Styx)
• Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)

Z

• Frank Zappa

Jesse