Brian May From Queen Has Been Ranked Greatest Guitarist of All Time by Guitar Players
The never-ending conversation about who the best guitarist ever is may be the hottest debate in the music world because there are compelling arguments for several icons.
Some of the most widely respected guitarists ever include Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Jeff Beck, Slash, and Carlos Santana. Recently, one icon was named above all of those legends on a list of the greatest guitarists of all time that was voted on by guitar players. After an exhaustive process, Brian May from Queen was honored as the best guitarist ever.
Why Brian May Has Been Named the 'Greatest Guitarist of All Time'
Photo by David Tan/Shinko Music/Getty Images
In January 2023, Guitar World published its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time, which named Brian May as No. 1. While explaining why he topped the list, the outlet unreservedly praised his distinctive sound, referring to it as "sheer rock as theater." It also celebrated May's ability to match the "operatic splendor" of the other incredibly skilled members of Queen, including the band's iconic frontman, Freddie Mercury.
The outlet notably described May's guitar playing in poetic terms that were worthy of his artistry and the legacy he helped Queen build. "He would develop a sound that was instantly and unmistakably his, a three-dimensional cushion of overdrive that ferried Queen’s magisterial songs through the ether. There really is something texturally gourmand about May’s tone, a phalanx of Vox AC30s, with the Dallas Rangemaster in front, the phase shifting, the tape echo."
Guitar World's list was far from the first time that May has been named the best guitarist ever. One notable example of that came when Guitar World's sister publication at the time, Total Guitar, conducted a reader poll that resulted in him being named the "best rock guitarist of all time."
As part of Guitar World's article, the outlet explained how the ranking was created. First, the team at Total Guitar formulated a shortlist of more than 250 elite players. From that group, Guitar World took 170 of those names and divided them into six category polls: classic rock, blues, heavy metal, shred, indie/alternative, and the best right now. The outlet then took 80 of the highest polling players that were chosen by Guitar World readers and 20 other names they felt deserved inclusion, and decided how to rank them. At every stage of the process, guitar players and enthusiasts weighed in.
The Top 25: Guitar World's Greatest Guitarists of All Time
- 25. Joe Perry – Aerosmith
- 24. Peter Frampton
- 23. Steve Howe – Yes
- 22. Lindsey Buckingham – Fleetwood Mac
- 21. Pete Townshend – The Who
- 20. George Harrison – The Beatles
- 19. Frank Zappa
- 18. Keith Richards – The Rolling Stones
- 17. Joe Walsh – Eagles
- 16. Duane Allman – The Allman Brothers Band
- 15. Billy Gibbons – ZZ Top
- 14. Gary Moore – Thin Lizzy
- 13. Angus Young & Malcolm Young – AC/DC
- 12. Mark Knopfler – Dire Straits
- 11. Carlos Santana – Santana
- 10. Slash – Guns N' Roses
- 9. Jeff Beck
- 8. Alex Lifeson – Rush
- 7. Ritchie Blackmore – Deep Purple
- 6. David Gilmour – Pink Floyd
- 5. Eric Clapton – Cream / Derek and the Dominos
- 4. Eddie Van Halen – Van Halen
- 3. Jimmy Page – Led Zeppelin
- 2. Jimi Hendrix - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
- 1. Brian May – Queen