00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 guitarists who
00:11are continuing to excite and innovate on the instrument since the 21st century began.
00:23Number 10. Billy Strings. In a genre that is as tradition oriented as bluegrass,
00:29sometimes bucking the trend can earn you some backlash. Just as legendary innovators like
00:34Tony Rice and Doc Watson push the boundaries of the style in their day, Billy Strings has been
00:39aiming to do something similar. He takes the flat picking of Rice, Watson, Norman Blake and others
00:56and adds in his own background in metal and psychedelic rock.
01:06His live shows have become renowned for their sheer unpredictability and,
01:11while most would argue that he is still in his early stages, his impact has been extraordinary.
01:16When you factor in that Strings has attracted a whole new generation to bluegrass, it's
01:20clear that its explosion in popularity has been a net positive.
01:30Number 9. Julian Lage. No list of great modern jazz guitarists would be complete without a mention of
01:38Julian Lage. As a major figure in contemporary jazz, Lage draws from bebop, modern jazz, folk,
01:53country, blues, and American roots music without allowing any single genre to define him. Many of
01:59his fans would argue that he does an incredible job of making complex and challenging pieces sound very
02:05natural or even conversational. He is a guitarist who is in complete control of his instrument,
02:18and he has a strong fanbase made up of fellow musicians and casual listeners alike.
02:32Number 8. Jack White. Bursting onto the scene at the turn of the century through his work with the
02:38White Stripes, Jack White could have peaked with that early explosion of fame and exposure.
02:49However, he's spent the next 25 plus years becoming one of the most important guitarists and rock
02:54musicians of his time. Although he's not a technical master, White brings a raw energy to the guitar,
03:09making his sound instantly recognizable. Add in the fact that he's scored hits with guitar-driven music across
03:15several different projects in different decades, and it's clear that he is a true champion of the instrument.
03:27Number 7. Johnny Greenwood. Radiohead's multi-guitar attack of Johnny Greenwood,
03:33Ed O'Brien, and often frontman Tom York doesn't function like many might have expected.
03:44There are no Thin Lizzy dual solo lines or Allman Brothers improvisations. They instead make use of
03:51effects and textural innovation to really create a unique sound. Sure, Greenwood is definitely the
03:57band's lead guitarist and he has been known to rock out on a conventional solo.
04:08However, as the group evolved and Johnny himself's compositional skills increased,
04:13he carved out a different role for the instrument in the band. With Greenwood,
04:17he has clearly disrupted the idea of what a guitar is supposed to do within a rock band unit.
04:32Number 6. Via Farkatore. Most music diehards will be quite familiar with the work of the iconic
04:39Malian guitarist Ali Farkatore, but in recent years, his son Via Farkatore has been a revelation on the
04:46instrument. He inherited the distinctive sound and unique feel that his father brought to the table,
04:57but in contrast to the rootsier music of Ali, Via's style is decidedly more energetic and urgent.
05:11His playing draws on Malian traditions associated with Songhai music while incorporating blues,
05:17rock, and other contemporary influences. In other words, it's a melting pot of cultures,
05:23and the success he has enjoyed across the globe is no accident.
05:33Number 5. Tim Henson.
05:45As Polyphia's principal guitarist and a major songwriting force, Tim Henson has singled himself
05:51out as a remarkable modern talent and someone who blurs lines with an effortless grace. It would all
05:58fall apart, though, if he wasn't a technical master beneath it all, and rest assured, that's exactly what
06:04Henson is. Henson treats guitar parts almost like highly produced vocal or synthesizer lines,
06:09frequently prioritizing texture, groove, and memorable riffs over conventional rock riffing.
06:24He's a player who has made huge conceptual contributions to the guitar in an era where
06:30some people claim that its use in music has already peaked. His influence on young players these days
06:35is already taking shape. 4. Joe Bonamassa.
06:57The blues rock tradition is alive and well in the hands of guitarists like Joe Bonamassa. His playing
07:03draws heavily from iconic figures such as Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Page,
07:09and Gary Moore. But it all culminates in a style that is entirely his.
07:24Bonamassa's control of dynamics and tone is among his greatest strengths, and his ability to craft a
07:29long but engaging solo is truly astonishing. Beyond playing, he has invested heavily in preserving
07:35blues history through collecting vintage instruments and promoting overlooked musicians and recordings.
07:40He is an artist who is driven to keep the tradition alive, while also advancing it wherever he can.
07:543. Guthrie Govinn. When it comes to the guitar, there really isn't that much that Guthrie Govinn can't do.
08:14He's able to convincingly play fusion, rock, blues, jazz, country, funk, and metal, often switching
08:20stylistic language within a single passage. He's not doing so as a gimmick, though. His understanding
08:26of the underlying soul of each style is beyond question. He's also a fantastic instructor,
08:32helping to educate fledgling guitarists in a way that is filled to the brim with knowledge and wisdom.
08:47His work with the aristocrats, in particular, really shows off his ability to merge complexity
08:52with spontaneity and even some humor. There is a reason Govinn is seen as a living legend of the
08:58instrument, folks. 2. Derek Trucks. There might not be a slide guitarist alive who can make the thing
09:15talk quite as well as Derek Trucks. His slide vocabulary is deeply rooted in the blues,
09:31southern rock, gospel, jazz, and Indian-influenced improvisation, among other styles. Yet his phrasing
09:38is unmistakably his own. Trucks plays with remarkable intonation, sustaining notes and shaping melodies
09:45with a vocal quality that makes the instrument seem… almost human.
09:56The fact that he joined the Allman Brothers band invites comparisons to the great Dwayne Allman,
10:01but he never tried to be a direct imitator. He brings a clean tone, and a very impressive sense for
10:07melody,
10:07dynamics, and space to the table.
10:18Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. John Mayer,
10:24Modern Blues Revivalist with Major Pop Crossover.
10:37Annie Clark, St. Vincent, recent innovator who brings a unique flavor to the instrument.
10:52Eric Gales, former child prodigy who became an electrifying torchbearer for the blues.
11:06Matt Bellamy, Muses' virtuosic multi-instrumentalist with immense dynamism on guitar.
11:12Matt Bellamy, Muses' virtuosic multi-instrumentalist with immense dynamism on guitar.
11:26With blistering speed and articulation.
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11:51Are you not entertained?
11:541. Tosin Abasi
12:05Nobody plays the guitar quite like Tosin Abasi, leading many to point to him as perhaps the
12:11single most important innovator of his time. As the main force behind Animals as leaders,
12:16he helped establish an instrumental language built from progressive metal, jazz fusion,
12:21electronic music, polyrhythm, and contemporary classical ideas.
12:25His use of 7- and 8-string guitars with interesting modifications to their design
12:30allows him to make sounds that the majority of players would never even consider.
12:41He is a musician who shows that the guitar is less a traditional rock instrument
12:46than a highly programmable, almost orchestral interface.
12:56But who do you consider to be the greatest guitarist since the turn of the century?
13:01Let us know in the comments below.
