Any discussion about blues guitarists is bound to be full of argument and disagreement. Dependent on whether a person likes conventional blues played on acoustic guitars, or Chicago blues, or West Coast jump style, or the rockin ' blues of many of today's young blues guitar player, you would get a different answer to the question, 'who is the best blues guitar players?'.
And who's to assert they would be wrong.
The single thing we could probably get any person to agree on is there are many styles of blues guitar. And, overtime, any blues aficionado will develop their own tops and opinions.
So that being said, this list is precisely my own opinion and has no basis in objectivity. Now I am not a blues beginner. I have been playing the guitar for over years myself and I'm still a part time pro blues musician. So at least my point of view is an informed one.
And part of the issue with picking a "best of" list for blues guitarists is the renown issue. The most popular also played other styles of music. They were at best "part-time" blues guitar players. But many people think of them as blues musicians when in fact they were never. But who cares truly.
OK Let's Get To The Point
First we've got to outline our standards. Here's the rules for my list.
1. They need to be essentially a blues player and play usually blues music. (That leaves Eric Clapton out).
2. They must have great method or at a minimum be very cutting edge in their playing.
3. They've got to be fairly well known and have some amount of renown.
4. You have to be ready to recognize them inside a few notes.
OK let's get to it. Here's my subjective list of the finest blues guitar players ever and why I put them on this list.
1. B.B. King
B.B. Makes the list as number one generally due to his longevity and influence but also his tone and taste. You can identify a B.B. King solo inside the first few notes.
2. Albert King
Albert is at the head of the list as he taught us all what not to play. His cost-effective, spacious style and great tone are his trademark. He gets more out of 5 notes than any other musician.
3. Robert Johnson
Robert Johnson's influence on every other guitar player after him is legendary. There were other great Delta guitarists but he is the one all the others talk of.
4. Stevie Ray Vaughan
SRV burst on the blues scene in the early 1980's. He gave the blues a drop of adrenalin that still hasn't worn out. He helped influence a brand new batch of blues guitarist and you can still hear his playing in them to this day.
5. Freddie King
He introduced the high-energy Texas type of blues to the world and also wrote many extraordinary songs still played to this day.
6. T-Bone Walker
T-Bone likely should be rated higher. His novel style and influence on others is still mythical. Only a few guitar players can match his style and to this day nobody else sounds like him. And as far as showmanship, he taught all of the others who came after.
6. Albert Collins
Another one of my person favorites. Again his sound is unique and the simple power and spaciousness of his playing is something each good blues player aims for.
8. Hubert Sumlin
Hubert was there from the beginning of the Chicago Blues. He played on so many great blues songs that to leave him off would be a travesty.
9. Joe Bonamassa
OK this one might be dubious. He's here often for his technical capability. He can play anything with amazing fluidity and tone. But you could argue he's not strictly a blues guy.
10. Buddy Guy
Very similar to B.B. King, Buddy Guy has earned his stripes thru his longevity. He could be a bit OTT often but who else has been there from the beginning of Chicago Blues and is still playing only the blues.
OK that is my take. Let the controversy begin.
And who's to assert they would be wrong.
The single thing we could probably get any person to agree on is there are many styles of blues guitar. And, overtime, any blues aficionado will develop their own tops and opinions.
So that being said, this list is precisely my own opinion and has no basis in objectivity. Now I am not a blues beginner. I have been playing the guitar for over years myself and I'm still a part time pro blues musician. So at least my point of view is an informed one.
And part of the issue with picking a "best of" list for blues guitarists is the renown issue. The most popular also played other styles of music. They were at best "part-time" blues guitar players. But many people think of them as blues musicians when in fact they were never. But who cares truly.
OK Let's Get To The Point
First we've got to outline our standards. Here's the rules for my list.
1. They need to be essentially a blues player and play usually blues music. (That leaves Eric Clapton out).
2. They must have great method or at a minimum be very cutting edge in their playing.
3. They've got to be fairly well known and have some amount of renown.
4. You have to be ready to recognize them inside a few notes.
OK let's get to it. Here's my subjective list of the finest blues guitar players ever and why I put them on this list.
1. B.B. King
B.B. Makes the list as number one generally due to his longevity and influence but also his tone and taste. You can identify a B.B. King solo inside the first few notes.
2. Albert King
Albert is at the head of the list as he taught us all what not to play. His cost-effective, spacious style and great tone are his trademark. He gets more out of 5 notes than any other musician.
3. Robert Johnson
Robert Johnson's influence on every other guitar player after him is legendary. There were other great Delta guitarists but he is the one all the others talk of.
4. Stevie Ray Vaughan
SRV burst on the blues scene in the early 1980's. He gave the blues a drop of adrenalin that still hasn't worn out. He helped influence a brand new batch of blues guitarist and you can still hear his playing in them to this day.
5. Freddie King
He introduced the high-energy Texas type of blues to the world and also wrote many extraordinary songs still played to this day.
6. T-Bone Walker
T-Bone likely should be rated higher. His novel style and influence on others is still mythical. Only a few guitar players can match his style and to this day nobody else sounds like him. And as far as showmanship, he taught all of the others who came after.
6. Albert Collins
Another one of my person favorites. Again his sound is unique and the simple power and spaciousness of his playing is something each good blues player aims for.
8. Hubert Sumlin
Hubert was there from the beginning of the Chicago Blues. He played on so many great blues songs that to leave him off would be a travesty.
9. Joe Bonamassa
OK this one might be dubious. He's here often for his technical capability. He can play anything with amazing fluidity and tone. But you could argue he's not strictly a blues guy.
10. Buddy Guy
Very similar to B.B. King, Buddy Guy has earned his stripes thru his longevity. He could be a bit OTT often but who else has been there from the beginning of Chicago Blues and is still playing only the blues.
OK that is my take. Let the controversy begin.
About the Author:
Rick Honeyboy Hart is a longtime blues guitar player. He teaches blues guitar on his website and writes about blues guitarists like Buddy Guy.
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