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Greatest Hard Rock Guitarists

According to fans on Greatest Guitar Player, the top hard rock guitarists right now are Eddie Van Halen, Brian May and Slash. The full ranked list of 12 hard rock guitarists is below, updated live from the Greatest Guitar Player Fan Index as votes come in.

Hard rock guitar sits between classic rock and metal: big riffs, loud amps and solos built for arenas. These are the players who defined that sound on record and on stage.

  1. 1Eddie Van HalenEddie Van HalenScore 79.5 · 4 fan votesProfile
  2. 2Brian MayBrian MayScore 66.0 · 2 fan votesProfile
  3. 3SlashSlashScore 80.0 · 1 fan voteProfile
  4. 4Angus YoungAngus YoungScore 64.0 · 1 fan voteProfile
  5. 5Gary MooreGary MooreScore 68.0 · no fan votes yetProfile
  6. 6Ritchie BlackmoreRitchie BlackmoreScore 64.0 · 1 fan voteProfile
  7. 7Ace FrehleyAce FrehleyScore 65.5 · 2 fan votesProfile
  8. 8Nancy WilsonNancy WilsonScore 52.0 · 1 fan voteProfile
  9. 9Steve LukatherSteve LukatherScore 66.0 · no fan votes yetProfile
  10. 10Joe PerryJoe PerryScore 65.0 · no fan votes yetProfile
  11. 11Ty TaborTy TaborScore 69.0 · 1 fan voteProfile
  12. 12Jake KiszkaJake KiszkaScore 60.0 · no fan votes yetProfile

Disagree with the order? Rate any of these hard rock guitarists on 8 attributes at greatestguitarplayer.com/vote. Every vote moves the Greatest Guitar Player Fan Index.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the greatest hard rock guitarist of all time?

On the Greatest Guitar Player Fan Index, Eddie Van Halen currently holds the top spot among hard rock guitarists, followed by Brian May and Slash. The order updates live as fans vote.

How are these hard rock guitarists ranked?

Fans rate each guitarist from 0 to 10 on eight attributes: innovation, performance, speed, soul, rhythm, lead guitar, songwriting and coolness. The order uses a weighted score that balances each guitarist's average rating with the number of votes, so a single perfect vote cannot jump the line. Guitarists without fan votes yet are placed by an editorial score.

Can I vote for my favorite hard rock guitarist?

Yes. Anyone can rate guitarists at greatestguitarplayer.com/vote, and every vote counts toward both this hard rock list and the overall Greatest Guitar Player rankings.

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