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Greatest Rock and Roll Guitarists

According to fans on Greatest Guitar Player, the top rock and roll guitarists right now are Chuck Berry, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Bo Diddley. The full ranked list of 8 rock and roll guitarists is below, updated live from the Greatest Guitar Player Fan Index as votes come in.

Rock and roll pioneers defined the electric guitar's role in popular music in the 1950s and early 1960s. Nearly every rock guitarist since learned from the riffs, tones and stage moves these players introduced.

  1. 1Chuck BerryChuck BerryScore 71.0 · no fan votes yetProfile
  2. 2Sister Rosetta TharpeSister Rosetta TharpeScore 70.0 · no fan votes yetProfile
  3. 3Bo DiddleyBo DiddleyScore 64.0 · no fan votes yetProfile
  4. 4Scotty MooreScotty MooreScore 64.0 · no fan votes yetProfile
  5. 5Buddy HollyBuddy HollyScore 80.0 · 1 fan voteProfile
  6. 6Carl PerkinsCarl PerkinsScore 60.0 · no fan votes yetProfile
  7. 7Link WrayLink WrayScore 60.0 · no fan votes yetProfile
  8. 8Hank MarvinHank MarvinScore 59.0 · no fan votes yetProfile

Disagree with the order? Rate any of these rock and roll 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 rock and roll guitarist of all time?

On the Greatest Guitar Player Fan Index, Chuck Berry currently holds the top spot among rock and roll guitarists, followed by Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Bo Diddley. The order updates live as fans vote.

How are these rock and roll 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 rock and roll guitarist?

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

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