∞ 14 guitarists that influenced me

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I have very wide ranging musical tastes — from classical to heavy metal. Over the years, there have been many guitarists that have influenced my playing, some to the point that I wanted to know their secrets and be able to play their greatest songs. I spend countless hours in my studio playing just because I love the instrument.

Everybody’s list is different, but here’s mine:

Zakk Wylde
Randy Rhodes
Eric Clapton
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Dave Mustaine
Andres Segovia
Robert Johnson
Angus Young
Jimmy Page
Eddie Van Halen
Tony Iomi
Tony Rombola
Slash
Jim Croce


  • Walter Nixon

    Jim, I may well be wrong, but I think that most of the heavy guitar work on Jim Croce’s albums was done by Maury Mulheisen (sp) who also died in the plane crash with Jim. Also, I’m surprised that Martin Taylor isn’t on your list.

    • http://www.loopinsight.com Jim Dalrymple

      I didn’t know that Walter, thanks!

  • Scott Clausen

    My list is below.

    Michael Hedges
    Tony Rice
    Johnny Winter
    Doc Watson
    Pat Martino
    Joe Pass
    Peter Frampton
    Duke Robillard
    Barney Kessel
    Richard Thompson
    Stevie Ray Vaughan
    Robert Conti
    Jimi Hendrix
    Jeff Beck

    And there could be many more.

    • http://www.loopinsight.com Jim Dalrymple

      Nice

  • Player_16

    I’d be influenced too…
    .
    …if I only knew how to play guitar.

  • Scotty

    I’m surprised that Alex Lifeson isn’t included in these lists, especially Jim’s.  His talent is only overshadowed by that of his bandmates…

    • Doug

      Agree with Scotty.  Alex Lifeson is a huge influence for me.  Also I would add Duane Allman and Dickey Betts.

  • Jared

    Jimmy Page
    Eric Johnson
    Bert Jansch
    SRV
    John Lee Hooker
    Pete Townshend
    Chet Atkins
    Mark Knopfler
    Keith Richards
    Chuck Berry
    Robert Johnson
    Eddie Van Halen
    Jeff Beck
    Eric Clapton

  • http://www.bynkii.com/ John C. Welch

    Jimmy Page
    Prince
    Allison Robertson
    Howard Leese
    Neil Giraldo
    Robert Randolph
    Buck Owens
    Keith Richards
    Malcolm Young
    Angus Young
    Trevor Rabin
    Nancy Wilson
    Joe Perry
    Slash

    • http://www.bynkii.com/ John C. Welch

      oh, and Dave Navarro

  • Dr. Marcellus

    Was the omission of Jimi Hendrix an oversight?  After all, Jimi influenced more than a few on your list.  

  • Anonymous

    I was never good at soloing, and most of my favorite guitarists reflect that. (I mean, some of them could solo just fine, but I always admired their rhythm playing more.)

    Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick)
    Johnny Ramone (The Ramones)
    John Squire (The Stone Roses)
    Lyle Lovett
    Tom Scholz (Boston)
    Pete Townshend (The Who)
    Robert Quine and Richard Lloyd (Matthew Sweet)
    Alex Lifeson (Rush)

  • Chris Nielsen

    Nice list, Jim. 

    Mine would include some of yours:

    Eric Clapton
    Stevie Ray Vaughan
    Andres Segovia
    Robert Johnson
    Angus Young
    Jimmy Page
    Eddie Van Halen

    +
    Jimi Hendrix
    Eddy Shaver
    Dave Davies
    Neil Young
    Buck Owens
    Pete Townshend
    David Gilmour
    Bunky Spurling
    Stanley Jordan

  • Neon O’Mad

    Gabby Pahinui
    John McLaughlin
    Joe Pass
    Grant Green
    Michael Bloomfield
    B.B. King
    Julian Bream
    Pat Metheny
    Luis Bonfa
    Sonny Landreth

  • Anonymous

    Jimi Hendrix
    Eric Clapton
    George Harrison
    Pete Townsend
    Jeff Beck
    Chuck Berry
    Scotty Moore
    John Lennon
    Noel Gallagher
    Dave Davies
    Neil Young
    Keith Richards
    Richard Thompson
    Mike Campbell

    • http://www.theuniversalsteve.com Anonymous

      It’s hard to believe there were this many lists before Richard Thompson got a nod.

  • Patrik Birgersson

    The most interesting thing with lists of various sorts is that you can get introduced to new things.

    On your list, Jim, I knew every one but Jim Croce (I excuse myself by not foremost being a guitarist, but vocalist/pianist) .

    Given that I’ve grown some respect about you as a musician based on your writings about various software/equipment I now have a good reason to go check this Croce-guy out. :)

    • http://www.loopinsight.com Jim Dalrymple

      It’s a great way to find really good musicians.

  • Vamsmack

    Damn, I have some music to buy.

  • http://www.mac-adam.com/ Adam Turetzky

    I think we’re almost the same age Jim and similarly influenced by the period so your list pretty much sums up mine, but a list of my earliest influences (including duplicates) would be:

       1: Glenn Tipton
       2: Ace Frehley
       3: Ted Nugent
       4: Eddie Van Halen
       5: Dave Murray
       6: Randy Rhodes
       7: Angus Young
       8: Michael Schenker
       9: Matthias Jabs
      10: Rik Emmett
      11: Alex Lifeson
      12: Brian May
      13: Al Di Meola
      
    And I would be remiss in omitting the guy who taught me how and set me on the path, Michael Angelo Batio who was my guitar teacher every Monday at 4:00 p.m. from age 11 – 14. This was way before he got that whole 2 neck guitar idea and started a couple of musical projects called Holland and Nitro.

  • Shel243

    Frank Zappa!