There’s something about music that can take us away from our problems. Hearing a great guitar riff can seemingly transport oneself away from their current world, into one of radical sounds and landscapes. Seeing the guitar tabs on a sheet of paper is nothing like hearing the music that is played. When most people talk about the best guitarists, they usually think of people from decades or generations ago. However, there are a number of great guitar players today. Here are some of the best guitarists of the 21st century.
10. Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz is a songwriter and guitarist who emerged onto the scene right after the start of the millennia with a unique and fun sound with strong appeal. Mraz actually picked up guitar after a friend gave him one that was about to be thrown away. When he acquired the guitar from his friend, he taught himself how to play. Now, his guitar is almost like another appendage, coming with him everywhere. Mraz tends to enjoy Taylor guitars.
9. Jamie Cook
Jamie Cook comes from across the pond in England. He picked up his love for music early in life and helped found a band in 2001 called the Arctic Monkeys while he was still in high school. This Indie band would go on to become popular across the world, in no small part due to Cook’s innovative rhythmic guitar playing. Cook will change guitars regularly, but he generally only requires a simple setup.
8. Dan Auerbach
Dan Aureback is the guitarist for the Black Keys. His musical interests at a young age while listening to blues and bluegrass music from his parents. He decided to quit college in order to pursue his interest in guitar. Luckily, childhood friend and fellow founder of the Black Keys and him produced something good enough to catch the eye of a music label, and the band got signed. He would go on to produce, but guitar is his true love.
7. St. Vincent
Annie At. Vincent’s first guitars was a red, plastic guitar her mom got her when she was five years old. She then got her first real guitar at the age of twelve. She has gone on to tour with a number of popular names. While constantly working, she tries to stay out of tabloid and emphasize the music. She’s been quite successful at this, despite some publicity about a relationship with Cara Delevingne.
6. Synyster Gates
Synystre Gates is best known for being the guitarist for Avenged Sevenfold. The band is generally known as a metal band, but they move from various genres as they are inspired. Whether you like the band or not, you can not deny the guitar skills of Synyster Gates. He was even voted “The Best Metal Guitarist in the World” in both 2016 and 2017 by popular magazine Total Guitar.
5. Jack White
Jack White is most commonly known as the lead singer and guitarist for the popular band The White Stripes. The band was unique because it was made up of a husband and wife team. IT was also unique that Jack decided to take his wife’s name instead of the other way around. The relationship may not have lasted, but the band did. Jack has also collaborated with other artists and performed solo. Jack has won 12 Grammy awards. Jack has been known to make his own guitars out of household items. He once made a guitar out of wood, nails, a Coke bottle, guitar string, and a pickup.
4. Gary Clark Jr.
Gary Clark Jr. is known for his unique blending of sounds. He uses his guitar to mix his blues, jazz, soul, and hip hop influences together to turn it into something magical. He started playing guitar at the age of 12. As he developed a name for himself in the Austin music community, he learned more and more. He is known for frequent use of the fuzz pedals. He quickly started to collaborate with some of the greats. He has won four Grammy awards.
3. Matt Bellamy
Matt Bellamy is the heart and soul of the rock band Muse. His dad was also actually a professional guitarist. He learned how to play guitar at the age of eleven, but he is also a professional piano player. When playing guitar, he uses tools to produce an electric sound. He has had Mason Guitar Works make his guitars for two decades and owners a majority stake in the company. He has won two Grammy awards.
2. John Petrucci
John Petrucci is the lead guitarist in the progressive band Dream Theater. He originally only started playing guitar to get the opportunity to stay up late to practice at eight. When this didn’t work, he gave it up until age eleven. When he developed a love for the craft, he dedicated six hours a day toward practice. One thing he is best known for as a progressive guitar player is his quick alternate picking technique. He will also play a seven-string guitar to give him more options on how to create sound. He uses Majesty-series guitars.
1. Guthrie Govan
Guthrie Govan picked up his first guitar at the age of three. His destiny was clear pretty early in life. He started playing by imitating the music he listened to. While music was a love, he went to Oxford University to study English. After a year, his talent was discovered. With a record deal on the table, he decided to pursue a career in music. Govan is academic by nature and continues to teach guitar to others. He has even written two books on the subject.
Everyone has different taste in music. However, it’s difficult to deny the talent of these brilliant guitar players. These are the musicians that will teach the next generation of musicians. With these people leading the way, we know that the future of music is safe.
