Best Metal Guitarists

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Vote for Kirk Hammett - Metallica 1) Kirk Hammett - Metallica

“Is there any doubt he shouldn’t be here?”

“Everyone says that kirk wouldn’t be anything without daves help on kill em all. bull. metallica has sold over 100 million albums wouldn’t the help of dave mustaine. plus dave mustaine grows”

torymalto

“I agree Kirk Hammett is away better than dave mustaine, his solo’s are amazing and I do not know why dave hates kirk, he never did anything to daves kicking out of metallica,

Kirk is 10 times better than dave, face the fact. Dave mustaine cried on tv. and in his every interview he talks about metallica, and how he wish he could be kirk hammett,

dave you’re good, but lets face the fact here, kirk kicks your ass,

Metal up your ass!”

LombardoForever1035

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Vote for Randy Rhoads - Ozzy Osbourne 2) Randy Rhoads - Ozzy Osbourne

“Randy RHOADS is the bomb.”

VonHaggles

“RANDY ARE THE BEST OUT OF THE ALL TIMES! NOTHING COMPARES TO HIM...! RANDY RULES! YEEAH! lol”

viixxen7091

“a true rock god.”

a1210

read more comments on Randy Rhoads - Ozzy Osbourne

Vote for Dave Mustaine - Megadeth 3) Dave Mustaine - Megadeth

“Dave is way better than Kirk and Dave writes music and sings, does Kirk do all that?”

Deth4Life

“Dave blows kirk outta the water. Kirk is not a good guitarist, he abuses the minor pentatonic scale like there’s no tomorrow. Dave is a great and innovative guitarist. See the Washington Is Next solo for proof of that.”

Jazz101

“you know what kirk ain’t nothin without hetfeild holding his hand and dave beats them both! at singing and guitar”

djperth

read more comments on Dave Mustaine - Megadeth

Vote for Steve Belong 4) Steve Belong

“He’s not famous but is definitely worthy of being on the list. He’s a seriously high octane guitarist, very fast and articulate. All of the technical skills are there : Scaling, Sweep Picking, Tapping, String Skipping, Harmonizing, Legato, etc, but he also possesses a fantastic sense of melody and emotion.”

Vote for Synyster Gates - Avenged Sevenfold 5) Synyster Gates - Avenged Sevenfold

“he tweaks his notes perfectly”

moose4life19

“no. 1”

Ak3nator

“HE STRUMS ALL HIS SOLOS. DEFINATELY number 1”

RossMcC

read more comments on Synyster Gates - Avenged Sevenfold

Vote for Dimebag Darrell - Pantera 6) Dimebag Darrell - Pantera

“R. I. P Dimbag Darrel. he was the greatest by far and barely ever gets the props he deserves”

T-N-Tdynomite

“Amazingly Heavy Guitarists, he deserves this top 10 spot”

UFasten8Me

“dimebag showed everyone that you can be technical, soulful and badass when playing metal, a true god of metal”

Thurman91

read more comments on Dimebag Darrell - Pantera

Vote for Alexi Laiho - Children of Bodom 7) Alexi Laiho - Children of Bodom

“he should be 1!”

alexi_laiho

“love all the things he do on guitar, everything is perfect”

“Alexi Laiho should be second after Dimebag Darrel(r. i. p) He truly masters the art of insanely guitar shredding”

read more comments on Alexi Laiho - Children of Bodom

Vote for Slash - Guns N Roses 8) Slash - Guns N Roses

“yeah slash should be #1........”

cheryl_lynn

“WTF? Slash should be no. 1”

Edwyn

“He’s the 3rd best guitarist overall and the best metal guitarist”

bacara50

read more comments on Slash - Guns N Roses

Vote for John Petrucci - Dream Theater 9) John Petrucci - Dream Theater

“his music is so wonderful! everything he made since the beginning with dream theater is amazing. But his work with liquid tension experiment and his solo album are both awesome. Progressive god”

Mouseclick

“should be #1 without a doubt. way better than everyone on this list. other honerable mentions are michael romeo, steve vai, joe satriani, and stephan forte.”

deadgrass27

“Proof That God Exists!”

DM2414

read more comments on John Petrucci - Dream Theater

Vote for James Hetfield - Metallica 10) James Hetfield - Metallica

“james is a god and i agree kirk’s not that good”

CATA5TR0PH3

“he is oe of the greats
”

hanger

“this is totally unfair, james wrote all metallica’s guitar parts and kirk just stood on stage and only played guitar solos”

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Choices Not In The Top Ten

Vote for Luke William Fielding (Legend) 11) Luke William Fielding (Legend)

“I have had the priviledge to see him live and even meet him, he gets my vote and I do believe he is the best metal guitarist in the world but hes quite up himself, needs a personality check”

FATRESS

“luke william fielding has been very successful in his short but great career. he has come up with solos that i only dream i could play. this man, maybe in a few years, could be compared to the legends of heavy metal guitarist such as dave mustaine, kirk hammett, dimebag darell, kerry king, zakk wylde, eddie van halen, steve vai, buckethead and slash. i dont see why you wouldnt want a true hero to top this list. im not saying that dave mustaine isnt a legend. vote fielding.”

pooisgood

“I have heard this man play and sing and think that he is the best I have ever heard in a very long time, come on everyone vote for Luke.”

Vote for Daron Malakian - System of a Down 12) Daron Malakian - System of a Down

“THE BEST GUITARIS EVER, GO AND LISTEN TO SONGS THEN YOU DECIDE. HE SHOULD BE IN TOP 10.”

daronboy

“The Best I’ve ever seen. Awesome skills and coolest ever, I love him.”

daronboy

“After a very long debate with myself I decided that the solo in Lonely Day is the fastest I’ve heard. Its not that long, its not like the typical solo, but it is the fastest”

CaptainComedy17

» more comments on Daron Malakian - System of a Down

Vote for Herman Li 13) Herman Li

“Best ever hands down slash shouldn’t even be on this list
WAY WAY Underated
Dont just Listen to Through The Fire And Flames watch it
”

Lilbob93

“Amazing guitarist”

“He’s crazy on guitar!!”

» more comments on Herman Li

Vote for Dave Murray - Iron Maiden 14) Dave Murray - Iron Maiden

“One of the best, he and Petrucci rule, Metallica suck”

DowntownTornado

“this guy can play! thats the main thing you need to know...”

kameel

“When you see Dave making his magic there’s only one word to discribe it GODLIKE playing”

» more comments on Dave Murray - Iron Maiden

Vote for Mick Thompson - Slipknot 15) Mick Thompson - Slipknot

Vote for Tony Iommi - Black Sabbath 16) Tony Iommi - Black Sabbath

“You’re telling me he’s not even in the top ten. he’s a top 5 easy”

UFasten8Me

“how could he not be number one!?”

motorfreak

“Tony Iommi invented metal. Anyone who voted for someone else knows nothing about metal.”

cheesytaco

» more comments on Tony Iommi - Black Sabbath

Vote for Jani Liimatainen 17) Jani Liimatainen

“You know, it saddens me when there are these morons that actually think Kirk Hammett or Dimebag was the greatest, yet when there are so many great underground metal guitarists like Jani Liimatainen who would whoop them! He should be one of the top 10. Along with Mike Davis too, another really underrated guitarist.”

“Jani friggin’ owns. Go listen to FullMoon, Still Loving You, Wolf and Raven... Hell, I could go on for ages... (Just avoid Fade to Black, that’s not so good). Sonata Arctica FREAKIN’ RULE!”

“jani is really good... i just wish more ppl would listen to sonata arctica... maybe not the fastest maybe not the best but one of my favourites!!!”

» more comments on Jani Liimatainen

Vote for Zakk Wylde 18) Zakk Wylde

“he is just amazing”

jesuslover666

“zakk is the best guitarist of the world is fast & have the best sound”

carlos

“the best to those who can play good guitar and bad to those who cannot”

» more comments on Zakk Wylde

Vote for Buckethead 19) Buckethead

“If you have not heard of him check him on you tube you will be blown awy i promise.... simply amazing!!!!”

Vote for James "Munky" Shaffer - KoRn 20) James "Munky" Shaffer - KoRn

“Munky and Head are the best when it comes to metal riffs”

chirkoman

“when head and munky where to korn together was the best period for the band...
munky & hend together > munky & head alone...”

robokost

“He is a great guitar player, and he has a great guitar!
He uses a costumized Ibanez 7 string.”

Vote for Matthew Heafy- Trivium 21) Matthew Heafy- Trivium

“this guy should be up in the top ten for sure”

“his guritar solos r unbeliveble”

Vote for Cipher - D'erlanger 22) Cipher - D'erlanger

“cipher is kauru of dir en grey’s idol”

ronluna

“one of the most influential guitarists in japan in terms of hard rock, rock, metal”

Vote for Michael Angelo Batio 23) Michael Angelo Batio

“Come on now, Batio had both awesome hair, guitars and technical mastery.”

icaruswings

“If we’re talking technical ability and skill, no one even comes close to MAB, besides Petrucci. It’s ridiculous.”

“When it comes to it, no one can touch MAB. Whether it’s super heavy riffs, or blazing solos, he is king!”

Vote for Eddie Van Halen - Van Halen 24) Eddie Van Halen - Van Halen

“WTF eddie should be 1st you guys have a horrible taste. kirk hammet and dave mustaine should be last on this list.”

metfan001

“eddie is the best”

richie4life

“Not really metal - more pop music played fast. Better than these other guys, though - Dimebag included!”

Floods

Vote for Angus Young - AC/DC 25) Angus Young - AC/DC

“not really metal but very underrated, also one of the best showmen ever”

DeathToMayo

“Should be #1”

Guitar_Guy77

“Angus young should definitely be number one!”

» more comments on Angus Young - AC/DC

Vote for Marty Friedman - Megadeth 26) Marty Friedman - Megadeth

“Mustaine the best metal guitarist? Far from it. He isn’t even the best in his own band.
And I love metallica(still my favorite of the "big 4") but Marty Friedman is a better guitarist than Kirk Hammet.”

Chris-1

“Marty is way better than Mustaine. Almost all of the solos on RIP are played by him.”

Vote for Joe Satriani 27) Joe Satriani

“Hey guy’s, did you listen any of Joes material? If you have you would understand that he should be on the top of the list!”

“I also am quite surprised not to find Joe Satriani in your top ten, but then he’s never really played in any real popular bands. Always the lone wolf. However that may be, He is definitely up there with the best of them. He and John Petrucci of Dream Theatre and Liquid Tension Experiment are two of my most favorite guitar players in the world that I can listen to anytime day or night.”

“By FAR the best. He taught Kirk Hammett and Steve Vai and you can hear the feeling and complexity in all of his songs. He’s the man who proves you don’t have to play fast every second to be the best.”

» more comments on Joe Satriani

Vote for Zacky Vengeance 28) Zacky Vengeance

“He Is The Most Underrated Guitarist Ever”

Dglass23

“Best left handed guitarist ever!”

“He definetly is no Synyster Gates, but he can shred up right along side him when he needs to!”

Vote for Adrian Smith 29) Adrian Smith

Vote for Muhammad Suicmez 30) Muhammad Suicmez

“just listen to mutilate the stillborn, only ash remains, intestinal incubation, or symbiotic in theory and tell me thats not awesome”

“this guy will freakin blow your mind. he is truly amazing with his fast guitar skills and crazy sweeps
is he even human???”

“best guitarist on earth. no doubt. number one.”

» more comments on Muhammad Suicmez

Vote for Steve Vai 31) Steve Vai

“It is a bit sad to see this guy so low in the chart, his guitar skills are insuperable.”

“need i say more, the man is a legend”

Vote for Kaoru - Dir en grey 32) Kaoru - Dir en grey

“Die is great, but Kaoru is better XD”

saya

“Kaoru is a truly amazing and talented guitarrist. His guitar skills are awesome, and the guitar solos are simply breathtaking! And he’s also a songwriter, and has given some of the most beautiful songs to Dir en grey.”

Vote for Malmesteen 33) Malmesteen

“Yngwie is the man, fastest shredder in the world. I love the solo on VENGEANCE.”

MASH

“The best guitarist on the face planet period. Nobody can do it with the flare, taste and originality of Yngwie....nobody”

“I love this guy! I have ADD and drinks pots of coffee so I need a guy that plays like this! Thanks Yngwie!”

» more comments on Malmesteen

Vote for Kerry King 34) Kerry King

“This guy is a legend. This list is really messed up! It should be:
1. Kirk Hammett/James Hetfield
2. Randy Rhoads
3. Dimebag
4. Kerry King
5. Marty Friedman
6. Tony Iommi
7. Steve Vai
8. Chuck Schuldiner
9. Eddie Van Halen
10. Yngwie Malmsteen
Simple as that!”

gibsonrock53

“This freaks me out that Kerry King isn’t listed as one of the best guitarist in the world. Who plays faster, tighter, and cleaner than him. Whether you listen to him live or recorded you cannot tell the difference. Slayer has 3 of the best musicians in metal/thrash. King, Hannemin and Lombardo.”

Vote for Mark Morton- Lamb of God 35) Mark Morton- Lamb of God

“The man is a complete legend.”

“Good speed player, nothing says metal like the song "ashes of the wake"”

Vote for Stevie Ray Vaughan 36) Stevie Ray Vaughan

Vote for Jeff Loomis 37) Jeff Loomis

“one word:suberb”

Vote for Matt Tuck 38) Matt Tuck

Vote for hide - X Japan 39) hide - X Japan

Vote for Jason Becker 40) Jason Becker

“Jason’s Skill was undeniable....anyone who has heard his music should know that it is one of the most amazing things ur ears have ever heard..jason is hands down...the greatest...”

Vote for Glenn Tipton - Judas Priest 41) Glenn Tipton - Judas Priest

“by far the BEST metal guitarist ever if u know what metal is all about.complexity,POWER,energy,feel this guy has it allllll.......”

Vote for Chuck Schuldiner - Death 42) Chuck Schuldiner - Death

Vote for Jon Schaffer - Iced Earth 43) Jon Schaffer - Iced Earth

Vote for Michael Schenker 44) Michael Schenker

“Playing great since first Scorpions Album in (1972? ). Then with UFO. Has influenced many on this list including Hammett. He is fast, and very melodic - but simple and easy to listen to - simple chords but beautifully crafted solos that seem to change gears as he messes with the wah-pedal.”

Vote for Jon Donais - Shadows Fall 45) Jon Donais - Shadows Fall

“IVE SEEN THIS GUY LIVE AND IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BEEN THE BEST PERFORMANCE IVE EVER SEEN”

Vote for Steve Stevens 46) Steve Stevens

“One of the best ever. Michael Jackson and Billy Idol will both agree, I assure you.”

Vote for Dan Jacobs 47) Dan Jacobs

“no doubt.. belongs in top ten

although atreyu aren’t that big... yet.. He is an amazing guitarist”

Vote for Phill Collen - Def Leppard 48) Phill Collen - Def Leppard

“was part of my favorite band to me he was the 2 best guitarists guitarist of the 80’s besides eddie van halen should be higher on the list totally top ten material
”

Vote for Die - Dir en grey 49) Die - Dir en grey

“He’s a gifted man, his style is always pleasently loud and notoriousley fast”

“He is a great guitarist! He’s the best!”

Vote for Alex Lifeson - Rush 50) Alex Lifeson - Rush

“Working Man, 2112 Overture, The Trees, Freewill, Circumstances, Spirit of the Radio, Tom Sawyer, Limelight... Alex’ integration of acoustic classical guitar and tight electric within a piece of music make for some of the best rock guitar ever.”

Vote for Jack E. Lee 51) Jack E. Lee

“great guitar player listen to ozzy’s bark at the moon CD”

Vote for Timo Tolkki - Stratovarius 52) Timo Tolkki - Stratovarius

“There is a simple pleasure in listening to this guitarist.”

skinsman

“He has speed (in stratosphere he sounds just like a violin), quality and a great knowleadge of barroq style. All of that makes him a considerable top ten. METAL”

Vote for Ron Jarzombek 53) Ron Jarzombek

“This guitarist is from a group called Watchtower, and has a separate group called Spastic Ink. His playing is pretty amazing, and very technical. It is a blast to listen to. Love that Wild Hare. If you love complicated speed thrashing metal, have a listen.”

Vote for K.K. Downing - Judas Priest 54) K.K. Downing - Judas Priest

“Sophisticated, atmospheric and completely supporting Rob (Priest’s vocalist) with out-if-this-world musical riffs. A genious.”

Vote for Mike Davis - Nocturnus 55) Mike Davis - Nocturnus

“Mike Davis is a freaking virtually unknown legend. You have guys like Kirk Hammet going, "ooh, listen to my wah! Aren’t I so great? " when you have guys like Mike Davis that whoops the crap outta him but isn’t even considered a legend simply becuase he’s a death metal guitarist. FOR SHAME!”

Vote for Brendon Small - Dethklok 56) Brendon Small - Dethklok

“best sweeps ever”

Vote for Kostas (Gus G.) Karamitroudis - Firewind 57) Kostas (Gus G.) Karamitroudis - Firewind

Vote for C. C. DeVille - Poison 58) C. C. DeVille - Poison

“one of the most influential metal guitarists of the 80s”

Vote for Aydan - Elvenking 59) Aydan - Elvenking

“maybe folk/heavy metal but very goods guitarist
”

Vote for Scott Ian 60) Scott Ian

“Scott Ian is one bad to the bone metal guitarist.”

Vote for Skwisgaar, Dethklok 61) Skwisgaar, Dethklok

“should definitely be in or at least near the to 10”

Vote for Syu - Galneryus 62) Syu - Galneryus

Vote for Troy Azagthoth (Morbid Angel) 63) Troy Azagthoth (Morbid Angel)

Vote for Marc Rizzo 64) Marc Rizzo

“his solo albums are godlike shred. enough shred to demolish a library.”

Vote for Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda - Twisted Sister 65) Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda - Twisted Sister

“listen to that crazy solo in i wanna rock”

Vote for Jack White 66) Jack White

Vote for Casey Calvert 67) Casey Calvert

“He was AMAZING :( rip”

Vote for Gary Holt - Exodus 68) Gary Holt - Exodus

Vote for Vivian Campbell (Dio) 69) Vivian Campbell (Dio)

“are you serious this kid wrote rainbow in the dark when he was like still in his teens. he should definitely be in the top five. are you friggin serious there is no way synyster gates is better than dimebag.”

Vote for Lemmy - Motorhead 70) Lemmy - Motorhead