Who are the Greatest Acoustic Guitarists of All Time?

Acoustic guitars predate the electric version by hundreds of years, therefore compiling a list of the very best acoustic guitarists is not an easy task. From virtuoso instrumentalists to culture-changing singer-songwriters, there is no end of players that could be included.

Whittling the entire history of the acoustic guitar down to the 21 greatest and most influential acoustic guitar players ever has been tough. Obviously, there is a degree of personal taste in my selections, and everyone’s thoughts on who should or should not be on this list will be slightly different. But hopefully, you will agree with the majority, if not all of my selections.

I have not included Classical or Flamenco guitarists on this list for two reasons. The first is that there is such a wealth of talented acoustic players that including those who predominantly play nylon-strung guitars would make it even harder to pick out the top 21. Secondly, classical and flamenco both deserve their own dedicated Top Guitarists list, so keep an eye out for those in the near future.

My selections are not in any particular order, but let’s get started with the guitarist who, as I’m sure most of you will agree, took the acoustic guitar from the background to where it truly belongs – front and center!

1. Django Reinhardt

One common definition of the word genius is a talent that is impossible to classify. And gypsy guitarist Jean Baptiste ‘Django’ Reinhardt, was most certainly that. His unorthodox approach to the instrument and ability to play lines that captured the hearts of listeners worldwide make him a great start to this list.At the tender age of 13 he was already talented enough to be playing in major Parisian dance halls and soon after turned professional. However, at the age of 18, he was injured in a caravan blaze and suffered major damage to two fingers on his left hand. But this didn’t stop him, he developed a revolutionary two-finger technique and continued to play professionally for the rest of his life and was one of the most technically proficient guitarists of his generation.

Reinhardt’s legacy is monumental, playing a pivotal role in taking “gypsy jazz” from campsites to the general public during the 1930s and ’40s. His playing is joyful, fierce, and lyrical and has inspired not only jazz musicians but guitarists from all genres ever since.

Django Reinhardt performing live in 1945

2. Tommy Emmanuel

Another true virtuoso, the exuberance Tommy brings to every single note of any song he performs is infectious and palpable. His technical and emotional abilities are legendary, able to deliver heart, soul, and a true sense of joy, whatever song he is playing.He started playing at the age of four and by the age of six was touring Australia with his family band, The Midget Surfaries, who had already gained a following after a blistering live version of ‘Apache’ by The Shadows broadcast on Australian National TV.

By his twenties, Tommy was one of the most sought-after session musicians in Sydney. By 30, he was a highly respected electric guitarist playing stadiums across Europe. But he wasn’t happy, he was looking for a purer form of music that was closer to his heart, so Tommy took off his electric guitar, turned off the Marshall stacks, and went acoustic!

He moved away from playing a barrage of notes and concentrated on the ones that touch the heart. He spent his time perfecting the dynamics and different dimensions of arrangements and translating them to the humble acoustic guitar. This turned him into a major Australian star, and then a worldwide acoustic guitar maestro.

Tommy Emmanuel – Mombasa – Live

3. David Rawlings

Emotion and sense of space accurately sum up the music of this crosspicking virtuoso and his musical partner in crime, Gillian Welch.

Starting as highly respected Nashville songwriters, the duo wanted more and released Welch’s debut album Revival in 1996, launching them on the road to become the revered roots-music performers they are today.

They first met when they were students at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. However, David wasn’t your typical shred-infatuated Berklee student and looked at the guitar from a very personal perspective. He was more interested in the subtle dissonant touches and unusual intervals of jazz horn players such as Chet Baker and Miles Davis, and the multi-tracked epic soundscapes created by Johnny Marr of The Smiths, than the latest guitar fads.

These influences helped create his love for textural music which is governed by harmony, which has helped shape the rich musical vistas that are evident on each song he has recorded since then.

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings – Revelator – BBC Concert

4. Paul Simon

With a career that has spanned seven decades, phenomenal commercial success, and worldwide critical acclaim, Paul Simon is one of the most influential singer-songwriters and acoustic guitarists of his era. As part of folk-rock duo, Simon and Garfunkel, with his high school friend Art Garfunkel, he has influenced generations of Americans with songs such as ‘The Sound of Silence’, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, ‘The Boxer’, and ‘Mrs. Robinson’.

Simon and Garfunkel released their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. in 1964, and it was initially a flop. Simon was so dismayed that he moved to London to play in folk clubs. He loved the bohemian folk scene and learned how to finger-pick from Martin Carthy. This was also the time when he learned Davey Graham’s amazing guitar instrumental ‘Anji’, which would later appear on the Sounds of Silence album. This established Paul as an acoustic guitarist to be reckoned with and later gained him a place on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list.

Paul Simon playing Anji live on Granada TV in 1967

5. Martin Carthy

As just mentioned, the man who taught Paul Simon to finger-pick, and also generally considered to be the father of the ‘60s British folk revival of the ’60s. But his influence went much further than that, he is revered by most British folk guitarists who have followed in his acoustic footsteps, as well as a certain Bob Dylan, who also quotes him as a major influence.

His formidable talents, not only as a guitarist/multi-instrumentalist, but also as a singer, and scholar of traditional folk music, were critical in the formation of English folk-rock groups such as the Albion Band, Steel-eye Span, and Fairport Convention.

Martin Carthy – John Barleycorn – Live

6. Davey Graham

Again sticking with the Paul Simon reference, next we have Davey Graham, the guitarist who wrote and originally performed ‘Anji’. Along with Carthy, Graham was also one of the most influential figures in the 1960s British folk scene. He inspired many famous practitioners of the fingerstyle acoustic guitar such as Bert Jansch, John Martyn, Wizz Jones, John Renbourn, and Jimmy Page, who based his acoustic solo piece ‘White Summer’ on the Graham piece ‘She Moved Through the Fair’. He is also the guitarist who popularized the DADGAD tuning, which has since been widely adopted by guitarists in all genres.

Davy Graham – All Of Me Live on UK TV in 1981

7. Michael Hedges

Next, a virtuoso acoustic guitarist who used unorthodox playing techniques, alternate tunings, a talent for showmanship, and a highly creative spirit to weave his own blend of new age music.

He was a master of techniques, that in the 90s, were rarely used on acoustic guitar such as slap harmonics, right hand hammer-ons, left hand melodic or rhythmic pull-offs and hammer-ons, syncopated, percussive, slapping of the guitar body, as well as unusual strumming patterns. He is also recognized for widening the appeal of the harp guitar and composing some of the instrument’s finest works.Michael Hedges died in 1997 at the age of 43 in a car accident. He had pushed the boundaries of what could be achieved with an acoustic guitar and his innovative approach has been a major influence on a generation of innovative acoustic guitarists.

Michael Hedges – Aerial Boundaries – Live at Red Rocks in 1986

8. Neil Young

Being a great acoustic player is not all about virtuoso techniques, sometimes it’s the songwriting that makes a player a legend. And Neil Young is one such player. He is definitely no slouch in terms of his abilities, especially on an electric guitar, but some would say he is a bit sloppy on an acoustic. I agree, but that’s exactly what makes him such a magical performer to listen to and watch.

His early acoustic performances are masterclasses in how to make a single acoustic guitar and voice meld to create an incredibly emotional piece of art that leaves the audience in awe.

Neil Young – Live “In Concert” at the BBC in 1971

9. Leo Kottke

Next, we have one of the most influential acoustic guitar players of the past 50 years, Leo Kottke. His asymmetrical fingerpicking patterns, ability to effortlessly weave fretted and slide melodies into seamless musical tapestries, resonant lowered tunings, and his love of both the 6-string and 12-string guitars has helped bring complex acoustic music to the masses. He’s also well known for interspersing his live instrumental and vocal songs with humorous and often bizarre monologues from throughout his career, which often gets a good laugh from the audience, he is well worth checking out.

Jack Fig (The Chicken Murderer) – Live

10. Nick Drake

This may seem like an unusual suggestion, but in my opinion, Nick Drake deserves to be on this list of the best acoustic guitarists as much as any acoustic virtuoso because of what he has done for the instrument and the songs he left us.

Best known for his beautiful, haunting, deeply emotional songs and intelligent minimal guitar playing. Drake has become an unlikely cult legend, mainly due to the fact that he only recorded three albums and hated performing live. Regardless of this, his music has had a lasting impact on both guitarists and music lovers.

He suffered from severe depression throughout most of his life, and his lyrics often reflected this and his other emotional struggles. Tragically, he left this mortal coil after overdosing on medication in 1974. Despite his short time with us, his music continues to influence and inspire anyone who has the pleasure of hearing it.

Nick Drake – Northern Sky (1970)

11. Chet Atkins

Chester Burton Atkins, AKA ‘Mr. Guitar’ or ‘The Country Gentleman’ is most recognized for being one of the forefathers who introduced the electric guitar into popular music. However, his stunningly diverse and intricate fingerpicking and counterpoint works perfectly on an acoustic as well, as is shown on a number of his all-acoustic songs. His signature picking style was inspired by Merle Travis, while his other major guitar influences include Django Reinhardt, Les Paul, and, Jerry Reed.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at number 21 on their ‘100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time’ list.

Chet Atkins – Both Sides Now – The Tonight Show 1974

12. Al Di Meola

Next, we have another stunning electric guitarist who effortlessly transitioned to the acoustic, Al Di Meola. He shot to guitar fame when he joined established 70s jazz fusion pioneers Return to Forever when he was 19. He continued to play with the band until 1976 and then recorded three solo albums.

But in 1981, he shocked the guitar world when he released ‘Friday Night in San Francisco’ — an acoustic album featuring flamenco legend Paco De Lucia and fellow jazz fusion guitarist John McLaughlin. It went on to become one of the most popular acoustic guitar live albums ever recorded.

This record cemented Di Meola’s status as one of the most influential acoustic alternate pickers ever.

Al Di Meola – Egyptian Danza (Live)

13. John McLaughlin

Following on with another of the guitarists from that landmark live album John McLaughlin (Paco de Lucia won’t be included in this list but will be a figurehead in the list of top flamenco players). Master of scales and all-around spirit conjurer, McLaughlin’s virtuosity is undeniable. He effortlessly weaves both Eastern and Western musical forms into an infectious fusion that leaves his audience breathless.John McLaughlin & Shakti – Joy (Live in Montreux, 1976)

14. Andy McKee

Regardless of whether you think the internet is a blessing or a curse, it has brought a lot of wonderful things into our lives, and one of those is Andy McKee. This kid from Kansas took over the reins of the percussive slappers and two-hand tappers who had gone before him such as Michael Hedges and Billy McLaughlin. And he did it all in front of our very eyes on YouTube, without a record company in sight!

He then added baritone as well as harp guitars (a tribute to Hedges) to his arsenal and has become one of the most popular creators of stunning acoustic guitar content on the Internet.

Andy McKee – Drifting

15. John Fahey

Next, we have a progressive folk guitarist who is widely considered to be the father of American primitive guitar, John Fahey. He was a master at fusing different genres such as blues, Native American music, 20th-century classical, Portuguese, experimental dissonance, Brazilian, and even Indian ragas, in his compositions.His amazing talent and mastery of the acoustic guitar has had a profound influence on a vast number of players from a variety of genres. So much so, that in 2006, Fahey’s musical legacy was honoured when four tribute albums were released, highlighting his massive contribution to 20th-century American music. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at Number 35 on their 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list, and his innovative approach and unique sound will continue to inspire acoustic guitarists well into the future.

John Fahey – Poor Boys Long Way From Home – Live

16. Doc Watson

The very definition of bluegrass picking has to be master finger-style and flatpicker Doc Watson. His amazing sense of groove and melody has been a major influence on bluegrass and folk music since the early 1960s and made him an acoustic guitar legend. His live performances and recordings have inspired countless guitarists to study his technique in an attempt to re-create his magic. But it’s a difficult task and ensures that Doc will remain in the hearts and minds of bluegrass musicians for years to come.

Doc Watson – Southbound Live in 1991

17. Bert Jansch

Sticking with fingerpickers, next on my list is Scottish acoustic maestro, Bert Jansch. Renowned for his fingerpicking style and incorporating elements of folk, jazz, and blues into his compositions, he has influenced many of the greats that have a place on this list, including Paul Simon, Nick Drake, and Neil Young, as well as more diverse musicians such as Johnny Marr, Mike Oldfield, and Ian Anderson. Bert is also widely credited by Jimmy Page as one of the players who had a significant impact on the way he plays. So much so, that Zeppelin’s ‘Black Mountain Side’ is basically a reworking of Jansch’s ‘Blackwaterside’.

Bert Jansch – Blackwaterside – Live on Norwegian TV in 1973

18. Laurence Juber

Following a long stint in Paul McCartney’s Wings, fingerpicker extraordinaire Laurence Juber has gone on to carve out a successful career, not only as an in-demand session musician but playing his amazing solo arrangements of some of the most popular tunes from the ’60s onwards, including The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.

His ability to simultaneously cover the melody, chordal movement, and bass lines to all-time classics such as ‘Day Tripper’, ‘Little Wing’, and ‘I am the Walrus’ is simply astonishing and well worth checking out if you are unaware of his work.Laurence Juber – I Am The Walrus – Live in Chicago, 2012

19. Adrian Legg

Fingerstyle virtuoso Adrian Legg’s ability simply defies categorization, from banjo rolls to pedal steel style bends, to playing melodies by adjusting the tuning machines, he uses whatever is needed to fill his hypnotic compositions with eye-watering technique as well as deep emotion.

His legendary status led him to be invited onto the traveling guitar circus, the G3 tour, alongside electric maestros Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai. He is the only predominantly acoustic player to ever be part of the long-running tour. To quote Satriani, “He’s simply the best acoustic guitar player I’ve ever heard. I don’t know anyone else who can create such a cascade of beautiful notes”.

Adrian Legg – Cajun Interlude – Live

20. Richard Thompson

Also known as a highly accomplished electric player, Richard excels on his lightly-strung signature acoustic. He plays it with the ease of playing a well-set up electric which allows his distinctive bending technique to let his love of mixing Celtic folk, blues, country, jazz, and 20th-century classical shine through.

He is well known for his amazing independence of thumb and fingers making a single player sound like two, quite astonishing!

Richard Thompson – Live at Cambridge Folk Festival 2011

21. – Kaki King

I’ll finish off my list with someone who is a lot younger than most of my selections, Kaki King. Shooting to fame when she won the Guitar Players Best Acoustic Guitarist award in 2013, Kaki has now been thrilling worldwide audiences with her other-worldly two-handed tapping skills for over a decade. She continues to push both her musicality and performance skills as well as composing music for movies and being an equally talented multimedia artist.

Kaki King – Playing With Pink Noise – Live on Letterman

Wrapping it Up

And that brings me to the end of my selection. As I mentioned, any list of this type has to be subjective and there is a lot of personal opinion involved in terms of who I included and who I left out. I do hope you agree with most of my choices, I also hope that you have discovered some guitarists you may not have heard of before, or only know their names, which you can now explore further to find more of their phenomenal repertoire.