Back when I was doing the Amped Up! podcast, I talked about 50 of my favorite guitar players for the 50th episode of the show, and why they were so influential. I wanted to bring back that list today, and share 50 songs you should check out - 1 for each guitarist. Be on the lookout for an “honorable mentions” post, as I couldn’t bring myself to stop at just 50!
- James Hetfield - “Wherever I May Roam” (YouTube)
- Kirk Hammett - “King Nothing” (YouTube)
- Greg Koch - “Welchz Grape” (YouTube)
- Steve Vai - “The Riddle” (YouTube)
- Joe Satriani - “Time” (YouTube)
- Jimmy Page - “Immigrant Song” (YouTube)
- The Edge - “Even Better Than The Real Thing” (YouTube)
- Jack White - “Hang You From The Heavens” (YouTube)
- Derek Trucks - “Old Friend” (YouTube)
- Warren Haynes - “Snatch It Back And Hold It” (YouTube)
- Chet Atkins - “Mr. Sandman” (YouTube)
- Tommy Emmanuel - “Classical Gas” (YouTube)
- Tosin Abasi - “Physical Education” (YouTube)
- Plini - “Handmade Cities” (YouTube)
- St. Vincent - “Birth In Reverse” (YouTube)
- Gretchen Menn - “Minor Swing” (YouTube)
- Mike Einziger - “Are You In?” (YouTube)
- Stephen Carpenter - “Change (In The House of Flies)” (YouTube)
- Dave Matthews - “Seven” (YouTube)
- John Mayer - “Clarity” (YouTube)
- Jimi Hendrix - “All Along The Watchtower” (YouTube)
- Stevie Ray Vaughan - “Lenny” (YouTube)
- Jason Becker - “Valley of Fire” (YouTube)
- Eddie Van Halen - “Poundcake” (YouTube)
- John Petrucci - “Glasgow Kiss” (YouTube)
- Yngwie Malmsteen - “Trilogy Suite Op: 5” (YouTube)
- Guthrie Govan - “I Want A Parrot” (YouTube)
- Dave Mustaine - “Sweating Bullets” (YouTube)
- Marty Friedman - “Whiteworm” (YouTube)
- Buckethead - “The Ballad of Buckethead” (YouTube)
- Mattias IA Eklundh - “Dark Matter” (YouTube)
- Frank Zappa - “Joe’s Garage” (YouTube)
- B.B. King - “How Blue Can You Get” (YouTube)
- Albert King - “Born Under A Bad Sign” (YouTube)
- Buddy Guy - “Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues” (YouTube)
- Kaki King - “Goby” (YouTube)
- Prince - “Musicology” (YouTube)
- Dean DeLeo - “Wicked Garden” (YouTube)
- Chris Cornell / Kim Thayil - “The Day I Tried To Live” (YouTube)
- Slash - “Beggars & Hangers On” (YouTube)
- Jerry Cantrell - “I Stay Away” (YouTube)
- Ian Thornley - “The Oaf” (YouTube)
- Zakk Wylde - “Trampled Down Below” (YouTube)
- Dimebag Darrell - “5 Minutes Alone” (YouTube)
- Paul Gilbert - “Argument About Pie” (YouTube)
- Trey Anastasio - “Down With Disease” (YouTube)
- John Frusciante - “Suck My Kiss” (YouTube)
- John 5 - “Zoinks!” (YouTube)
- Allan Holdsworth - “Looking Glass” (YouTube)
- Brad Paisley - “Cluster Pluck” (YouTube)