[Western Music] A Compilation of the World’s Famous Hard Rock Guitarists
The music known as hard rock, which emerged in the late 1960s, is essentially a guitar-centric genre, and many great guitarists appeared who transformed the music scene that followed.
That said, some people might think, “I don’t really listen to music with a focus on the players…” This article provides a roundup of notable guitarists from the broader spectrum of hard rock.
These are all players who continue to influence modern rock, so even beginners to hard rock should definitely check them out.
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[Western Music] A roundup of the world’s famous hard rock guitarists (11–20)
Bohemian RhapsodyBrian May
When it comes to the Big Three of hard rock, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath are often cited, but in Japan, from the late 1970s onward, a new “Big Three” came to be known as KISS, Aerosmith, and Queen.
Queen is one of the most famous Western rock bands in Japan, so they hardly need an introduction.
Still, guitarist Brian May is a near-miraculous figure in the history of hard rock: a player who left countless brilliant performances, a great composer, and even an astrophysicist.
His trademark is the self-built guitar known as the Red Special, and its distinctive tone and vocal-like vibrato are truly “Brian May’s signature”—a one-of-a-kind sound.
The exquisitely layered guitar orchestrations—created by stacking multiple guitar parts—are especially remarkable on Queen’s early, hard rock–leaning works, so even those who only know the singles should definitely check them out.
Another hallmark is the guitar solos that stick in your ear as much as the vocal melodies, and that style was already fully formed on their debut single, Keep Yourself Alive.
Be sure to give it a listen!
Hells BellsAngus Young
Even people who’ve hardly ever listened to AC/DC have probably “seen it somewhere”: that schoolboy look with a blazer and short pants.
Angus Young, whose singular style no one else can truly imitate, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, raised in Sydney, Australia, and is AC/DC’s lead guitarist.
AC/DC is a flagship band of hard rock and one of the best-selling rock bands in history, with phenomenal sales that have left their mark on music history.
As the band’s de facto face, Angus has crafted numerous massive hits, wielding his Gibson SG to deliver aggressive riffs and solos built on pentatonic scales with a clear blues influence.
He rarely uses effects pedals, preferring a straight-into-the-amp setup that serves up the essence of hard rock.
His influence extends beyond music: in the 2003 film School of Rock, Jack Black delivers a passionate performance as a rock-loving teacher whose look is an unmistakable homage to Angus—definitely worth checking out.
Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little BoyPaul Gilbert
While hard-hitting yet catchy, this song’s theme reflects their affectionate stance toward music.
It embodies the idea that being merely technical doesn’t make good music.
That said, his technique remains among the finest, and the solos you hear in this track alone should be more than convincing.
Sweet child of mineSlash
The guitarist with the striking top hat and sunglasses—just that alone is enough to instantly recognize him as Slash.
As the guitarist of Guns N’ Roses he achieved worldwide success, and beyond his own projects he has guested on tracks by a wide range of artists as a solo guitarist.
His talent and technique are highly regarded by his peers.
Because he’s the guitarist of Guns, many imagine he’s from Los Angeles—and he did grow up there—but it may come as a surprise that he was actually born in London, England.
A guitar hero who has influenced players around the world, not only in hard rock, Slash is synonymous with those wistful, melodic guitar solos from a Gibson Les Paul and the countless iconic riffs that have gone down in rock history—his legacy as a guitarist is immeasurable.
In a metal scene of the 1980s filled with flashy guitar shapes, his emergence with an old-school hard-rock setup—Les Paul and Marshall, evocative of the ’60s and ’70s—now stands out as an epoch-making moment.
Sky OvertureUli Jon Roth
Uli Jon Roth, a master guitarist from Germany who is known in Japan as the “Guitar Sage” for his appearance, had a tremendous influence on Yngwie Malmsteen.
He joined the Scorpions—one of the most important bands in hard rock—at the young age of 19, and had already showcased his astonishing technique on the 1974 album Fly to the Rainbow.
He is also famous for inventing the “Sky Guitar,” designed to expand the guitar’s playable range with an extraordinary 32-fret specification.
Uli’s hallmark is his singing, elegant guitar phrasing, shaped by his exceptional playing ability, razor-precise picking, and a style influenced not only by Jimi Hendrix but also by violinists.
If you want to experience Uli’s unique brand of hard rock, start by checking out Fire Wind, the 1981 masterpiece by his band Electric Sun.