So who are the most influential guitarists in the history of rock? Which guitar players have inspired others to learn and play the guitar the most? These 10 guitarists led the way motivating generations of people to rock!
Chuck Berry
Influenced Keith Richards/The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Jimmy Page
Chuck Berry was a groundbreaking megastar in the late 50s with hits including Maybelline, Roll Over Beethoven, Sweet Little Sixteen and of course Johnny B Goode. Chuck is famous for his “duck walk” and the use of double stops which he used most effectively in the intro for Johnny B Goode.
Keith Richards
Influenced Ronnie Wood/The Faces, The Black Crowes, Primal Scream, Slash & Izzy Stradlin of Guns n Roses, Joe Perry/Aerosmith
Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones has been playing the with band for over 40 years! In the late 60s he started experimenting with open string tunings finally settling on the open G tuning (D G D G B D tuned low to high) to create the distinctive 70s Rolling Stones sound that they still use today. Songs that use this tuning include Brown Sugar, Start Me Up and Honky Tonk Women.
George Harrison
Influenced just about everybody through his playing with the Beatles! Including the Byrds Roger McGuinn, Peter Frampton, Adrian Belew and of course bands like Oasis.
The biggest band of the 60s was the Beatles whose influence in song writing and guitar playing can still be heard today. As the Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison;s playing developed throughout their career while also dabbling in Indian sitar music on the way. His playing was often understated and made to suit the feel and style of the song rather than dominate with flashy fast notes etc. Later in the Beatles career he became quite a deft slide guitar player too.
Eric Clapton
Influenced Mick Taylor, Robert Cray , Peter Green, Duane Allman, Eddie Van Halen, Jason Becker, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Bonamassa
Eric Clapton was famously dubbed “God” by his fans in the 60s after the release of the John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers album featuring his playing. After leaving that band he went on to form Cream with Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker making him one of the most famous rock players of all time. Very blues influenced by players such as BB King and Buddy Guy he is the master of the pentatonic scale which he uses for most of his solos. 
Jimi Hendrix
Influenced Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin, Miles Davis (but not on guitar!), Ritchie Blackmore, Carlos Santana, Eddie Van Halen, 80s guitar rock, Eric Gales, Vernon Reid, Prince, Robin Trower, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Satriani and many more.
Jimi Hendrix was discovered by Chas Chandler (The Animals bassist) in New York in 1966 and was promptly flown to London where he formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience and set about changing the history of rock guitar. Like Clapton he was very blues influenced. However he took it to another level both live and in the studio using effects like feedback, the wah-wah pedal and the Fender Stratocaster whammy bar to create unique sounds on guitar that players have been emulating ever since.
Come back for 10 Most Influential Rock Guitarists – Part 2 which will be published shortly…
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While it is true that Chuck Berry influenced the Brits, Chuck lifted his licks from Carl Hogan and Goree Carter. Chuck was thoroughly unoriginal on the guitar.
Likely the three most influential guitarists are Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen and Johnny Thunders. After each of these guys hit, they gave rise to a slew of copycats. Hendrix gave rise to blues rock. Van Halen gave rise to tapping hair metal. Johnny Thunders gave rise to “punk.”
Before Hendrix, likely the most influential players were Danny Cedrone, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Roland Janes, Bo Diddley, Dick Dale, Duane Eddy, Link Wray and maybe Lonnie Mack.
Though Van Halen said he learned Clapton’s songs, that does not mean he was influenced by him. You hear nothing in Van Halen’s playing that sounds like Clapton.
George Harrison was hugely influenced by Carl Perkins.