Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Tiny Dancer
  • Browser DAWs
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Restring your guitar
  1. Artists
  2. Guitarists

The 20 Greatest Metal Guitarists Ever

News
By Matthew Parker
Published 18 March 2011

As voted by you, the TG reader

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah)

Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah)

Over 68,000 of you voted and the results of our Greatest Metal Guitarist Ever Poll are now in. There are a few surprises in here to say the least, but the public have spoken and, in this case at least, the public gets what the public wants!

  • Embrace the heavy with our guide to the best metal guitars

Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah)

Proportion of vote: 0.48%

Essential listening: 'Bleed'

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

Next: Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind) >>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 1 of 20
Page 1 of 20
Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind)

Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind)

Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind)

Proportion of vote: 0.51%

Essential listening: 'Let Me Hear You Scream'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 2 of 20
Page 2 of 20
Kerry King (Slayer)

Kerry King (Slayer)

Kerry King (Slayer)

Proportion of vote: 0.66%

Essential listening: 'Raining Blood'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 3 of 20
Page 3 of 20
Marty Friedman (Megadeth)

Marty Friedman (Megadeth)

Marty Friedman (Megadeth)

Proportion of vote: 1.41%

Essential listening: 'Hangar 18'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 4 of 20
Page 4 of 20
Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)

Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)

Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)

Proportion of vote: 1.44%

Essential listening: 'Killing In The Name'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 5 of 20
Page 5 of 20
Michael Amott (Arch Enemy, Carcass)

Michael Amott (Arch Enemy, Carcass)

Michael Amott (Arch Enemy, Carcass)

Proportion of vote: 1.52%

Essential listening: 'Nemesis'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 6 of 20
Page 6 of 20
Yngwie Malmsteen

Yngwie Malmsteen

Yngwie Malmsteen

Proportion of vote: 1.81%

Essential listening: 'Far Beyond The Sun'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 7 of 20
Page 7 of 20
Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne)

Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne)

Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne)

Proportion of vote: 2.14%

Essential listening: 'Miracle Man'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 8 of 20
Page 8 of 20
Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)

Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)

Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)

Proportion of vote: 2.26%

Essential listening: 'The Trooper'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 9 of 20
Page 9 of 20
Daron Malakian (System Of A Down)

Daron Malakian (System Of A Down)

Daron Malakian (System Of A Down)

Proportion of vote: 2.43%

Essential listening: 'Toxicity'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 10 of 20
Page 10 of 20
Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)

Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)

Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)

Proportion of vote: 2.77%

Essential listening: 'Crazy Train'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 11 of 20
Page 11 of 20
Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)

Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)

Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)

Proportion of vote: 3.77%

Essential listening: 'Painkiller'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 12 of 20
Page 12 of 20
Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)

Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)

Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)

Proportion of vote: 4.13%

Essential listening: 'Iron Man', 'War Pigs', 'Paranoid'... We could go on...

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 13 of 20
Page 13 of 20
James Hetfield (Metallica)

James Hetfield (Metallica)

James Hetfield (Metallica)

Proportion of vote: 4.16%

Essential listening: 'Enter Sandman'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 14 of 20
Page 14 of 20
Mikael kerfeldt (Opeth)

Mikael kerfeldt (Opeth)

Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth)

Proportion of vote: 4.59%

Essential listening: 'Porcelain Heart'

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 15 of 20
Page 15 of 20
Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)

Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)

Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)

Proportion of vote: 5.90%Link

Essential listening: 'Walk'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 16 of 20
Page 16 of 20
Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge)

Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge)

Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge)

Proportion of vote: 7.26%

Essential listening: 'Blackbird'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 17 of 20
Page 17 of 20
Mick Thomson (Slipknot)

Mick Thomson (Slipknot)

Mick Thomson (Slipknot)

Proportion of vote: 10.11%

Essential listening: 'Spit It Out'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 18 of 20
Page 18 of 20
John Petrucci (Dream Theater)

John Petrucci (Dream Theater)

John Petrucci (Dream Theater)

Proportion of vote: 20.94%

Essential listening: 'Pull Me Under'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 19 of 20
Page 19 of 20
Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom)

Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom)

Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom)

Proportion of vote: 21.73%

Essential listening: 'Needled 24/7'

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 20 of 20
Page 20 of 20
TOPICS
metallica tony-iommi
CATEGORIES
Guitars
Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker

Matt is a freelance journalist who has spent the last decade interviewing musicians for the likes of Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, MusicRadar, NME.com, DJ Mag and Electronic Sound. In 2020, he launched CreativeMoney.co.uk, which aims to share the ideas that make creative lifestyles more sustainable. He plays guitar, but should not be allowed near your delay pedals.

Read more
Kirk Hammett of Metallica performs during the band's St. Anger tour
Guitars “These songs are played a lot. They’re often not played well”: Guitar Center reveal the Top Ten riffs played at their stores
 
 
Matteo Mancuso plays his Yamaha Revstar onstage in Milan, 2026.
Artists Has Matteo Mancuso arrived as world’s greatest player?
 
 
Jackson Pro Plus Pure Metal Kelly
Electric Guitars “Everything a headbanger could want from a metal guitar – just as long as you don’t need a neck pickup”: Jackson Pro Plus Pure Metal KE1A Kelly review
 
 
Artists “I spent hours in the studio on this one song. I probably spent $10,000 trying to get it to work”
 
 
Nate Garrett of Spirit Adrift is pictured with his Les Paul
Artists Why an underground hero is calling time on one of 21st-century metal's greatest bands
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up June 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s epic guitar gear round-up: June ’26 edit, ft. EHX, PRS, Fender’s mega-launch and more
 
 
Latest in Guitarists
Jimi Hendrix in 1967
Artists “I think every guitarist tries to figure out how he did that”: The strange magic of Hendrix’s debut
 
 
Jimmy Eat World
Artists Jim Adkins and Zach Lind on the making of Jimmy Eat World’s Bleed American
 
 
Sophie Lloyd shreds on her signature Kiesel
Artists Sophie Lloyd pays tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne with a shred cover of Black Sabbath’s Paranoid
 
 
Ray Davies (left) and his brother Dave Davies, of The Kinks, at a soundcheck before a session for the BBC at the Playhouse Theatre, London, 7th September 1964.
Guitarists “I don’t know, but never say never": Dave Davies isn't ruling out a Kinks reunion
 
 
A Charvel Type 2 Tele headstock with an inset of the company's founder, the late Wayne Charvel, who died on 12 July
Guitars Remembering Wayne Charvel, visionary luthier and Superstrat pioneer
 
 
Pete Townshend with a freshly smashed Rickenbacker in 1966
Artists Pete Townshend on how Stevie Wonder's producer inspired him to smash guitars
 
 
Latest in News
George Michael
Artists Director Mike Christie tells us how his revelatory new Wham! film exposes a lot more than just a moment of cultural change…
 
 
moog
Analogue Synths inMusic donates extensive collection of over 4,400 items to Bob Moog Foundation Archives
 
 
Morrissey
Artists Previously unseen archive of pre-Smiths Morrissey correspondence heads to auction
 
 
dragonflies
Bands Dhani Harrison and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich form new band and unveil debut album plans
 
 
daydream plus
Bands Emo band release chiptune remix album on a NES cartridge
 
 
cs-80
Analogue Synths £400k Yamaha CS-80 claimed to have belonged to Vangelis goes up for sale on Reverb
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...