Chet Atkins | Bob Dylan | Michael Hedges | Robert Johnson | Paco De Lucia
There’s a significant difference between “the best” and “the most influential” guitarists.
Take Tommy Emmanuel, for instance—he could easily be ranked #1 on a “best of” list, and few would argue. However, I might share that top spot with Bob Brozman, Django Reinhardt, and Michael Hedges.
But really, what does “best” even mean? It’s subjective. So, instead of getting lost in this debate, let’s shift our focus to “influential” and consider who truly shaped the acoustic guitar world.
For brevity, we’ll limit this list to just five of the most influential acoustic guitar players.
Robert Johnson – The original
Robert Johnson could easily claim the #1 or #5 spot on the most influential list—it’s up to you to decide.
The legend has it that he sold his soul to the devil, gained extraordinary guitar skills, and left behind a catalogue of blues songs still being played today. While there may have been other musicians of his time with similar talents, what truly set Johnson apart was that he recorded his music.
Did he write all those songs? Perhaps—probably—maybe not— who knows? What matters is that he recorded them, earning him the title of the original.
If it’s been a while since you’ve listened to him, take a moment to hear his timeless performance of Little Queen of Spades above.
Who did he influence?
Eric Clapton is undoubtedly one of Johnson’s biggest fans and perhaps his finest interpreter. Clapton even released Me and Mr. Johnson in 2004, a tribute to the blues legend. Over a decade earlier, Clapton performed Malted Milk on his Unplugged album—one of my all-time favourite performances.
Paco De Lucia – The Legend in the World of Flamenco Guitar
Ask anyone on the street to name a flamenco guitar player, and Paco de Lucia’s name will likely come up more than most.
Flamenco guitar is a unique world in its own right, with distinct techniques, a rich musical language, and even dance movements. This genre has endured due to the passion of its practitioners, its strong cultural heritage, and, of course, its stars. Paco de Lucia is the figure who has carried the flamenco guitar tradition into the global spotlight.
He may not always be considered “the best” by flamenco experts, but his name is known worldwide, making him the most influential flamenco guitarist in modern history.
For me, Paco’s crowning achievement came when he performed with John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola. Above, you can listen to their legendary performance of Mediterranean Sundance.
Who did he influence?
Anyone who has ever tried their hand at flamenco guitar? Undoubtedly.
Chet Atkins – Master of His Signature Style
While Chet Atkins is best known for his acoustic guitar playing, he wasn’t limited to just that. He also played semi-acoustic electric guitars, mandolin, banjo, and ukulele.
Raised in a home without electricity, Chet spent much of his early years playing his semi-acoustic guitar acoustically. It was during this period that he developed his distinctive fingerpicking style.
Atkins’s primary influence was Merle Travis, whom he heard on the radio. Travis played with two fingers, but Chet, in an era without YouTube tutorials, unwittingly created a new fingerstyle technique by mimicking Travis’s licks by ear, using three fingers instead.
But Chet Atkins was more than just a brilliant guitar player. He is credited with inventing the Nashville sound while working as a record producer for RCA. Can anyone be more influential than that?
Above, you can enjoy There’ll Be Some Changes Made, a track from an album he later recorded with Mark Knopfler.
Who did he influence?
Mark Knopfler, Tommy Emmanuel, the shift in country music towards The Nashville Sound, Albert Lee, and many other electric country guitarists who followed Chet’s footsteps after his rise to prominence in the late ’40s.
Michael Hedges – Contemporary Composer for Acoustic Guitar
Michael Hedges himself famously said he wasn’t particularly interested in fancy guitar tricks. This may sound surprising, given the many unique techniques he developed throughout his career. However, Michael viewed himself primarily as a composer, with his innovative techniques emerging organically as part of his songwriting process.
I don’t know about you, but I believe him.
Above, you can listen to Ragamuffin, one of my favourite compositions of his, performed on his trusted Martin D28, affectionately named Barbara (due to its frequent use in so many bars).
Who did he influence?
Following in Michael Hedges’s footsteps, we find artists like Kaki King, Andy McKee, Jon Gomm, and virtually anyone signed to the Candyrat label.
Bob Dylan – The Songwriter Who Changed Music
How can Dylan possibly be on this list?
Best known for his songs and lyrics, Bob Dylan revolutionised pop music by writing about topics that truly mattered, far beyond the typical “boy loves girl” narrative. He performed these songs with nothing but an acoustic guitar, and the world followed suit.
Who did he influence?
Dylan inspired countless songwriters to pick up the acoustic guitar and begin writing meaningful, introspective songs. Can you be more influential than that? I don’t think so.
Top 5 Most Influential Acoustic Guitar Players
These are my top five, most influential acoustic guitar players:
- Robert Johnson
- Paco de Lucia
- Chet Atkins
- Michael Hedges
- Bob Dylan
Hang on… maybe it should be the other way around…
- Bob Dylan
- Michael Hedges
- Chet Atkins
- Paco de Lucia
- Robert Johnson
I’m not sure, either way, it’s a fine lineup!
Who is my biggest influence?
Perhaps it’s time to reveal my biggest influence. It’s an easy choice for me: Eric Clapton.
At the age of 15, I spent an entire summer with his Unplugged album on repeat, a TAB book, and an acoustic guitar in hand. Nothing shaped me more as a player.
I can’t believe I’ve been going on without mentioning Joni Mitchell—what she’s done for music in general and for women playing acoustic guitar, in particular. Oh well, I knew trying to fit five names on a list would backfire at some point…
Looks like I should go back to studying tunes instead of players. Maybe that’s something you should do as well?
2025 Update – Taylor Swift!
Last year, a big debate stirred in the guitar world after a guitar shop called guitarguitar conducted a survey, asking its customers who they were most influenced by.
The results came in, and Taylor Swift ranked in the top 10. The outrage online was palpable, as many interpreted this as implying that Taylor Swift was one of the best guitar players in the world.
This perfectly ties back to my initial statement: There’s a significant difference between “the best” and “the most influential” guitarists.
If you’re a teenage girl who grew up in the last decade, it makes perfect sense that Taylor Swift is your biggest influence. And since she plays guitar, that’s who you’re going to name.
The world’s aging guitar community can pull their hair out (if they have any left) all they like, but to me, this makes just as much sense as me listing Bob Dylan on this list, whether it’s at #1 or #5.
