There have been so many pioneers in the world of guitar, it would be impossible to list them all here. We have complied a short list for your reading pleasure. Currently we are featuring the following:
Stevie Ray Vaughan was perhaps the greatest blues rock guitarist who ever lived. He has inspired millions of guitarists to revisit the blues. Johnny Winter (the tattooed man) and his non-stop over the top playing is a favorite among hardcore blues fanatics and shredders alike.
Shredders, guitar virtuosos, neo-classical technicians, or whatever name you like. Just crank up the distortion and rip those harmonic minor arpeggios. Yngwie J. Malmsteen (not to be confused with all the other Yngwie Malmsteen's out there) hails from Sweden. His Rising Force album started a surge in the neo-classical arena, and introduced a slew of young rockers to the great composer Nicolo Paganini. Paul Gilbert (with RacerX) introduced new possibilities with alternate picking to the enth degree.
There is perhaps no greater influence on rock guitarists than Eddie van Halen. His flawless virtuosity, whammy-bar trickery, and out-of-the-box rhythm guitar puts him at the top of the list.