Jimi Hendrix and 19 other great guitarists of our time

November 27, 1942 was born Jimi Hendrix - the best guitarist in the history of rock music, called a genius during his lifetime. In our today's selection - the most successful and great guitarists who have made an invaluable contribution to the development of different styles of music.

(Total 20 photos)

1. Jimi Hendrix.

It's not that Hendrix was more advanced in terms of guitar playing than his contemporaries. The fact is that he did everything more naturally. He was a creative person, as if he did not make any effort in his work. Hendrix himself personified the music he played. (Rex)

2. Keith Richards.

There's a reason people are willing to go to great lengths to watch Richards play. Of course, this guitarist is no longer at the peak of his powers, but this is definitely a person who created a lot of amazing and diverse songs and melodies. His guitar playing has always been innovative, and his use of ever-changing approaches has always been at the heart of the Rolling Stones' sonic sound.

3. B.B. King.

Riley B King from the American town of Indianola, Mississippi, plunged into the blues almost from birth. His minimalist style and pure musical "narrative" have influenced generations of guitarists. Now 87, he is still the king of the blues and plays about 100 shows a year. (AFP/Getty)

4. Eddie Van Halen.

Van Halen's skill comes in part from how he plays the guitar. He mastered the tapping technique to perfection and even improved it. He is now 55 and continues to tour.

5. Django Reinhardt.

Perhaps this is the first major European jazz musician who played "jumping". Reinhardt's original style has become a musical tradition in French Gypsy culture. It is known that Reinhardt played all his guitar solos with two fingers, after he damaged two other fingers on his hand in a fire. (Roger - Viollet / Rex Features)

6. Mark Knopfler.

One of the most respected fingerpicking guitarists of his generation. Knopfler's precision and melodiousness greatly slowed down the evolution of the punk scene in the late 70s. (Getty Images)

7. Robert Johnson.

There's a good reason that every article about Robert Johnson is accompanied by the same iconic photograph of him, because only two portraits of this blues musician have survived. Johnson spent most of his life outside of commercial success, playing on the streets or in diners, but he remains arguably one of the most pivotal blues musicians in history.

8. Stevie Ray Vaughn

Stevie Ray Vaughn (right) left school at 17 and immersed himself in the world of music, working with blues musicians like Albert King and Muddy Waters, as well as rock musicians like Lonnie Mac and his idol Jimi Hendrix. Vaughn developed his own original style with a distinctive bold sound and enjoyed a successful musical career with the group Double Trouble for seven years. Tragically, Vaughn died in a helicopter crash in Wisconsin. (Rex Features)

9. Ry Cooder.

Charismatic, versatile and extraordinary musician. He is best known for his starring role in the Buena Vista Club. Cooder started out as a teenager and a promising blues musician, and to this day remains famous for his exquisite "glide" while playing the guitar. (Karen Miller)

10 Lonnie Johnson

An innovator in the field of jazz guitar and guitar solo on the same string. Johnson had a fairly successful commercial career. He is one of the few guitarists who can claim to have laid the foundation for blues and rock, and his influence has left a mark on the work of almost every electric blues guitarist who was born after him. (Rex Features)

11. Carlos Santana.

The "glassy" tone of Santana's guitar playing is recognizable as soon as he appears in the song. And this can not be said about all the musicians who are represented in this list. Santana's characteristic fusion of Latin rhythms, blues and jazz has become almost a cult, and his dizzyingly colorful outfits and a 65-year (!) career have deservedly led him to 10 Grammy awards and three Latin Grammy awards. (AP)

12. Jimmy Page.

The guitarist of Led Zeppelin became one of the best "set the rhythm" of all time. However, he is also one of the greatest composers and producers in the world of rock. With such an extensive array of songs, solos and rhythms, Page easily became one of the titans of the industry.

13. Paco de Lucia.

Definitely the greatest of all living representatives of flamenco on the guitar. De Lucia is an incredibly technical and talented guitarist. His work with John McLaughlin and Larry Coriel resulted in one of the most exciting albums ever written in the world of guitar music.

14. Eric Clapton.

The only three-time winner of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Clapton revolutionized guitar playing and became one of the most respected and influential musical figures in the rock era. His style has changed over time, but he's always stuck to his blues roots.

15. Brian May.

The Commander of the Order of the British Empire is also a rock legend. His guitar playing is a real theatrical performance, and the list of Queen hits to which he had a hand is truly impressive. (Rex Features)

16. Chet Atkins.

Atkins mastered a huge number of styles - from country to jazz and classical. He developed his own 4-finger guitar style to play both melody and chords at the same time. He resurrected country music with a Nashville sound that is now integral to the musician's personality. (AP)

17. Slash.

The guitarist for Guns N' Roses wrote some of the most memorable tunes of all time, and his solos - on songs like "November Rain", "Sweet Child o' Mine" and more - have made history. Maybe Guns N' Roses are trying to replicate the success of their first album, but Slash's playing has always been successful. (AFP)

18. Chuck Berry.

Berry is best known for his formative rhythms and blues. As a result, he served as an inspiration for artists such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. As a guitarist, Chuck Berry was economical and clean, but as a showman, he was bright and witty.

19. David Gilmour.

Gilmour's elegant solos, sometimes dreamy, sometimes melodic, became the foundation of Pink Floyd's music. His solos in the compositions "Comfortably Numb", "Time and Money" forever settled in the soul of many music lovers. He managed to create a sound that can not be confused with anything.

20. Jeff Beck.

Like Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, Beck is one of three famous guitarists who played with The Yardbirds. For this, he entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and then he entered there again thanks to his solo activities. The 68-year-old guitarist has produced some of the most breathtaking and mind-blowing guitar melodies in recent music history. And although he is no longer as commercially successful as many of his contemporaries, his influence in the music world cannot be underestimated.