10 Best Grunge Guitarists

10. J Mascis - Dinosaur Jr.

Long before grunge was a widely accessible term, most of the seeds of the genre could be found in alternative rock bands. While the bands from Seattle were still trying to handle their instruments, bands like the Pixies and Husker Du were laying the blueprint for what they would eventually become. Even though the alt boom of the ‘80s was its own entity, J Mascis certainly belongs in the grunge conversation.

During his time with Dinosaur Jr., Mascis became one of the best guitarists that no one was talking about. Though his parts were nothing too flashy, it always ended up suiting the more laid back rock and roll these guys would lay down. Whether the song was a punk song or a mellow jam, Mascis could really do it all, as he switched from high-speed runs to slow elongated notes with just the right balance of melody.

Dinosaur Jr. is not really mentioned within the confines of grunge, but you can bet most of the off-the-wall experiments coming from the Seattle bands wouldn’t have existed without him coming first. Sure, it’s a bit primitive, but it was time for a guitarist to get to the point instead of hitting you over the head with scales.