10 Best Classic Rock Guitarists
2. George Harrison
The Beatles are undisputably one of the most significant rock acts to come out of the 20th century. From innovative studio techniques to magnificent rock songwriting, every studio album that the Beatles created was pure rock and roll bliss.
Many people attribute the success of the band to the incredible songwriting team of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, but George Harrison was the one who brought a musical sophistication to each song. Across the band's career, Harrison's influences were very eclectic, ranging from rockabilly sounds in the early days to incorporating Indian scales in the band's later years.
Aside from the breakdown of Harrison's technique, the true power of Harrison was the way he would solo. The guitar pieces that Harrison would lay down on each Beatles song always had an incredibly emotive sound from the infatuation of "Something" to his brilliant use of slide guitar that could reduce listeners to tears. Even in Lennon/McCartney tunes, Harrison's guitar breaks would always steal the show by delivering an irresistible musical hook.
By taking the elements of old rock and roll, Harrison expanded his guitar playing to something beyond genre. Harrison's playing is some of the most lyrical guitar work in rock, with notes that symbolize every emotion of the human experience.