10 Best Hard Rock Guitarists Of All Time

Any major event in rock history can be traced back to the '60s. While the actual birth of rock and roll took place with the arrival of Chuck Berry and Little Richard back in the '50s, the next decade was where the genre came into its own as a real art form, with one major innovation happening almost every other week. Though the guitar was still at the forefront of the action, Jimi Hendrix came to sweep away any of the competition.

Even though Hendrix's influences were still indebted to the blues, his way with his instrument was so natural that it ended up writing the blueprint for rock guitar.

Aside from the typical blues licks he would sprinkle in, Hendrix's effects were pivotal in shaping future players, whether it was employing dive bombs during his rendition of the National Anthem to the deliberate use of feedback and distortion used throughout his studio records.

Though there were a lot of technical innovations Hendrix brought to the guitar, the real power was all in his hands, complete with some of the most unique chops of any other guitar player on the scene. Most guitarists have to really hone their craft to get that good, but the way Hendrix locked in with the Experience made the whole thing look easy.

Before Hendrix, the guitar was one of the key elements of rock and roll. After Hendrix, guitar was the only thing that mattered.