10 Best Hard Rock Guitarists Of All Time
5. James Hetfield - Metallica
Hard rock has always had an emphasis on some of the fastest soloing known to man. While the foundation of the tune comes down to the riff, most fans can't seem to get enough of those moments when the guitarist flies off the hinges to deliver a fast solo lick or a tapping run.
Despite having plenty of shredders throughout the scene, James Hetfield has proven himself to be one of the best guitarists without ever having to play a flashy solo.
As thrash metal started to find its footing, the downpicking that Hetfield would use across Metallica's catalog was central to the group's massive sound. Instead of the standard alternative picking riffs, these songs had the same spit of Black Sabbath combined with the speed and off-kilter attitude of the Ramones. Even though thousands of guitarists try to cover something like Creeping Death, you have to have nerves of steel if you want to actually play it correctly.
That's not to discount Hetfield's strengths as a melody writer either, with songs like Enter Sandman and even ballads like Welcome Home being some of the most beautiful hooks of the '80s. Thrash metal has gone in many different directions since its inception, but if you want to see where it all began, it comes down to James Hetfields' right hand.