10 Greatest Hard Rock Guitarists Of The '90s

In the grand scheme of things, Jerry Cantrell is not necessarily the best guitarist in the world. While he has his moments, his technique in comparison to people like Steve Vai or Paul Gilbert is a bit lacking. On the other hand, Cantrell's time is Alice in Chains is the perfect example of serving the song.

As opposed to making every song a showcase for his technique, Cantrell's approach to the song always aimed to put the listener in a dizzying headspace rather than beating you over the head with complex runs. Though it might not have been the most difficult thing in the world, it's impossible to forget the ominous tones of "Rooster" coming in or the midtempo crunch of "Man in the Box."

By perfecting his style, Cantrell even found ways to sneak more complex sections by the listener, like the weird 7/4 rhythm of "Them Bones" or the intense legato run that closes out the acoustic cut "Nutshell." Combined with Layne Staley's shout, Cantrell also created some of the most beautiful vocal harmonies to round out each song the band put out. Even if Cantrell's strongsuit wasn't grandstanding, the understated approach he brought to the guitar has ironically made for some of the greatest six-string moments of the '90s.