Ranked: Best Guitarists of All-Time

Ry Cooder

Ry Cooder somehow blended archaic basics with experimental passion which created some sort of American folk bluesy sound. Playing as a sideman to Randy Newman, The Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton, he brought grit and emotional depth that simultaneously preserved fundamentals and made the sound fresh for the modern listener. Many modern sounds owe their caps to Cooder.

Cooder’s playing was so exquisite that even musicians like Bob Dylan wanted guitar lesson from him. “Memo from Turner” and “Boomer’s Story” both encapsulate Cooder’s classic yet passionate playing.