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Guitar Picks of the Stars

Guitar Picks of the Stars

See a sampling of picks used by famous guitarists over the years.

Allman Brothers Band - Warren Haynes & Oteil Burbridge
Yngwie J Malmsteen
Mastodon's Bill Kelliher
Deftones' Stephen Carpenter
Eric Johnson
The Who's Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend
Thin Lizzy's Vivian Campbell and Ricky Warwick
Slash
Queen's Brian May
Def Leppard's Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell
Grace Potter
Maroon 5's James Valentine
Fall Out Boy's Joe Trohman
Buddy Guy
Lynyrd Skynyrd's Gary Rossington
Dave Matthews
Brian Setzer
Trivium's Corey Beaulieu
Sting
Anthrax's Scott Ian
Rush's Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee
Eddie Van Halen
Aerosmith's Joe Perry
Night Ranger's  Joel Hoekstra
Slipknot's Mick Thomson
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Geezer Butler
Earl Slick (David Bowie)
Zakk Wylde
Ted Nugent
Sepultura
Greg Koch
AFI
Disturbed's Dan Donegan
Metallica's James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett
Slayer's Kerry King
John 5
Paul Gilbert
Velvet Revolver's Duff McKagan and Dave Kushner
Los Lonely Boys' Henry Garza
Megadeth's Dave Mustaine
The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach
Ritchie Blackmore (Blackmore's Night)
Megadeth's Dave Mustaine
The Cult's Billy Duffy
Kiss
Hoobastank
Exodus
ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons

Submit your own artist pick collections to rebecca@premierguitar.com for inclusion in a future gallery.

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Some names you’ve heard, others maybe not. But they all have a unique voice on the instrument.

Intermediate

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• Open your ears to new influences.

• Understand how to create interlocking rhythm parts.

• Develop a new appreciate for the rhythmic complexity of Wayne Krantz, the effortless bebop of BirĆ©li LagrĆØne, and the driving force that is David Williams.

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The guitar has been a major factor in so many styles of music over the last 70 years, and any experienced musician can tell you that playing any one of those styles with authenticity takes countless hours of dedication. As we learn the instrument, we seek out music that we find inspiring to help guide us toward our voice. The legends we all know in the guitar pantheon have inspired millions of players. In my musical journey over the years, I’ve always been thrilled to discover unique musicians who never attained the same recognition as their more famous counterparts. With so much music at our disposal these days, I thought this group of guitarists deserved a little more spotlight. The inspiration and knowledge they have provided me were paramount in my development, and I wouldn’t be the player I am without them.

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