Top 50 Rock Pianists & Keyboardists
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2026 10:20 pm
The Music Grid's 50 Greatest Rock Pianists/Keyboardists!
Based on a blended criteria of technical ability, creativity, diversity, popularity, influence, innovation and my own bit of bias
Let the debate begin!
1. Rick Wakeman (Yes / David Bowie)
2. Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer / The Nice)
3. Jon Lord (Deep Purple)
4. Elton John
5. Ray Manzarek (The Doors)
6. Billy Joel
7. Freddie Mercury (Queen)
8. Nicky Hopkins (The Rolling Stones / The Who / The Kinks)
9. Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater)
10. Richard Wright (Pink Floyd)
11. Tony Banks (Genesis)
12. Jerry Lee Lewis
13. Fats Domino
14. Little Richard
15. Leon Russell
16. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
17. Steve Winwood (Traffic / Blind Faith / Spencer Davis Group)
18. Ian Stewart (The Rolling Stones)
19. Billy Preston (The Beatles / Billy Preston Band)
20. Roy Bittan (Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band)
21. Donald Fagen (Steely Dan)
22. Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac)
23. Gregg Allman (The Allman Brothers Band)
24. Jools Holland (Squeeze, solo)
25. Allen Toussaint
26. Garth Hudson (The Band)
27. Chuck Leavell (The Allman Brothers Band / The Rolling Stones)
28. Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
29. Jonathan Cain (Journey / Babys)
30. David Paich (Toto)
31. Steve Porcaro (Toto)
32. Alan Price (The Animals)
33. Rod Argent (The Zombies / Argent)
34. Matthew Fisher (Procol Harum)
35. Gary Brooker (Procol Harum)
36. Patrick Moraz (Yes / The Moody Blues)
37. Geoff Downes (Asia / Yes / The Buggles)
38. Tuomas Holopainen (Nightwish)
39. Jens Johansson (Stratovarius / Yngwie Malmsteen)
40. Vitalij Kuprij (Artension / Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
41. Kevin Moore (Dream Theater / Chroma Key)
42. Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater / Black Country Communion)
43. Geddy Lee (Rush)
44. Tony Carey (Rainbow)
45. Don Airey (Deep Purple / Rainbow / Ozzy Osbourne)
46. Dizzy Reed (Guns N' Roses)
47. David Bryan (Bon Jovi)
48. Mike Garson (David Bowie)
49. Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails)
50. Michael McDonald (The Doobie Brothers
Based on a blended criteria of technical ability, creativity, diversity, popularity, influence, innovation and my own bit of bias
Let the debate begin!1. Rick Wakeman (Yes / David Bowie)
2. Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer / The Nice)
3. Jon Lord (Deep Purple)
4. Elton John
5. Ray Manzarek (The Doors)
6. Billy Joel
7. Freddie Mercury (Queen)
8. Nicky Hopkins (The Rolling Stones / The Who / The Kinks)
9. Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater)
10. Richard Wright (Pink Floyd)
11. Tony Banks (Genesis)
12. Jerry Lee Lewis
13. Fats Domino
14. Little Richard
15. Leon Russell
16. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
17. Steve Winwood (Traffic / Blind Faith / Spencer Davis Group)
18. Ian Stewart (The Rolling Stones)
19. Billy Preston (The Beatles / Billy Preston Band)
20. Roy Bittan (Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band)
21. Donald Fagen (Steely Dan)
22. Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac)
23. Gregg Allman (The Allman Brothers Band)
24. Jools Holland (Squeeze, solo)
25. Allen Toussaint
26. Garth Hudson (The Band)
27. Chuck Leavell (The Allman Brothers Band / The Rolling Stones)
28. Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
29. Jonathan Cain (Journey / Babys)
30. David Paich (Toto)
31. Steve Porcaro (Toto)
32. Alan Price (The Animals)
33. Rod Argent (The Zombies / Argent)
34. Matthew Fisher (Procol Harum)
35. Gary Brooker (Procol Harum)
36. Patrick Moraz (Yes / The Moody Blues)
37. Geoff Downes (Asia / Yes / The Buggles)
38. Tuomas Holopainen (Nightwish)
39. Jens Johansson (Stratovarius / Yngwie Malmsteen)
40. Vitalij Kuprij (Artension / Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
41. Kevin Moore (Dream Theater / Chroma Key)
42. Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater / Black Country Communion)
43. Geddy Lee (Rush)
44. Tony Carey (Rainbow)
45. Don Airey (Deep Purple / Rainbow / Ozzy Osbourne)
46. Dizzy Reed (Guns N' Roses)
47. David Bryan (Bon Jovi)
48. Mike Garson (David Bowie)
49. Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails)
50. Michael McDonald (The Doobie Brothers