Modern music, particularly modern worship music, is greatly influenced by the electric guitar. Whether it's perfect tone, perfect parts, or just a perfectly placed shred that spices up an otherwise run of the mill song, great guitar parts, and great guitar playing are integral parts of some of our favorite songs.

Here are nine guitarists that are shaping the sound of today's Christian music!

Lincoln Brewster 
"Today Is Day." "Miraculum." This video. Nearly setting the stage on fire with that Strat every time he plays. Need we say more?
 
Seth Morrison (Skillet)
Jacob Seth Morrison is the lead guitarist for Skillet. He joined the band in April 2011 after Ben Kasica and Jonathan Salas left the band. His fingerprints are on every one of Skillet's hits and is always a pleasure to watch live.
 
James Duke (Elevation, John Mark McMillian, Matt Redman, Jason Upton)
Duke's playing and tone are all over much of the most popular songs of the past five years, and he plays a sweet signature Elliot 357 to top it off.
 
Daniel Carson (Chris Tomlin)
Chris Tomlin's long time (as in, from when he was a teenager) guitarist has written almost every memorable guitar line on any Tomlin album and is a true pursuer of great tone.
 
Michael Pope (Bethel Music)
Pope is responsible for most of the recent memorable Bethel music guitar parts, and his tone and playing has had massive influence on praise and worship over the past five years.
 
Steven Curtis Chapman
One of the fathers of modern Christian music, there is great guitar playing (the he tracks all of) all over his albums, and his acoustic guitar playing must be seen in concert to be believed.
 
Drew Shirley (Switchfoot)
Switchfoot's lead guitar player from Nothing Is Sound on, Drew's tone is legendary among guitarists, and he excels in nailing the parts live. Together with front man Jon Foreman, Swithfoot's guitars in a live setting are not to be missed.
 
Nigel Hendroff (Hillsong)
The author of some of the most iconic lead parts in modern worship music ('From The Inside Out,' Mighty To Save,' and 'Hosanna' to name 3), 'the Droff' has been influencing guitarists all over praise and worship music for decades.
 
Stu G (Delirious)
Just as Delirious is synonymous with the modern worship movement, Stu G is synonymous with playing lead guitar in a worship setting. He was a founding member of one of the most influential Christian bands of the past 20 years, and his playing continues to influence Christian music today.
 
Phil Keaggy
The guitarist who some would call the best acoustic player alive, his technical skills are some of the best of any recent guitarist in any genre of music.