Knowledge Base

What Does C.G.P. Stand For in Guitar?

Learn the meaning of ‘CGP’ in the guitar world – the exclusive ‘Certified Guitar Player’ title created by Chet Atkins and who has earned it.

Jesse Paliotto

May 27, 2025 • 7 min read

Q: What is “C.G.P.” in the guitar world?
A: C.G.P. stands for “Certified Guitar Player.”

This is an honorary title created by the legendary guitarist Chet Atkins to recognize players who have made extraordinary contributions to the art of guitar playing. In other words, when you see “CGP” after a guitarist’s name, it means they are a Certified Guitar Player – an elite designation that only a handful of guitarists have ever received.

Chet Atkins came up with the C.G.P. title because he felt top-tier guitarists deserved an honor similar to a college degree. Universities award Ph.D.’s for academic work – so why not have a special award for a lifetime of guitar mastery? Atkins jokingly referred to “Certified Guitar Player” as the guitar world’s PhD. He personally bestowed the title on four of his peers during his lifetime, and after his death his family conferred one final C.G.P. to another. That’s a total of only five Certified Guitar Players in history. It’s often called the most exclusive “club” in guitar music – you can’t apply or test for it, you can only be honored by Chet Atkins (or his estate).

The Five Guitar Players Designated "C.G.P."

Chet Atkins reserved the Certified Guitar Player title for five guitarists who impressed him with their playing and contributions. Here are the five musicians who earned the C.G.P. designation and a bit about each:

1. Tommy Emmanuel (CGP)

Tommy Emmanual playing his signature acoustic guitar.

An Australian fingerstyle guitar virtuoso known for his electrifying acoustic performances. Tommy’s popularity surged via YouTube in the 2000s, but back in 1999 he received one of the greatest honors from his hero Chet Atkins: the title of Certified Guitar Player. Tommy Emmanuel proudly uses “CGP” with his name and often speaks about what it meant – he considered it like receiving a doctorate in guitar. (Fun fact: Tommy and Chet Atkins recorded together on the album The Day Finger Pickers Took Over the World, and Chet bestowed the title to him during that collaboration period.) If you’re inspired by Tommy’s playing, you can actually learn fingerstyle from the master himself – he offers lessons on TrueFire and other platforms, teaching his techniques step by step.

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2. John Knowles (CGP)

John Knowles, CGP, holding an acoustic guitar

John is an American fingerstyle guitarist and a long-time friend/collaborator of Chet Atkins. He has played with legendary pickers like Jerry Reed, Lenny Breau, and of course Tommy Emmanuel. Chet Atkins honored John Knowles with the C.G.P. title for his prowess in guitar arranging and teaching. In fact, John Knowles is known for his contributions to guitar education (he runs “Fingerstyle Quarterly,” providing tabs and arrangements for gig-ready tunes). He even co-wrote some tunes with Chet. As a C.G.P., John carries on Atkins’ legacy by helping others learn – you can find his “Fingerstyle Journals” lessons on TrueFire, sharing techniques of the greats.

3. Jerry Reed

Black and white photo of Jerry Reed, CGP

The late Jerry Reed was not only a country guitar wizard but also a singer and actor (you might remember him from the movie “Smokey and the Bandit”). Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed were close friends and picking partners – they even recorded albums together. Chet admired Jerry’s innovative playing (Jerry’s song “The Claw” is a thumbpicking classic) and honored him with the Certified Guitar Player title. Jerry Reed’s style blended country, bluegrass, and folk, and he influenced countless guitarists. While Jerry didn’t create guitar lesson courses himself (he passed away in 2008), his fingerstyle techniques are taught by others – for example, TrueFire has a course covering Travis picking, Atkins-style, and Reed licks for those who want to emulate that CGP magic

4. Steve Wariner

Steve Wariner, CGP playing acoustic guitar on stage

Steve Wariner is a renowned country guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He’s won multiple Grammy and CMA awards and notched several country hits in the 1980s and 90s. Steve was a protege of Chet Atkins – Chet signed him to RCA and produced his early records. In 1997, Chet Atkins bestowed the C.G.P. title on Steve Wariner, recognizing his all-around guitar mastery. This made Steve one of the very select few to have “Certified Guitar Player” attached to his name. Steve continues to tour and record; he’s equally skilled at fingerstyle acoustic and slick electric guitar work. Fans can check out Steve’s YouTube channel for some of his guitar tips and performances, and he’s produced a couple of instructional DVDs over the years for those wanting to learn his techniques

5. Paul Yandell

Paul Yandell, CGP, sitting on a stool on stage playing guitar

Paul Yandell was Chet Atkins’ right-hand man – he played as Chet’s sideman in concerts for over 20 years. If anyone understood Chet’s style, it was Paul. After Chet Atkins’ death in 2001, no new CGP awards were supposed to be given (since Chet was the only one who could designate them). However, in 2011, Chet’s daughter Merle Atkins Russell decided to honor Paul Yandell with the last and final C.G.P. title. It was a way to acknowledge Paul’s tremendous contribution and his role in supporting Chet’s music. Paul Yandell humbly accepted, effectively closing the book on the CGP tradition – he was the last Certified Guitar Player to be named. Paul passed away later that year, making the timing of the honor even more meaningful as a capstone to his legacy

(Note: Chet Atkins himself used “c.g.p.” after his name in later years, but it was an informal use since he originated the term for fun. Also, “C.G.P.” is the title of a 1988 Chet Atkins albummedium.com – he humorously bestowed the title upon himself on that record.)

Why “Certified Guitar Player” Matters

The C.G.P. title isn’t an academic degree or a certification by any institution – it was simply Chet Atkins’ personal way of paying homage to the best-of-the-best in fingerstyle guitar. Think of it as Chet’s Hall of Fame: if he called you a Certified Guitar Player, it meant you had earned his utmost respect as a guitarist. This resonates in the guitar community; modern players like Tommy Emmanuel often append “CGP” to their name with pride, and fans immediately recognize it as a stamp of Chet Atkins approval. It’s a bit of guitar folklore that doubles as an exclusive honor.

Learn From the Best (Resources)

If learning fingerstyle guitar or Atkins-style picking appeals to you, why not get guidance from the masters themselves? Tommy Emmanuel, for example, has a number of online courses where he teaches his techniques (such as Fingerstyle Milestones, Fingerstyle Breakthroughs, and more). These lessons give you a firsthand look at how a CGP approaches the guitar – basically, learn from a Jedi Master of fingerpicking. Similarly, John Knowles publishes periodic lessons, and Steve Wariner has shared insights in videos and books. Exploring these can deepen your understanding of why these players earned the “Certified Guitar Player” title.

(Links: You can find Tommy Emmanuel’s courses on TrueFire, Steve Wariner’s lessons on YouTube and in instructionals, and John Knowles’ teachings via his website. For Jerry Reed, check out tutorials that break down his famous tunes like “East Bound and Down” or “The Claw.”)

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Frequently Asked Questions about C.G.P.

Q: What does “C.G.P.” stand for?
A: “C.G.P.” stands for Certified Guitar Player – an honorary title created by Chet Atkins to recognize outstanding guitarists. It’s not an official degree, but a personal accolade Atkins gave to only five individuals.
Q: Who are the Certified Guitar Players?
A: The five guitarists who earned the C.G.P. title are Tommy Emmanuel, John Knowles, Jerry Reed, Steve Wariner, and Paul Yandell. Chet Atkins honored four of them during his life, and his daughter posthumously honored Paul Yandell to complete the list. No other guitarist has this title.
Q: Why did Chet Atkins create the C.G.P. designation?
A: Chet Atkins wanted to acknowledge guitar players who “excelled far beyond the normal line of playing” – essentially, players who contributed so much to guitar music that they deserved special recognition. He felt that if universities award doctorates for music, he could award a “Certified Guitar Player” to virtuosos in guitar picking. It was his way of thanking and celebrating those musicians.
Q: Is “Certified Guitar Player” an official certification or just a nickname?
A: It’s essentially a nickname/honor bestowed by Chet Atkins. There’s no exam or institution issuing “CGP” titles. It’s a bit like a lifetime achievement award. That said, those who have it do use the title publicly (for example, Tommy Emmanuel often bills himself as “Tommy Emmanuel, CGP”). It carries prestige in the guitar community, even if it’s informal.
Q: Does “CGP” have other meanings?
A: In other contexts, yes – CGP can mean many things (for example, it’s an acronym for a book publisher, or slang like “Certain Guitar Player” as a joke, even “Certified Golf Professional” in sports). But in the realm of guitar, if someone asks “What is CGP?” they almost always mean Certified Guitar Player as coined by Chet Atkins. That’s by far the most famous usage in music circles.