Jeff Beck died Tuesday of bacterial meningitis, his representatives said.
Where it happened is unclear.
As a member of the classic British rock group The Yardbirds, he established a reputation as a virtuoso and eventually came to be regarded as the "guitarist's guitarist".
His playing style was characterized by extensive use of the tremolo arm and overtones on the instrument so strongly associated with him – a Fender Stratocaster.
Took over from Clapton
In 1965 he took over from Eric Clapton in The Yardbirds.
The following year he played with Jimmy Page in the band, but left the same year.
"The six-string warrior is no longer here for us to admire the spell he could play around our mortal emotions," writes Jimmy Page on Instagram.
“Jeff could channel music from the ethereal.
His technique unique, his imagination apparently limitless," continues the Led Zeppelin guitarist.
During Jeff Beck's time, The Yardbirds released singles such as "Heart Full of Soul", "I'm a Man" and "Shapes of Things".
During his long solo career, Jeff Beck moved freely between hard rock, jazz, funky blues and rock 'n' roll.
His influence cannot be overestimated.
He won eight Grammys and was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, for The Yardbirds in 1992 and as a solo artist in 2009.
Rolling Stone magazine has ranked him as the fifth greatest guitarist of all time.
Played with Depp
“Jeff was such a nice person and an outstanding, iconic, genius guitar player.
There will never be another Jeff Beck," writes Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi on Twitter.
“With the death of Jeff Beck, we have lost a wonderful man and one of the best guitar players in the world.
We will all miss him so much," tweeted Mick Jagger.
This summer, Jeff Beck played at the Annexet in Stockholm together with Hollywood star Johnny Depp.
Geoffrey Arnold Beck was born in Surrey, England.
Like so many other later famous British musicians, he went to art school in the early 60s.
Jeff Beck is survived by his wife Sandra Cash.