Guitar Players Rank The Greatest Guitar Solos Of All Time, But Are They Right?

Guitar Player magazine is definitely one of the most well known and widely read guitar magazines, which absolutely gives them and their readership some cred when it comes to the subject of guitar. But does that mean that the readers of said 6-string rag know what they’re talking about when it comes to the best solos of all time?

No.

But I say that only because its impossible to rank guitar solos. First of all different people like different guitar playing, and there are so many ways to play and set of notes on a guitar that to claim one solo is the best is just ridiculous. Also what do you mean by solo? A stand alone guitar solo? A live solo in a concert that proves a musicians skills aren’t just studio magic? A solo in the middle of a song that elevates and lifts that song to whole new heights? You can rank guitar solos in as many ways as you can play them. Plus, calling something the “best” or “greatest” is merely an opinion anyway. So one solo may be the greatest of all time to Jimmy Page, and a different one may be the greatest of all time to you! Who’s right? Both of you are because its just an opinion.

With all of that said, let’s just see how the Guitar Player readers poll turned out, and then we can judge them on how wrong their opinion is because this is the internet, and that’s how it works now. I’m just sharing the top 10 but you can read their top 20, along with some super serious guitar technique and notes and style at their website. I will immediately object, however, to the fact that Prince’s Purple Rain solo only made it to #15 which is a travesty, in my opinion. I would possibly place it at #1. Also Guns N’ Roses Sweet Child O’ Mine, Ozzy’s Crazy Train, and Michael Jackson’s Beat It as performed by Eddie Van Halen made the top 20 but not the top 10? Hmmmm...

#10. The Beatles While My Guitar Gently Weeps: Kind of a cheat since it was Eric Clapton that performed the actual solo, not any of the Fab 4.

#9. Chicago 25 Or 6 To 4: Not a Chicago fan so wouldn’t have placed it in this list anyway. Also its not a very good or special solo, kind of sounds like a good high school band guitar player.

#8. Lynyrd Skynyrd Freebird: Well, yeah, I mean its 4 1/2 minutes of an 8 minute song, and iconic as all hell so I’m good with this one.

#7. Dire Straits Sultans Of Swing: Yeah I’m good with this one too, but is it better than Money For Nothing? Should both be on here?

#6. Jimi Hendrix All Along The Watchtower: Well Jimi had to be on here somewhere, and since most of his songs are about 2 minutes without much of a solo this one fits. But what about Voodoo Chile? I think that’s a way more amazing solo...

#5. Eagles Hotel California: Of all the Eagles songs this is their best guitar solo/playing. But is it good enough to be this high on the list?

#4. Queen Bohemian Rhapsody: Although its a very short bit as solos go, and especially in the context of a 6 minute song, but it does absolutely change the world when it hits, and takes the song to an entirely new place musically.

#3. Led Zeppelin Stairway To Heaven: You knew it had to be on here. Is it Page’s best guitar work? Or just the most popular? Still hard to tell from a band that had so many iconic guitar parts.

#2. Van Halen Eruption: Yes this is quite possibly the most listened to and played guitar solo of all time. Is it better as a stand-alone, or as the lead in to You Really Got Me? I think this solo covers most of the bases since its kind of the first to ever be played as an extended solo/intro into the full song. But when you play it without the Kinks at the end it almost seems like it stopped too soon.

AND AT #1!!!!!!

Pink Floyd Comfortably Numb: I absolutely love this band, this song, this solo. As a guitar solo goes it covers many of the bases for my personal taste, in that it elevates the song and isn’t there just to show off one guy’s skills, but it enhances the song as a whole and practically sings a new verse to you without words. But again, is the greatest? Well I guess according to some it is.