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Criteria: Guitar solos are the best display of talent by these musicians. Each guitar solo was ranked mainly for the overall quality of its composition. Originality, complexity, influence, and lasting appeal are also considered.

Edited By: Lew, Eric
Last Updated: 2018-01-09

https://digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_guitarsolo.html


David Gilmour

1. Comfortably Numb - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
2. Stairway To Heaven - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
3. All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
4. Free Bird - Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
5. Maggot Brain - Edie Hazel (Funkadelic)
6. Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughan
7. Eruption - Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
8. Highway Star - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
9. Cause We've Ended As Lovers - Jeff Beck
10. 25 Or 6 To 4 - Terry Kath (Chicago)
11. Hotel California - Don Felder/Joe Walsh (Eagles)
12. Mr Crowley - Randy Rhoads (Ozzy)
13. Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix
14. Time - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
15. Layla - Eric Clapton/Duane Allman (Derek & The Dominos)
16. Sweet Child O' Mine - Slash (Guns N' Roses)
17. Cliffs Of Dover - Eric Johnson
18. Nottingham Lace - Buckethead
19. For The Love Of God - Steve Vai
20. Voodoo Child (slight return) - Jimi Hendrix
21. November Rain - Slash (Guns N' Roses)
22. Shine On You Crazy Diamond - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
23. Blue Sky - Duane Allman/Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers Band)
24. Satch Boogie - Joe Satriani
25. Lazy - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
26. Crazy Train - Randy Rhoads (Ozzy)
27. White Room - Eric Clapton (Cream)
28. Surfing With The Alien - Joe Satriani
29. Rock You Like A Hurricane - Matthias Jabs (Scorpions)
30. Sultans Of Swing - Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
31. One - Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
32. No More Tears - Zakk Wylde (Ozzy)
33. Since I've Been Loving You - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
34. Floods - Dimebag Darrel (Pantera)
35. Black Star - Yngwie Malmsteen
36. Atom Heart Mother - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
37. Red House - Jimi Hendrix
38. Big Sur Moon - Buckethead
39. The Rocker - Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy)
40. Those Were The Days - Eric Clapton (Cream)
41. Bohemian Rhapsody - Brian May (Queen)
42. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Eric Clapton (The Beatles)
43. Fade To Black - Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
44. Dream - John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra)
45. Sound Chaser - Steve Howe (Yes)
46. Alive - Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
47. Mood For A Day - Steve Howe (Yes)
48. Aqualung - Martin Barre (Jethro Tull)
49. Stone In Love - Neal Schon (Journey)
50. Child In Time - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
51. Like A Hurricane - Neil Young
52. Dreams - Duane Allman (Allman Brothers Band)
53. Cortez The Killer - Neil Young
54. Over The Mountain - Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)
55. Money - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
56. Killer Queen - Brian May (Queen)
57. Two Minutes To Midnight - D. Murray/A. Smith (Iron Maiden)
58. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad - D. Allman/E. Clapton (Derek & The Dominos)
59. Southern Man - Neil Young
60. Kid Charlemagne - Larry Carlton (Steely Dan)
61. Little Wing - Stevie Ray Vaughan
62. Heartbreaker - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
63. Too Many Humans - Buckethead
64. Under A Glass Moon - John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
65. Desert Rose - Eric Johnson
66. Dazed And Confused - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
67. Tender Surrender - Steve Vai
68. Still In Love With You - Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy)
69. Bold As Love - Jimi Hendrix
70. Don't Keep Me Wondering - Duane Allman (Allman Brothers Band)
71. Ramblin' Man - Dicky Betts (Allman Brothers Band)
72. Always With Me Always With You - Joe Satriani
73. Tales Of Brave Ulysses - Eric Clapton (Cream)
74. Stranger In A Strange Land - Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
75. You Really Got Me - Dave Davies (The Kinks)
76. Devil Takes The Hindmost - Allan Holdsworth
77. Have A Cigar - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
78. Trademark - Eric Johnson
79. La Villa Strangiato - Alex Lifeson (Rush)
80. Super Stupid - Edie Hazel (Funkadelic)
81. Stranglehold - Ted Nugent
82. Beyond The Realms Of Death - Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
83. Bulls On Parade - Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
84. Unrestrained Growth - Buckethead
85. Miserlou - Dick Dale
86. Far Beyond The Sun - Yngwie Malmsteen
87. Brighton Rock - Brian May (Queen)
88. Dogs - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
89. Master Of Puppets - Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
90. Beat It - Eddie Van Halen (Michael Jackson)
91. Sow Thistle - Buckethead
92. Whipping Post - Duane Allman/Dicky Betts (Allman Brothers Band)
93. The Way It Has To Be - Shawn Lane
94. 21st Century Schizoid Man - Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
95. War Pigs - Toni Iommi (Black Sabbath)
96. Dreams - Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
97. Padmasana - Buckethead
98. Whole Lotta Love - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
99. Working Man - Alex Lifeson (Rush)
100. Love Is The Law - John Squire (Seahorses)

101. Painkiller - Glenn Tipton/KK Downing (Judas Priest)
102. Black Magic Woman - Carlos Santana
103. Fire And Water - Paul Kossoff (Free)
104. The Loner - Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy)
105. Wicked World - Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
106. Touch Of Evil - Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
107. Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry
108. Mean Street - Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
109. Freewill - Alex Lifeson (Rush)
110. Blue Wind - Jeff Beck
111. Know Your Enemy - Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
112. Lines In The Sand - John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
113. Yellow Ledbetter - Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
114. Sunshine Of Your Love - Eric Clapton (Cream)
115. Jessica - Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers Band)
116. Flight Of The Wounded Bumblebee - Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme)
117. Green Grass and High Tides - Hughie Thomasson, Billy Jones, Henry Paul (Outlaws)
118. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son - D. Murray/A. Smith (Iron Maiden)
119. Anyway You Want It - Neal Schon (Journey)
120. Nutshell - Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
121. Carry On Wayward Son - Kerry Livgren (Kansas)
122. Dee - Randy Rhoads (Ozzy)
123. Blues Deluxe - Joe Bonamassa
124. Radioactive Toy - Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree)
125. Not Again - Shawn Lane
126. Tornado of Souls - Marty Friedman
127. Achilles Last Stand - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
128. High Hopes - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
129. I Could Have Lied - John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
130. YYZ - Alex Lifeson (Rush)
131. Crushing Day - Joe Satriani
132. Scuttle Buttin - Stevie Ray Vaughan
133. Beck's Bolero - Jeff Beck
134. Couldn't Stand The Weather - Stevie Ray Vaughan
135. Man In The Box - Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
136. Paradise City - Slash (Guns N' Roses)
137. Won't Get Fooled Again - Pete Townshend (The Who)
138. Jigsaw - Steve Rothery (Marillion)
139. Cemetary Gates - Dimebag Darrel (Pantera)
140. Fifty Fifty - Frank Zappa
141. I Want You (Shes So Heavy) - George Harrison (The Beatles)
142. Hanger 18 - Marty Friedman/Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
143. Powerslave - Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
144. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
145. Robot Man - Uli Jon Roth
146. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat - Jeff Beck
147. Whisky In The Jar - Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy)
148. Punk Sandwich- Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs)
149. Let The Good Times Roll - Jimi Hendrix
150. Highway 61 Revisited - Johnny Winter
151. Colour And The Shape - Joe Bonamassa
152. Killing In The Name - Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
153. Sleep Now In The Fire - Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
154. The Warning - Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
155. Bridge Of Sighs - Robin Trower
156. Cult Of Personality - Vernon Reid (Living Color)
157. Starship Trooper - Steve Howe (Yes)
158. Ice Cream Man - Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
159. Smoke On The Water - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
160. Midnight - Joe Satriani
161. Too Rolling Stoned - Robin Trower
162. Badge - Eric Clapton/George Harrison (Cream)
163. Rime of the Ancient Marriner - Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
164. Wynona's Big Brown Beaver - Larry Lalonde (Primus)
165. Blue On Black - Kenny Wayne Shepherd
166. Lovesorrow - Marty Friedman
167. Orion - Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
168. Nun Chuka Kata - Buckethead
169. Sympathy For The Devil - Keith Richards (Rolling Stones)
170. You Shook Me All Night Long - Angus Young (AC/DC)
171. Breaking Into Heaven - John Squire (Stone Roses)
172. Tierra Del Fuego - George Lynch/Derryl Gabel
173. Circles - Joe Satriani
174. Hot For Teacher - Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
175. I Heard Her Call My Name - Lou Reed
176. Jerry Was A Racecar Driver - Larry Lalonde (Primus)
177. Stash - Trey Anastasio (Phish)
178. Paranoid Android - Johnny Greenwood (Radiohead)
179. Sharp Dressed Man - Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
180. Cigarettes - Ty Tabor (King's X)
181. 2112 - Alex Lifeson (Rush)
182. The Rock - Pete Townshend (The Who)
183. Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix
184. Jingo - Carlos Santana
185. Cinnamon Girl - Neil Young
186. Liberation - Terry Kath (Chicago)
187. And Your Bird Can Sing - George Harrison (The Beatles)
188. Symphony Of Destruction - Marty Friedman (Megadeth)
189. That Smell - Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
190. All Right Now - Paul Kossoff (Free)
191. Evil That Men Do - Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
192. White Summer - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
193. Tumeni Notes - Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs)
194. L'Via L'Viaquez - John Frusciante/Omar A Rodriguez-Lopez (Mars Volta)
195. The Maze - Vinnie Moore
196. Evil Ways - Carlos Santana
197. Piece Of My Heart - Sam Andrew (Big Brother)
198. Desert Island - Marty Friedman/Jason Becker (Megadeth)
199. Price You Gotta Pay - Paul Gilbert (Mr Big)
200. Back In Black - Angus Young (AC/DC)

201. The End - George Harrison, McCartney and Lennon (The Beatles)
202. Rock Bottom - Michael Schenkar (UFO)
203. Hell's Kitchen - John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
204. Knocking At Your Backdoor - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
205. Midnight Sun - Steve Howe (Yes)
206. Love Removal Machine - Billy Duffy (The Cult)
207. It's Not My Cross To Bear - Duane Allman/Dicky Betts (Allman Brothers Band)
208. H - Adam Jones (Tool)
209. Presence Of The Lord - Eric Clapton (Blind Faith)
210. Stone Crazy - Buddy Guy
211. Revelation - Randy Rhoads (Ozzy)
212. Home - John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
213. Catch The Rainbow - Ritchie Blackmore (Rainbow)
214. Black Hole Sun - Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
215. Truckin - Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
216. Cocaine - Eric Clapton
217. Speed Metal Symphony - M. Friedman/Jason Becker (Cacophony)
218. Light My Fire - Robby Krieger (The Doors)
219. Angel Of Death - Kerry King/Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
220. Welcome Home - Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
221. I'm Alright - Neil Zaza
222. I Am The Resurrection - John Squire (Stone Roses)
223. Voyager - Ronnie Montrose (Montrose)
224. Tuff Enuff - Jimmie Vaughan (Fabulous Thunderbirds)
225. Jet City Woman - Chris Degarmo (Queensryche)
226. Three Days - Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction)
227 Stray Cat Strut - Brian Setzer
228. Reeling In The Years - Elliot Randall (Steely Dan)
229. Grendel - Steve Rothery (Marillion)
230. Zoot Allures - Frank Zappa (The Mothers Of Invention)
231. When The Water Breaks - John Petrucci (Liquid Tension Experiment)
232. La Grange - Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
233. Walk - Dimebag Darrel (Pantera)
234. As I Am - John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
235. Brothers In Arms - Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
236. Crying Machine - Steve Vai/Tony Macalpine (Vai)
237. Suburban Me - Chris Amott (guest musician for 'In Flames')
238. Telegraph Road - Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
239. Anyday - Duane Allman (Derek And The Dominoes)
240. Cruel Reality of Nature - Buckethead
241. Burn - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
242. The Final Cut - Travis Stever, Claudio Sanchez (Coheed and Cambria)
243. Moonlight Shadow - Mike Oldfield
244. Illusions - Shawn Lane
245. Freight Train - Michael Angelo Batio
246. Psalm of Lydia - Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)
247. Something - George Harrison (The Beatles)
248. No Gravity - Kiko Loueriro
249. Linus and Lucy - Gary Hoey
250. Stomp - Phil Keaggy

THE 100 GREATEST GUITAR SOLOS OF ALL TIME
Blues pioneers, hippie jammers, punk rockers, metal warriors, funkateers, and more By ROLLING STONE
MAY 4, 2026
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... 235520428/

Bo Rhap seems high on that list, at least subjectively.

Odd list (Terrible #1 choice imo) - it's weird to me how it is a combination of Studio recordings, recorded live solos, and televised solos (like Prince's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps). Good choices overall though.

Purple Rain is probably one of my favorite solos, even if it's not necessarily one of the most impressive or complex.

Dubrow555 wrote: Tue May 19, 2026 3:55 pm Odd list (Terrible #1 choice imo) - it's weird to me how it is a combination of Studio recordings, recorded live solos, and televised solos (like Prince's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps). Good choices overall though.

The primary criterion is subjective to begin with, but if you ask me, I think "Comfortably Numb" is actually a pretty decent #1. It's frequently cited by both musicians and critics as one of the GOATs and has topped several polls over the years--so in terms of acclaim at least, it's very possibly the king. It's also admittedly my personal favorite, because it's so expressive and emotional, and not in a flashy sort of way. The phrasing, build-up, tone, and melodicism are all just outright masterful.
That said, if influence were given more weight, "Eruption" would probably be the most objective pick, since it's widely seen as a before-and-after moment in guitar solo history.

Think Dubrow is referring to Rolling Stone list posted by Elton-Cetera which has Purple Rain as #1.

Whoops.

Purple Rain at #1 and right above Machine Gun is insane, especially with WMGGW also that high. It also reeks of insecurity, as they can't get over the fact that people bitched about Prince not being featured on the original list and now they have to overcompensate.