The Most Beautiful Guitar Solos of All Time

The most beautiful guitar solos of all time: slow, melodic, singing leads from ballads and slow-burners, ranked by how often published lists include them. Led by Comfortably Numb (David Gilmour), November Rain (Slash) and Purple Rain (Prince).

Updated September 2026 · ranked from 80 published lists

1. 1
   Comfortably Numb

   Pink Floyd · solo by David Gilmour · 1979
2. 2
   November Rain

   Guns N' Roses · solo by Slash · 1991
3. 3
   Purple Rain

   Prince · solo by Prince · 1984
4. 4
   Fade to Black

   Metallica · solo by Kirk Hammett · 1984
5. 5
   Since I've Been Loving You

   Led Zeppelin · solo by Jimmy Page · 1970
6. 6
   Little Wing

   Jimi Hendrix · solo by Jimi Hendrix · 1967
7. 7
   Cause We've Ended As Lovers

   Jeff Beck · solo by Jeff Beck · 1975
8. 8
   Cemetery Gates

   Pantera · solo by Dimebag Darrell · 1990
9. 9
   Still Got the Blues

   Gary Moore · solo by Gary Moore · 1990
10. 10
    Something

    The Beatles · solo by George Harrison · 1969
11. 11
    Europa

    Santana · solo by Carlos Santana · 1976
12. 12
    Beyond the Realms of Death

    Judas Priest · solo by Glenn Tipton & K.K. Downing · 1978
13. 13
    Brothers in Arms

    Dire Straits · solo by Mark Knopfler · 1985
14. 14
    The Unforgiven

    Metallica · solo by Kirk Hammett · 1991
15. 15
    Gravity

    John Mayer · solo by John Mayer · 2006
16. 16
    Tender Surrender

    Steve Vai · solo by Steve Vai · 1995
17. 17
    Still In Love With You

    Thin Lizzy · solo by Gary Moore & Brian Robertson · 1974
18. 18
    Watermelon in Easter Hay

    Frank Zappa · solo by Frank Zappa · 1979
19. 19
    Nothing Else Matters

    Metallica · solo by James Hetfield · 1991
20. 20
    Easter

    Marillion · solo by Steve Rothery · 1989
21. 21
    I Could Have Lied

    Red Hot Chili Peppers · solo by John Frusciante · 1991
22. 22
    Parisienne Walkways

    Gary Moore · solo by Gary Moore · 1978
23. 23
    Sloe Gin

    Joe Bonamassa · solo by Joe Bonamassa · 2007
24. 24
    Always with Me, Always with You

    Joe Satriani · solo by Joe Satriani · 1987
25. 25
    Nutshell

    Alice In Chains · solo by Jerry Cantrell · 1994
26. 26
    Dry County

    Bon Jovi · solo by Richie Sambora · 1992
27. 27
    Samba Pa Ti

    Santana · solo by Carlos Santana · 1970
28. 28
    Lines on My Face

    Peter Frampton · solo by Peter Frampton · 1976
29. 29
    Life Without You

    Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble · solo by Stevie Ray Vaughan · 1985
30. 30
    Red House

    The Jimi Hendrix Experience · solo by Jimi Hendrix · 1967