The 25 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos

This list covers mainstream rock that does not sit neatly in a narrower category: arena rock and AOR hits, live showcases, and guitar-led rock from the 2000s onward. The ranking draws on general guitar-solo lists and Guitar World's survey of 21st-century solos.

Informed by: Classic Rock (Louder) – The 100 greatest guitar solos in rock, Digital Dream Door – 250 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos, Magazyn Gitarzysta – 100 solówek wszech czasów [100 solos of all time], guitarguitar – Top 50 Guitar Solos of All Time, Guitar Solo Legends – The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — Ranked (2026), Guitar Tricks – 200 Best Guitar Solos of All Time, Guitar World – The greatest guitar solos of the 21st century... so far, Musician Tuts – The 51 Best Guitar Solos Of All Time, NME – 50 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time, Planet Rock – The Top 40 Greatest Guitar Solos Ever, Planet Rock – The 75 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time, Rolling Stone – The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time, SiriusXM (countdown transcribed on PRS Guitars forum) – 50 Baddest Guitar Solos, Thomann – 25 Iconic Guitar Solos, uDiscover Music – The Best Guitar Solos Of All Time: 108 Amazing Moments

1. 1
   Ball and Biscuit

   The White Stripes · solo by Jack White · 2003
2. 2
   Do You Feel Like We Do

   Peter Frampton · solo by Peter Frampton · 1976
3. 3
   Rocky Mountain Way

   Joe Walsh · solo by Joe Walsh · 1973
4. 4
   Foreplay/Long Time

   Boston · solo by Tom Scholz · 1976
5. 5
   Rosanna

   Toto · solo by Steve Lukather · 1982
6. 6
   Seven Nation Army

   The White Stripes · solo by Jack White · 2003
7. 7
   Stone in Love

   Journey · solo by Neal Schon · 1981
8. 8
   Slither

   Velvet Revolver · solo by Slash · 2004
9. 9
   Anastasia

   Slash ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators · solo by Slash · 2012
10. 10
    The Weight Of Dreams

    Greta Van Fleet · solo by Jake Kiszka · 2023
11. 11
    Tunnel of Love

    Dire Straits · solo by Mark Knopfler · 1980
12. 12
    Bat Out of Hell

    Meat Loaf · solo by Todd Rundgren · 1977
13. 13
    Magic Man

    Heart · solo by Roger Fisher · 1976
14. 14
    Life in the Fast Lane

    Eagles · solo by Joe Walsh · 1976
15. 15
    Feel Like Makin' Love

    Bad Company · solo by Mick Ralphs · 1975
16. 16
    The Fly

    U2 · solo by The Edge · 1991
17. 17
    Little Sister

    Queens of the Stone Age · solo by Josh Homme · 2005
18. 18
    Grinder

    Gary Clark Jr. · solo by Gary Clark Jr. · 2019
19. 19
    Mr Ed

    Mammoth WVH · solo by Wolfgang Van Halen · 2021
20. 20
    Out In The Open

    Butch Walker · solo by Butch Walker · 2019
21. 21
    Joker and the Thief

    Wolfmother · solo by Andrew Stockdale · 2005
22. 22
    Hold the Line

    Toto · solo by Steve Lukather · 1978
23. 23
    I'll Be Alright Without You

    Journey · solo by Neal Schon · 1986
24. 24
    Lonely Boy

    The Black Keys · solo by Dan Auerbach · 2011
25. 25
    Ghosts

    Big Wreck · solo by Ian Thornley · 2012