# You and I guitar solo

> Brian May's guitar solo on You and I by Lady Gaga (2011) starts at about 3:49. Watch from the solo, with tab and lesson links. A pop classic from the 2010s.

Canonical URL: <https://greatestsolos.com/song/lady-gaga-you-and-i/>

Lady Gaga, 2011. Solo by *Brian May*.

May's layered, instantly recognisable tone turns Gaga's piano rocker into an affectionate nod to Queen.

You and I is a piano-driven rocker, and Brian May's guitar solo turns it into an affectionate nod to Queen. His tone is instantly recognisable: smooth, singing and layered, with harmonised lines stacked into a rich, orchestral sound. He plays with melody first, crafting phrases that feel composed rather than improvised, much like his classic 1970s work. Hearing May on a 2011 pop hit shows how much his approach has shaped modern rock guitar. Listen for the harmony parts that blend into a single, choir-like voice, and for how the solo builds naturally from the song's chords, adding drama and warmth without overwhelming Gaga's vocal or the song's heartfelt, retro feel.

You and I by Lady Gaga is featured in our Pop (#17) list. The solo is played by Brian May and the song was released in 2011.

## In our lists

- [The 25 Greatest Pop Guitar Solos](https://greatestsolos.com/list/pop/) — #17
- [Top 20 Guitar Solos of 2011](https://greatestsolos.com/list/best-guitar-solos-2011/) — #4
- [Famous Guest Guitar Solos: Legends Playing on Someone Else's Record](https://greatestsolos.com/list/famous-guest-guitar-solos/) — #8

## Sources

- [Far Out Magazine: 10 pop songs with outrageously good guitar solos](https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/10-pop-songs-with-outrageously-good-guitar-solos/)

### Who played the guitar solo on You and I?

Brian May played the solo on Lady Gaga's You and I (2011).

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