Guitar Player (2024) vs the Consensus
Guitar Player's list, “The Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time (GuitarPlayer.com readers' poll),” puts Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd at #1. The consensus #1 is Stairway to Heaven. Of the solos it ranks, 20 are in the GreatestSolos Consensus 100, and 8 of its top 10 are also in the consensus top 10.
Updated September 2026 · we show only where lists agree and differ; see the original list at Guitar Player for the full ranking.
Where they agree
The highest consensus picks that Guitar Player also ranked.
| Solo | Guitar Player | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Stairway to Heaven — Led Zeppelin, 1971 | #3 | #1 |
| Comfortably Numb — Pink Floyd, 1979 | #1 | #2 |
| Hotel California — Eagles, 1976 | #5 | #3 |
| Eruption — Van Halen, 1978 | #2 | #4 |
Their boldest picks
Solos Guitar Player ranked high that most other lists rank low or leave out.
| Solo | Guitar Player | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| 25 or 6 to 4 — Chicago, 1970 | #9 | #69 |
Consensus favorites they left out
Top-30 consensus solos missing from Guitar Player (released by 2024).
| Solo | Consensus | Lists |
|---|---|---|
| November Rain — Guns N' Roses, 1991 | #11 | 42 of 80 |
| Johnny B. Goode — Chuck Berry, 1958 | #16 | 28 of 80 |
| Layla — Derek and the Dominos, 1970 | #17 | 30 of 80 |
| Voodoo Child (Slight Return) — Jimi Hendrix, 1968 | #18 | 27 of 80 |
Quick answers
What is Guitar Player's #1 guitar solo?
Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd (solo by David Gilmour) is #1 on Guitar Player's list from 2024.
How does Guitar Player's list compare with the consensus?
20 of the solos it ranks appear in the Consensus 100, which combines 80 published lists. 8 of its top 10 are also in the consensus top 10.
What is the greatest guitar solo of all time by consensus?
Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, on 64 of 80 lists.
Compare another list: Rolling Stone 2026 · Classic Rock 2018 · NME 2017 · Guitar World 2021 · Guitar World 2013 · Guitarist 2011 · uDiscover Music 2026 · Planet Rock 2022 · SiriusXM 2024 · Gibson.com 2010 · Rick Beato 2019