Guitarist (2011) vs the Consensus
Guitarist's list, “The 20 Greatest Guitar Solos Of All Time,” puts Blackbird by Alter Bridge at #1. The consensus #1 is Stairway to Heaven. Of the solos it ranks, 18 are in the GreatestSolos Consensus 100, and 5 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 Guitarist / MusicRadar for the full ranking.
Where they agree
The highest consensus picks that Guitarist also ranked.
| Solo | Guitarist | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Stairway to Heaven — Led Zeppelin, 1971 | #8 | #1 |
| Comfortably Numb — Pink Floyd, 1979 | #5 | #2 |
| Hotel California — Eagles, 1976 | #14 | #3 |
| Eruption — Van Halen, 1978 | #2 | #4 |
Their boldest picks
Solos Guitarist ranked high that most other lists rank low or leave out.
| Solo | Guitarist | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Blackbird — Alter Bridge, 2007 | #1 | #62 |
| Hollow Years — Dream Theater, 1997 | #6 | #259 |
| Under a Glass Moon — Dream Theater, 1992 | #7 | #65 |
| Motorcycle Emptiness — Manic Street Preachers, 1992 | #18 | #192 |
Consensus favorites they left out
Top-30 consensus solos missing from Guitarist (released by 2011).
| Solo | Consensus | Lists |
|---|---|---|
| Bohemian Rhapsody — Queen, 1975 | #8 | 48 of 80 |
| Highway Star — Deep Purple, 1972 | #10 | 41 of 80 |
| While My Guitar Gently Weeps — The Beatles, 1968 | #12 | 36 of 80 |
| Crazy Train — Ozzy Osbourne, 1980 | #13 | 32 of 80 |
Quick answers
What is Guitarist's #1 guitar solo?
Blackbird by Alter Bridge (solo by Mark Tremonti & Myles Kennedy) is #1 on Guitarist's list from 2011.
How does Guitarist's list compare with the consensus?
18 of the solos it ranks appear in the Consensus 100, which combines 80 published lists. 5 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 · Guitar Player 2024 · uDiscover Music 2026 · Planet Rock 2022 · SiriusXM 2024 · Gibson.com 2010 · Rick Beato 2019