Rick Beato (2019) vs the Consensus
Rick Beato's list, “Top 20 Rock Guitar Solos of All Time,” puts Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd at #1. The consensus #1 is Stairway to Heaven. Of the solos it ranks, 10 are in the GreatestSolos Consensus 100, and 3 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 Rick Beato (YouTube) for the full ranking.
Where they agree
The highest consensus picks that Rick Beato also ranked.
| Solo | Rick Beato | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Stairway to Heaven — Led Zeppelin, 1971 | #2 | #1 |
| Comfortably Numb — Pink Floyd, 1979 | #1 | #2 |
| Hotel California — Eagles, 1976 | #12 | #3 |
| Free Bird — Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1973 | #17 | #5 |
Their boldest picks
Solos Rick Beato ranked high that most other lists rank low or leave out.
| Solo | Rick Beato | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Lines on My Face — Peter Frampton, 1976 | #4 | #210 |
| Stone in Love — Journey, 1981 | #5 | #178 |
| Rosanna — Toto, 1982 | #6 | #141 |
| Ice Cream Man — Van Halen, 1978 | #7 | #218 |
Consensus favorites they left out
Top-30 consensus solos missing from Rick Beato (released by 2019).
| Solo | Consensus | Lists |
|---|---|---|
| Eruption — Van Halen, 1978 | #4 | 58 of 80 |
| Sweet Child O' Mine — Guns N' Roses, 1987 | #6 | 52 of 80 |
| All Along the Watchtower — Jimi Hendrix, 1968 | #7 | 48 of 80 |
| Highway Star — Deep Purple, 1972 | #10 | 41 of 80 |
Quick answers
What is Rick Beato's #1 guitar solo?
Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd (solo by David Gilmour) is #1 on Rick Beato's list from 2019.
How does Rick Beato's list compare with the consensus?
10 of the solos it ranks appear in the Consensus 100, which combines 80 published lists. 3 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 · Guitarist 2011 · uDiscover Music 2026 · Planet Rock 2022 · SiriusXM 2024 · Gibson.com 2010