Rolling Stone (2026) vs the Consensus
Rolling Stone's list, “The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time,” puts Purple Rain by Prince at #1. The consensus #1 is Stairway to Heaven. Of the solos it ranks, 40 are in the GreatestSolos Consensus 100, and 4 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 Rolling Stone for the full ranking.
Where they agree
The highest consensus picks that Rolling Stone also ranked.
| Solo | Rolling Stone | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Stairway to Heaven — Led Zeppelin, 1971 | #7 | #1 |
| Comfortably Numb — Pink Floyd, 1979 | #4 | #2 |
| Hotel California — Eagles, 1976 | #3 | #3 |
| Eruption — Van Halen, 1978 | #5 | #4 |
| Free Bird — Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1973 | #19 | #5 |
| Sweet Child O' Mine — Guns N' Roses, 1987 | #25 | #6 |
| All Along the Watchtower — Jimi Hendrix, 1968 | #11 | #7 |
| Bohemian Rhapsody — Queen, 1975 | #14 | #8 |
| Sultans of Swing — Dire Straits, 1978 | #33 | #9 |
| Highway Star — Deep Purple, 1972 | #58 | #10 |
Their boldest picks
Solos Rolling Stone ranked high that most other lists rank low or leave out.
| Solo | Rolling Stone | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Statesboro Blues — The Allman Brothers Band, 1971 | #13 | #245 |
| While My Guitar Gently Weeps — Prince, 2004 | #15 | #106 |
| Morning Dew (Cornell, 5/8/77) — Grateful Dead, 1977 | #16 | #251 |
| Freeway Jam — Jeff Beck, 1975 | #20 | #258 |
| Powderfinger — Neil Young & Crazy Horse, 1979 | #22 | #164 |
| Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen — Santana, 1970 | #28 | #274 |
| Can't You Hear Me Knocking — The Rolling Stones, 1971 | #29 | #140 |
| That Lady, Pts. 1 & 2 — The Isley Brothers, 1973 | #30 | #130 |
| Strange Things Happening Every Day — Sister Rosetta Tharpe, 1944 | #34 | #282 |
| Ball and Biscuit — The White Stripes, 2003 | #35 | #81 |
Consensus favorites they left out
Top-30 consensus solos missing from Rolling Stone (released by 2026).
| Solo | Consensus | Lists |
|---|---|---|
| November Rain — Guns N' Roses, 1991 | #11 | 42 of 80 |
| Voodoo Child (Slight Return) — Jimi Hendrix, 1968 | #18 | 27 of 80 |
| Mr. Crowley — Ozzy Osbourne, 1980 | #22 | 24 of 80 |
| Fade to Black — Metallica, 1984 | #23 | 23 of 80 |
| Since I've Been Loving You — Led Zeppelin, 1970 | #27 | 19 of 80 |
| Time — Pink Floyd, 1973 | #29 | 18 of 80 |
Quick answers
What is Rolling Stone's #1 guitar solo?
Purple Rain by Prince (solo by Prince) is #1 on Rolling Stone's list from 2026.
How does Rolling Stone's list compare with the consensus?
40 of the solos it ranks appear in the Consensus 100, which combines 80 published lists. 4 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: 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 · Rick Beato 2019