SiriusXM (2024) vs the Consensus
SiriusXM's list, “50 Baddest Guitar Solos,” puts Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin at #1, the same as the consensus. Of the solos it ranks, 34 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 SiriusXM (countdown transcribed on PRS Guitars forum) for the full ranking.
Where they agree
The highest consensus picks that SiriusXM also ranked.
| Solo | SiriusXM | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Stairway to Heaven — Led Zeppelin, 1971 | #1 | #1 |
| Comfortably Numb — Pink Floyd, 1979 | #4 | #2 |
| Hotel California — Eagles, 1976 | #2 | #3 |
| Free Bird — Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1973 | #3 | #5 |
| Sweet Child O' Mine — Guns N' Roses, 1987 | #14 | #6 |
| All Along the Watchtower — Jimi Hendrix, 1968 | #11 | #7 |
| Bohemian Rhapsody — Queen, 1975 | #28 | #8 |
| Sultans of Swing — Dire Straits, 1978 | #7 | #9 |
| While My Guitar Gently Weeps — The Beatles, 1968 | #10 | #12 |
Their boldest picks
Solos SiriusXM ranked high that most other lists rank low or leave out.
| Solo | SiriusXM | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| La Grange — ZZ Top, 1973 | #8 | #73 |
| Rocky Mountain Way — Joe Walsh, 1973 | #12 | #298 |
| Do You Feel Like We Do — Peter Frampton, 1976 | #13 | #300 |
| Foreplay/Long Time — Boston, 1976 | #15 | #306 |
| Thunderstruck — AC/DC, 1990 | #17 | #155 |
| Black Magic Woman — Santana, 1970 | #20 | #84 |
| Smoke on the Water — Deep Purple, 1972 | #21 | #71 |
| 25 or 6 to 4 — Chicago, 1970 | #23 | #69 |
| Back in Black — AC/DC, 1980 | #24 | #64 |
Consensus favorites they left out
Top-30 consensus solos missing from SiriusXM (released by 2024).
| Solo | Consensus | Lists |
|---|---|---|
| Eruption — Van Halen, 1978 | #4 | 58 of 80 |
| Highway Star — Deep Purple, 1972 | #10 | 41 of 80 |
| November Rain — Guns N' Roses, 1991 | #11 | 42 of 80 |
| Beat It — Michael Jackson, 1982 | #15 | 30 of 80 |
| One — Metallica, 1988 | #20 | 24 of 80 |
| Mr. Crowley — Ozzy Osbourne, 1980 | #22 | 24 of 80 |
| Fade to Black — Metallica, 1984 | #23 | 23 of 80 |
| For the Love of God — Steve Vai, 1990 | #24 | 22 of 80 |
| Cliffs of Dover — Eric Johnson, 1990 | #26 | 21 of 80 |
Quick answers
What is SiriusXM's #1 guitar solo?
Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin (solo by Jimmy Page) is #1 on SiriusXM's list from 2024.
How does SiriusXM's list compare with the consensus?
34 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 · Guitarist 2011 · uDiscover Music 2026 · Planet Rock 2022 · Gibson.com 2010 · Rick Beato 2019