The greatest guitar solo of all time chosen in a new poll by Total Guitar magazine

What is the greatest guitar solo of all time? It's guaranteed to ignite fierce pub debates amongst music lovers (if we could go to pubs right now) but it's easier if we just let democracy decide for us – enter the experienced adjudicator Total Guitar and its new issue's rundown of the 50 greatest guitar solos of all time.

Total Guitar

(Image credit: Future)

And the winner is… Brian May's solo on Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. The British treasure beat David Gilmour, Jimmy Page and late legend Eddie Van Halen to top the readers' choice. And May's reaction was typically classy…

“The Greatest Guitar Solo of All Time ?!!" he wrote on Instagram. "Wow ... (gulp) ... BIG thanks, all yous very kind Total Guitar readers !!! I am not worthy, but it’s much appreciated.”

And last year May was kind enough to share a guitar lesson with fans on how to play the solo on Instagram…

Don't fancy the solo? Total Guitar has you covered with the song's iconic riff. 

For the rest of the 50 Greatest Solos Of All Time, check out the new issue of Total Guitar

Rob Laing
Reviews Editor, GuitarWorld.com and MusicRadar guitars

Rob is the Reviews Editor for GuitarWorld.com and MusicRadar guitars, so spends most of his waking hours (and beyond) thinking about and trying the latest gear while making sure our reviews team is giving you thorough and honest tests of it. He's worked for guitar mags and sites as a writer and editor for nearly 20 years but still winces at the thought of restringing anything with a Floyd Rose.