The guitar is an incredible instrument and can be used across so many different styles of music. This makes it almost impossible to develop a comprehensive list of the best guitar songs ever. Still, we've been able to choose 20 here.
We've chosen these songs based on the consensus online on the best guitar songs. They're mostly rock and roll and rock songs, which are the most popular.
Here are the songs in alphabetical order, but if you want to see how they ranked and learn more about them, you will keep reading. We've ranked these songs based on their influence, innovation, and popularity among guitar enthusiasts.
| Song Title | Artist | Year of Release | Genre | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Blackbird" | The Beatles | 1968 | Folk Rock | The Beatles (The White Album) |
| "Bohemian Rhapsody" | Queen | 1975 | Rock/Opera | A Night at the Opera |
| "Comfortably Numb" | Pink Floyd | 1979 | Progressive Rock | The Wall |
| "Crossroads" | Cream | 1968 | Blues Rock | Wheels of Fire |
| "Dust in the Wind" | Kansas | 1977 | Folk Rock | Point of Know Return |
| "Eruption" | Van Halen | 1978 | Hard Rock | Van Halen |
| "Free Bird" | Lynyrd Skynyrd | 1973 | Southern Rock | Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd |
| "Hotel California" | Eagles | 1976 | Rock | Hotel California |
| "Johnny B. Goode" | Chuck Berry | 1958 | Rock and Roll | Chuck Berry Is on Top |
| "La Grange" | ZZ Top | 1973 | Blues Rock | Tres Hombres |
| "Layla" | Derek and the Dominos | 1970 | Blues Rock | Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs |
| "Little Wing" | The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1967 | Psychedelic Rock | Axis: Bold as Love |
| "Stairway to Heaven" | Led Zeppelin | 1971 | Hard Rock | Led Zeppelin IV |
| "Sultans of Swing" | Dire Straits | 1978 | Rock | Dire Straits |
| "Sweet Child O' Mine" | Guns N' Roses | 1987 | Hard Rock | Appetite for Destruction |
| "Tears in Heaven" | Eric Clapton | 1992 | Acoustic Rock | Rush (Soundtrack) |
| "Under the Bridge" | Red Hot Chili Peppers | 1991 | Alternative Rock | Blood Sugar Sex Magik |
| "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" | The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1968 | Blues Rock | Electric Ladyland |
| "Whole Lotta Love" | Led Zeppelin | 1969 | Hard Rock | Led Zeppelin II |
| "Wish You Were Here" | Pink Floyd | 1975 | Progressive Rock | Wish You Were Here |
20. "La Grange" by ZZ Top
"La Grange" features Billy Gibbons' iconic blues-rock riff, which helped define ZZ Top's gritty, Southern rock sound. The song has become a staple in classic rock playlists, showcasing the band's unique blend of Texas blues and rock.
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19. "Under the Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
This Red Hot Chili Peppers hit has a wonderful guitar part and was quite the departure from the band's funk sound on their other records.
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18. "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" features an awesome guitar riff thanks to Jimmy Page. The innovative use of effects on the guitar would later become a staple of the hard rock genre.
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17. "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
Here's a song that combines rock, opera, and ballad elements. While the piano plays the lead role for most of the song, the guitar takes centre stage during the rock part.
Listen to it here:
16. "Layla" by Derek and the Dominos
As guitar riffs go, this is a classic that every guitarist will want to learn as soon as possible. You can't go wrong with legendary guitarists Eric Clapton and Duane Allman.
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15. "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry's "Jonny B. Goode" features one of history's most recognisable guitar riffs and is one of rock and roll's most important songs. Its influence can be seen in the work of countless guitarists who followed.
The song and Berry's guitar work, in particular, helped lay the foundation for future rock and roll guitarists. The guitar itself has its own history, though.
The song was released in 1958 and featured on Chuck Berry's album "Chuck Berry Is on Top". It was a breakthrough for Berry and a defining moment for rock and roll.
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14. "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas
Kansas' "Dust in the Wind" is a beautiful song with fantastic lyrics and a vocal melody. Guitarists will love it for the intricate fingerpicking throughout, making it a favourite for anyone with an acoustic guitar.
Kerry Livgren wrote this folk rock song, which was featured on the 1977 Kansas album "Point of Know Return."
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13. "Little Wing" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Often considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, don't be surprised to see a Jimi Hendrix song on this list.
"Little Wing" by the Jimi Hendrix Experience features melodic and expressive guitar playing. At under two and a half minutes, it goes to show that a song can be epic without being epic in length. For those in Sydney, consider trying guitar lessons sydney to further enhance your technique.
This psychedelic rock classic was featured on The Jimi Hendrix Experience's 1967 album Axis: Bold as Love.
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12. "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd
The progressive rock band Pink Floyd's song “Wish You Were Here” was included on the 1975 album of the same name.
The song features multiple beautiful guitar parts written by Roger Waters and David Gilmour. Like the song "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," it was initially written as a tribute to their former bandmate Syd Barrett.
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11. "Eruption" by Van Halen
"Eruption" by Van Halen is a hard rock classic featuring many guitar techniques that are standard in this subgenre of rock music.
This instrumental piece includes two-handed tapping, fast arpeggios, and controlled feedback. It has inspired rock guitarists, especially lead guitarists, for decades.
It was featured on Van Halen's eponymous 1978 album.
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While playing "Eruption" by Van Halen will make you feel awesome, there are other benefits to playing the guitar.
10. "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" is a delicate and expressive acoustic ballad written by Clapton and Will Jenning about the death of Clapton's four-year-old son.
The song was featured on the soundtrack for the 1991 film Rush and won three Grammy awards.
In addition to being one of the best guitar songs of all time, “Tears in Heaven” is often included as one of the greatest songs of all time.
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9. "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Free Bird" by Lynard Skynyrd is one of the most epic Southern rock songs of all time. Although the recorded version is over nine minutes long, the extended guitar solos often make the song last over ten minutes when played live.
Even the recording from the 1973 album "Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd" features a 5-minute guitar solo. While playing the guitar comes with many health benefits, you might need a rest after playing this one.
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8. "Blackbird" by The Beatles
Given the enduring popularity of The Beatles, it's no surprise that a song by the Fab Four would also feature as one of the greatest guitar songs of all time.
For generations, the fingerpicking pattern and simple lyrics have made "Blackbird" a favourite for acoustic guitarists.
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In the same way that Paul McCartney's death is just a myth, there are also lots of myths surrounding the guitar.
7. "Crossroads" by Cream
This rendition of Robert John's blues classic "Crossroads" perfectly blends blues and rock. It was performed by Eric Clapton when he was with the British rock supergroup Cream.
It's a wonderful example of how music can be adapted, and playing great songs in a different styles can sound incredible.
This approach doesn't always work, but when Clapton did it, the guitarist created something familiar and innovative.
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6. "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses
The song "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses was featured on their 1987 hard rock album "Appetite for Destruction".
It was written by Axl Rose, Slash, and Izzy Stradlin. Slash's instantly recognisable guitar riff helped make it a hard rock anthem, and many people who decide to start playing the guitar often try to learn it as soon as they can.
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In addition to incredible riffs and melodies, the solo is incredible, something that Slash became incredibly famous for.
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5. "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits
Dire Straits' song “Sultans of Swing” features incredible examples of fingerstyle technique and smooth guitar work.
It was included on the band's 1978 eponymous album.
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Mark Knopfler’s fingerstyle technique and the fluid guitar work make this song a standout.
4. "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd
Another song from the British prog-rock band Pink Floyd. This time, it's “Comfortably Numb” from the band's hugely successful 1979 album “The Wall”.
Roger Waters and David Gilmour wrote the song, but Gilmour's technically brilliant guitar solos are one of the highlights.
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3. "Hotel California" by Eagles
This is one of the most famous rock songs of all time. Eagles' "Hotel California" was featured on the album of the same name in 1976.
With its instantly recognisable chord progression, this classic rock song also features one of rock history's most famous guitar solos.
Though the rock sound of the "Hotel California" album was a departure from the band's earlier country-rock influences, it certainly suited them.
The 12-string guitar played by Don Felder on the recording gives this song a rich and full sound. Alongside Felder's performance, Joe Walsh's playing on a 6-string guitar harmonises beautifully.
The solo is arguably one of the most famous rock solos ever played.
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2. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
“Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience is another fine example of Jimi Hendrix's incredible guitar playing.
This blues rock classic from the 1968 "Electric Ladyland" album features many of Hendrix's hallmark guitar-playing techniques. It has introduced millions of aspiring and experienced guitarists to new guitar styles.
The song was initially a jam session and was improvised in a single take. It features a driving blues riff, the use of the wah-wah pedal that helped define Hendrix's sound and a whole bunch of rhythms and blues influences.
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1. "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin
The song "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin is often considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time, and it is featured here as our greatest guitar song ever.
This song was written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant and appeared on Led Zeppelin's "Led Zeppelin IV" album in 1971.
The song came about as the band explored blending hard rock, blues, and folk influences. The music was written before the lyrics, but the whole song was written at a remote mansion, Headley Grange, in Hampshire, England.
At 8 minutes long, the song starts with a gentle fingerpicked guitar riff on a 6-string acoustic guitar. As the song progresses, momentum builds, and John Bonham's drum comes in halfway through as the intensity increases.
While all the guitar work until this point is lovely, and the opening melody and riff are incredibly recognisable, Jimmy Page's electric guitar solo is among the finest in rock history. It's a technically challenging solo, but it's also extremely melodic.
The song was famously never released as a single but is one of the most-played songs on the radio, especially during the 1970s.
It was one of the band's most popular songs when performed live, and the intro became so popular that it spawned the famous "No Stairway" rule in guitar shops, which was referenced in the Wayne's World movie in the 1990s.
Listen to it here:
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