Top 25 Brian May's guitar solos

[@KillerrQueenSaveMe]

Brian May and Red Special, that's a great love story!!

[@Pan3optic3on]

Quite possibly the greatest guitarist ever. I mean he is a one off and there will never be anyone like him again. So many reasons for this. Personally I think he and Queen invented/defined more genres than perhaps they are recognised for. Thrash/speed metal, glam, soft rock, rock opera, shred metal while being progressive throughout, "Innuendo", "Bohemian Rapsody" spring to mind. The things the Red Special guitar could do seemed to be unacknowledged amongst guitarists for sometime although very apparent on record. As it was a custom built by May, no-one could get a replica or copy anywhere until much later on. His sound and tone are iconic and instantly recognisable. His knowledge and skills using guitar effects and studio techniques most of which are pioneering for their time. Perhaps the band that took over from where The Beatles got off imo.

[@Iceman-xx1kh]

Talking real sense!

[@felixjest1996]

I agree. Queen > Beatles

[@kutzbill]

How about "Good Company"? Called the "Old Girl", the "Fireplace", the "Red Special" did the whole jazz band on the song. The first song I ever heard by Queen was "Killer Queen" on the radio. I miss my graduation ceremonies and went to a Queen Concert in Houston. I saw a guy walking around with a tag on his chest that had a nice lady on it that was topless. She was pointing at me and it said "The Queen Crew wants YOU! I asked him about it and was hired on the spot. Brian has a whole set up for him in concert, but if everything went down, he could do all the songs in the concert with a Vox AC30 and a Treble boost. Just a great talent, a very keen mind, and Gentleman, and a Gentle man.

[@kutzbill]

Various Things I moved heavy things, later drove a truck. worked for a short time, just a couple of years, but it was great.

[@Iceman-xx1kh]

kutzbill Before all the technology setup..the basics are the best without doubt!

[@loveforqueen1568]

He is wonderful in every way, a genius with the guitar, a very intelligent person, good at singing, wonderful writing songs and a very noble and humble human being, and humility is the value of the most greatest, of the legends as he

[@davidnorbert428]

Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy :(

[@10154bob]

Right! Princes of the Universe?!

[@javirodriguez8379]

Spring tour wings

[@Gymar12]

Don't stop me now Somebody to love

[@jc-13]

:c

[@gabrielquaglia9409]

Let me live

[@Daz555Daz]

Fuck, Headlong - I love that shit. Heavy as fuck.

[@cristobalnieves]

Daz555Daz yeah

[@PeterDoornbos1981]

I'll stand my ground! The guitar solo in the BBC version and Live At The Rainbow version of White Queen (as it began)...Most spine chilling solo ever and The Prophet's Song!

[@modbonan6935]

white queen has to be the most beautiful song ever written

[@PeterDoornbos1981]

Written by God, given to Brian May ;)

[@The1queencollector]

Mod Bonan i agree fab song, Brians early live guitaring on this always makes me stop and just fall into the sound, Live at the Rainbow good examples, i wish Brian was not so underated by the music media.

[@AndyAz]

bijou is basically instrumental and beautiful

[@ishaangrover1]

Dont stop me now should have been there

[@armaganusta7670]

yeah hell yes

[@wickedmcjagger7911]

Man that song is not that hard

[@gerrykesterquizzagan7395]

@@wickedmcjagger7911 but its fast

[@edubeltran2976]

@@wickedmcjagger7911 In my opinion, sometimes it's not a question of being easy or hard. It's a question of which notes and tempo best fit the song, especially if the song has been written by someone else. Guitarist who play "difficult" just to show off themselves instead of placing the guitar at the service of the song - not the other way round- are not my cup of tea. As far as I can think, Brian only did that once, in Brighton Rock, but he did it for his own fun and it was his own song, he never messed up other people's compositions.

[@uh4511]

Yeah The music of my intro

[@chiefshep5885]

Greatest guitarist ever, imo

[@alexcoronasaltemir8334]

Really good guitarist, one of my faves. But I think john petrucci is way better.

[@Kaneki-fo6sv]

Torh

[@mnwctid]

The slightly over-indulgent 2 minute solo in The Hitman? I Want It All? You Don't Fool Me? Dragon Attack? Somebody To Love? MADE IN HEAVEN? Or above all, Bijou in its entirety, a beautiful piece of guitar work

[@comradet0m]

No "These Are The Days Of Our Lives"? For shame, that solo is absolutely perfect.

[@davisdavyant6217]

comradet0m not really

[@nothisispatrick1797]

comradet0m ikr

[@derpy8480]

Great song i just don’t wanna be reminded

[@DaveyPOfficial]

comradet0m exactly I love that song 😢

[@laurencegray2477]

It is a perfect solo very powerful

[@henriquew11]

Bijou is a song FULL of solos!!! it's mainly a song for the Red Special to sing!

[@62rockin]

IMHO THE GREATEST GUITARIST EVER. The Single Most Innovative, Talented Guitarist that has Graced the Earth.

[@GoldAndDangerous]

How could you forget Princes of the Universe? I love that solo. But it's impossible to narrow it down to just 25, because Brian May brilliant in all his solos. In my eyes he's the best guitarist, and he has his own tune - He can play everything...

[@rosariofiorenza5419]

I was hoping for Princes Of The Universe and Invisible Man 🤘

[@FrankieLouis]

you cut headlong in the best part!

[@TruthSurge]

Just my opinions here but I always think of Killer Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon, etc because of the harmonies. To me, those always just blew me away. Speaking of harmonies... the most moving piece of harmony work IMO is the part in All Dead, All Dead. If you haven't heard that.... you must. It's just so huge and all guitar. Very sad too.

[@MrACangusyoungDC]

TruthSurge His harmonies! "white queen something" and "save me" are two of many greats. It's just the best sound that there is, just like tsunami of sound. I believe even modern DJs would or at least should be blown away by that shit. Beats every syntheziser thing ever.

[@TruthSurge]

MrACangusyoungDC I wonder if any rappers ever sampled some of it. prob not.

[@MrACangusyoungDC]

TruthSurge They are so close minded. I've tried to introduce them softly to something else, and start with Jimi Hendrix - "Castles Made Of Sand" because it's very rap-ish, but still so much better than rap. But they just go "Nah, that's not rap so I will hate it right from the begining" But there are actually a few smart people out there who absorbs all kinds of stuff, but they haven't been introduced to it yet. Music will be better than what it is right now.

[@TruthSurge]

MrACangusyoungDC I think we've just about worn out all styles of music. Not much that's really new, imo. anything you do almost certainly has been done before. But maybe you can add some twists and blend two olds to make one new.

[@MrACangusyoungDC]

TruthSurge​​ The bad thing about our time is that changes aren't popular. Singers only want to perform vocally, Djs want to compose beats and Rappers want to perform lyrically. They only look as far back as the '80s. If they're looking further they're pure underground. I don't like that kind of thing either because they are also sort of isolated too. I believe that things like Brian May's harmonies are able to blow anyone away, or at least the open minded musicians. Because there are actually some of them out there among the very popular musicians, mostly Djs like Avicii and David Guetta. They are not totally useless, and they are sort of accepting changes, which is the only way to improvement. The problem with those is that they are very unexperienced and haven't been introduced to thing's like "White Queen (As It Begin)" or "God Save The Queen". Then there the old guys who knows what sounds good but they lack the power of youth now. Ambition, experience and youth is the ultimate combination for the making of great music (and certainly other kinds of creative assemblies). These things were popular in the '60s and '70s so naturally good music was made there. Hehe, I just noticed that I am just discussing now. I'm Sort of just making up thing as I write onwards, but I can still be on to something here. 

[@Στελίτσα]

BRIAN MAY THE BEST GUITARIST EVEEEEEEEER!!!!!!😍😍😍😍😉

[@martinhasson4942]

Go On!......are you related? 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔😆😆😆

[@rachelhannah69]

Oh my gosh. These solos are so freakin' TASTY.

[@bijou201]

Guitar God - Dr. Brian May!! Hope someday he'll be Sir Brian May!! Amazing guitarist, excellent composer, good singer, great scientist and very kind person! We love you Bri

[@a.vdg2407]

You should have made a top 50...,

[@evigklytteren]

ArieSnariani I dont know exactly how many tracks Queen laid down, but I imagine it being closer to a top 75 :-)

[@doka8564]

evigklytteren 175 or something like that I think. So we need a top 175 because ALL of Brian solos are incredible

[@javier8218]

@@doka8564 Not all Queen songs has guitar solos :(

[@doka8564]

@@javier8218 ye thats true :(

[@JimmyS.25]

Eargasm , thats what i've got !

[@rayres1074]

You forgot perhaps Delilah. Highly underrated song, which has May's geniality on it. I mean, he imitates a friggin cat! plus the solo is pure rad.

[@edubeltran2976]

awful song IMO but absolutely worth it because of the meows

[@romeualgeriatransportmarit8518]

@@edubeltran2976 meeow ,meeow , meeeeeow ,wawawaw ...that's the part you are refering . You got it for free !

[@aalme331]

And Innuendo as well

[@romeualgeriatransportmarit8518]

@@aalme331 It has to be pointed out that Steve Howe (ex Yes & Asia) had an important input in it , the flamenco piece. Just for info !

[@ILOV3BUTT3R]

This dude practically invented shredding with "I Want It All"

[@rayres1074]

+Various Things Actually shredding's creation can be given to legendary Les Paul's "Song in Blue" solo. I personally think. That basically is shredding.

[@rayres1074]

Various Things yea :P

[@gibsondanny]

+ILOV3BUTT3R he may not have invented it exactly, But he sure as hell perfected it.

[@faggotsmoker9588]

No he didn't. Shredding just means playing fast and he was definitely not the first one to play fast. Tired of stupid comments like this.

[@faggotsmoker9588]

Django Reinherdt shredded way before Les Paul.

[@SuperZiggyCraft]

Scandal? Somebody to Love? Don't Stop Me Now? I understand how hard it is to choose though. But seriously really enjoyed this video. Great selection.

[@vinsmokesaku4900]

Brian May, Slash, and Hendrix are the three greatest guitarists 🤘

[@wizzjo1nt5]

Clearly you haven't heard or forgot about invisible man, and these are the days of our lives

[@MrFusion]

I'm surprised they weren't in the top 10. Some of the best he's played.

[@felixjest1996]

One of the greatest guitarists that was part of the greatest band

[@kirkrammsy]

"you don't fool me " is missing

[@rrektless]

Yeah

[@jamighanijr8128]

Best solo

[@dead0ntime]

Sounds like a Steve Vai solo, it is kick ass

[@MrFusion]

That solo is incredible

[@EngPedroValerio]

OMG, where's Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon???

[@R.E._Peony]

If millionaire waltz is on there lazing should definitely be on there.

[@bulsaralinda]

Hi joselect. YOU ARE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB with these movies TO HIGHLIGHT THE REASONS OF FREDDIE AND BRIAN to who may have forgotten but also introduce them to new comers!!!!!love you and Queen!

[@justinswan2435]

Brian May is a God. I don't disagree with this list except one the MIRICAl In my opinion is the greatest solo of all time

[@hexagonestx1036]

It’s Miracle that’s how you spell it

[@saramattias07]

I missed the solo from Its A Hard Life. A very emotional solo...the best in my opinion...

[@Fuzzums2]

LAST HORIZON!!! i know it isn't Queen but it's sooo beautiful :')

[@lionardi77]

Every solo is pure pure gold

[@ben5leto]

brian made soooo many guitar solos and they are ALL so genius. Brian is one of the best guitarist ever

[@beback_]

No "These Are the Days of Our Lives"?

[@jfrizzlle]

why doesn't he get more recognition. He certainly deserves it!

[@Rikman56]

I've always enjoyed how well his guitar playing goes with the particular song that is being play. That is a rare talent in itself.

[@adamwrong]

I’m gonna be real.. Any riff or solo that this man plays is genius and amazing. Brian May is a genius and will always be considered a legend for his work.

[@chantalandrade8191]

I think Don't Stop Me Now should have been added to the list

[@luiggi853]

you are right

[@eduardollamastv2067]

Where is "invisible man"?? That solo is amazing... Brian May the best of all.

[@kearonandrewobrien7460]

Brian May a true guitar singer caring and crying with Freddie each note,Just love the dsnceing in Born to love you.Best solo

[@MaryGMess]

I think you missed "The invisible man" solo.. i think is one of his greatest.. this man is amazing!

[@DisneyVIPtour]

Check out my top 20 Brian May solos and my top 25 Brian May songs in my KZbin channel: ALE ROCKS

[@jimgrim1981]

He is the most melodic and skillful player.

[@stevedyer579]

always liked his solo in Killer Queen the best - so unique - then again Queen is so unique - nobody sounds like them

[@h82crash]

It's Late number 25?!? I would put it way higher on the list.

[@Iceman-xx1kh]

Agreed..fabulous improvised playing with the finger picking.

[@nancywillets5268]

Best guitarist & he is also so scrumptious looking 😋 love the was he makes his RS ( baby ) sing. That man is just PHENOMENAL 🎸 🎶 💞

[@JulieJewell777]

Brian is an Absolutely Amazing guitarist and songwriter.... I have been a fan since the beginning... Guitar Legend.....

[@Olegstuff21986]

Beautiful solos, great stuff - what a guitar player!

[@burnsmay]

This man is the reason i play guitar. Thank you Brian

[@jmaser96]

But they're all amazing ._. It's a virtually impossible task to narrow down every one of his guitar solos down to list of which is better :l

[@haroldthebarrel7061]

the 3 that spring to my mind are Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy, Flick of the Wrist and the AMAZING jazz band impersonation in Good Company. Taste, technique and originality in abundance - yet no room for any of these 3 in your top 25?!

[@johnbaxter9875]

All dead all dead never gets any mention. And is absolutely breathtaking.

[@Madoka227]

"Coming soon" "great king rat" "white queen (live Hammersmith 75)" "sweet lady" "good company" "who needs you" "bicycle race" "back chat" "scandal" "was it all worth it" "don't try so hard" "these are the days of our lifes" "the show must go on" "let me live" "mother love" "you don't fool me" including those from this video, are the best for me :-)

[@nothing4875]

omg.. i love brian.. my favs are killer queen , bohemian rhapsody, show must go on.. n almost everything watever he do with his guitar.. it's amazing..

[@PepsiBoy3000]

How can the solo's from Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon or Prophet Song not be in this list! Those solos are beyond epic!

[@Flamestar320]

It's solos like these that make Brian May my favorite guitarist in Rock music history. Even when Brian plays very quick, it still sounds laid back and relaxing.

[@dh41005]

Killer Queen, The Show must go on and You don’t fool me are my favourites

[@dh41005]

And innuendo as well

[@everlastlove7766]

His hands, his guitar are driving me crazy! Brian is irresistible and brilliant! Thank you for the great video! But I think 10 song is called "Father To Son".

[@cytrynozol]

He's totally amazing. But for me the best Brain May's guitar solo is "Kind of Magic" live at the Wembley Stadium (1986). Title is perfect - it's a MAGIC. I close my eyes, I listen to and I'm in heaven.

[@cometblazt]

Brian: original,. soulful, brilliant, best tone ever, instantly recognizable.

[@truthmouthpiece2]

nice mix, guitar solos sound so good.. still nothin better than entire songs

[@debbiem867]

Fantastic Video!!! Just Luv Brian May!!

[@naghallac]

Beautiful solos.

[@jewel8888]

my personal favourite was missing and is Brian's solo on these are the days of my life, it is straight from the heart, and shows the sadness they must all have been feeling at that time over Freddie's illness. A great top 25 though I love all of them.

[@Txmedic76]

Great video. # 18 and # 15 r my fav's! Rock on Dr gMay. Queen is in a class all their own.

[@charlies86angel]

EXCELLENT selection of songs!!! Couldn't agree more with your choices! (Him being quite easy on the eyes in his younger days is just a bonus!)

Yes! 'The show must go on' it's (IMO) the greatest

[@IVDQ]

Great selection ;) Happy B-day Brian

[@TheStockwell]

It's a great song. As a US resident who's been into Queen for just a few years, it's amazing to discover how damn good they were. It's a shame the US lost track of them and missed out on how they became one of the REALLY great bands of the 80s. Yeah - thank you, MTV, for dumping them when they were in their prime. LOL, as they say - LOL!

[@Eddyperoguitars]

I think every single solo from Brian is thrilling and worth to be remembered (or played). Some time his solos is the main interest of the song (for example in Taylor songs like Tenement Funster or Drowse).

[@aneyva]

Awesome! He is a great guitarist and you have truly show cased just the tip of what the man can do. Bravo!

[@dondongo86]

YES! "Millionaire Waltz"! Man, I forgot how good the "Breakthru" solo was. I would have put "My Fairy King" on there probably as number one. "Brighton Rock" as number one, and "Death on Two Legs" intro as number three. Good list.

[@TheStockwell]

Good point. They all sang, all of them except John Deacon. People forget how in the original recording of "Who Wants to Live Forever" it's May singing the first verse. He wrote the song, of course. When Mercury died before recording the final verse of "Mother Love" on their final album, May stepped in to finish it.

[@parkersmith3623]

I think his guitar has a special tune because he and his dad made it and he never stopped using it

[@KillerrQueenSaveMe]

Completely agree. Each handmade musical instrument is unique moreover Red Special was made looking for sound wich Brian May whished for her lady. I am sure that is the sound of stars.

[@KillerrQueenSaveMe]

Sorry: "sound that B.M. wanted for her lady"

[@juliegibbs4652]

he plays it with a special kind of coin. He has even had some minted because it works so nicely

[@MrBingping]

He uses a six pence coin. But most of it comes from his hands

[@charlies86angel]

Man, this guy is right on the very top, what with the revolutionizing of the delay - and the technique!!! Goooooooooooorgeous!!! Hail, King of Guitar Solos! (Or at least one of them... ;-))

[@figgiesmalls1760]

My top 3 guitarists in no particular order: Duane Allman Brian May Jimi Hendrix

[@zbr76]

Happy birthday Dr. May! Keep on rockin'!

[@edwin46344]

Excellent selection

[@christianmeloni8525]

The solo of "Who wants to live forever" in the first night (11/7) of Wembley 86' is the best I've ever listened to

[@rediscoverySX]

I was born to love you, Bijou, and A Kind Of Magic the best for me. Great list, man

[@ThunderbirdIV25]

He also sings "Love of my life" when they do it live now. And one show, even, they put up a video of Freddie singing it from a past concert. To have been at that concert... I can only imagine how many people must've started crying.

[@Iceman-xx1kh]

The Crazy little solo is simplistic but so amazing in it's sound and execution.

[@cclarke10able]

wow! great job joselect, loved a bit of great king rat!

[@09Tina04]

Really cool video! Brian still rocks!

[@mrachid8689]

Great!

[@のうさぎ-i1i]

fine one! I want missfire, breakthru, Bring back that Leroy Brown, if you can't beat them, coming soon to be in your list. Hope your another work!

[@LaxBassBuffyWHOLIGAN]

Brian May is the man, he's a genius. He can play everything.

[@juan12piscis]

You don't fool me, one of the best solos

[@Bulgy80]

Fantastic Briam

[@SteenKobberHansen]

He is absolutely still one of the best - if not THE best. I saw and heard him in Klagenfurt 15. July 2013. He is still THE equlibrist :-)

[@harkabir]

All his songs are great. King of song writing and harmony soloing. Some of his best solos can be heard on Live At Wembley : We Will Rock Now, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, A Kind of Magic. All of these are radically different from the studio Versions.

[@fifimsp]

Glad you put Innuendo on there. That's my favorite solo he does. Not saying it's the best, I just love that song.

[@bluewater21456]

one of the finest

[@nick643vgs]

The solo to white queen (as it began) at Hammersmith odeon Christmas eve 1974 was legendary and brought tears to my eyes.

[@SuperTransistor]

I think the solo of "I Was Born To Love You" is the best solo of Brian..

[@sepita10]

its good for you to show the people the songs that not everyone knows, like the marck of the black queen or great king rat (awesome songs) very good choices

[@titolante]

Great job! It's hell trying to make a top 25 and leaving so many solos out. I think it would be at least a top 50...Dragon attack, Invisble man, you don't fool me, back chat, don't stop me now, let me entertain you, in the lap of the gods (not the revisited one), Bicycle race...well you get the point.. May guitar God!!

[@roo8258]

I love you Brian, but seriously, what kind of posing is that at 8:24... haha ha

[@danielhorsten4989]

Tharusha Charvani Naidoo surrealism

[@martinberra]

I remember Stewe Howe playing the acoustic parts in the middle section and Brian playing the elevtric parts.