The Best Guitar Solos Of All Time: Number 1

"Best Of" lists are always subjective and it is really hard to judge and quantify art. Still, I hope you have enjoyed this countdown of my favorite guitar solos of all time. For the top spot, I spent a lot of time thinking about the solos that mattered the most to me. I kept coming back to something I used to say to a coworker at my old job: "I just want to focus on my work and listen to David Gilmour play guitar." That hasn't really changed. In fact, I often swing between classic Pink Floyd tunes and Gilmour's solo work. I especially like the 2015 solo album Rattle That Lock.

My choice for the best guitar solo of all time goes to David Gilmour and the Pink Floyd masterpiece, "Comfortably Numb." The song actually has two memorable guitar solos, but the second is the best. The song is on the 1979 release The Wall.

This was a hard choice for me because I also love the solo work on "High Hopes" from The Division Bell. In fact, I think that track displays some of Gilmour's best work and that is saying something considering his impact on guitar and the music world period.

The smoothness and uniqueness of "Comfortably Numb" tops my list because the solo is so transcendent and made extra special by the warm tone achieved by Gilmour. It provides a nice juxtaposition to the chilling lyrics performed by Roger Waters. It is fitting the duo share a writing credit and vocal duties on this signature track. It is the most important song on The Wall - and the song catapulted Pink Floyd into the stratosphere of epic rock stardom. No one thought the band could eclipse The Dark Side Of The Moon... and The Wall far exceeded expectations.

When the second guitar solo kicks in, Gilmour is ready to rock and show off. There's a lot of soul going on that helps bring the theme of The Wall together. Live, the song can go on forever and ever. Of any artist I have not yet seen live, the one I want to see more than any other is David Gilmour. The majestic second solo is a highlight of Gilmour's epic performance at Pompeii in 2016. Want to watch a masterclass in live guitar work? Just view the clip below.

It is fitting that the last song the members of Pink Floyd ever performed live together was "Comfortably Numb" during Live 8 in 2005. Also worth a watch: