10 Best Classic Rock Guitarists
3. Brian May
When Queen burst onto the scene in the 70's, no rock fan had heard anything like their music. From their first record on, the band was meticulous at building records with layered soundscapes that made for unreal musical climaxes.
Freddie Mercury was always the main star of any Queen song, but Brian May's guitar was not too far behind. With the studio as his canvas, May would not so much write guitar solos as he would construct miniature guitar symphonies. Across most of Queen's albums, May's approach to guitar parts could never be done with just one guitar. Instead, he would make traditional guitar solos performed in three part harmony, giving the guitar the sonic punch that is normally reserved for just vocalists.
That's not to say May didn't have his more raucous moments though, like on the breaks of "I Want it All" and "Stone Cold Crazy." Queen's varying sounds also showcased May's ability to make his guitar fit in multiple styles from opera to rockabilly to dance music. Pushing the limits of guitar playing with every song, Brian May's guitar sound took him from a humble rock guitarist to a modern musical genius.