• Since rock and roll music's inception in the 1950s, countless guitarists have delivered mind-bending solos that have become ingrained with the history of the genre. 
• During live solos, Jimi Hendrix frequently played the guitar behind his back, with his teeth, and even when it was on fire.
• Eddie Van Halen's solo on "Eruption" changed the landscape and vocabulary of guitar playing forever. 
• We ranked the 20 best guitar solos ever, and Jimmy Page's "Stairway to Heaven" solo took the top spot. 

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Few things defined the genre of rock and roll more than the guitar solo. Sometimes powerful and loud, at other times gentle and orchestrated, the guitar solo changed pop culture and the way rock musicians approach composing songs. 

Ranking these solos isn't easy: There are countless solos throughout rock and roll's history that are worthy of recognition. To narrow down the selection process, our ranking only includes studio versions of songs, rather than live performances.

From Carlos Santana's "Europa" to Jimmy Page's "Stairway to Heaven," here are the top 20 guitar solos of all time, ranked.  

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