Top 10 Best Guns N' Roses Songs

Known for their hard-hitting, guitar-driven sound and the distinctive vocal stylings of frontman Axl Rose, Guns N' Roses has been entertaining audiences for over three decades. Their music has been covered by countless artists, and their influence can be heard in everything from heavy metal to grunge to modern-day rock.

Despite some lineup changes over the years, Guns N' Roses has remained a mainstay in the rock world, and their catalog of songs is as impressive as it is extensive. From the opening notes of "Welcome to the Jungle" to the haunting closing chords of "Don't Cry," each of their songs has something unique to offer listeners. Whether you're looking for a head-banging anthem or a soulful ballad, Guns N' Roses has got you covered.
The Top Ten
1 Sweet Child O' Mine

Slash's solo in this song is one of the best solos I've ever listened to. It feels like we're flying when he starts the guitar solo. It's awesome! It definitely deserves the first place!

Yes, the guitar solo is better in November Rain but the rest of the song (including the intro and the end) are definitely better here. So, on the whole, this one might just win over November Rain according to my opinion.

These two songs are total classics, reasons enough for you to recommend this band first to anyone who doesn't listen to rock music.

They are made up of the greatest vocalist of all time, two of the greatest guitarists of all time, the best bass player in the world, and the most awesome drummer ever. And when these five men played together, the earth stopped moving, and everyone stared in awe.

2 November Rain

Before I heard this song, I laughed when people said it had the best outro ever. I thought Happy Together had the best outro. Nevertheless, I ended up listening to November Rain to hear this outro everyone talked about. It was a long song, but I felt as though it used its runtime perfectly. There were 2 good guitar solos I liked, and then all of a sudden the chords changed. Everything changed. It's just like the movie Se7en, and it made the entire song epic. It is one of my favorite songs, and I'll never forget how caught off guard I get when the outro starts.

The most meaningful, powerful, moving, and touching song of any band to date. Truly an unparalleled masterpiece. Perfect to listen to with a loved one, with friends, alone, before a big game, when you're down, or in any setting, really. It carries its own significance to each listener, and let's not forget the guitar solos. Mesmerizing and inspiring whether played on a guitar, piano, or even a clarinet. History was made when this song came out.

3 Welcome to the Jungle

Okay... How in the world can "November Rain" be higher than this?! Sure, "November Rain" is a great song, but Slash really blows me away in this one. In "November Rain," he just has one big solo. In "Welcome to the Jungle," it's a nonstop ear-blistering shred coming off his guitar. Axl Rose does a much better vocal job on this one too. Definitely needs to be NUMBER TWO!

I can't think of a better song to encapsulate all of Appetite, Guns N' Roses, and the entire genre of rock than this. It's got everything: a great intro that gives way to a killer riff, a quiet sort of part in the middle that leads into a solo, and one of the most tense bridges I have ever heard. This is where the world's most dangerous band began.

Totally better than "Sweet Child"... This one actually rocks, and it rocks hard! I love that riff, and Axl's vocal talent shines through unlike in other Guns N' Roses songs. Just try to sing this song well. The interlude part in the middle with "You know where you are? You're in the jungle, baby!" is indescribable.

4 Paradise City

This song is the best Guns N' Roses tune of all time. The intro soothes you, and then out of nowhere, it's suddenly time to rock. Then if that wasn't enough, the speed picks up three-quarters through, and if you can stay sane, then you are not a rock fan. This song ROCKS. End of story.

This song has everything - the best solo, no kidding - the best riff BY FAR, and nothing could beat it, except "Welcome to the Jungle," "November Rain," and "Sweet Child O' Mine." Even so, this is and always will be my favorite song ever.

This was the first-ever rock song I heard. Even though I heard it in Burnout Paradise, this song drew me to the rock genre, and it holds a special place in my heart. I strongly feel it should be number 1.

5 Estranged

I'm going to go for this one because this is their masterpiece. November Rain too is good but way too commercial; it's a shame. This one is much more personal, reflective, and meaningful. You Could Be Mine is my favorite 'hard' number. Don't Cry (original) is my favorite ballad; Coma is amazing, and Civil War, despite its country feel, is one of their most passionate moments. But overall, Estranged is still the most creative piece. A stroke of genius for Axl and his band.

"Estranged" is not only Guns N' Roses' best song by far, but it is also one of the best rock songs ever made. Both Axl's singing and Slash's guitar playing are exceptional in this song. I don't know how anyone could vote for "Welcome to the Jungle" before it. As great as "Welcome to the Jungle" is, it is not particularly unique in the heavy metal scene.

Have you ever really listened to this song? To me, this is simply the best song ever. How can anyone who has truly listened to this song vote for any other song ahead of it? I absolutely love the changes in mood in "Estranged" and the buildup until the release of emotions. This is simply "the song".

6 Knockin' on Heaven's Door

This one should be knocking the number one position. The very best song of the world.

One of my favorite songs of all time. It has amazing lyrics. And I'm not even starting about the guitar pieces! One of the best bands that ever existed!

Great remake of an older song, great vocals, amazing guitar (Slash is a genius). I would say it's a tie between this song and November Rain for #1.

7 Civil War

This 8-minute masterpiece is the opening track on Use Your Illusion 2 and, in my opinion, better than some of the other brilliant songs on there, such as Yesterdays, Knocking on Heaven's Door, Estranged, and You Could Be Mine. The guitar, lyrics, verses, piano, vocals, meaning, chorus, and length are all perfect, resulting in what is their best song for me, just ahead of Sweet Child of Mine, Nightrain, Paradise City, Welcome to the Jungle, and Rocket Queen.

I understand. Many people are familiar with Guns N' Roses through songs like Welcome To The Jungle, Sweet Child O' Mine, and November Rain. However, in my opinion, their masterpiece is Estranged, and Don't Cry is also a beautiful song. But if you were to ask for my personal favorite, I would choose Civil War. I love every aspect of the song, from the speech, intro, verse, bridge, solo, outro, and Axl's question at the end. It's a meaningful and graceful piece.

8 You Could Be Mine

Brilliant song! Really gets the blood pumping! You can tell they wrote it around the time of writing all the songs on Appetite, and it could easily have been on that album. Terminator 2 was my favorite movie for a long time, and it had the added bonus of having this song in it. T2 and You Could Be Mine: the perfect combination!

Definitely. My favorite, it hits so hard. I love the guitar work. The solo is so epic, and the fact that it was used in one of the biggest badass movies with the biggest badass, Arnold, only adds to its greatness.

For me, this is number one. Second best is Welcome To The Jungle. I can't decide after that. Maybe Don't Cry (Original or Alternate). It's a hard decision. Or in the words of Axl himself, it's a bad obsession, haha!

9 Don't Cry (Original)

Probably the greatest song ever written. It was a girl that Izzy was going out with, that Axl really, really liked. We've all met one special girl that we won't ever forget, every single one of us, and for Axl, she was it. When Izzy and the girl broke up, Axl asked her out, and on their first date, she told him it's not going to work out. He just put aside his masculinity for a minute and started crying, and she told him, "Don't cry." The next day, Axl and Izzy got together and wrote the song in five minutes. Axl has a lot attached to this song, and when he sings it, you can hear that he's giving it his all. He just gives so much when he sings this song, at the very end, he sings notes I didn't even know were humanly possible to sing. He forgets about everything else in the world and just sings. The song is about a woman leaving a man. It gives me chills every time. This song is a true masterpiece and definitely number one on my list.

10 Patience

Definitely top 5. I absolutely loved it when it first came out, then I got a bit sick of it because it was played out, so I stopped listening to it. After avoiding it for a few years, I learned to appreciate it even more than I used to. Now I can play it on repeat and never get sick of it again. Perfection.

This song is a good song, don't get me wrong, but it became my all-time favorite seeing it live in Tokyo in 1992. The live version is on YouTube, and Tokyo 1992 is by far Guns N' Roses' best live performance. I encourage you to watch the version that includes Gilby Clarke and Slash performing Wild Horses right before Patience. All in all, Guns N' Roses' best song!

I was going to pick November Rain, but I was forced to pick Patience when I saw it was only 9th! One of the best acoustic songs of all time, along with Wish You Were Here and Hotel California. This song definitely deserves a spot in the top 5.

The Contenders
11 Nightrain

In my opinion, Nightrain, Out ta Get Me, and Welcome to the Jungle were their three best songs. Sweet Child O' Mine is a good ballad, but it is overrated and overplayed. Guns N' Roses is all about cool, heavy, hard rock songs. November Rain is extremely overrated; it sucks, in my opinion. Nightrain deserves to be number one!

Second favorite song on Appetite, which definitely puts it in the top 10. It's pure kick-ass rock. I miss songs like this that are so damn good that they always put me in a good mood. I'll probably never get the same excitement I got from Appetite... Ever again. It's a damn shame.

Underappreciated Song from Guns N' Roses. This song incorporates everything that makes GN'R a legendary band. It was the filthy, hard-sounding guitar and Axl's incredible voice. It has the raging solos and holds up with Welcome To The Jungle as one of the best-sounding songs of GN'R. It's sad that this song is often overlooked by the public.

12 Mr. Brownstone

It has everything: a catchy riff, a good solo, and smart vocals. I love the line "I used to do a little, but the little wouldn't do it, so that little got more and more." I love it. Every time I play it on guitar, people love it.

Everyone says that all their songs are about drugs... Well, they are, but this one is AWESOME! Nobody can beat my absolute favorite song (out to get me) but this one takes the second spot because it rocks as a song all about heroin.

Very underrated song from them, the kind of song that just makes you feel like "F yeah, not a care in the world." Vocals aren't fantastic in the song, but with a great riff backing it up, good work from Adler on the drums and Duff's bass.

13 Rocket Queen

Why is this number twelve? This song is so great! Sickest main riff and bass line. The first half is so dirty and wild, but the second is romantic and emotional, joined by a tension-building bridge that makes you believe that the second part will be the same as the first. However, you are suddenly blown away by cleaner guitar and vocals with meaningful lyrics. Slash's solo is really solid too. The list goes on, but that last 2:50 is the most perfect moment in rock and roll history.

I like most of their songs, but I love how the lyrics are very cocky in the beginning and all of a sudden turn into a proclamation of friendship. Such great singing as well. I'm not very fond of the solo or the riffs, but I love Duff's bassline. I especially love the Tokyo version with the rap because Axl is crazy good. Other favorites are Come, Mr. Brownstone, all versions of You're Crazy, and Don't Damn Me, but if I have to choose one, it's this one.

14 Coma

This is by far one of their best songs ever. This song deserves at least the top 5. It has an amazing intro: "See, you caught me in a coma." Then, the ending is legendary. Sure, it's not "Paradise City" or "Sweet Child of Mine." Those are great songs. I just think this song is somewhat underrated for how great it is. There is no part in this song that is boring, even though it is 10 minutes long.

This song immediately grabs you tight and doesn't release you until the whole song is finished. Although it is 10 minutes long, there is no moment when it gets boring. I've always liked the combination of Axl Rose's voice and Slash's guitar skills, and this is one of the songs that shows me why.

In my opinion, this song could be their best, but definitely top 5. It is so underrated that it's a crime. Once this song begins, it's impossible to turn it off because it starts off good and just gets better and better with every second. It really doesn't get much better than this.

15 Live and Let Die

Not as good as the original, but a nice take on it. Sir Paul McCartney's versions are not perfect either. I wish there was a version that was a cross between them.

This is totally rock music.
They can change a lazy song into a very rock song!
This can be higher than Nightrain and Chinese Democracy!
This should be in the top 10!

This has to be in the top 10. It's their best song with the most meaningful lyrics. This is what I call rock music.

16 My Michelle

So underrated! From the first riff, this song is in your face with its hard lyrics and guitar work! Amazing.

This song is so raw and brutal with a killer opening and great lyrics, absolutely love it.

I love the intro and the emotional part right after the second refrain.

17 It's So Easy

My personal favorite Guns N' Roses song. I love the bass line, as well as the way Axl's singing. The guitar parts rock too. It's done perfectly. I wish it could be a bit longer, though. Who knows, that could have ruined it. The mean lyrics kick ass, especially the second verse. I think it would be a good opener, actually. But it's definitely right next to Jungle in the best songs ever.

This is song 13 in my Guns N' Roses top 10. Every time I hear a Guns song, I say that one is in my top 10... But then I realize I have 25 songs in my top 10. Great, great song.

What?! This is their best! It's even better than Sweet Child, Paradise City, and Welcome to the Jungle!

18 Yesterdays

It's a beautiful song, very meaningful for me. I wonder why it's in the 18th place.

19 Don't Cry

My absolute love, favorite song helps me get through all the difficult moments.

20 Used to Love Her

This song is so cleverly written and fun to listen to. I love the stark contrast from the dark lyrics to the breezy, fun (almost relaxing) tone of the music itself.

Pretty little tongue in cheek ditty. Even my kids sing along to this one!

Only 22nd? Come on, guys! Rate that fabulous song!

21 Pretty Tied Up

Mindblowing song. Very catchy, changes tempo multiple times effortlessly. Underrated song.

Love listening to this, high volume in the car - my guilty pleasure!

22 Since I Don't Have You

What is this song doing in the 20th position? It deserves better! The riffs in this song, as well as the amazing vocals, are damn awesome!

Great take on a classic song! Slash's solo is insane! All in all, it's a great song you can't take off repeat!

Great song! It should be in the top 10.

23 Garden of Eden

Straight up badass rock 'n' roll! Not nearly their most popular song, but it has always been my favorite. Great song to get you pumped up!

The Four Horsemen sounds like this.

24 One in a Million

I love this song! The beat of this song is unlike anything in the world, and then the solo towards the end... beautiful! Although the lyrics can be a little controversial, it's important to realize that this is a song, and we don't know the true meaning behind what Axl was trying to convey. Everything about it is so beautiful. It's my favorite song, period!

The song is brilliant. If the lyrics were changed in two parts of the song, it would have topped the charts. Right or wrong, I admire Axl's resistance to let people tell him what he should or should not say in his music.

Even though Stradlin and Slash don't really play all that well on this song (especially Stradlin), and it is said to be racist (I think Rose tried to put himself into the position of a racist, I dunno, he did something strange), it deserves top 15.

25 Shadow Of Your Love

An awesome fast-paced masterpiece! I wish they had included it in Appetite for Destruction back when it was released.

Awesome guitar riffs and lyrics. This song rocks!

Look out for Shadow of Your Love. This track will kick you in the nuts.

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