![\"Brian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Brian-May-Queen-1977-Far-Out-Magazine-F-1140x855.jpg\")
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(Credits: Far Out \/ Carl Lender)<\/p>\n
Sun 26 April 2026 11:11, UK <\/p>\n
The name Brian May<\/a> consistently finds its way into conversations surrounding the greatest guitarists of all time, and it\u2019s easy to see why. As the lead guitarist for Queen, the artist turned astrophysicist performed some of the most iconic rock songs of all time with his talent on the instrument. From the blistering twangs of \u2018Bohemian Rhapsody\u2019 to the closing guitars of \u2018We Will Rock You\u2019, May has well and truly made his mark on guitar music.<\/p>\n Queen wasn\u2019t too reliant on the art of the riff, often focusing on grand soundscapes full of spectacle while allowing May\u2019s talents to shine in other ways. But that didn\u2019t stop him from penning a few memorable moments across their discography. Take \u2018Brighton Rock\u2019 for example, which stands out as some of his finest guitar work, or \u2018Keep Yourself Alive\u2019, which is driven by his riff.<\/p>\n That approach meant May often had to think beyond the traditional role of a rock guitarist. Rather than anchoring songs with repeated patterns, he used the instrument to add colour and texture, layering parts in a way that felt closer to orchestration than standard rock arrangement. It gave Queen\u2019s music a sense of scale, where the guitar was just one element in a much broader sonic palette.<\/p>\n It also shaped how he viewed riffs when they did appear. Because they were used more sparingly in Queen\u2019s catalogue, they carried a different kind of weight, standing out as defining moments rather than the foundation of every track. That perspective likely informed his appreciation for other artists who could distil so much impact into a single, memorable phrase.<\/p>\n May is also a fan of riffs when it comes to his own listening habits. During a chat with Music Radar<\/a>, the Queen guitarist was asked to name some of his favourite examples of the skill from throughout music history. He kicked things off with a nod to the Beatles, acknowledging that they did some \u201cpretty fair riffs, you know,\u201d before citing \u2018Ticket to Ride\u2019 as an example.<\/p>\n Featuring on the band\u2019s 1965 album, Help!<\/a>, \u2018Ticket to Ride\u2019 isn\u2019t necessarily an example of a raucous, driving riff. Rather, it\u2019s an example of the band\u2019s talent for pop melody-making. The track opens with gorgeous guitar twangs, at once simple and evocative. They\u2019re sweet and nostalgic, and they eventually get lost under harmonies and increasing instrumentation, but it\u2019s a gorgeous riff. <\/p>\n May also used \u2018I Feel Fine\u2019 as another example of The Beatles\u2019 talents when it comes to riff-writing. The 1964 track opens with a gorgeously twangy guitar riff provided by George Harrison, which May describes as \u201cincredible\u201d and \u201cout-of-the-box.\u201d It is a particularly great riff that often goes underrated in their discography. <\/p>\n![\"Ray](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ray-Davies-1971-Musician-The-Kinks-Heikki-Innanen-Far-Out-Magazine-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/a>(Credits: Far Out \/ Heikki Innanen \/
\nFinnish Heritage Agency)<\/p>\n
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<\/a> The Far Out Beatles Newsletter<\/p>\n