JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Guitars and Guitarist Forum Greatest Guitar Solo's

Ok not entirely sure if this one has been done yet but if so shoot me!

I think one of the greatest guitar solo's is Angus youngs solo on an early (Bon Scott era) song called Ride on. Very bluesy sounding really makes the whole thing worth while not fast not real technical sounding but wow the tone awesome delivery as well!

George's solo on "All My Loving" is sublime.

Duane Allman on "Stormy Monday."

Mark Knoffler on "Sultans of Swing."

Hendrix on "The Wind Cries Mary."

Robbie Robertson on "Unfaithful Servant."

Check Berry on "No Particular Place to Go."

Mike Bloomfield on "The Work Song"--Paul Butterfield Bles Band

Whoever played the solo on the Amazing Rhythm Aces "Third Rate Romance."

I like Clapton's solos on "Bell Bottom Blues" and "Something."

George's sweet little solo on "Michelle" is a 15 second masterpiece.

Too many others to mention....

Eddie Van Halen---Eruption, Spanish Fly.
Frank Zappa---Muffin Man
Jan Akkerman---Hocus Pocus
Leslie West {Mountain}-- Theme from an Imaginary Western.
Warren Haynes {Allman Brothers}--- Seven Turns.
Dickey Betts---Blue Sky, Back Where it All Begins.
Micheal Schenker {UFO}--Rock Bottom, Light's Out
Ritchie Blackmore--Highway Star, Burn, Child In Time.
Vivian Cambell {Dio}---Rainbow in the Dark
Jimi Hendrix--Hear my Train a' Coming, Voodoo Chile
Randy Rhoads {Ozzy}---Crazy Train, Flying High Again,Over the Mountain.
Alex Lifeson {Rush, and most underrated guitarist of ALL-TIME}
YYZ,La Villa Stangiato, Analog Kid.

And I know it's cliche, but Jimmy Page--Stairway

Hi Derek

This answer would be endless for us and me too answer. I could make a list a mile long.... just in one genre.

Straight off the top of my head....

"Point It Up" - Larry Carlton his debut album jazz/fusion feel up the wazoo

"Twenty Five Or Six To Four" - Chicago RIP Terry a pop song with sublime guitar....

It's no cliche Bob

Jimmy Page is the SH.T and can have a list all by himself. The GREATEST Rock RIFF guitarist of ALL TIME also has great solo's.

Here are 5 Killer Ones

"No Quarter" - the solo check it out
"Stairway" you think it's tired, but go put it on
"Since I Been Loving You"
"Ten Years Gone" - the entire songs guitar work is brilliant....
"Achilles Last Stand"

Lets through Heartbreaker(not the big break the solo after that) & Black Dog in for fun as well...

Hi,

One of my all time favorites is George Harrison's solo on "Something". Not just a bunch of licks strung together, but a well constructed melody.

Pop Song - "Fooled Around And Fell In Love" Elvin Bishop love that solo....

Thinking of page

How bout heartbreaker I think it inspired eddie to write eruption from what I've heard(coulda heard wrong
Derek

Here are several that I am sure NOBODY here will mention:
Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo) on "Pablo & Andrea"
Robert Quine (Richard Hell & The Voidoids) on "I'm Your Man"
Tom Verlaine (Television) on "Marquee Moon"

Just ask me for directions to hearing these songs.

Grady Martin's accompaniment to Marty Robbins' El Paso is a beautiful piece of playing. It is one of my all-time favorite guitar parts.

Also, I have always been a fan of Django Reinhardt, but I saw a piece on YouTube last night where he was playing by himself and improvising a solo that was truly phenomenal. If you want to see it search for his name and "improvisation" and I think you will find it. Wow!

ZZ Top - La Grange
Queen - The Millionaire Waltz (when it goes into the "Circus" feel) amazing solo and so uniquely different than anything else

and my altime favorite:
Jackson Browne - Running on Empty (David Lindley's lap steel solo)

Duane Allman and Dickie Betts playing duel leads. Ben

http://benwillismusic.com

http://www.myspace.com/bwillismusic

How about

The clean tone acoustic solo in the Eagles Tequila sunrise nice use of thirds in my opinion.

I also like the western swing style that Steve Gaines played on Skynyrd's "I Know A Little". I thought that it was funny the way he upstaged Ronny at the end and got in the last lick after Ronny's "Baby I want you bad"(I think he said). Ben

Hey how bout Zakk wylde's solo on Ozzie's No more tears. Not super fast or technical but wow tone quality was excellent and the feel was almost classical
Derek

The guitar part on Midnight at The Oasis, by Maria Muldaur was way cool!

Marc Ford, Black Crowes, Sometimes Salvation from the Southern Harmony and Musical Companion.

I can't believe I missed this one

Duane Allmans slide solo in Layla if ever there was a solo part that I longed to learn that would be it oh or wait a minute one other one would be the Allman Brothers Blue Sky. Man ok well just add anything the Allman Brothers did lol cause I just thought of another "Dreams I'll never see"

Frank Zappa - Watermelon in Easter Hay
Dave Davies - You Really Got Me
Jimmy Page - You Shook Me
Steve Howe - Roundabout
Joni Mitchell - Hejira
Lowell George - Fat Man In The Bathtub
Jeff Beck - Blue Wind
Neil Young - Southern Man
Bonnie Raitt - Any solo she plays
Eric Clapton - In the Presence of the Lord
John Lennon - Get Back
Paul McCartney - Good Morning Good Morning
George Harrison - Something
Denny Laine - Maybe I'm Amazed
Ron Wood - Stay With Me
Keith Richards - Sympathy for the Devil
Pete Townshend - Summertime Blues
David Gilmour - Dogs
Dick Dale - Miserlou

Oh...so many...

Keep On Loving You - Reo Speedwagon
Cold As Ice - Foreigner
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
All of Asia's firt album.

I know this may not count as a solo, but that violin type of playing on Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" is 20th century Mozart.
My 72 year old mother, who is not a fan of metal, but loves early rock like Roy Orbison, heard Kashmir as a bumper song on a talk show and said it was beautiful - "who is this?".
She was surprised to find out who they were, and that was done by a bow on an electric guitar.

Kid Charlemagne by Steely Dan
Lead by Larry Carlton

That old wandering solo on Steely Dan's "Josie" has probably stuck in my mind since I was in the cradle.
"Cold As Ice" by Foreigner is also short but memerable.
Also "Keep On Loving You" by Reo Speedwagon, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana, "More Than A Feeling" By Boston and ""Don't Tell Me You Love Me" by Night Ranger.
I notice that most of the solos that I like are either in mellow songs or short and simple.
Some solos take up most of a song and showboat with guitar virtuosos.
Maybe fun to listen to, but not always a whole lot to remember.

Hey I noticed that I missed a few that have definitly had an impact on my playing.

Ted Nugent/Cat Scratch Fever and Stranglehold
Steppenwolf (not sure who played it) Magic Carpet ride (I know it's not technicaly a great solo but man the use of feedback and bends awesome sound very haunting
Derek

Rory Gallagher... Anytime he played!!!!!
Leslie West... Theme From An Imaginary Western
Steve Howe.... Owner... and Siberian Khatru

Duane Allman and Dicky Betts dual lead on In Memory of Elizabeth Reed was a wonderful guitar piece.

Oh just thought of a few more myself

Journey's Lights and Who's crying now (not overly complicated but very good)

And I can't remember if it was mentioned but Santana's Black Magic Woman and I'm winning were pretty darn good as well.

How bout the Eagles already gone, life in the fast lane and new kid in town

And to really go out there how bout the solo on Alice and Chains man in the box! Hendrix eat your heart out listen to that cry baby wah wow! Cantrell was no flake!
Derek

Merle Haggard's "Swingin' Doors" James Burton, guitar

Ricky Skaggs' "Highway 40 Blues" Ray Flacke, guitar

Buck Owens' "Buckaroo" Don Rich, guitar

Emmy Lou Harris' "Luxury Liner" Albert Lee, guitar

Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried" James Burton, guitar

Doc Watson's "Deep River Blues" Doc Watson, guitar

Gordon Lightfoot's "Song for a Winter's Night" Gordon Lightfoot and Red Shea, guitars

Bert Jansch's "Angie" Bert Jansch, guitar

Chet Atkins' "Bluebell" Chet Atkins, guitar

Alan Jackson "Chattahoochie" Brent Mason, guitar

And, as bonuses, here is a website with some audio samples and cds for sale by the legendary Thumbs Carlile. Thumbs played guitar in his lap, due to an injury, and fingerpicked the heck out of the guitar.
http://www.thumbscarllile.com/?gclid=CLDYw76GmZACFQtngQod2DGNrA

And here is a website for Hank Garland. He was just an old, country picker, you know, one of them hicks from Nashville. But when Les Paul brought him to New York, he scared the crap out of the beboppers:
http://www.hankgarland.com/

Hey Mike, are you sure that is was James Burton on those Merle Haggard songs? I thought both of those were done by Roy Nichols, but I tried to look it up and could not find it for sure. I will have to dig out some old records and have a look. I know James Burton did some recording with Merle, but I didn't think it was either of those songs. I am just curious, because I happen to be a tele guy myself and love the influences both of them, as well as Don Rich brought to the genre. Obviously, Roy goes back the farthest and had a strong influence on both James Burton and Don Rich.

Jack,

I'm wrong, and you're half right

Nichols played on "Mama Tried," but Phil Baugh played "Swingin' Doors."

http://www.benoconnor.com/tele101/haggard.htm

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-discussion-forum/41368-j-burton-roy-nichols.html

All the Best,
Mike

Ahh! Thank you for the link. If that is the gospel truth, it was most informative.

Well it took me a while but I came up with some more.

Eric Claptons wonderfull tonight.

Kansas's Wayward Son

Ricky Nelson's It's late

The kingsmens Louie Louie

Creedence's Tombstone Shadow (John Fogerty)

The Who's Won't get fooled again

And I am sure there are many more

Check out the second guitar solo on this song. Masterful.
"Marquee Moon"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bMC8DloyJU

Actually, the whole thing is one of the great guitar songs of all time.
This may be #1 for me.

The guitar players: Richard Lloyd (first solo); Tom Verlaine (2nd solo)

EDIT: This is an alternate version of the song, and not the version that appeared on the album. The solos are distinctly different. The album version is much better.

It reminds me a lot of Neil Young, but less resourceful; and John Fogerty, but shittier.

Well your opinion is just plain wrong.


Seriously... tell me what scale he's using?
It's all about the build... not about the shred. (Although those licks are tougher to play than they sound.)

And, also... I wanna know what you think of this player:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MquZLRdhRUE

Another one of my favorites.

I do not know what scales he is using. Those licks are not tough to play at all. It all adds up to a pleaseant enough sound, but i find nothing even approaching remarkable guitar playing.



This is very typical, cliched rock and roll lead guitar, played by someone who knows what he is doing but possesses no special talent. Nothing wrong with it. Nothing particularly inspiring either. His parts seem to fit the song, and that is more than some guitarists ever accomplish.

Every rock and roll band in the world worth a damn has a guy who can play like this or better. Overall, the whole lead part reminded me of the guitar on "Gimme Shelter." There is nothing really new, is there?

This is a great guitar instrumental - sort of an entire solo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoxhaH6jTtQ

Oops!
Posted in wrong topic.
I meant to post in the thread that is about weird chords.

But while I'm here, I would have to say my best solos are all on what is Led Zeppelin 2 and 4, Freebird, and Hotel California.
I'm not much of a solo affeciando, but I love hearing it at times.

Heres my list that still runs in my head

Smoke in the water
Sweet child of mine
Bed of roses
Hotel California
Bohemian rhapsody

You make me sad.
Many times over.

And, I also think that you are in the minority in your thinking about these guys: Tom Verlaine, Richard Lloyd, and Robert Quine are generally considered among the greatest guitar players in the history of underground rock. No, they're not blues-based, like many traditional rock guitar players are, which may throw a lot of folks. But that's what I love about them.

Why. Because I feel differently than you about a couple guitar players? C'mon, Pop. Cheer up.



Thank goodness. The majority know nothing about the finer points of music. I am happy to be in the minority. The majority will never, ever "get" it.



That is quite a statement. They are generally considered great by whom?

I have been playing guitar as a professional for 45 years. There is something in just about all good playing that I can find enjoyable. I can even enjoy listening to a poor player if he is putting a lot of passion into his music. I am not knocking your boys, here. They are good players, and the fact that they moved enough people like you to become somewhat famous is an admirable accomplishment. BUT, I know perfectly well the difference between competent professional guitar playing and great guitar playing. Your boys are competent professionals and that is a nice compliment in a world where even competency is hard to find. But greatness is very rare. That accolade is reserverd for the truly outstanding player who stands high above the rest. Greatness has not yet visited Tom Verlaine & company.

Now, I have a question for you. The soloing on the video you said was "tougher to play that it looks"...is it difficult for you to play? Or who?

Tom Verlaine:
http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/tom-verlaine/dec-05/16082

Robert Quine:
(From the Guitar Player Magazine article: "Forgotten Greats and Unsung Heroes"):


Some pretty knowledgeable folks.

And, I actually saw Television once... on a reunion. If you had seen the same show that I saw, I think that you would change your mind. At least about Verlaine and his cohort Richard Lloyd (who, like Robert Quine, also played with Matthew Sweet). Some pretty intense playing.

And yes, I think that I know good playing, too. I'm only 37, but I've been around a bit.

Anyway, it's all subjective anyway.

By the way: we're all cool, Tru. The "you make me sad" comment was just a pouty little piece of fluff.

Oh, and I also saw SRV before and, as much as I love Stevie, I think that any of the guitar players that I mentioned above are his equal, just in a totally different arena.

I'm not a fan of his particularly, but Dave Gilmour on 'Money' and 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond'?

Johnny Winter's reso on Muddy's re-recording of 'I Can't Be Satisfied'?

Sultans Of Swing - just genius!

Roger McGuinn on 'Eight Miles High". Blissful.

Dan

Both of those are among my favorites. There was a time, when I was first learning how to play, that I put down my pick to try to emulate Mark Knopfler's style. Before too long, I picked the pick back up.

And, have you heard McGuinn comment that the percussive approach he took on "Eight Miles High" was inspired by John Coltrane? He was trying to immitate the sounds of the clacking sax valves.

I think SRV is another competent professional guitarist. I never thought he was great in any regard. My favorite thing about him was he got a cool sound.

Pop, I'll spar with you anytime. You are a gentleman.

I just thought of a rather obscure one (well maybe)

Derek and the Dominoes (yes I was named after them dang hippy dad of mine). Had a song they covered that was written by jimmy hendrix called little wing. (I know I know it's a famous tune I shouldn't even have to mention that lol). Anyways the lead on that always leaves me with chills! Very haunting sound to it. I am not sure who played it whether it was Clapton or Duane. either way it's one of my favorite solo's. Nothing too complex not overly fast just amazing tone and as I say gives me chills.
Derek

Hey Derek, check out the "Tom Dowd and the language of music" DVD. He was a recording engineer that worked with LOTS off folks. He goes into detail about how Eric met Duane and at one point in the video, started playing with the mix using the original recording of Layla. Really cool insight.

Hey Tom

There are a lot of interesting pieces surrounding Derek and the dominoes. For one thing the name. It was suggested apperently by a mc at a show who was tired of calling the band Eric Clapton and friends. Apperently someone had accidently at some point called him Derek and it stuck as a nick name. When it came time for the mc to call them out they needed a name. They thought of Fats Domino and then it was decided (as it had a 50s pop ring to it. Derek and the Dominoes. Eric liked the feel of it though the other members weren't quite sure. Plus there is an amazing amount of tragedy surrouding Derek and the Dominoes and the Allman Brothers. Not to mention Eric himself. Apperently Layla was not recieved very well critically as an album and it sent Eric into a tailspin of excess drinking and drugs for many years.
Derek

I personally think the Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is one of the best rock and roll albums ever made. I would put it in my personal top three. The interchange between Eric and Duane was simply beautiful and the emotion that Eric put into his singing gave the music a spirit that for me transcended the recorded medium.

Check out a British band called Thunder. A certain Mr Morley is a class act and performs some excellent solos and the rest of the band are not too shabby either.

Ted Nugent's "Hibernation"

Heart's "Magic Man"

Skynyrd's "FreeBird" and "Needle and the Spoon"

Too many others to mention.....