I’m gonna have to say we need a genre to have any sort of meaningful discussion on the top solo lists.
You just can’t compare a BB King or Robert Johnson to Steve Vai or Petrucci. Two completely different animals.
We need not distinguish genres to know a meister when we see one.
I would call a good solo one that compliments the harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic structure of the piece in question and also follows clear phrasing by utilizing tension and release. The ability to improvise a solo gets bonus points.
I agree that its hard to compare solos. My personal favorite sounding, even though its not a masterpiece, is the solo from 2:10 to 2:20 of Crossfade’s cold. The wah pedal is used just right, and it gives the guitar such a vocal quality. I fell in love with it the first time i heard it.
[quote]jakshafter wrote:
Don Ross is really something as well check this out. “PROBABLY THE BEST GUITAR PLAYER ALIVE!!”
[/quote]
Don Ross! A truly phenomenal guitar player. His style is one that I would love to be able to emulate…very rhythmic. This guy is so good he accompanies himself while soloing. One can only get a true glimpse of his utter awesomeness by watching him play
NOTE: he fingerpicks on steelstrings!!
A true meister.
[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
jakshafter wrote:
Don Ross is really something as well check this out. “PROBABLY THE BEST GUITAR PLAYER ALIVE!!”
Don Ross! A truly phenomenal guitar player. His style is one that I would love to be able to emulate…very rhythmic. This guy is so good he accompanies himself while soloing. One can only get a true glimpse of his utter awesomeness by watching him play
NOTE: he fingerpicks on steelstrings!!
A true meister.[/quote]
I thought the same thing. I don’t play stuff i might mess up in front of folks only stuff i know i can do easy. I would love to see what this guy does sitting around the house.
[quote]jakshafter wrote:
2nd that. Gibbons is my favorite guitarist by far. He does a slide and a tab combined solo in the song Just Got Paid that is phenomonal. The main lick in that song is really awsome as well. Much more difficult than it sounds.
[/quote]
I was thinking of that very song when I was making my previous post. I would put that intro lick at the top of any “best solo” list.
The amazing thing is how effortless he is when playing. You rarely see him contort his fingers to hit a note. It’s like he is willing his guitar to make the sounds he is thinking.
[quote]Aragorn wrote:
I’m gonna have to say we need a genre to have any sort of meaningful discussion on the top solo lists.
You just can’t compare a BB King or Robert Johnson to Steve Vai or Petrucci. Two completely different animals.[/quote]
BB King “Blues in G” is a fine song. No lyrics just King doing what he does.
[quote]rainjack wrote:
jakshafter wrote:
2nd that. Gibbons is my favorite guitarist by far. He does a slide and a tab combined solo in the song Just Got Paid that is phenomonal. The main lick in that song is really awsome as well. Much more difficult than it sounds.
I was thinking of that very song when I was making my previous post. I would put that intro lick at the top of any “best solo” list.
The amazing thing is how effortless he is when playing. You rarely see him contort his fingers to hit a note. It’s like he is willing his guitar to make the sounds he is thinking.
[/quote]
Blue Jean Blues is a song like that as well. It doesn’t sound hard but i tried to learn how to play it and could not. Its not the notes but the way he knits it all togeather. Smooth and flowing like the curves of Leatitia Casta
[quote]rainjack wrote:
I agree with SteelyD.
BUT -
It would be almost impossible to have any serious discussion on the greatest guitar soloists - regardless of genre - without a major nod to Billy Gibbons’ mastery.
[/quote]
… and I agree with RJ-- In fact, there would be no Eddie Van Halen without Billy Gibbons.
Amazing tone and phrasing. Pioneered the ‘pinch harmonic’.
[quote]jakshafter wrote:
Don Ross is really something as well check this out. “PROBABLY THE BEST GUITAR PLAYER ALIVE!!”
Don Ross - Never got to Pernambuco - www.candyrat.com - YouTube [/quote]
Oh, of course someone HAD to play the ‘Don Ross Card’… 
I just went and smashed all my guitars.
[quote]SteelyD wrote:
jakshafter wrote:
Don Ross is really something as well check this out. “PROBABLY THE BEST GUITAR PLAYER ALIVE!!”
Oh, of course someone HAD to play the ‘Don Ross Card’…
I just went and smashed all my guitars.
[/quote]
Yeah the dude is a freaking MONSTER! Is you screen name SteelyD as in Steele Dan?
[quote]jakshafter wrote:
LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
jakshafter wrote:
Don Ross is really something as well check this out. “PROBABLY THE BEST GUITAR PLAYER ALIVE!!”
Don Ross! A truly phenomenal guitar player. His style is one that I would love to be able to emulate…very rhythmic. This guy is so good he accompanies himself while soloing. One can only get a true glimpse of his utter awesomeness by watching him play
NOTE: he fingerpicks on steelstrings!!
A true meister.
I thought the same thing. I don’t play stuff i might mess up in front of folks only stuff i know i can do easy. I would love to see what this guy does sitting around the house.[/quote]
Wow, it’s great to see Don getting some props here – though he’s not really soloing, he’s playing songs. Back in 2001, I was scheduled to go stay at his house in Canada for 4 days for a Master Class he was putting on. At the time, he was my biggest guitar influence BY FAR. I was scheduled to fly from San Francisco to Quebec on 09/14/01. Needless to say, Osama and his boys managed to screw that up pretty good for me. I’ve met Don since though – very nice guy, and AMAZING live. If you like his style, check out Pierre Bensusan – my CURRENT favorite guitarist in the world.
I’m a huge fan of SRV, Clapton, Hendrix, Eddie VH, Page, but I think one of the most hardcore solos ever is in a song called “cult of personality” by Living Color. I don’t know the guitarists name but that dude just wales in that song.
[quote]SinisterMinister wrote:
jakshafter wrote:
LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
jakshafter wrote:
Don Ross is really something as well check this out. “PROBABLY THE BEST GUITAR PLAYER ALIVE!!”
Don Ross! A truly phenomenal guitar player. His style is one that I would love to be able to emulate…very rhythmic. This guy is so good he accompanies himself while soloing. One can only get a true glimpse of his utter awesomeness by watching him play
NOTE: he fingerpicks on steelstrings!!
A true meister.
I thought the same thing. I don’t play stuff i might mess up in front of folks only stuff i know i can do easy. I would love to see what this guy does sitting around the house.
Wow, it’s great to see Don getting some props here – though he’s not really soloing, he’s playing songs. Back in 2001, I was scheduled to go stay at his house in Canada for 4 days for a Master Class he was putting on. At the time, he was my biggest guitar influence BY FAR. I was scheduled to fly from San Francisco to Quebec on 09/14/01. Needless to say, Osama and his boys managed to screw that up pretty good for me. I’ve met Don since though – very nice guy, and AMAZING live. If you like his style, check out Pierre Bensusan – my CURRENT favorite guitarist in the world.
- YouTube [/quote]
The way that guy fingerpicks kind of reminds me of James Taylor. Very nice, smooth and relaxing.
For me: Southern Man - Neil Young
I think Q magazine in the UK did a big vote on this a few years ago and Hotel california won
[quote]SteelyD wrote:
jakshafter wrote:
Don Ross is really something as well check this out. “PROBABLY THE BEST GUITAR PLAYER ALIVE!!”
Oh, of course someone HAD to play the ‘Don Ross Card’…
I just went and smashed all my guitars.
[/quote]
If we’re going to unplug - then Leo Kottke is the man.
You can hear a ton of his influence in Don Ross’ playing.
And yeah - Ross makes everyone else sound like shit.
Disclaimer: I agree w/ SteelyD that there is no best solo, there is no best guitarist, music is NOT a competition. That being said, here are a few of my absolute all-time faves:
Wes Montgomery - Misty
Django Reinhardt - Nuages
Larry Carlton (Steely Dan)- Kid Charlemagne
Albert Lee (Ricky Skaggs) - Country Boy
SRV - Life Without You – or Lenny
And anything by ‘The Humbler’, Danny Gatton – the best guitarist you’ve never heard of.
[quote]SinisterMinister wrote:
Django Reinhardt - Nuages
[/quote]
Yes!
Sweet child of mine…Guns-N-Roses
Slashes solo!!
[quote]SinisterMinister wrote:
If you like his style, check out Pierre Bensusan – my CURRENT favorite guitarist in the world.
- YouTube [/quote]
I just wanted to say thank you for posting that. I’ve never heard of him before and I really enjoyed it.