Best Guitar Solos

Off Topic
61

[quote]colonelquack wrote:
Telegraph Road - Dire Straits[/quote]

yeah. anything by mark knoffler is usually pretty good. i like his work in ‘how long’, as well.

i have always liked the solo in priest’s ‘livin after midnight’. simple but it fits and it rocks.

i always like robby kreiger’s solo in ‘roadhouse blues’ and, while it’s not a solo, i like his playing in ‘the end’, as well. although, for me, the drums are the star of that one.

angus young’s (second) solo in ‘let there be rock’ live off of ‘if you want blood, you got it’ is pretty damned good.

the break in ‘who are you’ where townshend plays accoustic is really good, too. i like to isolate the electric guitar track on that song. it plays under the music and is really good, while almost subconsious.

the worst? anthing played live by keith richards these days. he’s lost it.

62

[quote]TornadoTommy wrote:
Eddie VanHalen, Women and Children First album, 8 second speed metal intro to Fools. This is the ONLY solo that ranks above Eruption.[/quote]

Hmm… What about Spanish Fly (Van Halen II)? Yeah, ok its acoustic, but for a 6-string he sounds faster than someone playing the harp with two hands!

63

There are far too many to mention, in any genre, be it jazz, pop, blues or rock and roll. You can also argue the criteria for what constitutes a true “solo” vs a musical hook or a riff. There are so many greats, but the first guitar solo I heard that blew me away was Ted Nugent back when he was in the Amboy Dukes in “Baby Please Don’t Go”

64

[quote]obatiger11 wrote:
David Gilmour/Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
[/quote]

I watched a show called “The Strat Pack” on HDNET and David Gilmour blew everyone away… I’ve always liked his music be ut he amazing on this show. Everytime I see them rerunning that show I make sure I watch it. I think he played “marooned” “coming back to life” and “sorrow”

65

[quote]Yo Momma wrote:
There are far too many to mention, in any genre, be it jazz, pop, blues or rock and roll. You can also argue the criteria for what constitutes a true “solo” vs a musical hook or a riff. There are so many greats, but the first guitar solo I heard that blew me away was Ted Nugent back when he was in the Amboy Dukes in “Baby Please Don’t Go”[/quote]

I’m glad someone finaly gave some respect to the Nuge. Stranglehold is simply amazing. Anything off of “Ted Nugent” & “Cat Scrath Fever” too- some of the meanest chunky ass blues you’ll ever hear.

66

Paul Gilbert,Randy Rhoads are amazing. Listen to anything by paul gilbert.

67

the allman brothers blue sky.

68

[quote]Brawan wrote:
The Eagles Hotel California.[/quote]

Thank you!
I was reading this thread thinking “Why has no one mentioned hotel california?”

Technically not a solo but it is still awesome.

69

My favorite over the last couple years:
Ball and Biscuit, White Stripes (recorded version, they play it too fast live)

There are just too many greats to name. Here’s one of my playlists focusing on good guitar solos and/or jams:

Yellow Ledbetter, Pearl Jam
Do You Feel Like We Do, Peter Frampton
Piece Of Your Action, Motley Crue
Happy Hour Hero, Moe (live)
Maggot Brain, Funkadelic
Voodoo Child, Jimi Hendrix
Destination, O.A. R. (live)
She Talks To Angels, Black Crowes
House Party, J. Geils
Dazed And Confused, Led Zeppelin
Black Girl, Lenny Kravitz
Get It Together, Grand Funk Railroad
Jimi Thing, Dave Matthews
Since I’ve Been Loving You, Page& Plant
Free Bird, Lynard Skynard
Jingo, Carlos Santana
Tall Boy, Widespread Panic
Jessica, Allman Brothers
This Ain’t Living, G. Love and Special Sauce
Santeria, Sublime
Woodstock, Crosby Stills Nash Young
Funky Bitch, Phish
Sultans of Swing, Dire Straits
Wild Flower, The Cult
Couldn’t Stand The Weather, Stevie Ray Vaughn
Bullet The Blue Sky, U2
The Thrill Is Gone, BB King
Lady Picture Show, Stone Temple Pilots
Honky Tonk Women, Rolling Stones
Onda, Los Lonely Boys
You Really Got Me, The Kinks
Scar Tissue, Chili Peppers
25 Or 6 To 4, Chicago
Screen, Brad
Take Me To The River, Talking Heads
On The Bus, Frank Zappa
Cinnamon Girl, Neil Young
L.A. Woman, The Doors

70

[quote]Yo Momma wrote:
There are far too many to mention, in any genre, be it jazz, pop, blues or rock and roll. You can also argue the criteria for what constitutes a true “solo” vs a musical hook or a riff. There are so many greats, but the first guitar solo I heard that blew me away was Ted Nugent back when he was in the Amboy Dukes in “Baby Please Don’t Go”[/quote]

Y’know, this thread, and Yo Momma’s response, got me thinking. And I realized: I’m 47, been playing guitar since I was 15. I own an obscene number of guitars. I LOVE the instrument, and all kinds of music played on it. I am familiar with many, if not all of the musicians mentioned here.

And, for the life of me, I can’t name even a few favorite solos. Favorite players, yes. But solos? I’m stumped. I guess I just don’t think of music that way - maybe I should. I’ve also never been one of those players that learned other people’s stuff note for note. Weird, I guess. Hey, Yo, need a rhythm guitarist?

71

Anything by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Greatest player of all time. 'nuff said.

Ozzie, “Bark at the Moon” - Jake E. Lee. Most under-rated guitarist of all time.

Judas Priest - “Painkiller” simply the greatest metal guitar song of all time. Halford screws it up a bit with the high-pitch squealing. I keep waiting for someone like Drowning Pool to cover it with manly vocals.

“Freebird” - gives me chills EVERY time. Not the wildest or most technical solo, but it fits the song so well it’s a true masterpiece. Play it well and any garage band will be local hero’s.

72

Vai and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Or Eric and the King in “Hold on I’m Coming”.

73

[quote]harris447 wrote:
charbreath wrote:
harris447 wrote:
The hallmark of a good solo is being able to sing it from memory. Some of these speed guitar and jazz guys are just show-offs.

What jazz guys are you referring to?

Pretty much all of 'em.

Here’s my impression of 99% of jazz solos (any instrument): noodlynoodly noodlynoodly…drum fill…noodly noodly.
[/quote]

Just because you don’t understand jazz doesn’t mean you should bash it. In jazz, you have to think about what’s being played.

A lot of good rock is jazz influenced.
Cream, maybe?
Steely Dan, yes?
Led Zeppelin!

Also, your criteria for a good solo doesn’t make much sense. What if I can sing a solo from memory, but you can’t? Does mean that the solo is bad? No, it just means you’re stupid.

74

“Cliffs of Dover” -Eric Johnson(Live)

75

Have to agree, Jake E Lee is way underrated. I guess he gets over shadowed by Rhoads and Wylde.

Also cant believe no one has mentioned Slash or Hammett

76

Damn, you beat me to it. Spanish Fly is awesome! The acoustic intro to Little Guitars from Diver Down is mighty cool too.

For another great acoustic solo (extended!) check out Zappa on the title cut from Sleep Dirt.

77

“Respect the Wind” -Eddie Van Halen

78

Some of my favorites I can think of. There are many I am missing.

Joe Walsh, The Bomber

Janes Addiction, Three Days

Cream, Tales of Brave Ulysees

Hendrix, Voodoo Chile

Hendrix, 1983 a Merman I Should Turn to Be

Smashing Pumpkins, Rocket

U2. Until the End of the World

D

79

Eddie Van Halen’s solo in “Me Wise Magic” is pretty off-the-hook too.

80

I’m a big fan of both (especially Slash), but I can’t think of any one particular solo of his that hits me over the head and says “this is one of the best guitar solos ever.” I think his overall PLAYING is some of the best rock guitar playing ever, but I guess I don’t think of him as an all-out solo maestro.

[quote]comedypedro wrote:
Have to agree, Jake E Lee is way underrated. I guess he gets over shadowed by Rhoads and Wylde.

Also cant believe no one has mentioned Slash or Hammett[/quote]