The greatest guitar/musical solos ever

[MtlJeff]

So , working from home during Covid for literally the past 12 months now...One thing that MtlJeff has become re-acquainted with is great music. I often spend 2-3 hours a day working while listening to the classics. After a year of this i am confident saying the great solos ever are, in order:

 

1) 2nd solo , Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd: If you disagree with this i will fly to your house, in violation of Covid protocols, and punch you in the face. Then fly back and pay 2000$ at my own expense to quarantine in a hotel. And it will be worth it. It's perfect, there's nothing more to say

 

2) ending solo (5:05 onward), Fade To Black, Metallica: It's really a perfect end to the song. Similar to comfortably numb, the music itself seems to say more than the lyrics of the song do, if you know what i mean

 

3) 1st solo (1:55 onward) , While my guitar gently weeps, the Beatles: Admittedly, this solo literally on it's own might not be the 3rd best. Overall i love the music in this song, and i always listen to it waiting for the solo. it's not like "hard hitting" or anything, the song just flows so perfectly. 

 

Note: I tend to like "flowing" solos more than hard hitting bad*ss solos like Van Halen's "Eruption" if you know what i mean

 

Note 2: so yeah you can disagree with me, just not on the Comfortably Numb at #1, otherwise as mentioned i will punch you in the face at my own expense

[Guy In Lyon]

This.

All of it.

 

[dlygrisse]

Mark Knofler-Sultans of Swing is really good. 
I feel like something from Duane Allmon should be there.  Maybe Statesboro Blues?

 

not gonna argue about Comfortably Numb, great song, great album, and David Gilmour doesn’t get enough credit.  He never seems to get listed up there with Clapton , Hendrix, Van Halen, May etc.  But he is so good and he has a unique sound.  

[dlygrisse]

1 hour ago, MtlJeff said:

So , working from home during Covid for literally the past 12 months now...One thing that MtlJeff has become re-acquainted with is great music. I often spend 2-3 hours a day working while listening to the classics. After a year of this i am confident saying the great solos ever are, in order:

 

1) 2nd solo , Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd: If you disagree with this i will fly to your house, in violation of Covid protocols, and punch you in the face. Then fly back and pay 2000$ at my own expense to quarantine in a hotel. And it will be worth it. It's perfect, there's nothing more to say

 

2) ending solo (5:05 onward), Fade To Black, Metallica: It's really a perfect end to the song. Similar to comfortably numb, the music itself seems to say more than the lyrics of the song do, if you know what i mean

 

3) 1st solo (1:55 onward) , While my guitar gently weeps, the Beatles: Admittedly, this solo literally on it's own might not be the 3rd best. Overall i love the music in this song, and i always listen to it waiting for the solo. it's not like "hard hitting" or anything, the song just flows so perfectly. 

 

Note: I tend to like "flowing" solos more than hard hitting bad*ss solos like Van Halen's "Eruption" if you know what i mean

 

Note 2: so yeah you can disagree with me, just not on the Comfortably Numb at #1, otherwise as mentioned i will punch you in the face at my own expense

Isn’t it Clapton that is playing on WMGGW’s not Harrison?

[MtlJeff]

3 minutes ago, dlygrisse said:

Isn’t it Clapton that is playing on WMGGW’s not Harrison?

 

Yeah it's Clapton but I just referenced the Beatles because it was released under them

[MtlJeff]

10 minutes ago, dlygrisse said:

Mark Knofler-Sultans of Swing is really good. 
I feel like something from Duane Allmon should be there.  Maybe Statesboro Blues?

 

not gonna argue about Comfortably Numb, great song, great album, and David Gilmour doesn’t get enough credit.  He never seems to get listed up there with Clapton , Hendrix, Van Halen, May etc.  But he is so good and he has a unique sound.  

 

Dude, sultans of swing is my #4

[miamistomp]

 

[mukster]

Andy Latimer and Camel. So underrated. 

[wobgon]

12 minutes ago, dlygrisse said:

Mark Knofler-Sultans of Swing is really good. 
I feel like something from Duane Allmon should be there.  Maybe Statesboro Blues?

 

not gonna argue about Comfortably Numb, great song, great album, and David Gilmour doesn’t get enough credit.  He never seems to get listed up there with Clapton , Hendrix, Van Halen, May etc.  But he is so good and he has a unique sound.  

I could listen to Mark Knopfler all day....Love to listen to his later year solo stuff like Brothers in arms (Berlin 2007).

[MtlJeff]

I honestly thought Hammett's Fade to Black would be the most controversial. But to me it's incredible. Not that it's not recognized, it is just rarely in the top 25

 

to be honest I've loved metallica since I was like 15yrs old so I'm biased. But Fade to Black is just so good

 

I think it's the most underrated of the 3

 

Comfortable Numb is so good that it has an amazing solo thats like top 100 all-time, and it isn't even the best solo in the song. 

 

 

[dlygrisse]

15 minutes ago, miamistomp said:

 

I’ve been listening to BB Kings Bluesville on SiriusXM a lot lately.  I e a,ways liked bluesy rock, and lately plain old blues is sounding good.  Blame the Covid. 😩

[mukster]

Red wine is kicking in. 
 

 

[miamistomp]

You guys gotta get out more

 

 

[Greenie]

I really love this version...

 

 

[deejaid]

For me it’s Rory Gallagher.   Pick any video on YouTube and be blown away but his solo on “Hand’s Up” is on another level.

 

 

 

[dlow206]

Adding on to Comfortably Numb. Stairway to Heaven, November Rain

[tiderider]

seen this topic more than a few times over the years, but had not see this (noted for the way it's presented) ... Dreams by the Allman Brothers Band, from "An Evening with the Allman Brothers, First Set" is 2nd to the "Fillmore" version of In Memory of Elizabeth Reed as the greatest sounds the human race  has produced ... buncha bands on that list i don't necessarily dig, but he's right (and he's a guitarist), they're great solos ... #7, VH (not Eruption) ... oh, lawd ... and #1, no surprise to the OP ... 

 

 

Edited February 20, 2021 by tiderider

[Petethreeput]

Frank Zappa in Muffin Man is one of the best I have heard (Bongo Fury). I just seems to fit with the song.

All the guitarist mentioned are fantastic, and really for me it comes down to my mood when I am listening.

 

 

Edited February 20, 2021 by Petethreeput

[DrOldSchool]

The discussion of Knopfler needs to include the outtro from Tunnel of Love. The guitar tells more of a story than the lyrics, which are great in on their own. Love it, easily my favorite.

 

 

[Mike Divot]

Always preferred Money & Time to Comfortably Numb. Gilmour is a wonderful guitarist though.

 

Never rated While My Guitar Gently Weeps. It's competent playing but doesn't hit me "there". Hideaway (not solo but just whole song) and Little Girl (same) from Bluesbreakers are fantastic, masterful playing. From a 21 year old!! That's why Clapton has the reputation he has. A 21 year old in such command!!!  I'm So Glad from Cream also excellent.

 

The End is a Harrison masterpiece. So short and concise but so beautiful. Anyone can play it, but who could come up with it in the first place?

 

I watched that Rick Beato video.  I never place much credence in those "top 100 string bends of all time" lists as they are so subjective. Rick's the real deal, but you see some of those lists and you wonder if the author actually listened to the songs/albums/solos/string bends or if they saved time and just looked at other lists for clues on what they are "supposed" to include.

 

Frampton Comes Alive is chock full of wonderful little bits of solo ... Lines On My Face just one of many good ones.

 

Eruption doesn't hit me "there" but Eddie is so musical. Can just listen to him play forever. Those first 3 songs on the first Van Halen album (including Eruption), collectively, hit everyone "there". Difference between Eddie, Yngvie, Gilbert, Satriani, other shredders ... Eddie's musicality is a notch above (several notches).

 

Blackmore is another with beautiful musical feel. Many great solos all over the classic Purple lineup.

 

Best solo I ever heard? Was with the guys one night, someone had some background music going ... this solo was playing ... just went on and on ... great tone, great phrasing, musically interesting ... who is that??? I said. I knew the host liked Zappa. Is it Zappa? No, he said. It's Dweezil. Dweezil is a hell of player. I still don't know which song!

 

And now some great solos not much mentioned elsewhere. Midnight At The Oasis (Maria Muldaur). I Was Only Joking (Rod Stewart). No Regrets (Walker Brothers). Fragile (Yes). Since I've Been Loving You (Zeppelin). Anything on Blow By Blow.

[Mike Divot]

47 minutes ago, DrOldSchool said:

The discussion of Knopfler needs to include the outtro from Tunnel of Love. The guitar tells more of a story than the lyrics, which are great in on their own. Love it, easily my favorite.

 

It's a good solo, to be sure. Builds and builds.

[Mike Divot]

3 hours ago, deejaid said:

For me it’s Rory Gallagher.   Pick any video on YouTube and be blown away but his solo on “Hand’s Up” is on another level.

 

The thing about Gallagher, is that although he's a player in complete command of the instrument, his solos (such as in this song) are really a sequence of small 4-bar solos one after the other. He plays a mini solo which lasts 4 bars .. .starts on the first beat of the first bar and finishes on the last beat of the 4th bar ... then he does it again ... then he does it again .... his long solos are a bunch of small 4 bar solos in a row. It's not that interesting.

 

Now compare with (eg) Hendrix. Hendrix will do that exact thing when it fits the song, like in Wind Cries Mary. In other songs like Purple Haze he phrases it more like a jazz sax player. There's no neat grouping of his phrases into 4 bars, or 2 bars ... they'll start and stop anywhere. Or in Watchtower ... his intro solo fits into 4 bars, but the whole thing is like a beat ahead, so it's much more interesting musically.

 

Angus Young is another whose range of notes is very strictly pentatonic blues major/minor, but his timing is something else entirely. His choice of notes is the same as any bedroom youtube player, but his placing of them, in time, puts him in another league entirely.

[anth]

Not sure if you’re prepared to stretch this to live performances but here’s the first 2 that come to my mind:

 

 

 

[Fellaheen51]

One could make the argument for any number of GOAT solos.  Suppose it's influenced by one's age of awareness on the matter.  And preferences.  I'll leave the technical aspects of arguing GOAT to others more knowledgeable.  With some all to brief pondering, this is what comes to mind:

 

1.  Hendrix's Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock.   Would have to be high on the list of most iconic.  

1a.   Stairway to Heaven.  Heard far to many times, but no denying Page's playing.

3.  SRV's Texas Flood.  Pure guitar virtuosity.  

4.  Clapton's Crossroads from Wheels of Fire.  Arguably sums up Clapton's entire catalog. 

5.  GnR's Sweet Child O' Mine.  Slash shreds in this classic R&R tune.  Instantly recognizable by the       opening riff. 

6.  Layla.  But not really a solo, rather a duet with Duane Allman.  Nevertheless. Two of the best.  

 

Don't quite know where to place this last one.  Yet has to be included.  As it's the foundation for all that was to follow.  Attitude, simplicity, feedback, banned from the radio, way back in 1958.  The Godfather of the power chord.....Link Wray's Rumble.

[Valtiel]

 

[bscinstnct]

Fantastic thread! Wrxers love good music!

 

So, I’ll add this. It’s actually Dickey and Warren playing together.

 

At 5:20 it totally transcends possibility. If you start about a minute earlier, you can listen to them grooving back and forth as they get it sync to blow everybody away. Then the crowd erupts. Man. To have been there for this...

 

 

Edited February 20, 2021 by bscinstnct

[Petethreeput]

10 hours ago, Petethreeput said:

Frank Zappa in Muffin Man is one of the best I have heard (Bongo Fury). I just seems to fit with the song.

All the guitarist mentioned are fantastic, and really for me it comes down to my mood when I am listening.

 

 

My bad. I wanted the studio version. Here it is. Starts about mid way through. Much clearer notes than the live I pulled accidentally.

 

[miamistomp]

7 hours ago, Mike Divot said:

 

The thing about Gallagher, is that although he's a player in complete command of the instrument, his solos (such as in this song) are really a sequence of small 4-bar solos one after the other. He plays a mini solo which lasts 4 bars .. .starts on the first beat of the first bar and finishes on the last beat of the 4th bar ... then he does it again ... then he does it again .... his long solos are a bunch of small 4 bar solos in a row. It's not that interesting.

 

Now compare with (eg) Hendrix. Hendrix will do that exact thing when it fits the song, like in Wind Cries Mary. In other songs like Purple Haze he phrases it more like a jazz sax player. There's no neat grouping of his phrases into 4 bars, or 2 bars ... they'll start and stop anywhere. Or in Watchtower ... his intro solo fits into 4 bars, but the whole thing is like a beat ahead, so it's much more interesting musically.

 

Angus Young is another whose range of notes is very strictly pentatonic blues major/minor, but his timing is something else entirely. His choice of notes is the same as any bedroom youtube player, but his placing of them, in time, puts him in another league entirely.

 Angus sounds good because Malcolm is a rhythm monster

 

 

 Be no classic rock without rockabilly

[davep043]

Danny Gatton is probably my personal favorite guitar player.  He did a bunch of instrumentals, and most of them are brilliant, a wide variation of styles and genres.  This has one of his best solos, starting at around the 4:00 mark:

 

[Argonne69]

+1 on Comfortably Numb, and Eruption.

 

One of my favorites is Alex Lifeson on La Villa Strangiato. 'Love the slow build up. Also can't leave out his solo on Limelight.