The greatest guitar/musical solos ever

[braincramp52]

On 10/13/2021 at 11:09 AM, Bob Cat said:

 

Yep, great riff and a classic!

 

Not sure how many Panorama albums were sold but I had it in cassette and don't remember anyone else having it in my circles and I couldn't understand why.

 

This album always reminds me of my commute from HS to a neighboring city's Career Center for advanced drafting.  Good times.

 

As good as The Cars music was they were by far the most boring band I've ever seen live.

[Argonne69]

A little sloppy, but it fits the song and the era perfectly. Lead at 1:26.

 

 

[caniac6]

On 5/2/2022 at 10:37 PM, Soloman1 said:

Pretty tough to solo on Telecasters with so little sustain and the bridge pickup is so twangy.

Go see Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives. Marty and Kenny Vaughan play the strings off teles. Marty plays one with a B-bender that once belonged to Clarence White from the Byrds.

[Golfah]

Long time guitar player here chiming in...

 

The best solos have a certain flow - slow, melodic passages to set the tone, then a build up to an emotional climax, veering off in unexpected directions along the way.  Also, hummable/singable.  Tough to pick #1, but it would have to be:

Winger- Headed for a Heartbreak - middle and outro solos are masterpieces of composition and technical brilliance.  overshadowed but the otherwise cringiness of the band.

 

Honorable mentions

David Gilmour - Time

Neal Schon - Faithfully

Randy Rhodes - Mr Crowley
Jimmy Page - Since Ive been loving you (not singable but an emotionally rollercoaster)
Van Halen - Eruption.  By far the most influential guitar solo, next to stairway to heaven

Prince - Anything except that hall of fame wank-fest.  The man was on another level.

Edited July 12, 2022 by Golfah

[Soloman1]

2 hours ago, caniac6 said:

Go see Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives. Marty and Kenny Vaughan play the strings off teles. Marty plays one with a B-bender that once belonged to Clarence White from the Byrds.

 

Ah yes, the talent factor. 🙂

[Bob Cat]

On 7/12/2022 at 9:20 AM, Golfah said:

Long time guitar player here chiming in...

 

The best solos have a certain flow - slow, melodic passages to set the tone, then a build up to an emotional climax, veering off in unexpected directions along the way.  Also, hummable/singable.  Tough to pick #1, but it would have to be:

Winger- Headed for a Heartbreak - middle and outro solos are masterpieces of composition and technical brilliance.  overshadowed but the otherwise cringiness of the band.

 

Honorable mentions

David Gilmour - Time

Neal Schon - Faithfully

Randy Rhodes - Mr Crowley
Jimmy Page - Since Ive been loving you (not singable but an emotionally rollercoaster)
Van Halen - Eruption.  By far the most influential guitar solo, next to stairway to heaven

Prince - Anything except that hall of fame wank-fest.  The man was on another level.

 

But... I love Prince's HOF "wank-fest"!  You dislike the performance or his grandstanding?

[Golfah]

The performance.  Prince's whole act is grandstanding and I love it.

 

IMO musically, the solo is forgettable and way overrated just because he showed up with a bunch of aging rockers and "stole" the stage.   I thought that solo could have been performed by a lot of people.

 

Purple Rain/Lets go crazy blow this away.

[TiScape]

Has anyone mentioned Stairway to Heaven… 

😜

[touch]

Not the greatest of all time but still a clever quick solo by a young Rick Derringer at the 2:11 mark.

The video is a gem too.  🤩    1965

 

 

 

 

Edited July 13, 2022 by touch

[touch]

Even on the dance floor a little guitar flare is welcomed.

An awesome left handed rip here at the 2:11 mark. 

 

 

[dcfas]

There are so many greats, but among the very best imho is Still in Love with You - Gary Moore

 

[Bob Cat]

9 hours ago, touch said:

Even on the dance floor a little guitar flare is welcomed.

An awesome left handed rip here at the 2:11 mark. 

 

 

 

Still one of my favorite songs.  Groovy, baaaby, yeaaaaaaahhhh...

 

[Bob Cat]

30 minutes ago, dcfas said:

There are so many greats, but among the very best imho is Still in Love with You - Gary Moore

 

 

First spin for me.  Very bluesy.  Likey.

 

 

[dcfas]

22 minutes ago, Bob Cat said:

 

First spin for me.  Very bluesy.  Likey.

 

 

Phil Lynott singing. The Live Life version (Thin Lizzy), solo by John Sykes is perhaps even better. Make sure to listen through to the end.

 

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by dcfas

[Argonne69]

I forgot that there were some tasty leads in The Blues Brother's version of Sweet Home Chicago. Steve, Paul, Matt, Lou, Tom, and Alan trade off leads through most of the song. 

 

 

 

[Socrates]

On 7/13/2022 at 4:54 PM, touch said:

Not the greatest of all time but still a clever quick solo by a young Rick Derringer at the 2:11 mark.

The video is a gem too.  🤩    1965

 

 

 

 

Pretty sure there was a band playing in the background.  Too busy watching Sloopy shake it.

 

I might be showing my age, but I always liked those older tunes.  Simple, but catchy tunes.  Likely why I like older 60's stuff.  Clean vocals and they all could sing and play their instruments.

[touch]

19 minutes ago, Socrates said:

Pretty sure there was a band playing in the background.  Too busy watching Sloopy shake it.

 

I might be showing my age, but I always liked those older tunes.  Simple, but catchy tunes.  Likely why I like older 60's stuff.  Clean vocals and they all could sing and play their instruments.

 

Well said.

Thank you. 

 

[Argonne69]

Has anyone brought up harmonica leads? Plenty of tasty ones out there, but they seem be be overshadowed by the guitarists. Chrissie has a solid one in Pretenders Middle of the Road (3:25)

 

 

[ThinkingPlus]

Harmonica crusher John Popper...

 

 

 

 

[Socrates]

So, this past week (Friday) I had the opportunity to see the Eagles.  At 74, Joe Walsh can still really play the guitar.  They played 4 of his songs (In the City, Life's Been Good, Funk #49 and Rocky Mtn Way).  Plenty of songs to showcase his talent and he really lit it up.  Unfortunately, his voice is gone.  Didn't detract from his amazing talent with a guitar.  I was close enough to get a good view and enjoyed the talent. 

 

 

 

[Argonne69]

7 minutes ago, Socrates said:

So, this past week (Friday) I had the opportunity to see the Eagles.  At 74, Joe Walsh can still really play the guitar.  They played 4 of his songs (In the City, Life's Been Good, Funk #49 and Rocky Mtn Way).  Plenty of songs to showcase his talent and he really lit it up.  Unfortunately, his voice is gone.  Didn't detract from his amazing talent with a guitar.  I was close enough to get a good view and enjoyed the talent. 

 

 

 

 

Lol. Love Joe, but did he ever really have a voice? 

 

[Socrates]

Just now, Argonne69 said:

 

Lol. Love Joe, but did he ever really have a voice? 

 

Well, that is debatable.  He gives it a good effort, but it's like he can't get the words out cleanly.  Like he's been to the dentist and his tongue is frozen.

 

I was just glad to see him live for once.

[DaveLeeNC]

Interesting memory - I saw the James Gang in concert in Lexington, Ky back in the 1972 timeframe. I was not that familiar with the group - was more interested in the girl that I was with as I recall. OTOH, I don't even remember her name but do remember the James Gang and Joe Walsh. So I guess that says something. 

 

dave

[Jim53]

On 9/19/2022 at 2:03 PM, Socrates said:

So, this past week (Friday) I had the opportunity to see the Eagles.  At 74, Joe Walsh can still really play the guitar.  They played 4 of his songs (In the City, Life's Been Good, Funk #49 and Rocky Mtn Way).  Plenty of songs to showcase his talent and he really lit it up.  Unfortunately, his voice is gone.  Didn't detract from his amazing talent with a guitar.  I was close enough to get a good view and enjoyed the talent. 

 

 

 

I saw them in Tampa back in Feb. and I think it was early in the Tour as they all sounded pretty darn good for 70+ yr old rockers. Glad I saw it and would go back tomorrow if they came back to the area. 

[Bob Cat]

On 9/19/2022 at 12:37 PM, Argonne69 said:

Has anyone brought up harmonica leads? Plenty of tasty ones out there, but they seem be be overshadowed by the guitarists. Chrissie has a solid one in Pretenders Middle of the Road (3:25)

 

 

 

I did NOT know that was her playing harmonica.  Love it.

[Bob Cat]

5 years ago his voice held up just fine.  Uniquely Joe.  Adore this one.

 

 

[Argonne69]

Here's one out of left field. You don't often think of flutes in pop/rock, but the Mamas and the Papas nailed the solo on this classic hit. (1:17)

 

 

[burr56]

 

fairly unbelievable ..

[burr56]

 

[Bob Cat]

Neal Schon raging @ 3:53... and Steve Perry's magnificent voice and range for extra credit: