The Canadian Guitar Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

What do you think is the greatest guitar solo ever and why?

Jump to Latest
5.2K views 46 replies 34 participants last post by  Pepper_Roni  
N
#1 ·
Just as the title suggests, I'm looking to get you wicked GC people to post what you believe is the greatest guitar solo ever and very important...explain why?

So many greats pop into our minds when this questions comes up...from Page to Clapton to Gilmour to Hendrix to EVH, the list goes on.

Will post mine later today :). Let's have fun with this one as I believe it to be one of our main reasons for picking up the guitar. I know it was for me!
 
R
#3 ·
I'm not a Beatles fan, but it's hard to beat the solo from "Something". It's "bluesy". but not blues. It's practically a lesson on how to play a solo that truly suits the song. I wouldn't say I'm even much of a fan of the song, but it reminds me to listen to what's really at the heart of anything I write. Like many Beatles' somgs, the writing is good enough that it could be an instumental. Perhaps that's part of the magic to the solo.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cQijzXga0k

Shawn
 
#4 ·
Extreme toughness on this question. So many over so many years. I can list a few that made me want to pick-up a guitar and "try" to play it. Solo's that have remained on my play-list over the years and I never get tired of hearing them. The sort of things that I used to rewind on the tape deck about 30 times before finally moving on...

Frank Zappa (although guitar solo sometimes does not apply with him as the whole song can sometimes be one long solo)
Black Napkins, Illinois Enema Bandit and Chunga's Revenge. The guitar work on those three in particular just blow my skull. His use of the entire fretboard and the change-ups just amaze me. Having the pleasure of seeing him doing it live was also something I will never forget. Dweezil also does an amazing job on these. if you close your eyes it's like being back with Frank again.

Tom Scholz
The solo on A Man I'll Never Be is probably my favorite of all time. The second solo on Hitch A Ride is probably number two. I know many of you would not even put Boston into your line-up but they were and probably still are my favorite band of all time. I am a sucker for layered guitar work and some of those songs have 6 guitars layered in there. When they play them live there are usually at least 3-4 worked in and when he had the personnel he would have all 6 parts live. His melodies are fantastic and they are just feel good works.

Slash
November Rain is just a great solo and I love it. It is a solo I will never get tired of listening to. His tone on that one is also fabulous.

Johnny Winter on Mojo Boogie is some of the best slide work I have ever heard. Another song that makes me wish I could play like that.

Zakk Wylde/Randy Rhoads on Mr Crowely. I can go with either version. They both do a great job. It's the way it was written that is great and just a fabulous solo. Zakk version on Live and Loud is wonderful.

So those are the ones that are way up there on my list. So many more though. Gilmour on several Wall tunes are up there too.
 
#5 ·
You're talking rock music I guess.

Then it's Since I've Been Loving You from Led Zeppelin 3. It's minor blues, folk, rock, inspired, influenced and influencial rather than overly derivative.

I really dig Leslie West's intro to Roll Over Beethoven from Mountain. All West, all Berry, all balls.

Peace, Mooh.
 
K
#9 ·
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2bGUeDnqPY

i'm canadian, but i do admire people that admire their nations in guttural and honestly expressed emotional ways.

this solo redefined sound, rock, and music. this one solo. many players have pointed back to this as their OMG WOW moment that then shaped how they played and viewed music.

read the thread title, and this is what first came to mind. insane, outrageous, not confined to rules, and still full of love and respect.

younguns today, not part of those days, not growing up with parents or aunts and uncles that were a part of those days my have a different view of course, but i think if you back timed who they listen to now it would lead back to jimi at how he woke up woodstock one morning.
 
#10 ·
keeperofthegood said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2bGUeDnqPY

i'm canadian, but i do admire people that admire their nations in guttural and honestly expressed emotional ways.

this solo redefined sound, rock, and music. this one solo. many players have pointed back to this as their OMG WOW moment that then shaped how they played and viewed music.

read the thread title, and this is what first came to mind. insane, outrageous, not confined to rules, and still full of love and respect.

younguns today, not part of those days, not growing up with parents or aunts and uncles that were a part of those days my have a different view of course, but i think if you back timed who they listen to now it would lead back to jimi at how he woke up woodstock one morning.
Click to expand...
Great choice!!
 
#11 ·
Anything by Jeff Beck !!! so many other great solos by other guitarists.. too hard to pick a favorite!!!
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
A
#13 ·
Toss up between Brian Roberston's wild wah'd out solo on "Warrior" from Thin Lizzy's Jailbreak and Ian Bairnson's tasteful, haunting solo at the end of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights".
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
M
#14 ·
D
#15 ·
...this should be interesting.

there are so many guitars solos i've heard that made time stand still for me, i wouldn't know where to start. vince gill? danny gatton? roger mcguin? chet atkins? ken greer (red ryder)? just about any bluegrass picker? doyle bramhall?

actually, there a harmony solo that bramhall and snowy white pull off on a roger waters dvd that is guaranteed to get the little neck hairs quivering.

-dh
 
L
#18 ·
not to add an obvious one....but Comfortably numb - solo # 2....but I also think the solo in another brick in the wall part 2 is GREAT....maybe its safer to say "anything Gilmour"...that guy doesn't blaze the fretboard with shredding 32nd notes....but his impeccable ability to tell a story and stick to the melody is truly fabulous....

also - the solo in Unforgiven.....unlike many of Hammet's solos - it seemed more "intentional" and planned out....if I'm not mistaken - James dreamt it up in the first place - maybe that's why its so good.

take a listen to Wynona Judd's version of Freebird......the lead in teh outro is positively fabulous......

and I REALLY dig Winwood's solo in Mr Fantasy - his later live versions (he does his live version virtually the same every time)

SRV - Tin Pan Alley....pure fabulous SRV style slow blues with a much better tone than maybe Texas Flood for example


I saw an earlier post re: Guitar Gently Weeps.....I prefer the Healy version with his leads.....our band does that song in that style.....and it is totally epic!

really like the solo in "twilight Zone"......it's not overly complex or fast - but its a great example of "the build"...the tension that builds up with that bass line, then the solo comes in with a trickle - builds up to a nice high and finishes in a really nice launch back into the chorus.

my fav Hendrix solo(s) - the song - Hey Joe.....that whole song is one big build.



I could go on forever - haven't even touched Clapton's work yet
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
P
#23 · (Edited)
my list is actually pretty standard, but these were the first ones I thought of:
what I look for in a great solo is something that just takes the song to another level.

Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits (though the fills are as much of a draw as the solo)
Hotel California - Eagles
Cold November Rain - GnR
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
Mr Crowley - Ozzy Osbourne
Mean Streets - Van Halen

and one off of the radar that just kicks me in the gut every time I hear it:
St James Infirmary - The Gutter Twins
there were a couple that I really dug in this thread too
http://www.guitarscanada.com/Board/showthread.php?t=27799
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#25 ·
there's no way i could name one. there are just too many that i love.
every one mentioned so far are among my favs though.
i am surprised however, no one has mentioned the one in gerry rafferty's baker street. not a ton of notes, but somehow, very visceral.
there was a good one in the rockford files theme song too.
 
The Canadian Guitar Forum
posts
1.6M
members
27K
Since
2005
A forum community dedicated to guitar owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about collections, displays, models, styles, amps, modifications, kits, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
The Open Mic (Non Music Related) Electric Guitar Amps and Cabs Music Effects Pedals, Strings and more