Best guitar solos

[ER Eddie]

Oh, how could I forget Michael Hedges? "Aerial Boundaries":

Michael Hedges - Aerial Boundaries - YouTube

 

[Nodak]

I have to get this in too.
Bachman-Turner Overdrive - Blue Collar - YouTube

 

[ER Eddie]

Partially OT, but Mark Knopfler nonetheless, love this one he wrote for his 'Crimson' solo CD......a story about a tattoo parlor becomes a love song:

Mark Knopfler - True Love Will Never Fade - YouTube

Very cool, thank you. I didn't know he had "Crimson" solo out, I'll have to pick it up.


One more (not really a virtuoso solo, just a good romp (pick it up at about 2:45)

 

[Birdie Num Nums]

Lots of good ones already mentioned. I'll add one that virtually never gets mentioned, except by me. Steve Hackett's great solo in the 1973 "Firth of Fifth" from Genesis's Selling England by the Pound. It starts at 5:40, and gets bone-chilling at 7:33. (I met him in 1977 in Los Angeles at the Roxy club where drummer Phil Collins was playing with Brand X. I told him I wanted to shake his hand, if only to acknowledge this guitar solo, and he did. Hardly recognized him at first, as he was clean-shaven and wearing contacts.)

Genesis - Firth of Fifth - YouTube

 

[Nemo2]

I didn't know he had "Crimson" solo out, I'll have to pick it up.

Kill To Get Crimson is the full title.

Here's a show of his that you may enjoy:

Mark Knopfler An evening with Mark Knopfler - YouTube

 

[ER Eddie]

I'll add one that virtually never gets mentioned, except by me. Steve Hackett's great solo in the 1973 "Firth of Fifth" from Genesis's Selling England by the Pound. It starts at 5:40, and gets bone-chilling at 7:33.

Wow, that is a really subtle one, excellent.

 

[Keim]

When I'm in a metal mood...

Michael Schenker can really shred:
MSG The Attack Of The Mad Axeman - YouTube

Nels Cline played one of the most jaw dropping solos I've ever seen live on Impossible Germany:
Wilco-Nels Cline-Impossible Germany Solo (FULL HD) - YouTube

 

[ERD50]

And on the acoustic side, Bireli Lagrene is a monster, in the style of Django Reinhardt but far beyond him technically:

Bireli Lagrene Hungaria - YouTube

Excellent, thanks for posting, but let's see him try it with two fingers of his left hand tied behind his back, which is what Django was up against!

Using only the index and middle fingers of his left hand on his solos (his third and fourth fingers were paralyzed after an injury in a fire), Reinhardt invented an entirely new style of jazz guitar technique (sometimes called 'hot' jazz guitar) that has since become a living musical tradition within French gypsy culture. With violinist Stéphane Grappelli, he co-founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France, described by critic Thom Jurek as "one of the most original bands in the history of recorded jazz."

-ERD50

 

[Birdie Num Nums]

Wow, that is a really subtle one, excellent.

And if you're in the mood for a non-subtle, burning guitar solo, check out Ritchie Blackmore's hyper-kinetic, 32nd note, flaming job here:
Deep Purple-Burn - YouTube

Or in "Highway Star" (official album version, of course)
Deep Purple - Highway Star - YouTube

 

[Birdie Num Nums]

And let's not forget the great but little-known Jan Akkerman's solos in this song by Focus (check out the record):
Focus - ***** Pocus - YouTube

 

[rbmrtn]

Excellent, thanks for posting, but let's see him try it with two fingers of his left hand tied behind his back, which is what Django was up against!



-ERD50

Tommy Iommi ( black sabbath ) was inspired by Django. He lost the tips of his fingers in an industrial accident. He created some plastic thimbles he wears on his finger tips to play.

Heaven & Hell - Tony Iommi Solo intro - YouTube

 

[ER Eddie]

And if you're in the mood for a non-subtle, burning guitar solo, check out ...

Thanks, but I like the quieter, subtle stuff.

 

[golfnut]

Lou Reed - Intro to Sweet Jane

The live version, of course from Rock and Roll Animal -Excellent live album.

 

[imoldernu]

Andres Segovia Plays Bach Chaconne (Part 1) - YouTube

 

[HFWR]

And let's not forget the great but little-known Jan Akkerman's solos in this song by Focus (check out the record):
Focus - ***** Pocus - YouTube

Can't get the link to work right on this danged phone, but look up Akkerman's "Fresh Air" on youtube.

 

[Midpack]

Jimmy Paige is/was the best IMO, already mentioned by others. After him and Jimi, I never understood why Eddie Van Halen didn't get more recognition during the early Van Halen years, some incredible and innovative guitar work IMO. Eruption is incredible, and Intruder-Pretty Woman and You Really Got Me (The Kinks cover) are great fun. http://ultimateclassicrock.com/top-eddie-van-halen-guitar-solos/ - there were several where I'd swear I was hearing two or three guitars when it was just Eddie on one (not overdubbed). Unfortunately I could not find a youtube clip of Eddie performing live that equaled what's on the albums. I guess they were having too much "fun" (wink-wink) in those days, occupational hazard at the time...

 

[F4mandolin]

Guess I am also one of those people who don't care much for the 50 million notes a second playing......they are great players.....but I prefer things like this really really terrible film (which I like) and the song by John Cafferty and his Brown Beaver band...... I do have a fondness for terrible movies though...
Eddie & The Cruisers II -Garden of Eden -complete - YouTube

 

[Onward]

Hey, I like that movie!

Don't like Eddie Van Halen., though. Always considered him more of a talented exhibitionist. Very different from Clapton, Hendrix, Page, Blackmore, or Slash.

That's in my humble, subjective opinion, of course!

 

[F4mandolin]

Oh....and if you are desperate for entertainment....the whole Eddie part 2 movie is on YouTube. Like several of the songs on this movie.

 

[ERD50]

...

Don't like Eddie Van Halen., though. Always considered him more of a talented exhibitionist. Very different from Clapton, Hendrix, Page, Blackmore, or Slash.

That's in my humble, subjective opinion, of course!

It is subjective of course, but I agree with you - Van Halen certainly has technique and flash, but I don't get the emotion, musicality, and subtlety (and yes, you can have subtlety in a screaming guitar solo).

Jeff Beck amazes me with the variety of techniques and sounds and emotions he pulls out. A couple good examples, IMO:

JEFF BECK LIVE Cause We've Ended As Lovers - YouTube

Jeff Beck - Somewhere Over the Rainbow - YouTube


-ERD50

 

[bld999]

@ ER Eddie,


"One more (not really a virtuoso solo, just a good romp (pick it up at about 2:45)

[/QUOTE]"


Paul Franklin on the pedal steel really sweetens that one up...

 

[knucklehead 61]

3 come to my mind as being heads & shoulders above the rest & i only saw one of them mentioned so far.

1) jimi hendrix, star spangled banner. this is the reason he is consistently voted the greatest guitarist of all time.
Jimi Hendrix Star Spangled Banner Woodstock 1969 - YouTube

2) eddie van halen, eruption.

3) cliff burton of metalica, base solo take #1.
Cliff Burton - (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth [Live] - YouTube

 

[padlin00]

Pretty much anything By Tommy Emmanuel
Tommy Emmanuel - Guitar Boogie - YouTube

 

[HFWR]

It is subjective of course, but I agree with you - Van Halen certainly has technique and flash, but I don't get the emotion, musicality, and subtlety (and yes, you can have subtlety in a screaming guitar solo).

Jeff Beck amazes me with the variety of techniques and sounds and emotions he pulls out. A couple good examples, IMO:

JEFF BECK LIVE Cause We've Ended As Lovers - YouTube

Jeff Beck - Somewhere Over the Rainbow - YouTube

-ERD50

Yep. Watch Jeff Beck Live at Ronnie Scott's.

Always thought Van Halen's rhythm guitar work was better than the solos.

 

[Midpack]

Here's the 50 Greatest Guitar Solos according to GuitarWorld, arguably one of several expert sources http://www.guitarworld.com/50-greatest-guitar-solos?page=0,0. Thought it might spark other members choices.

Since I took the time to condense the list, I took the liberty of noting my favorites - and was surprised/vindicated to see their #2 choice! Though it is personal choice as others have noted, no right answers (aside from Paige, Hendrix & Clapton)...

50) "Shock Me" (Ace Frehley) - Kiss Alive II, 1977
49) "Europa" (Carlos Santana) - Carlos Santana Amigos, 1976
48) "Sympathy for the Devil" (Keith Richards) - Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet, 1968
47) "Jessica" (Dickey Betts) - Allman Brothers Band Brothers and Sisters, 1974
46) "Hot For Teacher" (Edward Van Halen) - Van Halen 1984, 1984
45) "Light My Fire" (Robby Krieger) - The Doors The Doors, 1967
44) "Alive" (Mike McCready) - Pearl Jam Ten, 1991
43) "Sharp Dressed Man" (Billy Gibbons) - ZZ Top Eliminator, 1983
42) "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (Eric Clapton) - The Beatles The Beatles (White Album), 1968
41) "Brighton Rock" (Brian May) - Queen Sheer Heart Attack, 1974
40) "Reelin' in the Years" (Elliot Randall) - Steely Dan Can't Buy a Thrill, 1972
39) "Cortez the Killer" (Neil Young) - Neil Young and Crazy Horse Zuma, 1975
38) "Whole Lotta Love" (Jimmy Page) - Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II, 1967
37) "Sweet Child O' Mine" (Slash) - Guns N' Roses Appetite for Destruction, 1987
36) "Black Star" (Yngwie Malmsteen) - Yngwie Malmsteen Rising Force, 1984
35) "Cemetery Gates" (Dimebag Darrell) - Pantera Cowboys from Hell, 1990
34) "Paranoid Android" (Johnny Greenwood) - Radiohead OK Computer, 1997
33) "The Thrill is Gone" (B.B. King) - B.B. King Completely Well, 1969
32) "Machine Gun" (Jimi Hendrix) - Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys, 1970
31) "Stranglehold" (Ted Nugent) - Ted Nugent Ted Nugent, 1975
30) "Surfing with the Alien" (Joe Satriani) - Joe Satriani Surfing with the Alien, 1987
29) "For the Love of God" (Steve Vai) - Steve Vai Passion and Warfare, 1991
28) "Mr. Crowley" (Randy Rhoads) - Ozzy Osbourne Blizzard of Ozz, 1981
27) "Pride and Joy" (Stevie Ray Vaughan) - Stevie Ray Vaughan Texas Flood, 1983
26) "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Kurt Cobain) - Nirvana Nevermind, 1991
25) "Aqualung" (Martin Barre) - Jethro Tull Aqualung, 1979
24) "Fade to Black" (Kirk Hammett) - Metallica Ride the Lightning, 1984
23) "Bulls on Parade" (Tom Morello) - Rage Against the Machine Evil Empire, 1996
22) "Sultans of Swing" (Mark Knopfler) - Dire Straits Dire Straits, 1978
21) "Time" (David Gilmour) - Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon, 1973
20) "Bohemian Rhapsody" (Brian May) - Queen Night at the Opera, 1975
19) "Floods" (Dimebag Darrell) - Pantera The Great Southern Trendkill, 1996
18) "Little Wing" (Jimi Hendrix) - The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold as Love, 1968
17) "Cliffs of Dover" (Eric Johnson) - Eric Johnson Ah Via Musicom, 1990
16) "Heartbreaker" (Jimmy Page) - Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II, 1967
15) "Highway Star" (Ritchie Blackmore) - Deep Purple Machine Head, 1972
14) "Layla" (Eric Clapton, Duane Allman) - Derek and the Dominos Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, 1970
13) "Texas Flood" (Stevie Ray Vaughan) - Stevie Ray Vaughan Texas Flood, 1983
12) "Johnny B. Goode" (Chuck Berry) - Chuck Berry His Best, Volume One, 1997
11) "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" (Jimi Hendrix) - Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland, 1968
10) "Crossroads" (Eric Clapton) - Cream Wheels of Fire, 1968
9) "Crazy Train" (Randy Rhoads) - Ozzy Osbourne Blizzard of Ozz, 1981
8) "Hotel California" (Don Felder, Joe Walsh) - The Eagles Hotel California, 1976
7) "One" (Kirk Hammett) - Metallica ...And Justice for All, 1988
6) "November Rain" (Slash) - Guns N' Roses Use Your Illusion I, 1991
5) "All Along the Watchtower" (Jimi Hendrix) - The Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland, 1968
4) "Comfortably Numb" (David Gilmour) - Pink Floyd The Wall, 1979
3) "Free Bird" (Allen Collins, Gary Rossington) - Lynyrd Skynyrd pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd, 1973
2) "Eruption" (Eddie Van Halen) - Van Halen Van Halen, 1978
1) "Stairway to Heaven" (Jimmy Page) - Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV, 1971