April 2, 2020 by Klaus Crow
Photo by Bigstock photo
We all have our personal favorite “greatest guitar solo of all time ever”. And the beauty is, you can’t argue with that. Everyone has a different taste.
But fortunately we still do. :) We like to argue which is the best, most beautiful, wicked, coolest or melodic solo ever played, because it’s fun and we like to share our taste and passion for music.
So I created a list with 50 of the greatest, most beautiful, well known solos of all time in no particular order. Of course there are some personal favorites in there as well. Still I find it hard to say which one I like best if I had to choose only one. It’s comparing apples and oranges. One of my all time favorites which is not on the list by the way is the solo of Rest in peace by Nuno Bettencourt from the band Extreme. But then again what can beat Hotel California by the Eagles or… ah never mind, looking at the list below I can’t possibly stick to a top 3. And why should I?
That’s why it’s not a top 50 list. And as I said earlier “in no particular order”, although it could be :). Of course the list isn’t complete either, far from it.
So what is it then? Well it’s a list to inspire, to motivate and to enjoy. A list that makes you want to pick up your guitar and learn that awesome solo. To bring back memories and let your guitar playing be influenced by all those beautiful melodies and masterpieces.
Let’s take a look, have a listen and create some new ideas for your practice workout, adding some stunning guitar licks, new techniques or a complete solo to your repertoire.
All the songs are attached to a link which sends you straight to the solo part on youtube. Try to refresh the youtube page if doesn’t work straight away. In the worst case scenario skip to the solo part manually.
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Enjoy and have fun!
1 – Hotel California – Don Felder, Joe Walsh (The Eagles) – Tabs
2 – Comfortably Numb – David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) – Tabs
3 – Texas Flood – Stevie Ray Vaughan – Tabs
4 – All along the watch tower – Jimi Hendrix – Tabs
5 – Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers – Jeff Beck – Tabs
6 – Bohemian Rhapsody – Brian May (Queen) – Tabs
7 – One – Kirk Hammet (Metallica) – Tabs
8 – Stairway to heaven – Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) – Tabs
9 – November rain – Slash (Guns ‘n Roses) – Tabs
10 – Sweet child o mine – Guns ‘n roses (Slash) – Tabs
11 – Voodoo Child (Slight Return) – Jimi Hendrix – Tabs
12 – Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry – Tabs
13 – Eruption – Eddie van Halen – Tabs
14 – Always with you, always with me – Joe Satriani – Tabs
15 – Little Wing – Jimi Hendrix – Tabs
16 – Heartbreaker – Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) – Tabs
17 – Layla – Eric Clapton, Duane Allman – Tabs
18 – Cliffs of Dover – Eric Johnson – Tabs
19 – Scar Tissue – John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers) – Tabs
20 – Guitar Boogie – Tommy Emmanuel – Tabs
21 – Free Bird – Allen Collins, Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd) – Tabs
22 – Sultans of Swing – Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) – Tabs
23 – Symphonie of Destruction – (Marty Friedman, Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) – Tabs
24 – Flight Of The Wounded Bumblebee – Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) – Tabs
25 – Reelin’ in the Years – Elliott Randall (Steely Dan) – Tabs
26 – Highway 61 revisited – Johnny Winter – Tabs
27 – Pride and Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughan – Tabs
28 – For the love of god – Steve Vai – Tabs
29 – Surfing with the Alien – Joe Satriani – Tabs
30 – Asturias – John Williams (Isaac Albeniz)
31 – Blues deluxe – Joe Bonamassa – Tabs
32 – The Thrill is gone – B.B. King – Tabs
33 – Paranoid Android – Radiohead – Jonny Greenwood – Tabs
34 – Covered in rain – John Mayer – Tabs
35 – Mr. Crowley – Ozzy Osbourne (Randy Rhoads) – Tabs
36 – Black Star – Yngwie Malmsteen – Tabs
37 – Mediterranean sundance – Al Di Meola, Paco De Lucia, John McLaughlin
38 – Whole lotta love – Jimmy page (Led Zeppelin) – Tabs
39 – Satch Boogie – Joe Satriani – Tabs
40 – Get the funk out – Extreme (Nuno Bettencourt) – Tabs
41 – Beat It – Michael Jackson (Eddie van Halen) – Tabs
42 – Jerry’s Breakdown – Chet Atkins & Jerry Reed – Tabs
43 – Floods – Pantera (Dime Bag Darrel) – Tabs
44 – Alive – Pearl jam – Mike McCready – Tabs
45 – Minor swing – Django Reinhardt – Tabs
46 – Tender surrender – Steve Vai – Tabs
47 – Jessica – Dickey Betts – Tabs
48 – Sympathy for the Devil – Keith Richards (Rolling Stones) – Tabs
49 – No More Tears – Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne) – Tabs
50 – Know your enemy – Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) – Tabs
So what’s your favorite guitar solo?
Please share in the comments.
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Just made a playlist out of these songs. Added acoustic Layla though. Awesome list. Might add Fade to Black by Metallica :)
Both are awesome. I totally agree.
Best regards,
Klaus Crow
Hi klaus sir,
I am going to listen to these guitar solos. Then search for sheet music to practice. I like the song “for the love of God”.Thanks for sharing.
What about dance of death? Rime of the ancient mariner? Phantom of the opera?
Great list, Klaus.
One of my all time favorites is this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcnouuukr0g#t=2m53s
It’s a romanian band, and the song is from the 90’s
Hi Prasana,
Love that one. Steve is a master in building a climax, beginning his songs like a calm river and then bursting out into an exploding volcano.
I can’t stop listening and watching his incredible soloing.
Sorry, the big solo starts from here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcnouuukr0g#t=3m50s
This is an excellent list , covering everything from blues to metal .
I look forward to all your post , keep writing and inspiring .
Allman Bros. Blue Sky would top my list and does not appear on this one.
Great topic Klaus!
Lately I’m REALLY digging the guitar solos of David Rawlings. Mostly I love the way he works with heavy dissonance.
Unfortunately I cannot link to exactly the solo part but below is a link to a concert by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. A GREAT song to hear his dissonant solo style comes in at 27:20 (Time the Revelator) and the solo itself starts at 32:40 – but his playing is interesting throughout the entire song (even the opening chords!!). Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_0b3J4BFcc
The Great Curve – Adrian Belew – Talking Heads – Remain In Light.
Two Hands – Robert Fripp – King Crimson – Beat.
I hope y’all have a listen.
For the rest I’m very pleased with the list.
I’d love to see some more Eric Clapton on this list. The Solo in White Room is hard to beat.
Also, Tornado of Souls OR Hanger 18 by Marty Friedman are much more impressive solos than the one in Symphony of Destruction.
why not;
Clapton’s solos on SWLABR, Crossroads, and Strange Brew?
and Martin Barre’s on Aqualung?
I know these are brief, but so well crafted.
Here’s just a few more of my faves not including some killer ones by Albert Collins, Albert King, Freddie King, and BB.
– Animal Behavior (Outro – Live) Buckethead with Praxis)
– Maggotbrain – Parliament Funkadelic
– I Shot the Sheriff (2010 version I believe) – Eric Clapton
– Little Wing – Stevie Ray Vaughan
– Red House – Jimi Hendrix
– Chitlens Con Carne – Stevie Ray Vaughan
– Chateaux Strut – Stevie Ray Vaughan
– Minor Swing – Django Reinhardt
– Voodoo Child (SR) – Stevie Ray Vaughan
– Lively Up Yourself – Bob Marley live in Boston (Junior Marvin on guitar)
– Dark Eyes – Unknown Gypsy Jazz
– Starship Trooper – Joe Bonamassa
– Kenny Wayne Shepherd – While We Cry
– C-Butt Rock – Chris Duarte
– Scuttle Buttin’ – Stevie Ray Vaughan
– Goin’ Down – Danny Gatton
There should be an edit button, because I’ve got tons more. I’ll just summarize by mentioning pretty much anything and everything by Johnny Winter, Clapton, Satch and (esp.) SRV and Hendrix. Then we’re not even mentioning the gazillion rockabilly, classical, Spanish, Gypsy Jazz, Bossa, Bebop and Jazz/fusion virtuosos. Okay, I’ll shut my trap.
Hi Klaus,
I think DJ Ashba’s ‘Ballad of Death’ is entitled to an honorable mention,… no? :)
It’s only done live, but really love the way he slides in between notes just to to sear your emotions with that haunting melody
Great job Klaus. I agree with a lot of these! And would like to add to Postal57’s suggestions – Robert Fripp’s FEROCIOUS solo in Brian Eno’s “Baby’s on Fire” (even if you don’t “get” the song) it will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It still does mine – even after 40 years. Usually cool & logical, in this one he’s exorcising Demons.
no prince-purple rain?
Missing a very important solo on that list and that is by Jimmy Page on the Led Zeppelin track “Since I’ve Been Loving You”. Considered to be his best solo by hardcore zep fans, myself included. Stairway to heaven is good but doesn’t really compare.
“Machine Gun” by Jimi Hendrix from A Band of Gypsies
More Than A Feeling- Boston. A majestic ear worm if there ever was one!
Uhm, aren’t most of these leads? There is a difference between leads and solos.
Anyone seen this Youtube page where someone’s animated a cat to sing ‘The Great Guitar Solos’? There’s some Jeff Beck, Steely Dan and Amos Garrett – kind of quirky and looks like there might be more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLcju2ZQQm8
If you expanded your list to about 1000 I would suggest anything early by Leo Kottke. Otherwise, I think you have a pretty good list, though I agree with the person who suggested Tommy Emmanuel (Tony Enamel).
Duane Allman and Dicky Betts – In Memory of Elizabeth Reed and Martin Barre – Aqualung
Frank Zappa – Black Napkins
Marc Seal – Swept Away
Gary Hoey – Fade To Blue
Joe Satriani – The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing
Greg Howe & Richie Kotzen – Seventh Place
Frank Zappa – Whippin’ Post
Tosin Abasi(Animals As Leaders) – Tempting Time
Ed Wynne(Ozric Tentacles) – Pixel Dream
Steven Wilson(Porcupine Tree) – Radioactive Toy
Cinnamon Girl – Neil Young
axl rose’s version of the godfather theme. awesome too.
Can’t believe Derek Trucks isn’t on this list.
This is why Tommy Emmanuel is THE guitar god.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTU8W3Zvshw
Um, how did Machine Gun not get on here?
Hi James,
I’ll give it to you right on #20. How can I refuse :)
Guitar Boogie – Tommy Emmanuel.
Best regards,
Klaus Crow
Thanks, Klaus. I read that TE began playing when he was three. Nothing like a few thousand hours of practice before you’re six to lay a solid foundation for your technique. His older brother, Phil, is no slouch either.
Naturally, some of these should be closer to the top and some shouldn’t be here at all. I can tell this person doesn’t like ZZ Top.
But… everyone is entitled to their opinion.
They are all the best, I dont like the rank.
Any by Ten years After’s Alvin Lee
John Petrucci – Erotomania (and any other John Petrucci solo for that matter)
Fantastic list!
Missing Carlos Santana
more from Brian May
Toto’s Steve Lukather
Frank Gambale
Larry Carlton (Steely Dan’s Kid Charlemagne is a dream)
Like the list. Had many, added some. Check out “One November Night” by Johnnie A, it is a good collection, all live. Also, would like to suggest “Summer Song” by Joe Satriani.
I love all the entries.
Here’s a few more that CANNOT be argued with if you truely love RnR!
Anytime-Neal Schon, Journey (I would give my left nut to have that tone!)
Hot Blooded-Mick Jones,Foreigner. (Wicked!)
Carry On Wayward Son-Kerry Livgren,Kansas (Superprog!)
Rock Bottom-Michael Schenker,UFO (Serious smoke!)
Seventeen-Reb Beach, Winger (Melodic Shred-Fest!)
(You know it!)
Fooled around and fell in love–Elvin Bishop
All Along the Watchtower- David Mason or Hendrix
Devotion- John McLaughlin
We Are not Helpless- Stephen Stills
I Looked Away-Clapton
Can’t You here Me Knockin-Stones
If I may add my two cents (and I might think of others!):
there are some majestic solos all over Borboletta by Carlos Santana, such as Life is Anew, One With the Sun, Mirage (sublime!). That record by Santana used to “look after” me (amongst others), left on by my parents when I was an infant.
Time, Pink Floyd – Dave Gilmour,
and what about the supreme solos by Mick Taylor in Time Waits for No One and Winter (Rolling Stones). There’s a great sense of melody in all of these.
I love this list if only because it has one of Dimebag’s great solos in the song “Floods”. “Cliffs” by EJ is just icing.
Great list! Great solos in the various comments too. And great website, by the way – just found it.
Some of my favorite solos are ‘outro solos’, ones that are played at the end or on the fadeout of a song. Examples: Alex Lifeson on Between The Wheels by Rush; Bill Nelson on Music In Dreamland by Be Bop Deluxe; and my favorite of all, David Gilmour on the outro of No More Lonely Noghts by Paul McCartney. IMO it may be Gilmour’s best work…
Talk about lighting the touch paper…….. Kenny Wayne Shepherd is always worth a vote, along with Mr Bonamassa they are keeping blues rock alive. Oli Brown is worth a listen & great live.
All time number one for me, Rick Fenn. He has played with some of the greats in his time including partnering Nick Mason in a very dodgy 80’s duo. Check out any 10cc live video on YouTube and you will see what i mean.
Very good list. Esp. bohemian Rhapsody, Comfy Numb and Always w/ You, Always W/ Me. One of my favorites is Kid Charlemagne by Steely Dan (solo by Larry Carlton). LC is amazing.
Frank Zappa “Watermelon in Easter Hay.”
Reeling the Years Steely Dan
J. Page says it is one of his favorites……
How about “Beyond the Realms of Death” – Judas Priest? Glenn Tipton’s solo is one of the best ever
You guys forgot the one in Blitzkreig Bop by the Ramones!
How about Highway Song by Blackfoot and I’d love To Change The World by Ten Years After?
Tommy Bolin with Billy Cobham – Stratus, Do it again – Steely Dan, James Gang (tommy Bolin) Alexis, Robin Trower- Too Rolling Stoned(Live!) Peter Frampton – Show me the way to name a few iconic solos
Ted Nugent – Wang Dang Sweet Poontang (Double Live Gonzo)
Tesla – Don’t De-Rock Me (Psychotic Supper)
Joe Satriani – Andalusia (Professor Satch…..)
Blue Oyster Cult – Astronomy (Some Enchanted Evening)
Been looking at all the lists and on not a one did I find one of the greatest recorded guitar solos in rock:
Rock Bottom by UFO/Michael Schenker
I noticed an earlier comment caught this omission but wanted to put my vote in.
Where’s Roy? “The Messiah Will Come Again”?
So many options from Chris Spedding, too…
Gotta be Chicago’s Terry Kath’s 25 or 6 to 4. Not the pop new era Chicago but the “early” Chicago. Hendrix said Terry Kath was the best guitar player he had ever heard. I have to agree. May he rest in peace.
I think the solo from ‘the chain’ deserves to be in there.
Life without you by SRV. Its one of my favorites, and is definitely worth a look. The guy is just untouchable. R.I.P. Stevie
Where is Ernie Isley and Paul Kossoff and Gary Moore
My personal favorite is the long solo on Blue Sky (Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers).
I can see there are many guitar players chiming in with their favorites too…there are some great suggestions here.
One last comment…a great solo has to fit well into the context of the overall song so my vote for the best off of the list given is Jimi’s All Along the Watchtower. I don’t know how anyone could have come up with a better solo given the parameters of that song.
Mason Williams’ “Classical Gas” tops my list. It shows as much all-around guitar mastery as any solo I’ve heard.
I am a new member of your site. Do you teach the CAGED system and your opinion of it?
I just downloaded the 150 Essential Chords and purchased the 50 Cool Blues Licks. Excited to get started.
Thank you!
Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush
Robin Trower
Jeff Beck
Pat Travers
You have got to listen to some of the solos these guys have done as well, I had Floys first and Eagles 2nd but it’s tough to call. Cliffs of Dover-Eric Johnson could be 3rd but great list. !!
The solo by the late Robert Quine in Richard Hells “Blank Generation”. Raw and adventureous. Rock n roll for real.
The top of the list should be a little known yet extremely talented artist playing with the band; Thin Lizzy: lead singer and guitar- Gary Moore. I think the best riff I’ve ever heard is in the song Parisienne walkways.
if you play this track on a halfway decent sound system, for a woman who really loves guitar licks it is a guaranteed panties peeler.
where is through he fire ans flames on this site? Just wondering because that is my favorite duelling guitar solos of all time.
Damn, I miss Genesis “Firth of Fifth” guitar solo played by Steve Hackett. One of the greatest in my opinion!
Outro from Another Brick in the Wall
Lonely is the Word (Sabbath)
The Loner (Gary Moore)
Rock Bottom live (UFO)
Echoes live at Pompeii (Floyd)
Maybe It’s Time (Frank Marino)
Tim suggests;
Alex Lifeson & Neil & Geddy(Rush) La Viila Strangiato ultimate trio instrumental.
Carlos Santana Europa live from Moonflower
Sticking with the instrumental theme Rat Tomago from Frank Zappa’s Sheik Yerbouti.
Highway Star (Ritchie Blackmore) belongs on any list of the greatest solos. Way cool.
A truly awesome list and some I’ve never heard. BUT a list without ‘Crossroads’ from Creams Wheels of Fire?
Love all these, but I would add to the list maggot brain by funkadelic . Although that isn’t really a solo but more of am entire song of heavenly guitars.
Boddhisatva – Danny Diaz of Steely Dan
Muffin Man – Zappa
You forgot the greatest living guitarist, Jerry Miller. Anything this guy did should be at the top of the list especially when you consider that he met Jimi while taking lessons from the same guitarist that Jimi was learning from.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kwMfgYY4ec
If you ever hear “Spanish Castle Magic” off of Axis, that was written about Jimi and Jerry going to the Spanish Castle to watch shows.
Try this-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgtZv_ldBoU
Here is Jerry recently at SXSW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce10B7Dydr4
Here he is just pickin’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPIeW3szIMo
Clapton said that Jerry was his favorite player. Why isn’t he on this list?
Voodoo chile blues jimi hendrix. Best jam session. Can i get an amen. Ha!
The playing on Tattoo’d Lady on the Irish Tour 74 Album is the best solo (especially live) in my opinion. The whole album his playing is fantastic, both on his battered Strat and acoustically.
I was meaning Rory Gallagher.
I didn’t see ‘willie the pimp” on that list. or “prodigal son” by ted off of the survival of the fittest album. there’s a couple
I know it’s probably not one of the greatest, but the solo from For You Blue by the Beatles is fun to listen to.
Badge by Eric Clapton / Cream. Short, sweet and soaring. Never mentioned amongst the greatest lists but in my opinion is the epitome of the perfect guitar solo.
For your consideration……..Bob Marley and the Wailers – Stir It Up
I dont know if its technical enough but it moves my soul every time.
I guess country music isn’t represented in this thread… But just for posterity…
Jerry Reed – Lightning Rod
…and don’t forget Roy Clark or Chet Atkins!
Steve Howe – The Clap or Mood For The Day
For melodic content:
Iron Maiden – Prodigal Son
UFO – Hot & Ready
Judas Priest – Delivering The Goods
Vandenberg – Burning Heart
White Lion – Wait
Dokken – In My Dreams
Michael Schenker – Attack Of The Mad Axman
Autograph – Turn Up The Radio
Don Felder and Joe Walsh have done several iconic solos in many Eagles songs.
Kerry Livgren and Rich Williams of Kansas.
James Young and Tommy Shaw of Styx.
Tony Iommi has quite a body of work as well.
My 2¢