NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm sure this type of thread has existed (probably several times) before but opinions change over time and I was just curious to see what people thought! Here's a couple of links for reference:

http://www.francesfarmersrevenge.com/stuff/archive/oldnews6/guitar.htm
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_guitarsolo.html

I would have to agree with the digitaldreamdoor page by saying that Gilmour's second solo in Comfortably Numb owns all others!!!

I like Alex Lifeson's solos. They're actually relevant to the songs, they're technical, and they sound great.

I'm sure this type of thread has existed (probably several times) before but opinions change over time and I was just curious to see what people thought! Here's a couple of links for reference:

http://www.francesfarmersrevenge.com/stuff/archive/oldnews6/guitar.htm


81.
song: Sweet Jane
guitarist: Hunter/Wagner
band: The Velvet Underground
album: Loaded

Huh? The version of Sweet Jane with Ian Hunter playing guitar isn't on Loaded but on Lou Reed's solo LP Rock'n'roll Animal.

Zero points for research to that man.

Digital Dream Door says:
20. November Rain - Slash (Guns N Roses)

Frances Farmers Revenge says:
6.
song: November Rain
guitarist: Slash
band: Guns n' Roses
album: Use Your Illusion I

Heavy Metal Soldiers says:
1. November Rain - Slash (GN'R)

November Rain-Slash
Sweet Child 'o' mine-Slash
Anything by Hendrix.

BAsically Slash and Hendrix where the best two gitaurists and played some awsome solos.

November Rain-Slash
Sweet Child 'o' mine-Slash
Anything by Hendrix.

BAsically Slash and Hendrix where the best two gitaurists and played some awsome solos.

Agreed...100%

I'm partial to Pink Floyd's "Money"; the guitar really gets going at about 3:06 into the track.

But I wouldn't argue with Comfortably Numb, either.

http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/images_music/sg_56.jpeg

Hotel California. It was decided by the people at some guitar magazine. They must be right :)

*worships magazine*

Anything by Iron Maiden

I liked the solo for "Pornograffitti" from Extreme, as did an awful lot of other guitar fans.
I also dig the solo on "I Believe" from Joe Satriani.
And "Waiting For 22" from Queensryche.

But there are many, MANY solos that work very well for their situations and i could basically spend the better part of the day to qualify them. Perhaps i'll just stick to the threads provided.

I'm sure this type of thread has existed (probably several times) before but opinions change over time and I was just curious to see what people thought! Here's a couple of links for reference:

http://www.francesfarmersrevenge.com/stuff/archive/oldnews6/guitar.htm
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_guitarsolo.html

I would have to agree with the digitaldreamdoor page by saying that Gilmour's second solo in Comfortably Numb owns all others!!!

For beauty, the solo on "Maggot Brain" by Funkadelic. For energy it adds to the song, the solo on "Another Girl, Another Planet" by the Only Ones.

Let's see... ANYTHING by Dream Theater, simply for being INSANE, Freebird, for being Freebird, same for Stairway, "One" by Metallica, To Live is to Die is also truly awesome, same goes for Ktulu, and Orion.

Basically anything by Metallica(pre-Black Album), Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and some songs by other bands all have truly godlike guitar solos.

Let's see... ANYTHING by Dream Theater
I can't fathom why you put Dream Theater next to Skynyrd. That hurts. :(
But, more on topic, i recommend Biaxident and When the Water Breaks from Liquid Tension Experiment for your perusal, both on their second album.
Essentially DT sans LaBrie and Myung. Tony Levin plays admirably in John's stead.

The second solo in MoP, where Kirk's guitar fucks up at the end.

I can't fathom why you put Dream Theater next to Skynyrd. That hurts. :(
But, more on topic, i recommend Biaxident and When the Water Breaks from Liquid Tension Experiment for your perusal, both on their second album.
Essentially DT sans LaBrie and Myung. Tony Levin plays admirably in John's stead.

DT has been placed on the list due to the sheer length and insanity of their solos. Skynyrd recieved a place because it's Lynyrd FREAKING Skynyrd.

DT has been placed on the list due to the sheer length and insanity of their solos. Skynyrd recieved a place because it's Lynyrd FREAKING Skynyrd.
Well, that's a good distinction. Thanks for indulging me.
Actually, the band's good, i just CAN'T STAND the singer. And the ubiquity.

Funnily enough, as you might already be aware, DT got a bit carried away at the end of Take The Time on the Once in a Livetime album and ended with the outro from Freebird. Coinky? Probably not, due the ubiquity thing.
As is, Portnoy has a Beatles cover band as well.

Well, that's a good distinction. Thanks for indulging me.
Actually, the band's good, i just CAN'T STAND the singer. And the ubiquity.

Funnily enough, as you might already be aware, DT got a bit carried away at the end of Take The Time on the Once in a Livetime album and ended with the outro from Freebird. Coinky? Probably not, due the ubiquity thing.
As is, Portnoy has a Beatles cover band as well.

I will admit DT is an acquired taste. I like the insane length of the songs. People are impressed by the oh-so-long Freebird live? How about DT, where the AVERAGE song is about 12 minutes... I am quirte frankly amazed by the sheer endurance required to play their songs for any extended period of time.

Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated

I will admit DT is an acquired taste. I like the insane length of the songs. People are impressed by the oh-so-long Freebird live? How about DT, where the AVERAGE song is about 12 minutes... I am quirte frankly amazed by the sheer endurance required to play their songs for any extended period of time.
EVER magnified by their usually note-perfect live performances, even with extensions and exaggeration!

lynyrd's free bird, and satriani has mostly great solos...

I could list about a dozen songs by Santana as contenders for the greatest but I'll just throw out one most people know...

Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen

comfortable numb for the sheer epicness
just, talk about teeth grinding guitar histronics
black dog, really good fretwork
bohemian raphsody- very emotive and well thought out.
vodoo child-amazing

anything by hendrix, but of note: voodoo child and anytime he did crazy things like play with his teeth or behind his head

page had a lot of good ones too-heartbreaker, black dog, and apparently a lot of people like the one in stairway to heaven. oh yeah and how about when he played with a violin bow? probably not best solo ever, but maybe most original

finally, im surprised to not see any steevie ray vaughn on the list. he's pretty rediculous and unlike almost everyone else thats been listed, he wasnt high while he did his insane solos and actually knows/is aware of what he's doing

finally, im surprised to not see any steevie ray vaughn on the list. he's pretty rediculous and unlike almost everyone else thats been listed, he wasnt high while he did his insane solos and actually knows/is aware of what he's doing
Do you mean while recording? Cuz he was quite a snorter as his gig got on in popularity, and he'd be lit on the tour.

finally, im surprised to not see any steevie ray vaughn on the list. he's pretty rediculous and unlike almost everyone else thats been listed, he wasnt high while he did his insane solos and actually knows/is aware of what he's doing

I'll agree with that! There's a lot to be said about SRV!!! He was definitly a legendary guitarist!

Here's an unpopular choice, but my vote regardless:

Walter Becker's gymnastic work on Steely Dan's "My Old School".

Star Spangled Banner/Jimi Hendrix/Woodstock '69:D

Ugh... I can't believe people consider Metallica... Kirk's solos are fine, but certainly not great.

Song: Tornado of Souls
Guitarist: Marty Friedman
Band: Megadeth
Album: Rust in Peace

They're not rock, but neither is early 'tallica, so meh.

Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated

I'm speechless.

I'm speechless.
Isn't that one of the points of the guitar solo? ;)

Isn't that one of the points of the guitar solo? ;)

If you like to wank with guitars, sure.

I find that good guitar solos are about moving the song, adding texture and depth.

Do you mean while recording? Cuz he was quite a snorter as his gig got on in popularity, and he'd be lit on the tour.
sorry im not sure, i actually might have just made that up

sorry im not sure, i actually might have just made that up
Well, not all drugs inhibit the riff/voicing writing ability. Some definitely enhance. As well as the live performance.

If you like to wank with guitars, sure.

I find that good guitar solos are about moving the song, adding texture and depth.
*joke being NOT TALKING THROUGH THE SOLO, hence the word "solo"*
;)

Well, in my own view, the top three should have been:

1. David Gilmour-Time, Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon
2. Jimmy Page-Stairway to Heaven, Led Zeppelin's Untitled Fourth Album
3. Jimi Hendrix-Purple Haze, The Jimi Hendrix Experience's Are You Experienced?

For energy it adds to the song, the solo on "Another Girl, Another Planet" by the Only Ones.

Best feedback intro ever.

I'm speechless.

Why? :p

Without a doubt ''maggotbrain'' by Ed Hazel of Funkedelic.

The Bohemian Rhapsody guitar solo. Hands down.

Why? :p

I just am, okay? And get on MSN, you bum.

Best feedback intro ever.

I'm glad someone noticed. It's not ALL about metal wanking, is it?

Without a doubt ''maggotbrain'' by Ed Hazel of Funkedelic.

And thank you, someone else picked my other choice. You hear of George Clinton's request to him as they started recording?

"Play like your momma just died"

Timeless.

BB King - I'll Play The Blues For You
Kenny Wayne Sheppard - While We Cry
Stevie Ray Vaughn - Pride and Joy

Really, any solos by Stevie Ray Vaughn, BB King, or Kenny Wayne Sheppard

You guys really want to talk about best guitar solos of all time, you've gotta get away from pure rock and back towards blues. Most of the cliche greatest rock solos take their inspiration from the blues.

jimmy hendrix star spangeld banner wood stock 64

I know this is cliched and somewhat overplayed but I don't care:

Van Halen - Eruption

Not the best, but I'd like to note that both of Dragonforce's guitarists (Herrman Li gets more time usually), do insane solos. Very good. One of my favorite examples is Through The Fire & Flames.

Hendrix and Slash of course being the greatest guitarists.

Another artist that greatly impresses me is Joe Satriani.

Not the best, but I'd like to note that both of Dragonforce's guitarists (Herrman Li gets more time usually), do insane solos. Very good. One of my favorite examples is Through The Fire & Flames.

Hendrix and Slash of course being the greatest guitarists.

Another artist that greatly impresses me is Joe Satriani.

Hear hear for dragonforce.

Telgraph Road - Mark Knopfler is at the top of my list
Followed of course by Sultans of Swing.
Layla - Eric Clapton is also pretty fantastic

I was surprised to see that Money For Nothing didn't make it in there.

I think Genesis managed to pull off the intro to Firth of Fifth live on a guitar.

If so, that wins by default.

And thank you, someone else picked my other choice. You hear of George Clinton's request to him as they started recording?

"Play like your momma just died"

Timeless.

I know great motivation technique! in fact that whole album is amazing.
For me this solo is played with real emotion and feeling rather than being hyper techincal wank (ala Malmsteen and Satriani)

I know great motivation technique! in fact that whole album is amazing.
For me this solo is played with real emotion and feeling rather than being hyper techincal wank (ala Malmsteen and Satriani)

A similar track for full on space-rock genius has to be *S*t*a*r*c*a*r* by Julian Cope. Or, indeed, Safesurfer, by, err, Julian Cope. In fact, i once had media player playlist called "Spacerock" which was at least 75% Julian Cope.

Best Solo ever huh?
Well my current favorite is Crossroads by Clapton (yes I'm aware that it's a cover). Eruption and Stairway to Heaven are worth mentioning I guess.
Best Guitarist?
It's a toss up for me between Stevie Ray Vaughan and Hendrix, both brilliant. It's a shame that Clapton had to assasinate them both because they were better than him at guitar. I also like Jimmy Page, just cause he's freaking Jimmy Page.
Edit: I couldn't agree more with Neutered Sputniks.
Regarding Star Spangled banner, I was listening to it the other day thinking "This sounds pretty violent and sarcastic, it would probably piss me off if I were American" I couldn't tell you if Hendrix was patriotic or not, that's just how it sounded to me.
Edit II: Are you even allowed to compare Slash to Hendrix? I think if you're convicted of that in my country they throw you off a bridge with a bass amp tied to your ankles.