NationStates Jolt Archive

NOTE- THIS IS NOT A THREAD FOR THE GREATEST GUITAR PLAYER EVER, JUST BEST SOLO PLAYER, AS IN PLAYER WHO HAS THE BEST SOLOS.

Through extensive research I have compiled data that has given me answers to who is the greatest solo player in rock guitar, both on albums and live.

First, I narrowed it down to four prime choices. The choices were Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and David Gilmour. Then, with a little visit to a certain website, I found a large list of the greatest guitar solos ever. I took the position number of the solos and got their average. The lower the average, the higher the position on my final list of the best. Here is what I found.


Jimi Hendrix Guitar Solos Positions
3. All Along the Watch Tower
12. Little Wing
19. Voodoo Child(slight return)
35. Red House
67. Bold As Love
144. Purple Haze
149. Let The Good Times Roll
183. Foxy Lady


Eric Clapton Guitar Solos Positions
14. Layla
27. White Room
38. Those Were The Days
40. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
71. Tales of Brave Ulysses
114. Sunshine of Your Love
162- Badge
209- Presence of the Lord
216- Cocaine



Jimmy Page Guitar Solos Positions
2. Stairway to Heaven
31. Since I've Been Loving You
61. Heartbreaker
64. Dazed and Confused
98. Whole Lotta Love
127. Achilles Last Stand
192. White Summer



David Gilmour Guitar Solos Positions
1. Comfortably Numb
13. Time
21. Shine On You Crazy Diamond
34. Atom Heart Mother
53. Money
76. Have A Cigar
87. Dogs
128. High Hopes


Jimi Hendrix Average- 76
Eric Clapton Average- 99
Jimmy Page Average- 82
David Gilmour Average- 52

(All averages rounded to the nearest tenth.)

So, for guitar solos, it goes like this.

1. David Gilmour
2. Jimi Hendrix
3. Jimmy Page
4. Eric Clapton


For Live Guitar Solos, here are the postitions.


Jimi Hendrix Live Guitar Solos Positions
3. Machine Gun
8. Star Spangled Banner
17. Voodoo Child(slight return)
24. Hear My Train A Comin'



Eric Clapton Live Guitar Solos Positions
1. Crossroads
10. I'm So Glad
16. Edge of Darkness
21. Why Does Love Have to be So Sad
25. Sunshine of Your Love
27. Old Love
29. Spoonful
34. Let It Rain



Jimmy Page Live Guitar Solos Positions
2. Stairway to Heaven
35. You Shook Me
42. Dazed and Confused
47. How Many More Times




David Gilmour Live Guitar Solos Positions
5. Comfortably Numb
33. Money
37. Another Brick In the Wall
45. Sorrow


Jimi Hendrix Average-13
Eric Clapton Average- 20
Jimmy Page Average- 32
David Gilmour- 30

Here is were complications arise. Hendrix has the best score, but Clapton had more solos, and had a high percentage of solos on the list. Here is my desicion.

1. Eric Clapton
2. Jimi Hendrix
3. David Gilmour
4. Jimmy Page

And so, I give you my results. You may choose to believe that Hendrix is a better live solo player than Clapton, or vice versa. You may think another player I did not mention is the best. But this is the data I have come up with. Thank you.

The Greatest Guitar Solo Player/ Live Guitar Solo Player is...


Larry Carlton

Power of Soul (Live at the Fillmore East) is all I have to say.

hendrix > clapton ≥ satch

Alvin Lee

For me, Brian May.

Though Tom Petty is a close second.

Probably some guy whom nobody has ever heard of.

There is no "greatest". It's too hard to define. And it definitly isn't defined by chart position....

Though I do love Hendrix and Clapton.

Richard Thompson.

There is no "greatest". It's too hard to define. And it definitly isn't defined by chart position....

Though I do love Hendrix and Clapton.

You are quite right. I just wanted to show what I found on a website. In my opinion, David Gilmour cushes everyone, followed by Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple. Then Clapton, Beck, and Hendrix in that order. I don'y like Jimmy Page, so he's not even on my favorites.

Eddie Van Halen's Eruption is the greatest guitar solo of all time. EVERYONE who plays guitar knows that!

What about Randy Rhoads? Eddie Van Halen? Kirk Hammet? Tony Iommi? Theres just too many choices! Personally though, I'd have to go with either Neil Young or Randy Rhoads. Or hendrix, of course.

I call your Van Halen and raise you Jim Morrison.

Frank Zappa.

I call your Van Halen and raise you Jim Morrison.

Morrison didn't play guitar.

Eddie Van Halen's Eruption is the greatest guitar solo of all time. EVERYONE who plays guitar knows that!

I play guitar, and although Eruption is amazing, it is not the greatest solo ever. *Coughcoughcomfortablynumbcoughcough*

Depends what you want from a guitar solo.....if it's sheer speed and technical ability then it has to be the guitarists of Slayer - Angel of Death solo is one of the fastest ever and is typical of Slayer.

If it's not about speed just soul and feeling then probably hendrix or Clapton. Otherwise there are great guitar virtuoso's like Steve Vai, Frank Zappa and Joe Satriani.

I couldn't pick a favourite.

Pink Floyd puts me to sleep. Eric Clapton isn't that thrilling, blah blah.... I'll say it this way.

1. Satch
2. Yngwie Malmsteen

You can swap those two if you prefer speed over technical wizardry. I prefer them that way.

Eric Johnson, Neil Schon (Journey) and Trevor Rabin are some more favorites.

Call back when you want to talk Blues. :D