It’s no surprise that three of our Top 10 Guitar Solos also appear in our top ten rock songs listing. A great solo isn’t always about technical proficiency, sound, or production, great solos capture the essence of the song, and the spirit of the player.
Here’s the top 10 guitar solos of all time (in our opinion!) ..
10. Crossroads – Eric Clapton
Crossroads – Eric Clapton with Cream, 1968 – Recorded at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom, Crossroads became the solo to be reckoned with for many guitarists of the day. Capturing Clapton’s attitude and sound at time, playing behind the beat, but not quite losing it, the solo was one that Robert Johnson himself would have been proud of.
9. Crazy Train – Randy Rhoads
Crazy Train – Randy Rhoads with Ozzy Osborne’s Blizzard of Ozz, 1981 – Another influential guitarist of the pre-hair band days was Randy Rhoads. Sporting a harder-edge sound than many of his contemporaries, coupled with brilliantly crafted solos, forced the world to take notice early on in his career. The solo on Crazy Train featured Randy’s almost-out-of-control style, fit the song and it’s sentiment perfectly, while embodying the spirit of Rhoads’ playing.
8. Hotel California – Ben Felder
Hotel California – Ben Felder and Joe Walsh with The Eagles, 1976 – Hotel California was the epic Eagles song. Twice the length of their usual work with the extended guitar solo ending, but it worked brilliantly. Felder and Walsh trade solo parts until they meld together in typical perfect Eagles harmony. What is most unique about the solo, is how it captures the mournful spirit of the tune right to the fade-out.
7. One – Kirk Hammett
One – Kirk Hammett with Metallica, 1988 – Dalton Trumbo’s 1939 novel and 1971 movie, “Johnny Got His Gun” was made even creepier by Metallica’s musical adaptation, “One”. To this author, Hammett’s guitar work on “One” was one of his finest moments – carefully crafted to eek out the contrasting emotions present in both the story and the song.
6. November Rain – Slash
November Rain – Slash with Guns N’ Roses, 1991 – Guns N’ Roses were the buffers between 80s hair metal, and 90’s alternative rock. Slash’s guitar work in general, but particularly his November Rain solo, brought back the bluesy Les Paul sound to mainstream music.
5. All Along The Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix
All Along the Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix, 1968 – Hendrix’s guitar work on All Along the Watchtower spoke volumes not only about his versatility as a guitarist, but perfectly captured the mood of the piece. Using different guitar tones and techniques for each solo part, was Hendrix’s way of projecting the contrasting viewpoints of the era. The Vietnam conflict was in high gear in 1968, and American soldiers embraced this song as one of their unofficial anthems.
4. Comfortably Numb – David Gilmore
Comfortably Numb – David Gilmore with Pink Floyd, 1979 – Gilmore’s guitar work on Comfortably Numb not only showcase’s Gilmore’s signature Fender Stratocaster tone, but embodies the dreamy confusion of the song, in a way that somehow embellishes the protagonist’s accepted distressful dilemma.
3. Free Bird – Gary Rossinton
Free Bird – Gary Rossinton, Allen Collins, Ed King, with Lynrd Skynrd, 1973 – Although the studio version featured only Collins on the solo, the famous live version featured Sknyrd’s signature three-guitar-attack, with Rossington, Collins, and King. The solo is classic “jam band”, and helped launch the “Southern Rock” craze throughout the United States in the mid-1970s. Free Bird’s solo brings the song’s mournful lyrics and melody to a crescendo, and captures the Southern Rock anthem’s spirit beautifully.
2. Eruption – Eddie Van Halen
Eruption – Eddie Van Halen with Van Halen, 1978 – A true guitar solo, where Eddie’s blistering playing encompasses the entire song, Eruption fueled a new generation of guitarists with lightning fast scale work and finger-tapping tricks. Eruption wasn’t just flash, it was Eddie Van Halen and all he represented-all out abandon from the mainstream, and relentless pursuit of excellence, but with a soul.
1. Stairway To Heaven – Jimmy Page
Coming in at Number 1 of the Top 10 Guitar Solos of all time is Stairway to Heaven by Jimmy Page with Led Zeppelin, 1971: The group’s seminal hit features the masterful solo of Jimmy Page towards the end. Page’s work brings the moody piece to a climactic rock finish, and seems to mirror the song’s sentiment. Improvised and performed on a Fender Telecaster, Stairway’s solo is universally recognized, and is among the “must learn” solos of budding guitarists around the globe.
Top 10 Guitar Solos Of All Time by…
Scotty Smith
Guitarist Rock ©2008-2011
What do you think of this list? Got something to say? Let your voice be heard in the comments below!
Not one and I agree with master of puppets, buuuuttt I do believe we are forgetting Battery. That solo is amazing. And Bark at the Moon instead of Crazy Train.
Why was Carlos Santana left off of this list?
Also Ace Freeley of KISS?
How about Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits?
Or Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad?
Long live ROCK and ROLL!!!!!!!!
Does anyone know what’s the name of a blues song which fades out with a great solo in the style of comfortably numb solo?The title is “who is who” or something but i’m not sure.Can anyone help?Thanks.
The number 8 is by Don Felder of the Eagles. If you want to see some really really good guitar work theres videos of Walsh and Felder with Walshs band before the Eagles hay day on You Tube and some of the stuff they do is just downright incredible. The sad part is Walsh and Felder is what made the Eagles what they were. Then alas Hendley and Frey got greedy and wanted to cut Felder out of his share of the money. And they really havent done much since except go around and charge 300 per ticket to see them play the oldies. They are still great but I cant help but feel it took the chemistry out of the band when Felder left. Kinda sucks.
Can someone recall who the quitarist ws that made his quitar talk ? It went something like this”I was in bed with my womn and the phone rang! It was _____and he said..and then the guitar spoke”"? Someone??? It was 70-80 ‘s…ty
157 Riverside Ave. REO Speedwagon
Peter Frampton…..
that was great list but do not forget master of puppets solo.
Really? For Metallica you have One? Why not Dyers Eve?
where is ‘Alive’ by Pearl Jam?
Its back in ’75, when Kiss recorded “She”. Dont get me wrong, Mike is one of the greatest living guitar players, and PJ is the greatest band ever.
Just sayin
as i finished looking at the list i was dissapointed to see that stairway to heaven is claimed to having the best solo…dont get me wrong that song is legit and deserves a lot of respect, but its overated and i think that Rhoads’ solo should have been in front of hotel california. and i think that freebird solo is better than eruption. eddie is good, but i think that freebird has nore feeking to it in the solo
what happen to Henry McCullough’s solo in the middle of the song My Love by Paul McCartney & Wings – 1973 surely that solo performance is worthy of making the top 10 on your list.
I agree with some 100$%, and others not as much. But that just goes to show you that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For instance, I don’t think that One, Metallica, is one of the solos that I would put in my top ten, but I do think it is a pretty amazing solo. Same with November Rain. Instead of those two I would probably put Layla or Cocaine – Eric Clapton, or Brothers in Arms or Sultans of Swing – Mark Knopfler or maybe even Jessica – Allman Brothers Band or Dazed and Confused – Jimmy Page.
Having said that, great list
I’m not sure, though. November Rain is a beautiful song, and it’s number 1 on my list… This is a blues-ish remix of the song. The music video features it as normal. It has 2 of the most awe-strikingly beautiful solos.
P.S.
I know awe-strikingly isn’t a word…
Brian May on Great King Rat. Bohemian Rhapsody.
WTF?! this song don’t incudes not even one of sabbath’s solos, not even purple’s smoke on the water. also you could put one of layla, sweet child o’mine instead of free bird or hotel california.
and don’t forget AC/DC also…
Smoke on the water – Ritchie Blackmore, Whipping post – Duane allman, baba o reily – Pete townshend, Paranoid – Tommy Iommi, layla – eric clapton, , wish you were here – dave gilmour
whole lotta love – jimmy page, fragile – Steve howe.
When I first heard Crazy Train, it made me want to immediately jump out of my window and start screaming while bashing cars with my les paul.
Great list. I 100% agree!
haha totally, randy rhoads inspired me to pick up a guitar and start playing…my first guitar was a flying v