The Greatest Guitar Solo. Rock, Pop, Classical or otherwise.

[Tony Towner's Fridge]

So many to choose from but Krieger's solo in the proper (extended) version of Light my Fire must be up there with the best! Plus of course many of Jimi H's rather delicious contributions!

TNBA

TTF

 

[The Upper Library]

 

[Pevenseagull]

For me it has to be


Ernie Isley's 2 minute wig out at the end of this:

 

[Worried Man Blues]

Which is my favourite Neil track of all time, don't be denied!

Good shout but what about Like a Hurricane, has to be Live Rust version

 

[The Truth]

 

[The Truth]

 

[OzMike]

Samba Party - Carlos Santana.
Sylvia - Focus
Mouldy Old Dough - Lt Pigeon, the honky tonk piano playing, I know it's not guitar playing but any instrument played well should get mentioned.

 

[OzMike]

Private Investigations - Dire Straits
The Division Bell - Pink Floyd, classical and electric.
I was only joking - Rod Stewart, long riff with classical, mandolin and electric in succession.

 

[KJP]

The two greatest guitar solos I've seen live have been Lindsey Buckingham doing I'm So Afraid and Nils Lofgren doing Prove It All Night

 

[Norman Potting]

For me it has to be


Ernie Isley's 2 minute wig out at the end of this:

Excellent - another one to show that great solo's don't have to "rock".

 

[Scunner]

Ah well, this is a subject that can cause me much vexation, probably because the question is interpreted mostly as 'what is your favourite guitar solo' not what is the 'greatest'. And even then what does greatest mean? Impact globally, emotional resonance for the individual, technical proficiency? On the global front Eddie Van Halen's Beat It solo is right up there, so is George Benson's on Easy. And what about Jeff Beck on High Ho Silver Lining? Or George Harrison on 'While my Guitar Gently Weeps'. As for technical proficiency well you would have to go a long, long way to best Yngwie Malmsteen on Krakatau (2mins 40 in); but this doesn't get to the heart of the matter. For me it is about expression and emotional linkage to the song at hand, and there is no better at this than Steve Rothery: Kayleigh, Lavender, Easter, Blind Curve et al. Running him a close second for me is Mr Gilmour and my preferred version of Comfortably Numb is Delicate Sound of Thunder's for the higher octave push at the end. I also absolutely love Sultans of Swing on Alchemy, but this slightly falls into the technical camp of idolisation.

So, there are two Steve Rothery solos that really get me every time. One is Fantastic Place, but as this was presumably double tracked on the album and doesn't quite get there live, I will have to go for this, Sugar Mice at Loreley Festival:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b4Zc0icktU

Enjoy.

 

[Mexican Seagull]

The Allman brothers had plenty of great solos just listen to the whole Live at the Filmore Album, the Jessica solo is actually Dickie Betts who came in after Duane died.

 

[Norman Potting]

Just heard the full length version of Thin Lizzy's version of "Whiskey In The Jar" on Radio 2 (did you seriously think I was going to say Heart?). The recording is well over 40 years old but Eric Bell's guitar solo still does it for me.

 

[wallyback]

Freebird anyone?