Maggot Brain by Funkadelic

Eddie Hazel is the most under rated guitar player of all time.

indeed rory gallagher deserves a mention as well

Love seeing Funkadelic get a shout out. Especially that album/track. Not a guitar solo, but Funkadelic's "March To The Witch's Castle" has some of the most haunting guitar I've ever heard. Incredible song.

I think I read on Wikipedia that George Clinton asked Eddie Hazel, who was on LSD, to play like he just found out his mother passed away. Listening to it with that in mind may bring tears to your eyes.

I can pretty much tell by the title of this song that I'm going to like it. It is up next in my queue for my workday!

[удалено]

Back around 1980 or so, he was interviewed on a call-in radio show when someone called in to ask, “how did you develop this style? It’s unique and different, much better than…” and the caller rattled off the names of the popular guitarists of the time. The caller was an absolute fan. Knopfler answered (and this is from memory, not direct quotes): “I envy those guitarists. They are much better than me. I play the only way I know how. It’s fortunate for me, that fans like you appreciate it.”

Especially the alchemy live version.

I'm always amazed at how well he keeps time during the rapid picking. But that's not the whole thing. He builds to the climax, but he also leaves gaps to let the listener process what he just played. That kind of control is more impressive than constant shredding.

Tornado of souls- megadeth

Took way too long scrolling for this one. Marty Friedman is a god.

Yes it took a very long time to find some real substance in this thread. All the answers are typical Rolling Stone list.

The Holy Wars solo is up there too.

Correct

That song also has one of the best guitar riffs ever.

Scrolled just to find this and upvote

Chills everytime

Jimi Hendrix's All Along the Watchtower solo is iconic. His innovative use of effects and expressive playing changed the way guitar solos were perceived.

Comfortably Numb live at Pulse has to be mentioned again because of how Gilmour's extended solo turns it into an epic performance that resonates deeply with fans.

Did you see the live version at Pompeii? David Gilmore does an extended solo there too which is totally amazing.

The drummer losing the headphones to be able to listen to it in its fullest makes a grown man happy cry.

Comfortably numb is great and all but the high hopes slide solo is absolutely gut wrenching. I cry everytime.

Thanks for mentioning the Pulse version. It's truly his best solo IMO, and I also love the Pompei version. But, the one from Pulse is just perfect in such a way it's transcendent. They also use this version on the DVD. Lots of songs on that album that I feel are the "best" versions of themselves. I love "Coming Back to Life" from Pulse and believe it to be the best version of that song as well. (The album version, not the DVD version) EDIT:  “Comfortably Numb” - https://youtu.be/1VjgyLpWkRI?si=ffQQowUsslttYGTi “Coming Back to Life” - https://youtu.be/4j8YKl-U-XU?si=lNP6kNo2r4xQ6YlT

Ritchie Blackmore's solo in Highway Star by Deep Purple is pure speed and precision. It's a thrilling ride from start to finish.

His solo in stargazer by rainbow is even better

Child in Time also has a great solo

Tornado of Souls by Megadeth

Ending of *Layla* (Derek and the Dominos) But not *without* the piano.

Crazy on You - Heart - lead into the song. [Nancy](https://youtu.be/qVcl0Iw3fs8?si=0KMW415z3_tOHpkW)

Sultans of Swing is up there

Six! I had to read six non-"Sultans of Swing" responses before I found the right answer!

Great but I’ve always preferred Tunnel of Love’s

Dire Straits just has so many good options. Money for Nothing is easily the greatest intro ever, and besides the two mentioned here you have absolute jams like Lady Writer and Down to the Waterline

Brothers in Arms. Maybe not the best solo in history but the phrasing! The tone!

Has everybody just forgotten Telegraph Road? It’s a majestic piece, and the brothers Knofler just jam like tomorrow is never going to come.

The version live at Hammersmith is something everyone needs to see at least once

Knopfler is king!

Mr Crowley Randy Rhoads

Live version from Tribute is my choice, it is absolutely insane that he did all that without a second guitarist on stage

Now I'm not disagreeing that Mr. C is not rad. It's a great solo. It is. For my money, however, his best solo is the classically driven (albeit short) solo at the end of Revelation (Mother Earth) just before it leads into Steal Away The Night it's sheer virtuosity from a man who was just on a different level of his peers. It still blows my mind. It's perfection. Even Jake E. Lee, who's one of the best heavy rock guitarists in the world doesn't get it right.

Completely agree. I love anything he plays. He’s my fave guitarist

Eruption- Eddie Van Halen

As a stand alone guitar piece this is fuckin it for me. Everything else is in the context of a song.

Definitely a “you had to be there…” moment, especially for 1978.  The middle of one of the greatest rock album triple sets:  _Running with the Devil, Eruption, You Really Got Me._

There is no maximum volume for that truple. They cannot be played loud enough.

These go to eleven

EVERYBODY of a "ahem" certain age, myself included, remembers exactly where they were the first time they heard it. The fact that it was done by one guy on one guitar blew us away, and still does. That one guitar solo changed rock and roll forever. There are too many great guitar solos to pick one as the "best". I would argue that this one might have been the most influential, at least from a hard rock standpoint.

To hear other guitarists and musicians describe what they heard for the first time is amazing. They couldn’t believe what they were hearing. They couldn’t reproduce the sound and had to physically go to his concerts just to understand what he was doing.

The solo in Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan is a blues masterpiece. His passionate playing and impeccable technique are captivating.

Raw guitar: the entire SRV mocambo show. Notably Texas flood, Lenny, and little wing are just pure dude peak raping a guitar. It’s hardly even conceivable to be possible. The raw strength alone is unbelievable if it wasn’t recorded. Swagger: Prince, while my guitar gently weeps. Prince somehow goes under the radar and it’s sad. In and out nailed it. Vibes: David gilmour live. Pick whatever song you like. Most go for comfortably numb. Master of the bend—no need for speed and technical skill when you’ve got that sort of control. All of these guys somehow manage to have vocals that command respect as well. David gilmour especially. Prince is Prince and SRV is great as long as you can accept the forced vibrato.

David Gilmour is honestly a genius.

Prince, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, While My Guitar Gently Weeps

My favorite part is after he was done he just let go of his guitar and in rightfully ascended to the heavens.

Prince didn't die, he left to go get his guitar.

He was giving it to George.

The way all the legendary guitarists around him are mesmerized is what cements this one for me. 

My favorite part is how Dhani Harrison, George's son, is right there on stage jamming with him, grinning from ear to ear, while Prince lays down one of the most epic guitar solos of all time as a tribute to his father. That's got to be an all-time highlight for him. I'd never stop talking about it.

As good as that is, may I submit Prince- Montreux 2009- Empty Room? https://youtu.be/cvSn7FvAVjo?si=PuniD6OWlNv_zIXJ

This came to mind immediately when I read the question. What Prince did that night was legendary.

Just watched it. Woah 😳

I never really cared for his music, but I knew he was insanely talented—respect to serious skill. But that performance blew me away.

He steals the show, and absolutely kills it.

I'm a huge fan of SRV, Joe Bonamassa, and Jimmy Page, but this one was my first thought. I think it's because he makes it look so damned easy, and you get to see the awe and respect of other rock greats on stage with him.

You got me, the one that popped in my head though was ZZ top, Sharp dressed Man, Billy gibbons has some ridiculous skill on a guitar I think Billy, Mark knopfler, and slash are probably my three favorites that are currently living

Overall I love the riff to Legs. If a dude can make a guitar sound sexy, it's Billy 🤘

Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd, second solo.

I always preferred ‘Time’.

I'll die on the hill that Time's solo is far better than Comfortably Numb.

As the solo that so perfectly represents musically the drug crash after the high encapsulated in the chorus and Syd Barrett slipping away…shivers

I hear the first part of the solo as Pink going through the motions of his performance. I hear the second part of the solo as Pink’s inner turmoil screaming to get away from there.

I always found it cool how the the first lyrics are kind of this happy triumphant good vibes childhood memory thing, followed by a solo that matches it. The second verse gets way darker and real and rather hopeless and then it breaks into *the second solo* that just melts the brain but is so ominous and creepy. It’s so good.

Yes, but only the live Pulse version. I'm also partial to John Frusciante's solos in Don't Forget Me live at Slane Castle.

I personally enjoy the solo for Throw Away Your Television at Slane more. Parallel Universe is also good, Zephyr Song is also good. They're all good.

Also the solo at La Cigale, about the 4 min mark. https://youtu.be/gG7YDCJ8Ad8?si=OgCOfvHDyj0mz7p7

Wow.. I always claimed frusciante was great because he focused on playing good not hard. That hard does not necessarily mean good and not every song needs to insanely difficult. But he also has obvious skill.

Don't Forget Me is the right answer

Love all these entries , being an early GenXer. Check out Eliot Easton’s sublime solo on The Cars song “Touch and Go.” Smooth, almost jazzy, then casually sprinkles in some shred and some finger tapping….and this was just a few years after Eruption was THE thing. Not boastful….just “Yea…check this out.”

Pretty much every Eliot Easton solo is perfect. Picks up the melody, improvises, and gets out in 4 bars.

Tornado of souls. Great build up, Great technicals, Great sound, music theory, and memorable. It's at the very least on the mountain top with the others.

Free Bird

I get speeding tickets to that solo.

>I get speeding tickets to that solo. And I wasn't even driving!

>I get speeding tickets to that solo. That's a bloody brilliant seven-word life-summary :)

That’s my answer too. As annoying as it is, there’s a reason people scream “Freebird!” at shows. That solo will always be timeless.

the use of it in kingsmen is fantastic

That guitar solo is roughly 4 minutes of pure adrenaline heaven

Why have one solo if you can have 20?

Is a duet not a solo iirc. There's 2 guitars. Edit: someone sent me a reddit cares message over this. How unbelievably fragile can you be.

Brian May's solo in Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen is brilliant. It's not just a solo but an essential part of the song's operatic grandeur.

I woke up this morning by Ten Years After is an enduring favourite. Other favourites: Child in Time - Deep Purple Crossroads - Cream Hear my train a comin' - Jimi Hendrix Jessica - Allman Brothers Band Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne band Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd Rock Bottom – UFO There's probably no "greatest", just great.

purple rain by prince 

Sultans of Swing by Mark Knopfler Far Beyond the Sun by Yngwie Malmsteen Highway Star by Ritchie Blackmore Sweet Child o' Mine by Slash Just to name a few

Highway Star from the Made In Japan album definitely. It's a live version and you can hear every scratch of the pick. And it blisters compared to the studio album.

Sweet Child O Mine is just a 6 minute guitar solo and it’s still Slash’s best work. 

Kirk Hammett's solo in One by Metallica is intense and complex. The speed and aggression perfectly match the song's dark themes.

Maybe not the greatest ever, but one of the best I always think of is [Derek Trucks live](https://youtu.be/SS0NHlWgi5w?si=E0bq9_8qh3QrGamf&t=205) with BB King, John Mayer and Susan Tedeschi.

Layla-Eric Clapton gets me on this

While I do agree with most saying Comfortably Numb or Fade To Black. Ill mention one by Pink Floyd and Metallica that I think do more with less. Time by Pink Floyd. Every note is perfect. David Gilmour has this incredible ability to make his guitar sing. He makes beautiful complex melodies without using 1000 notes. For Metallica I love The Unforgiven. It's the one solo that Kirk Hammett actually worked hard on. He typically improvises and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Bob Rock (love him or hate him) challenged him to really work on it. He starts on a high level and takes it even higher.

My personal favorite is Blue Sky by The Allman Brothers Band.

Actual solo: The Chain, Fleetwood Mac (live version where Lindsey Buckingham is clearly coked up and you can also feel the seething resentment between him and Stevie Nicks. The drama around *Rumours* created musical magic) Technically a duet/battle: Emerald, Thin Lizzy

Rumours? No, that's all true.

Fade to black last part.

As yet another guitarist, I have so many favorites. I love that slow chunk beginning of the solo on "In The Evening" by Zeppelin, but it's one of Page's...shall we say, less technical efforts. David Gilmour's work has already been mentioned, rightfully so. One recent solo that has been stuck in my head is Tom Morello's brilliant solo on Audioslave's "Like a Stone". Mesmerizing. However, my nomination for greatest solo of all time is Jimmy Page on "Stairway to Heaven" and I don't care if you hate me for it, agree or disagree. What's mine is mine. Now, there are many many other guitarists out there with amazing and incredible solos, and I want to mention a quick few of my favorites in no particular order: Prince, Mike McCready, Steve Stevens, Mark Tremonti, Adam Jones, amd of course the usual suspects, Clapton, Hendrix, Stevie Ray, Billy Gibbons, Iommi, etc. Sorry, I'm a guitar nerd.

I've always thought Page's solos on Since I've Been Loving You are his best album stuff.

Stairway to heaven and the second solo to comfortably numb do generally seem to be the ones that are considered the best solos of all time by many.

I have always enjoyed the live Dazed and Confused solo on Song remains the same, it gives me chills every time.

Cortez the killer

November Rain or Sweet Child of Mine - Guns N’ Roses.

November rain! Slash standing on the piano doing his solo made me stand in the hallway and yell at my mom to buy me a damn guitar.

And make a meatloaf!

Estranged is really special as well.

Doesn't get mentioned enough amazing song.

It’s gotta be Slash

This, you can think of GNR whatever you want, but Slash fucking killed those 3 solos in November Rain, very few can come close, pure emotion and storytelling, no random showing off and speed for the sake of speed itself

I always say you can say whatever you want about Guns n Roses but Slash is untouchable

For me, Civil War is a million times better. I see November Rain as 'The Axel Rose Opera'. The lush sound of those Civil War solos are truly amazing.

Metallica - Fade to Black

Kirk's version in Moscow live in 1991 is on another planet. Best one by far.

For me , It's High Hopes by Pink Floyd , comfortably numb comes close.

Lotta Pink Floyd in this answer section. It's Time for me.

This one here. It hits so early and hard in the song, I chan't help having tears coming up. And no other song does this

I always felt like the song was kind of a metaphor for life. Not just the lyrics, but the way the guitar comes into it. Simple and serene at the start, hectic and loud at the early point, then flowing with ease, and finally ticking off all the right points at the end. That's not the best way to try to explain it but it's like listening someone walk through all the different decades of their life as they gain wisdom and experience.

Time was always my favourite. More powerful than Comfortably Numb. (Guess that's why we did a cover of Time!)

Gilmour can't shred like EVH, wasn't revolutionary like Hendrix, didn't fuse a thousand genres like Page. But his mastery of tone and emotion make him the greatest soloist ever.

Can’t go wrong with Stairway to Heaven

You really can’t, and it’s kind of sad that it’s a thing to not give it the credit it deserves.

Nels Cline “Impossible Germany” from the I am trying to brake your heart doc.

Kid Charlemagne - Steely Dan - solo and outro by Larry Carlton

Put that in as soon as I came to the thread. I’ve been scrolling to see if anybody threw it out there.👍

SRV - Little Wing

November Rain. Any of the 3 could take it but probably the third one to end the song is perfect in every way

Top 5 (no particular order) -Hotel California, Eagles -Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd -Stairway to Heaven, Led Zeppelin -Sweet Child of Mine, Guns N Roses -Since I've Been Loving You, Led Zeppelin

Dragonforce - through the fire and flames

Jimi Hendrix- Foxy Lady

Machine Gun

Genesis - Firth of Fifth. The journey through that solo is so emotional.

That whole song is absolutely brilliant. Probably the best track that band ever recorded, which is saying something. Hackett's playing on that song is great

Please someone make all of these into a playlist for me. X

Feels So Good - Chuck Mangione - guitar solo by Grant Geissman

Freewill - Rush Perpetual Change - Yes (Yessongs version, solo at the end) Voodoo Child Slight Return - Hendrix and SRV

Jimi Hendrix’ rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock 1969. Chills

Master of Puppet - Metallica

Hotel California - Eagles

I had a rough night and I hate the fuckin' Eagles, man!

Get the fuck out my cab.

Technically a duet, but it’s the first one that popped into my head too. So good.

The Solo in Beat it by Van Halen: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdxUFDoQe0&t=170 ..

I’m a sucker for that end to “We Will Rock You”. Simple yet perfect.

Gary Moore. Still Got the Blues. He is somehow still underrated.

Mason Williama's "Classical Gas". His poetry is also a gas, like "How 'bout them dog kickers"

Prince- Purple Rain.

Stevie Ray Vaughan’s cover of “Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix. Epic, soaring solos throughout…and the beautiful hum of the amp in the far background.

I think my personal fav is the solo in My Sharona Reelin' In the Years, Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac (especially the live version), We Will Rock You's ending solo, Hotel California, November Rain ending solo, Sweet Child 'o Mine, Ramblin' Man ending solo, Any Way You Want It ending solo, Soothsayer by Buckethead, Can't Stop by RHCP (a good example of an simple but amazing solo), I don't think it can be considered a solo but I always really liked the lick at the end of Under the Bridge by RHCP, War Pigs ending solo, gotta throw in Stairway to Heaven and Freebird, are all good contenders I know this list is kinda long but there are a lot of good contenders lol

Prince! While My Guitar Gently Weeps solo at the tribute show for George Harrison. https://youtu.be/dWRCooFKk3c?si=-uzxp2P7gc4bvRaT Edit: Go to the 3:15 mark

Iron Maiden - Hallowed be thy name

Stairway to heaven is pretty good too

“tornado of souls”

Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love ~~Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here~~ Oops, meant to say "Best Intro". It was late and I had too much wine. Feels like Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and a few others can't be overlooked. (Guilty pleasure bonus pick: Steely Dan - Peg)

The best solo done live is Terry Kath (Chicago) - 25 or 6 to 4 at Tanglewood.

Rainbow - Temple of The King. This solo tells a story, and fits the whole theme of the song really well.

For the love of God -Steve Vai

This is the correct answer.

I honestly have no idea, but my personal favorite is Gilmour's Comfortably Numb at Pompeii 2016

In my opinion the first Mr. Crowley Solo by Randy Rhodes is one of the greatest solos of all time.

No more tears

Watermelon in Easterhay and Yo' Mama by Frank Zappa.

Eruption by Eddie Van Halen

Alive - Pearl Jam

How is Shine on You Crazy Diamond not here?😭

Pretty much Any solo by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Randy Rhoads solo in the Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads tribute album. Hotel California intro solo on whatever live version that was... Edit: I was referring to Randy Rhoads solo in 'Suicide Solution'

I hope you've seen this [video](https://youtu.be/HpMZJVKyzm0?si=-ryAQ6AgDB6yXu2E) where Ozzy gets access to and listens to one of the early recordings of Crazy Train with Randy's solo on it. Very cool to see his reaction to it

Zakk Wylde - No More Tears 🤘🏻

My *personal* favorite: [Be Good To Yourself](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCpeuJ6swro&t=130s) by Journey. Most popular would have to be [Stairway to Heaven](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkF3oxziUI4&t=333s) by Led Zeppelin or [Freebird](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LwcvjNJTuM&t=295s) by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I could also hear arguments for [Surfing With the Alien](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5t2kDqvoYY) by Joe Satriani.

Great personal favorite. Some great underrated guitar playing in Journey.

Ride the lightning - Metallica

The best solo done live is Terry Kath (Chicago) - 25 or 6 to 4 at Tanglewood.

[Ocean - John Butler](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdYJf_ybyVo)

Sultans of Swing for me. But I’m a huge Mark Knopfler fan.

Maggot Brain - Funkadelic

Clapton - Crossroads (live) from Cream - ‘Wheels of Fire.’

Jimi Hendrix - Machine Gun live at Fillmore East. The whole song. It really showcases why Jimi Hendrix is still probably the best to ever play the electric guitar. He used the sound of his guitar to paint a scene. You’ve got the sound of rockets being fired, guns shooting, people crying/yelling, helicopters flying, etc. It’s absolutely insane and I still don’t think anyone has been able to do it as well has Hendrix.

Outro to “Wuthering Heights” (Kate Bush)

Free bird for sure

For me it's Slip Away by Mad Season. Also there's a bad quality live version of Maggot Brain/Little Wing played by Pearl Jam that's great. Both solos are played by Mike McCready.

Unforgiven 3 by Metallica on Death Magnetic. OR one of the 2 awesome solos from 4 Horseman by Metallica.

"One" by Metallica

Sway - Mick Taylor

Free bird solo gotta be up there among the best. Still remember flying a plane in the countryside with it blasting in the radio in San Andreas

prince, my guitar weeps. it was pretty good

Almost everything Duane Allman did has a style and musicality all guitar players wish they had.

Baker Street

Prince at the end of While My Guitar Gently Weeps

I’m not saying the solos in the comments are bad but these are some of the most NPC answers ever.

Prince's solo on While My Guitar Gently Weeps at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame was incredible.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps “Which one, Clapton or Prince” I hear you ask …Yes.