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[himynameisjulien]

So, what do you guys think are the best guitar solos?
I'll start with:
Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
Crossroads - Cream
Money - Pink Floyd
La Grange - ZZ Top
Not that those are the best, just a few that are pretty good.

[MadassAlex]

Bright Eyes - Blind Guardian

Hell, Blind Guardian in general have killer melodic solos.

Tornado Of Souls - Megadeth
Hangar 18 - Megadeth

(the entire Friedman era of 'Deth is pretty rad for solos)

Ride The Lightning - Metallica

Mr. Crowley - Ozzy Osbourne (but really Randy Rhoads)

Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

Cosmic Sea - Death

Pull The Plug - Death

Shit, I just realised that this is a list thread. So to make some relevant discussion - what do we think makes a good solo tick?

I'd argue that the most important thing, beyond note choice, rhythm and instrumental tone is interest. An instrument doesn't have the ticks of a human voice that makes it so easy to connect to, so an instrumentalist has to make up for that by going beyond the capabilities of the voice. Therefore, being unpredictable but harmonious is probably the best way to write good solos.

[Beaumont]

Probably one of my all time favourites is Cortez the Killer by Neil young.

Solo's in general seem to be either too predictable or so far out in left field that they just don't fit.

[Thrillho]

Great guitar solos, eh. Hmmm...

Manic Street Preachers - La Tristesse Duera
Radiohead - Go To Sleep
Radiohead - Just
Radiohead - Paranoid Android (the first one, which somehow changes between E minor and F minor every second or so).

Some solos I like not necessarily because they're skilled, but becuase of melody and most importantly, the tone. Kings Of Leon's 'On Call' has a guitar solo that gives me chills because I think the sound of it is amazing, but the one that I love most is from Matisyahu's 'King Without A Crown.' I think the tone his guitarist gets on that is fantastic. I also love the composition and harmony of the dual solo in 'Shoplifters Of The World Unite' by The Smiths.

Plus, it's not a solo, but the little guitar fill at the end of 'Got To Get You Into My Life' sums up everything beautiful and melodic in the world.

[Spluff]

I find a memorable melody combined with something interesting (ie. a distinctive flavor to it, as per the interesting oriental feel in Marty Friendmans solos, or speed, or an unusual technique likes harmonics) generally makes a good solo. A good solo is the kind of thing that you remember - if it's just mindless fretboard thrashing (see also, Kirk Hammet), or generic blues pentatonic licks it won't stick in your head.

List time-

Five Magics - Megadeth
Hangar 18 - Megadeth
Holy Wars / The Punishment Due - Megadeth

Actually, pretty much everything from Rust in Peace.

Floods - Pantera (I'm sorry guys, but this is an awesome song with a great solo, Pantera or no Pantera)
Little Wing - Hendrix
Painkiller - Judas Priest
No More Tears - Ozzy Osbourne
Time - Pink Floyd
Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughan

[Funk Thompson]

What do you think of the solos in these?  I think they are phenomenal...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIPAdHC3ZLo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcLfZTebls4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6jHtPD6Rfw

[Dimmukane]

For me, solos are icing on the cake.  They are not a required ingredient, but if they are present, then you can't fuck it up by putting too much on/making it too rich.  Case in point: a lot of prog/virtuoso/power metal bands.  Way too many.  The best kind, I think, are the kind that contribute to the emotions and energy already present in the song, rather than breaking off of that idea and going on tangents.  My absolute favorites are those by Colour Haze and Augury. 


(hrm...that last one sounds like a live version of the song, but it's barely different from the album version) 

[MadassAlex]

I don't think there's any real correlation between bad solos and progressive rock/metal. There's just as many poor solos in any genre, they're just more obvious in progressive music because of the instrumental focus.

Being slow and melodic isn't an instant formula for a good solo, just a stylistic choice.

[Dimmukane]

I know.  It's all opinion, I just have a tendency to dislike that approach.  I can count the amount of prog bands that play solos that I like on one hand, is what I'm sayin'.  They're not bad, they're just like that icing that is so full of confectioner's sugar that it ends up tasting kind of bitter.  In other words, it fucks up my enjoyment of the cake.

I didn't pick those solos because of their bring slow and melodic; rather, I picked them because they follow my criteria of containing the same kind of emotion and tone.  But I like faster solos, too, they just have to keep with the original idea of the song. 

My one exception to breaking off of a line of emotion is when the solo in question involves bitchin' wah pedal/whammy bar usage.  This is why I can stand Satriani more than Petrucci/Malmsteen/the next great masturbater.

[Dazed]

Oh man, one of my favorite topics  :

Alright, here goes:

Close to the Edge and America — Yes; Steve Howe is an absolute master of all things guitar.

Sister Andrea (the live version from Between Nothingness and Eternity) — Mahavishnu Orchestra; John McLaughlin's picking and fretwork is just ridiculous, especially for the era.

Buckethead — Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains; Just a fantastic solo, incredibly crisp while pulling off some awesome shit

Bulls On Parade — Rage Against the Machine; Tom Morello at his inventive best

Sway — The Rolling Stones; Mick Taylor was a fantastic, pretty underappreciated guitarist

Plume and Starla —The Smashing Pumpkins; Starla is pretty much the 90s Freebird in my opinion. But better. So much better. Holy guitar noise, batman. I loves me some Corgan solos.

Ebin — Sublime; I miss Brad Nowell 

Dazed and Confused (the How the West Was Won live version) — Led Zeppelin; Basically just Jimmy Page tearing shit up for like 15 minutes.

Jambi — Tool; I love distorted talkbox. Actually speaking of,

Do You Feel Like I Do (Frampton Comes Alive version, obv.) — Peter Frampton; man, I hate Peter Frampton. This song is great though.

Tax Free (Live at Winterland) — Jimi Hendrix; So good. SOOOO GOOD.

Cult of Personality — Living Colour; Vernon Reid is a supreme badass.

White Room — Cream; My favorite Clapton solo.

All I can think of off the top of my head.

[Christophe]

Silkworm- Every solo Andy Cohen cuts on Firewater. Hell, every song where he cuts a solo (which is most of them). All great.
Jawbox- J. Robbins' solo on "Static", I like the Peel Sessions version on My Scrapbook of Fatal Accidents. Raging yet articulate, like Jawbox's music.
Ozma- Yea, Ryan Slegr's solos on The Doubble Donkey Disk sound Weezery. Hell, the entire fucking band sounds Weezery. Whatever, the man knows how to play a fucking solo, derivative of Rivers Cuomo or not.

[onewheelwizzard]

Dead Meadow's entire self-titled album.  "Sleepy Silver Door," "Indian Bones," "Lady," "Beyond the Fields We Know"  ... yeeeahhhh.

[Ptommydski]

Silkworm- Every solo Andy Cohen cuts on Firewater. Hell, every song where he cuts a solo (which is most of them). All great.

The lengthy solo in 'Don't Make Plans this Friday' is a masterpiece of restrained brutality.

[nekooo]

The Owen song "A Bird in Hand" has an incredible guitar solo with a really great tone in it.

[Harun]

Air - Jason Becker
Merciless - The Absence (@ 5:15) (tasteful shredding, and the way the song slows down and then speeds back up with the solo <33)
Goliaths Disarm Their Davids - In Flames (@ 3:00) - outrageous vibrato+multiple scale runs+tapping+effective whammy bar use = perfectly balanced solo
Emerald (from Live & Dangerous) - Thin Lizzy (@2:10) that harmonized leadin + solo = awesome
Hold the Line - Toto (@1:50) (toto-lly serious)

[sean]

Every solo Andy Cohen cuts on Firewater.

Does he cut the ones on Slow Hands? Because shit that is a great solo.

[Christophe]

Well yeah, since he's the only guitarist in the group at that point. I put "the ones he cuts on Firewater" because he doesn't solo on every song.

I was gonna single out "Don't Make Plans This Friday", then I wanted to include "Slow Hands", then I just put "All the solos on Firewater" since I knew I couldn't pick just one or two.

[sean]

Oh okay. I knew Silkworm had two guitarists at some point but didn't know if there were two on Firewater. But now thinking about it you can only hear one guitar on Firewater.

Good posting Sean!

[imapiratearg]

Pretty much every Dinosaur Jr. song ever, particularly "We're Not Alone" and "Get Me."  "The Lung" is also up there.

Also: "The Concept" by Teenage Fanclub, and I heartily second the Silkworm.  The two guitar solos in "Revelation Big Sur" by Red House Painters are fucking gorgeous, too.  Oh man, that song is so powerful.

EDIT - Arrrg, there are so many!  Pretty much every solo Jeff Tweedy plays is awesome and the solo and fills in "Tom Courtenay" by Yo La Tengo are so fucking cool.  And like, a million others from prolific guitarists.

[De_El]

Really?
Dudes, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzwK2IioX-c
I could go on and on but that is basically one of my favorites by Wata.  I really like the solo in "Flower, Sun, Rain" too.

Also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p79JKclG-oc Man does that one get to me. The only thing that could make it better is if Bowie fellated Mick Ronson's guitar in the video.

I feel like the solo in "Gimme Danger" is really emotionally affective too.

[David_Dovey]

Comfortably Numb

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE

[Spluff]

Apart from megadeth (which really needed the point to be made, they all have fucking awesome solos), I tried not to double up on bands.

And the Time solo is better.

[De_El]

I was gonna try and argue that one and say "Echoes," but that's really just not true.  I like "Echoes" better as a song just because it's so awesome and epic, but the solo in "Comfortably Numb" definitely stands out way more. It is more of a Song With Awesome Guitar Solo.

[Patrick]

Little Wing - Hendrix

Well, there's this thread finished.

Okay, fine, maybe I will contribute.

Weezer - "Undone (The Sweater Song)"

Any solo that can survive a temporary key change and come up swinging wins in my book.

[Kai]

I am a big fan of Neil Young's patented one-note solo

[Thrillho]

Weezer - "Undone (The Sweater Song)"

Any solo that can survive a temporary key change and come up swinging wins in my book.

See also:
'Buddy Holly'
'Say It Ain't So'
'Falling For You'

[Ptommydski]

Oh okay. I knew Silkworm had two guitarists at some point but didn't know if there were two on Firewater. But now thinking about it you can only hear one guitar on Firewater.

JRL Phelps was sorta gently nudged out the band just after Libertine. He went on to produce some searingly excellent records with the Downer Trio.

Very intense guy. Good guitarist too but mainly regarded for his rhythm playing rather than leads, which were usually Coen's territory.

[StaedlerMars]

I was gonna try and argue that one and say "Echoes," but that's really just not true.  I like "Echoes" better as a song just because it's so awesome and epic, but the solo in "Comfortably Numb" definitely stands out way more. It is more of a Song With Awesome Guitar Solo.

I was also going to argue, claiming "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" had the better one. But then I guess the entire song is one solo. I was also going to point out the sax solo right after the tempo change, but then again, it's not a guitar solo

[Ptommydski]

I believe that the concept behind that group was 80s hip-hop set to 70s hard rock. If someone asked you to recreate DJ scratching with an electric guitar, that's presumably the best way to do it.

I am a big fan of Neil Young's patented one-note solo

If I could be bothered to participate in this thread with any real sense of commitment, I'd probably highlight a lot of Neil songs. In particular, the guitar solo on 'Vampire Blues' never fails to hit me as completely inspired. The moment is there for the taking, there's an ebb which would be absolutely perfect for a stratospheric guitar solo of stadium proportions. Instead he just chips at his strings, seemingly at random like a comically drunk hobo pissing on his own shoes. Yet it works brilliantly in the context of the song. It's the perfect example of how Neil services the song rather than the expectations of the listener, which is in itself essentially a microcosm for his entire career.

On the same record, the solo on 'Revolution Blues' has the best guitar tone I've ever heard captured on tape. It's like he's cracking a whip made out of molten gold.

[Dazed]

I am a big fan of Neil Young's patented one-note solo

Agreed. I love Neil's frenetic solo style. Also, I was trying to think of a better Pink Floyd solo than Comfortably Numb, and I can't.

Some more good stuff:

Freeway Jam — Jeff Beck; The entire album is really pretty amazing for guitar work really, one of my favorite instrumental works.

I Could Have Lied — Red Hot Chili Peppers; I just think Frusciante's tone and note selection was perfect.

The Seeker — The Who; Pete Townsend knows every chord ever.

Montana — Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention; Strange guy, but goddamn he could play

Pretty Noose — Soundgarden; It's different from most of Kim Thayil's solos, but I think it goes with the song better than most of his.
 
The Sky is Crying (live) — Stevie Ray Vaughan; One of the greatest blues/rock guitarists ever.

Farewell to Kings — Rush; The solo section is just very very cool.

Ok, done for now.

[valley_parade]

Weezer - "Undone (The Sweater Song)"

Any solo that can survive a temporary key change and come up swinging wins in my book.

See also:
'Say It Ain't So'

Always loved this one, it was one of the first solos I'd ever learned.

Also, I think Patrick would slit my throat if I weren't to mention Nels Cline ripping for ages on "Impossible Germany". Extra bonus of some really nice guitar harmonizing under the solo.

[Thrillho]

And I'd slit Pat's throat for acting like he discovered that when he wouldn't know shit about Wilco if it wasn't for me 

I've loved that solo since the 2006 bootlegs, goddammit!!!

[Misereatur]

[Patrick]

Bulls On Parade — Rage Against the Machine; Tom Morello at his inventive best

I wonder what Tom Morello sounds like when he isn't feeling creative.

Audioslave

Also, yes Shane, I would, and yes Gaz, you introduced me to Wilco, and I now have Yankee Hotel Foxtrot too so PENIS PENIS PENIS PENIS PENIS IN YOUR EYE

[spoon_of_grimbo]

i'd agree with the whole "every solo on rust in peace" thing, but in terms of modern metal guitar solos, you can't go wrong with the last darkest hour album "deliver us." kris norris (who's sadly left the band since) does some of the most amazingly melodic, yet technical solos ever.  the sort you can actually sing along to, and he's restrained enough to keep the ridiculously fast shredding to points where it'll really stand out.  in reality, all his solos are incredibly technical, but it speaks volumes of his skill as a composer that you notice the quality of the melodies (and harmonies, man i LOVE me some harmonies!) before you realise that the shredding involved is hard as fuck.

also, mike amott's work on carcass' "heartwork" is pretty amazing.  a lot of his solos are actually very simple, but so effective.

some others:

strung out - "too close to see" (simple but fast tapped melody, very effective) and "downtown" (very short solo, but still great).
racer x - "technical difficulties" (the whole song is a giant guitar-wank, but one of the few of the genre where it's catchy and gripping throughout)
opeth - "the moor"  (just, fucking badass)
a wilhelm scream - "we built this city! (on debts and booze!)" (just fits the build-up and the intense mood of the song perfectly)

[Catacombs]

Not one person mentioned the live version of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane"?  That song is more than excellent.  Also, i second all the Neil Young posts, he's got some great solos.  Thanks to the guy that mentioned "Cortez the Killer".  I had never heard it before this thread and i absolutely love it now.  And what about "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac?

[Fishboy]

Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Chile (slight return) (how the hell can nobody have mentioned this before?)
Black Sabbath - War pigs (the final solo is awesome)
Pink Floyd - Sorrow (not as good as some of their other stuff, but damn good and at least worth a mention)
Achilles Last stand - Led Zepplin (Shut up, I love it)
Prelude; Lute Suite no. 4 - J.S. Bach (does lute count?)

There are a few others that I think are awesome and haven't been mentioned, but these are what I could think of off hand.

[David_Dovey]

you can't go wrong with the last darkest hour album "deliver us." kris norris (who's sadly left the band since)

Oh nooooo. Norris was rad.

[spoon_of_grimbo]

you can't go wrong with the last darkest hour album "deliver us." kris norris (who's sadly left the band since)

Oh nooooo. Norris was rad.

yeah, they only really hit their stride after he joined.  although logically, to be able to still play live material from the last coupla albums, his replacement has to be at least as good as he was in terms of playing, lets just hope he's as good at writing solos.

[squishything]

Dead Milkmen - I Saw You Naked

Just a single bent note, repeated, but perfect for the song

The Pixies - Outro to No. 13 Baby

Alot of the time I get the impression that songs are played as a sort of 'frame' for the solo. While this can sound awesome, (and I really do dig some Jam bands, not to mention Jazz), In most genres, solos should be subservient to the needs of the song.

Oh yeah, I suppose I should say Hi or something, given that while I joined a while back, I haven't posted in several months, so pobably nobody  remembers me anyway.

Hi!

[Thrillho]

While we're talking Pixies - the three solos in 'Monkey Gone To Heaven' are idiotic genius, and I love the relentless solo from 'Debaser.'

[squishything]

I concur. Joe Santiago always went for those idiotically simple solos that just fit completely. I haven't had the chance to listen to any of his newer stuff with the Martini's though, has anyone here heard it?

[Harun]

yeah, they only really hit their stride after he joined.  although logically, to be able to still play live material from the last coupla albums, his replacement has to be at least as good as he was in terms of playing, lets just hope he's as good at writing solos.

Oh dang, I haven't heard about that. Norris was that band. I get chills every time I listen to "Veritas, Aequitas" and Hidden Hands in general was as close to perfect as you could get. Hopefully he'll start up something that builds on everything he's done so far and not have to start from scratch.

[RedLion]

So many of Pink Floyd's songs are, like, built for the solos in them. That is, even though they probably weren't written with the purpose of being a showcase for a solo, the solos become the focal point of them..particularly on something like Comfortably Numb, where the solos are so packed with emotion.

For sheer bombastic over-the-top Proggy goodness, Dream Theater's "Glass Prison" is great.

[Spluff]

I was going to say that, but I couldn't quite remember the title of the song.

[St.Germain]

Though it's not exactly a solo, I always loved the intro of Metallica's 'Fade to Black', after the acoustic guitar comes back into the forground, about a minute in.

[Thrillho]

I forgot to mention. Talking of Wilco - 'At Least That's What You Said,' particularly the version from Kicking Television. Three minutes of guitar solo, baby.

[Catacombs]

the live version of MMJ's "Run Thru" off Okonokos.

[Uber Ritter]

Queens of the Stone Age--"3's and 7's"

The Beattles---"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

Joy Division--"New Dawn Fades"

[RedLion]

Santana has become somewhat cliche, but the intro solo to "Black Magic Woman" is still great.