Intro image @Brett Jordan via pexels
Rock history has been characterised by guitar solos that define the history of the rock music genre. These ten performances continue to be placed in the top ten lists published by Rolling Stone, Gibson, and musicology publications, and continue to be cited to date as the most technically accomplished and culturally impactful solos recorded to date.
Rolling Stone
Tonedeaf confirmed the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos by Rolling Stone as the most genre-wide-ranging guitar ranking ever to be published. The list features both blues pioneers and punk rockers, as well as funk legends.
Chuck Berry-Johnny B.Goode
Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry is listed on the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos by Rolling Stone, with the doubled-string bends made by Berry as early as 1958, recorded as having established a vocabulary foundational to virtually every rock guitarist. There was no one performance that left a stronger mark on the future of the instrument.
Jimi Hendrix-Purple Haze
Guitar World records Jimi Hendrix as fundamentally altering the relationship between guitarists and instruments as a pioneer in feedback and whammy bar/tone manipulation, both still cited as groundbreaking by professionals and amateurs the world over today. His innovations came in a complete form and are technically incomparable to the majority of players.
Free Bird-Lynyrd Skynyrd
Gary Rossington acknowledged that the lengthy outro of Free Bird was actually recorded by Allen Collins only and stated that Collins was not able to end it since he was doing it at his fullest potential to do so, which was recorded in fully documented interviews. The outcome was the most joyful and vehement emotive guitar scene in Southern rock history.
Eric Clapton-Cream Crossroads
Cream Crossroads at the Fillmore in 1968 is recorded as one of the most celebrated solos ever recorded, with the blues phrasing of Cream being credited as having changed the overall direction of British rock guitar. It is the ultimate live blues rock recording on tape.
Mark Knopfler – Sultans of Swing
The list consisting of 200 greatest guitarists ever created by Rolling Stone includes Sultans of Swing, and critics note that the bare-finger style created by Mark Knopfler produces a warm and crisp sound that is identified as a masterclass in melodic restraint. His whole solo was played without ever touching a plectrum.
Eddie Van Halen-Eruption
Eruption by Eddie Van Halen features in the greatest solos list by Rolling Stone, is a recording of a technique that was introduced in 1978, and is known as two-hand tapping. Even the experienced professionals had to watch the performance over and over again without being able to find a single answer.
Jimmy Page-Stairway to Heaven
Official rankings of Gibson have described Stairway to Heaven by Jimmy Page as one of the greatest solos of all time, tracing its path to a sweet fingerpicked opening, before moving on to the full, emotionally charged electric climax. Page recorded the solo in various studio sessions until he was satisfied with the final recording.
Hotel California-Eagles
In a poll by Guitarist Magazine of five thousand of its readers, the Hotel California coda of the Eagles was voted as the best of all time. The Joe Walsh Don Felder two-guitar finales were recorded in 1976 and released in 1977, and Rolling Stone confirmed that it was one of the most lasting and well-crafted finales in rock music history.
Comfortably Numb
In 2006, Planet Rock listeners cast their ballots to declare David Gilmour and Comfortably Numb, the greatest guitar solo of all time. Guitar World verified that Gilmour had recorded many takes, making painstakingly sure that he used the strongest phrases in the final version and assembled a composite performance that would sound painstakingly spontaneous start to finish.
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