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NFT: Greatest guitar solo of all time

Adam G in Big D : 3/16/2023 6:00 pm
OK I'll start:

Monster Magnet - Crop Circle
Lonk - ( New Window )
You must be really bored  
BobOnLI : 3/16/2023 6:06 pm : link
There are at least 100 that qualify.
Duane Allman  
theking : 3/16/2023 6:09 pm : link
In Layla. That thing just makes me get goosebumps every time. Nobody has yet been able to replicate it.
I’m no particular order  
CheddarPlax : 3/16/2023 6:13 pm : link
And certainly not a finite list:

Comfortably Numb
Hey Joe
All Along the Watchtower
Eruption
Hot for Teacher
Freebird (I know, but cmon)
Hotel California
Highway Star
Crossroads
Heartbreaker (Zep)
Cliffs of Dover
Purple Rain
Beat It
Sultans of Swing

RE: Duane Allman  
CheddarPlax : 3/16/2023 6:13 pm : link
In comment 16067482 theking said:
Quote:
In Layla. That thing just makes me get goosebumps every time. Nobody has yet been able to replicate it.


Absofuckinglutely
Duane Allman  
Spiciest Memelord : 3/16/2023 6:23 pm : link
Blue Sky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSDf2Usd8n4&t=144s
Allman - Whipping Post  
PatersonPlank : 3/16/2023 6:27 pm : link
.
Reo speed wagon  
mitch300 : 3/16/2023 6:32 pm : link
Roll with the changes.
Outlaws  
redwhiteandbigblue : 3/16/2023 6:39 pm : link
Green Grass and High Tides
Blackfoot  
redwhiteandbigblue : 3/16/2023 6:42 pm : link
Highway Song.

Heart-Who Will You Run To?
If you couldn't figure out from my handle  
Maggot Brain : 3/16/2023 6:48 pm : link
Enjoy.
Eddie Hazel's Maggot Brain - ( New Window )
Outlaws...  
BMac : 3/16/2023 6:49 pm : link
...Green Grass and High Tides Forever.
Zappa  
lono801 : 3/16/2023 6:50 pm : link
Posted this before

Brilliant…without question one of the best solos I have ever heard
Link - ( New Window )
EVH too many  
DJ5150 : 3/16/2023 6:51 pm : link
… mine might be fair warning or 5150
Duane Allman  
truebluelarry : 3/16/2023 6:53 pm : link
Elizibeth Reed from the Fillmore East album.
Still stunning 50 years and 1 million listens later.

And I say this as a devout Nerry Garcia disciple.
Fuckin’ Duane could play.
Jerry Garcia  
truebluelarry : 3/16/2023 6:54 pm : link
Stupid spell check :)
#1 guitar solo all time in my opinion is:Jimmy Page - Whole Lotta Love  
GoBigBlue16to56 : 3/16/2023 7:04 pm : link
Honorable mention - Leslie West on Mississippi Queen
One of my personal favorites is Lay Low by My Morning Jacket.  
j_rud : 3/16/2023 7:07 pm : link
Carl Broemel and Jim James, dueling guitars that eventually merge into the same solo. Absolute face melter live. This is from their last show at Forest Hills in 2021.

Let's get some lesser known tunes some play...
Link - ( New Window )
Maybe not the best, but it’s my favorite ...  
Spider56 : 3/16/2023 7:07 pm : link
Dickey Betts - Jessica
Link - ( New Window )
So we got Duane Allman playing...  
dannysection 313 : 3/16/2023 7:10 pm : link
Whipping Post
Blue Sky (nice choice Spiciest! StonyBrooke about 2 months before he died...amazing solo)
Elizabeth Reed
Layla

I'll go with the three solos in a row in the 2nd half of Mountain Jam from Eat a Peach....brings me to my knees every time, and I've listed to it for 50 years.

What a talent. Derek Trucks almost makes up for it, but there's only one Duane.

SkyDog4Ever
Totally different genre but it’s pretty cool to watch Glen Campbell  
Spider56 : 3/16/2023 7:13 pm : link
play the theme from the Lone Ranger with the guitar held up and behind his head.
Gilmour - Time  
sb from NYT Forum : 3/16/2023 7:19 pm : link
Comfortably Numb gets a lot of #1 picks, and rightfully so, but Gilmour's solo in Time is sublime. So freakin soulful and melodic, and perfectly fits the melody.
The 2 that immediately jump to mind are  
RickJames : 3/16/2023 7:21 pm : link
Painkiller and Crazy Train
RE: Duane Allman  
Chris in Philly : 3/16/2023 7:22 pm : link
In comment 16067521 Spiciest Memelord said:
Quote:
Blue Sky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSDf2Usd8n4&t=144s


A big chunk of that solo is Dickie Betts, no?
Prince “My Guitar Gently Weeps”  
eric2425ny : 3/16/2023 7:22 pm : link
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, George Harrison tribute.
Link - ( New Window )
RE: Duane Allman  
Section331 : 3/16/2023 7:22 pm : link
In comment 16067482 theking said:
Quote:
In Layla. That thing just makes me get goosebumps every time. Nobody has yet been able to replicate it.


Gorgeous playing, no doubt, but my all time fave is Clapton’s solo on Why Does Love Have to Be So Sad. Blistering, but you can hear every note.
Maggot Brain  
noro9 : 3/16/2023 7:24 pm : link
Eddie Hazel
Jimi Hendrix  
FredDryer89 : 3/16/2023 7:24 pm : link
Who knows (Band of gypsys)
Jeff beck going down
Tornado of Souls  
DefenseWins : 3/16/2023 7:25 pm : link
Marty Friedman... the video is cued up to just before the solo
this is it... - ( New Window )
RE: So we got Duane Allman playing...  
Spiciest Memelord : 3/16/2023 7:28 pm : link
In comment 16067617 dannysection 313 said:
Quote:
Whipping Post
Blue Sky (nice choice Spiciest! StonyBrooke about 2 months before he died...amazing solo)
Elizabeth Reed
Layla

I'll go with the three solos in a row in the 2nd half of Mountain Jam from Eat a Peach....brings me to my knees every time, and I've listed to it for 50 years.

What a talent. Derek Trucks almost makes up for it, but there's only one Duane.

SkyDog4Ever


Duane of course died when he was a baby at 24. Obviously a tragic event, but almost seems like Fate - its almost unfathomable what Duane would have come up with if he lived, like music that would tear apart the very fabric of reality level stuff lol
Ten Years After  
FredDryer89 : 3/16/2023 7:28 pm : link
I’m going home
RE: RE: Duane Allman  
Spiciest Memelord : 3/16/2023 7:29 pm : link
In comment 16067641 Chris in Philly said:
Quote:
In comment 16067521 Spiciest Memelord said:


Quote:


Blue Sky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSDf2Usd8n4&t=144s



A big chunk of that solo is Dickie Betts, no?


In that solo it was Duane playing lead and Dickey playing rhythm. In the studio song both alternately play lead. And of course Dickey wrote the song.
Just about anything from Stevie Ray Vaughan  
US1 Giants : 3/16/2023 7:44 pm : link
.
Texas Flood - ( New Window )
Lady Charlegme  
LarmerTJR : 3/16/2023 7:45 pm : link
Steely Dan. End game
RE: RE: RE: Duane Allman  
Chris in Philly : 3/16/2023 7:45 pm : link
In comment 16067659 Spiciest Memelord said:
Quote:
In comment 16067641 Chris in Philly said:


Quote:


In comment 16067521 Spiciest Memelord said:


Quote:


Blue Sky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSDf2Usd8n4&t=144s



A big chunk of that solo is Dickie Betts, no?



In that solo it was Duane playing lead and Dickey playing rhythm. In the studio song both alternately play lead. And of course Dickey wrote the song.


Oh I didn’t realize your linked a live version. Carry on!
38 Special  
redwhiteandbigblue : 3/16/2023 7:46 pm : link
Hold on Loosely.

Montrose-Rock Candy

Ted Nugent-Stranglehold

REO Speedwagon-Roll With The Changes

Joe Satriani-Summer Song

Blue Oyster Cult-Dont Fear the Reaper

Ozzie-Crazy Train
And it’s not Becker, it’s Larry Coltran…  
LarmerTJR : 3/16/2023 7:46 pm : link
^^^*
..  
Named Later : 3/16/2023 7:49 pm : link
All good choices.

Here's a classic jam from the Keeping the Blues Alive cruise --

'I'm Going Down' with Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Samantha Fish, and anybody else who brought a guitar !
Take your pick -- they're all great - ( New Window )
Not to be that guy  
dlauster : 3/16/2023 7:58 pm : link
But I think we need to specify rock here,
Because nothing, ever, anywhere, beats Segovia.
Mark Knopfler  
RCPhoenix : 3/16/2023 8:00 pm : link
Brothers in Arms, among others.
RE: Lady Charlegme  
dannysection 313 : 3/16/2023 8:01 pm : link
In comment 16067678 LarmerTJR said:
Quote:
Steely Dan. End game


Good choice!

It's Kid Charlemagne

And the guitarist is Larry Carlton...

Duane Allman had two great solos in this performance of Statesboro  
Ira : 3/16/2023 8:03 pm : link
Blues at the Fillmore East. I wish I had gone to that concert.
Link - ( New Window )
There's no greatest. There are favorites  
rnargi : 3/16/2023 8:12 pm : link
So many terrific choices mentioned here. My favorite guitarist is Mark Knopfler. My favorite solo by him is atvthe end of Telegraph Road...live...

.
One of very many - ( New Window )
Ira  
Bill in TN : 3/16/2023 8:17 pm : link
Don't forget Stormy Monday from Fillmore East. I get tears and goosebumps every time I hear it.
RE: RE: Lady Charlegme  
Del Shofner : 3/16/2023 8:22 pm : link
In comment 16067714 dannysection 313 said:
Quote:
In comment 16067678 LarmerTJR said:


Quote:


Steely Dan. End game



Good choice!

It's Kid Charlemagne

And the guitarist is Larry Carlton...


gets my vote ...
Something many here may have never heard...  
rnargi : 3/16/2023 8:23 pm : link
Robert Randolph and Joe Bonamassa playing "Going Down" at the Crossroads festival a number of years ago. Randolph is one of the best (and a fave of mine) live guitarists yiu could ever hope to see.
Robert Randolph and the Family Band woth Joe B - ( New Window )
So many great Larry Carlton solos  
lono801 : 3/16/2023 8:24 pm : link
Fagan and Becker loved him
When I jam out  
Daniel in MI : 3/16/2023 8:35 pm : link
Mary Had a Little Lamb, it makes women swoon and men weep. I don’t get all the notes right, and sometimes I hit the whammy bar by accident. I also hit strings I didn’t mean to. There’s the occasional unintentional harmonic. But you get the idea what song it is. I’d have to put this up with the others mentioned here.
Crossroads  
richynyc : 3/16/2023 8:36 pm : link
EC from Wheels of Fire live. He has two scorchers. Take your pick. And Iim not a really a huge EC fan.
Oh, and that was one of EC’s  
richynyc : 3/16/2023 8:39 pm : link
Earliest lead vocal performance
Freddie King  
arniefez : 3/16/2023 8:59 pm : link
Have You Ever Loved A Woman
Freddie King - Have You Ever Loved A Woman - ( New Window )
You’re talking about solo right  
mattlawson : 3/16/2023 8:59 pm : link
Not riff


Already have great choices in the thread - but definitely some that classify more as an iconic riff than a solo.

To me - David Gilmore’s comfortably numb off Pulse is the best live solo in existence
Great guitar solo  
nochance : 3/16/2023 9:00 pm : link
Joe Satrini- Satch Boogie
RE: You must be really bored  
Payasdaddy : 3/16/2023 9:11 pm : link
In comment 16067475 BobOnLI said:
Quote:
There are at least 100 that qualify.


Yep
RE: The 2 that immediately jump to mind are  
Payasdaddy : 3/16/2023 9:18 pm : link
In comment 16067639 RickJames said:
Quote:
Painkiller and Crazy Train


I think zakk on no more tears is a great one
One of my unsung favorites is Eddie VH on his last album “ big River”. Just a real classic solo. Also like him “in a year to the day”. Both unsung songs but real nice solos.
Painkiller is great but love “ the sinner” live on unleashed in the East. Not great but what hooked me on metal.
One to check out. New extreme. Nuno kills it on new single that just dropped “ rise”. Seriously good
Yngwie on kree nakoorie a personal favorite
I could name thousands. Definitely not monster magnet. I
RE: Prince “My Guitar Gently Weeps”  
Payasdaddy : 3/16/2023 9:18 pm : link
In comment 16067642 eric2425ny said:
Quote:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, George Harrison tribute. Link - ( New Window )


One of my favorites. A fricking stud for sure.
Jimi  
Tim in JTown : 3/16/2023 9:25 pm : link
Machine Gun

Larry Carlton Mulberry Street, distant second.
Lots of  
lugnut : 3/16/2023 9:28 pm : link
Very well placed love for Duane and the Allmans (or is this site only for guys in their 50s?).

Blue Sky is sublime beautiful genius. Had it played at my wedding. It’s like it’s multiple genres, and its own genre. The interplay of Duane and Dickey is just brilliant gorgeousness.

And I could listen to nothing but Liz Reed on an endless loop till kingdoms come.

Derek Trucks might be the best similar thing going. Fucking fantastic slide player w/o trying to be a Duane knockoff. He and Trey Anastasia did a live cover of Layla that is fantastic.

One other fave: Hendrix - Machine Gun. Heavy blooz that is instantly recognizable as him. Nobody else can sound like that. Nobody.
RE: Lots of  
dannysection 313 : 3/16/2023 10:06 pm : link
In comment 16067857 lugnut said:
[quote] Very well placed love for Duane and the Allmans (or is this site only for guys in their 50s?).

Guilty as charged!

Plus, the "guitar era" was a 70's 80's thing. Today its Trey Anastasio, Derek Trucks, maybe Jimi Herring and?

Music's different now....and none for the better if you ask this guy in his 50's!
I'm with Margi  
fkap : 3/16/2023 10:06 pm : link
that it's a favorite over best kind of thing.

One of mine is Brian Eno's Baby's on Fire off Here come the warm jets. I think it is attributed to Robert Fripp, but I've seen it argued that it is someone else (perhaps Phil Manzanera?)
RE: I'm with Margi  
lono801 : 3/16/2023 10:16 pm : link
In comment 16067894 fkap said:
Quote:
that it's a favorite over best kind of thing.

One of mine is Brian Eno's Baby's on Fire off Here come the warm jets. I think it is attributed to Robert Fripp, but I've seen it argued that it is someone else (perhaps Phil Manzanera?)


If I recall correctly Manzanera does not play on Warm Jets. The solo has a definite Fripp sound.

Great choice.
RE: So many great Larry Carlton solos  
bluefin : 3/16/2023 10:31 pm : link
In comment 16067757 lono801 said:
Quote:
Fagan and Becker loved him

Carlton at times acted as a sort of musical director - he’d learn the tunes from Fagen/Becker, then make charts and communicate the concepts to the session jazz guys so they’d all be pointed in the right direction - he was a big reason why peak SD music is a seamless jazz/rock alloy.
RE: RE: The 2 that immediately jump to mind are  
smshmth8690 : 3/16/2023 10:54 pm : link
In comment 16067846 Payasdaddy said:
Quote:
In comment 16067639 RickJames said:


Quote:


Painkiller and Crazy Train



I think zakk on no more tears is a great one
One of my unsung favorites is Eddie VH on his last album “ big River”. Just a real classic solo. Also like him “in a year to the day”. Both unsung songs but real nice solos.
Painkiller is great but love “ the sinner” live on unleashed in the East. Not great but what hooked me on metal.
One to check out. New extreme. Nuno kills it on new single that just dropped “ rise”. Seriously good
Yngwie on kree nakoorie a personal favorite
I could name thousands. Definitely not monster magnet. I


Unleashed In The East may not have been the album that got me into metal, but it definitely helped set the hook. As for Monster Magnet, very underrated band. I saw them 3 (maybe 4) years ago, and they blew me away. They are touring again this summer, but only have European dates scheduled so far. I'm hoping they play here in the U.S. too. Can't recommend seeing them live enough. A couple of guys from Monster Magnet have another band 'The Atomic Bitchwax' another band worth checking out. They're out on tour now.

As for solo's, let's face it, there is no best, but these threads are great fun. I'll add the solo from My Sharona, by The Knack.
Guitar Solo  
Saratoga : 3/16/2023 11:04 pm : link
I second the vote for Jimi's Machine Gun. Saw it live at the Fillmore East on Jan 1, 1970 after a crazy time the night before in Times Square when the Sixties turned to the Seventies. It came out later as the Band of Gypsies album. The only thing that topped it? Twenty feet away from Hendrix at Woodstock playing the Star Spangled Banner.
Lifelong Touring Guitar Player Here  
Wildcardgiants : 3/16/2023 11:04 pm : link
What is a great guitar solo?

Is it the beautiful and tasteful close to Stairway to Heaven.

Is it the super tech style of Al Di Meola?

The simplicity of Jeff Beck?

Or the guitar harmonies of the Eagles (Hotel California), Little River Band or the Alman Brothers?

OF Charlie Christian ripping the fretboard in the 1940s?

There are thousands of great guitar solos recorded...

Larry Carlton  
Mike in Marin : 3/16/2023 11:40 pm : link
Kid Charlemagne
RE: Ira  
Ira : 3/17/2023 4:32 am : link
In comment 16067747 Bill in TN said:
Quote:
Don't forget Stormy Monday from Fillmore East. I get tears and goosebumps every time I hear it.


Good call. Thanks, Bill.
ANYTHING  
Mayo2JZ : 3/17/2023 6:10 am : link
from Stevie Ray Vaughan
RE: Just about anything from Stevie Ray Vaughan  
Mayo2JZ : 3/17/2023 6:12 am : link
In comment 16067677 US1 Giants said:
Quote:
. Texas Flood - ( New Window )


You said it brother. He was from another planet
RE: And it’s not Becker, it’s Larry Coltran…  
Mayo2JZ : 3/17/2023 6:14 am : link
In comment 16067681 LarmerTJR said:
Quote:
^^^*


Tremendous talent from a session musician to his solo career but don’t forget about Chuck Loeb. Gone before his time
RE: RE: So many great Larry Carlton solos  
Mayo2JZ : 3/17/2023 6:19 am : link
In comment 16067923 bluefin said:
Quote:
In comment 16067757 lono801 said:


Quote:


Fagan and Becker loved him


Carlton at times acted as a sort of musical director - he’d learn the tunes from Fagen/Becker, then make charts and communicate the concepts to the session jazz guys so they’d all be pointed in the right direction - he was a big reason why peak SD music is a seamless jazz/rock alloy.


Have you ever heard LC’s blues album “About Last Night”? Amazing
Hard to pick just one  
Eman11 : 3/17/2023 6:45 am : link
But Steve Hackett’s Firth Of Fifth one is in the conversation.
Blackmore  
Gman11 : 3/17/2023 7:59 am : link
On Deep Purple's Child In Time
RE: RE: RE: So many great Larry Carlton solos  
bluefin : 3/17/2023 8:31 am : link
In comment 16068027 Mayo2JZ said:
[quote] In comment 16067923 bluefin said:


Quote:


In comment 16067757 lono801 said:


Quote:


Fagan and Becker loved him


Carlton at times acted as a sort of musical director - he’d learn the tunes from Fagen/Becker, then make charts and communicate the concepts to the session jazz guys so they’d all be pointed in the right direction - he was a big reason why peak SD music is a seamless jazz/rock alloy.



Have you ever heard LC’s blues album “About Last Night”? Amazing [/quote
No, but I will, thanks.]
Life in the Fast Lane  
davew926 : 3/17/2023 9:06 am : link
A lot of stuff from Jimmy Page
I saw an interview with Keith Richards and he said he preferred a good riff to a solo. You can see the Stones didn't do a lot of songs with a solo although I think when he comes in on Sympathy for the Devil is great.
Life in the Fast Lane  
davew926 : 3/17/2023 9:07 am : link
A lot of stuff from Jimmy Page
I saw an interview with Keith Richards and he said he preferred a good riff to a solo. You can see the Stones didn't do a lot of songs with a solo although I think when he comes in on Sympathy for the Devil is great.
since he and his ex are in the  
Enzo : 3/17/2023 9:16 am : link
news this week:
Black Math - Jack White
RE: RE: Duane Allman  
truebluelarry : 3/17/2023 11:07 am : link
In comment 16067641 Chris in Philly said:
Quote:
In comment 16067521 Spiciest Memelord said:


Quote:


Blue Sky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSDf2Usd8n4&t=144s



A big chunk of that solo is Dickie Betts, no?


Dickie has the first solo, Duane the second one.
Whipping post  
BigBlue2112 : 3/17/2023 11:21 am : link
saw Zac Brown Band do a cover of it a few years back. incredible job
Link - ( New Window )
Another vote for Duane Allman  
John Bravo : 3/17/2023 11:34 am : link
for his work on "Somebody Loan Me A Dime" with Boz Skaggs.
RE: Life in the Fast Lane  
Wildcardgiants : 3/17/2023 11:52 am : link
In comment 16068152 davew926 said:
Quote:
A lot of stuff from Jimmy Page
I saw an interview with Keith Richards and he said he preferred a good riff to a solo. You can see the Stones didn't do a lot of songs with a solo although I think when he comes in on Sympathy for the Devil is great.


That's because a riff is all Richards has in has bag....
No love for EVH  
NNJ Tom : 3/17/2023 11:53 am : link
Eruption ???
Dickey Betts...  
BMac : 3/17/2023 12:20 pm : link
...Hand Picked.
RE: Whipping post  
j_rud : 3/17/2023 12:27 pm : link
In comment 16068353 BigBlue2112 said:
Quote:
saw Zac Brown Band do a cover of it a few years back. incredible job Link - ( New Window )


Used to wait til I closed out my tab at the corner bar and play the 27 minute live version as I headed for the door. I'm not a big prank guy and I don't typically screw with people but something about that used to give me great joy.
Lots of really good opinions here...  
Brown_Hornet : 3/17/2023 12:51 pm : link
... I never cared for shredding.
Jimmy Page, David Gilmour and even though he's a completely different kind of guy Tom Schultz did some interesting things with harmonies during his solos.

There's also a couple of guys that I've played with here in Richmond who can play with the absolute best of them.
Hey Joe- Roy Buchannon  
gtt350 : 3/17/2023 12:59 pm : link
.
Someone has to give a metal choice  
Greg from LI : 3/17/2023 1:34 pm : link
And that someone is me. Marty Friedman in “Tornado of Souls”
RE: RE: RE: Duane Allman  
dannysection 313 : 3/17/2023 2:30 pm : link
In comment 16068328 truebluelarry said:
Quote:
In comment 16067641 Chris in Philly said:
Quote:

In comment 16067521 Spiciest Memelord said:


Quote:


Blue Sky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSDf2Usd8n4&t=144s


A big chunk of that solo is Dickie Betts, no?


Dickie has the first solo, Duane the second one.

Actually, on the studio version, from Eat a Peach, Duane goes first, Dickie second....

As a guitar player, I've studied both solos pretty carefully, with some success...some...
Meh.  
Rick5 : 3/17/2023 7:34 pm : link
There is no such thing. Just personal favorites. I could name 100 that are pretty much all equally awesome to me.
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