Guitar solos date back to the Renaissance period, with baroque guitar compositions and performances that got more popular as time went on and as musical styles developed outside of classical music.
Although not strictly confined within a specific genre, “guitar solos” are usually associated with electric guitar solos in rock and blues.
British music website NME ranked the 50 greatest guitar solos of all
time. Here are the top five off the list.
5. ‘Knights of Cydonia’ - Muse
Muse’s brand of operatic rock plays out well especially in their arena performances, where they maximize their song arrangements coupled with their show-stopping stage presence. Vocalist and guitarist Matt Bellamy’s solo in this 2007 performance in Wembley Stadium proves just that.
4. ‘Killing In The Name Of’ - Rage Against The Machine
Known as the band’s signature song, this 1991 alternative metal single is hailed as a classic by critics and fans alike. Its heavy guitar riffs are widely recognized, and was said to be written by vocalist Tom Morello while he was teaching a student drop D tuning. It was recorded on a Fender Telecaster.
3. ‘All Along The Watchtower’ - Jimi Hendrix
The fact that this is a Bob Dylan classic
cover making on this list speaks volumes about the legendary musician’s skills.
Jimi Hendrix’s out-of-this-world guitar solos and his catalog as a whole are
just as jaw-dropping as his stage antics. This one is no different. His
interpretation of ‘Watchtower’ showcased his incredible inventiveness and
timeless songwriting prowess.
2. ‘Stairway to Heaven’ - Led Zeppelin
It’s impossible to make a list of this kind without having this monumental Led Zeppelin classic in it. Vocalist Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page wrote the song based on the ideas from guitar pieces they recorded.
Page said of the process, “We had various run-throughs [at Headley Grange] where I was playing the acoustic guitar and jumping up and picking up the electric guitar. Robert was sitting in the corner… he was just writing. And all of a sudden he got up and started singing, along with another run-through, and he must have had 80% of the words there ... I had these sections, and I knew what order they were going to go in, but it was just a matter of getting everybody to feel comfortable with each gear shift that was going to be coming.” And the rest is history.
1. ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ - Guns N’ Roses
Perhaps the most recognizable guitar solo of
all-time, guitarist Slash’s build up to an explosively frenzied solo perfectly
accompanied vocalist Axl Rose’s high-pitched squall. It’s crazier to think that
the song was a result of a “string skipping” exercise and a joke on rehearsals.
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