In the world of music, there are many different types of genres and styles.
But one genre that seems to stand out from the rest is rock ‘n’ roll. Within this genre, one of the most popular styles is electric guitar solos. And within electric guitar solos, some of the greatest soloists of all time have emerged.
So, without further ado, here are the 10 best guitar soloists of all time.
Who is the Best Guitar Soloist Ever?
While there are countless guitar soloists out there who have made their mark on rock and roll, you could argue that the best guitar solo of all time belongs to one of these famous guitar soloists:
- Eddie Van Halen
- Prince
- Jack White
- Carrie Brownstein
- Brian May
- David Gilmour
- Chuck Berry
- Dick Dale
- Jimmy Page
- Jimi Hendrix
Feeling inspired yet? If so, you’ll want to ask your guitar teacher how you can become a better player. Taking guitar lessons can help, as can watching videos like this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfZ64yEGPok
Greatest Guitar Soloists of All Time
As with any top 10 list, ranking the best guitar soloists is not an easy feat. The greatest guitar solos are incredibly subjective, and what pleases one fan might make someone else plug their ears. My list is based on years of listening to and loving classic rock, indie music, and pop. If there’s anyone I left out or anything you would change, I hope you’ll let me know in the comments.
10. Eddie Van Halen
Known for his adrenaline rush riffs and hair band swagger, Eddie Van Halen’s guitar leads inspired a generation of artists in the 70s and 80s to pick up the guitar. The speed of his playing and use of guitar tricks like tapping and harmonics set Van Halen apart and continue to impress fans today.
9. Prince
Unfortunately, Prince’s catalog is not available on YouTube, so you’ll have to take my word for it when I say that the “Purple Rain” solo is pretty much perfect. Prince has a unique personal style of playing that sets him apart as an iconic guitar player and artist.
8. Jack White
Jack White’s playing borrows heavily from blues and rock traditions, but his consistent ability to craft catchy riffs and the boldness with which he sets his guitar work forth have landed him a place among the guitar greats. White rose to fame as frontman for the duo The White Stripes, showcasing his hot lead guitar moves with no other instruments to accompany him but the drums.
7. Carrie Brownstein
Carrie Brownstein’s angular riffs and inventive guitar style helped propel indie band Sleater-Kinney to critical acclaim throughout the 90s and early 2000s. The band featured two guitarists, no bass, and two vocalists, and over the course of their career they transitioned from riot-grrrl punk to art rock. You might also recognize Brownstein from her work on IFC’s TV series “Portlandia”.
6. Brian May
Queen guitarist Brian May combines incredible technical chops with a true feel for the music and the ability to play in different styles. His guitar solos build upon Freddie Mercury’s visionary songwriting and guide songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody” from operatic drama to wild head-banging.
5. David Gilmour
Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour is known for searing, emotional solos. Instead of relying on fancy guitar tricks, Gilmour’s playing tends to embody the maxim that less is more. His legato style and smooth bends create a melodic effect, almost more like vocals than guitar, which perfectly suits Pink Floyd’s psychedelic sound.
4. Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry is truly the man who started it all! His wild guitar style and rockin’ solos ushered in the era of guitar-dominated music. Berry’s style uses blues scales, bends, double stops, and a whole lot of swagger.
3. Dick Dale
Popularly known as “King of the Surf Guitar,” Dick Dale introduced the world to a new kind of guitar instrumental. His rapid-fire tremolo picking drew inspiration from Middle-Eastern music, and the heavy Fender reverb he throws over the top of his playing makes each note sound as wet as the surf. Fun fact: Dick Dale is left-handed and plays a rightie guitar upside-down and backwards.
2. Jimmy Page
Can you even go into a guitar store without hearing a classic Jimmy Page riff? Page’s solos and style have been imitated and admired for decades, and it’s easy to see why. Like many artists before and since Led Zeppelin, Page relies a lot on the minor pentatonic scale, but his speed, volume, and timing allowed him to permanently turn up the volume of rock and roll. Plus, judging by the video above, he did it all in platforms!
1. Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix is the ultimate guitar god. His psychedelic solos and wild performances made rock and roll history. To get his distinct sound, Hendrix mastered the blues. He also added a few new tricks to the guitar game, such as using the thumb on his fretting hand to hold down notes on the low E string and bending double stops.
Other Famous Guitar Soloists
When we think of guitar soloists, the first name that comes to mind is often Jimi Hendrix. While Hendrix was certainly a pioneer in the world of famous guitar solos, he is far from the only famous guitar soloist out there.
Other well-known guitar soloists include Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
One notable example is Eddie Van Halen, whose fast and frenetic style redefined what was possible on the guitar. Van Halen’s work with his band Van Halen helped to popularize “shredding”, a technique that involves playing extremely fast runs of notes.
Another important soloist is Eric Clapton, whose virtuosic abilities were on full display in his work with Cream. Clapton’s solos often featured extended blues phrases, and his playing was highly influential on subsequent generations of guitarists.
And of course, Stevie Ray Vaughan. Stevie Ray Vaughan was one of the most influential guitarists of his generation. A master of the blues, he brought a raw, powerful style to the electric guitar that was unmatched by any other player. His solos were electrifying, and his ability to improvise on the spot was legendary.
Vaughan’s influence can be heard in the playing of many modern guitarists, and his work continues to inspire new generations of players. Stevie Ray Vaughan was a true virtuoso, and there is no doubt that he was one of the best guitar soloists of all time.
Each of these musicians has made a significant impact on the world of guitar, and their solos have become iconic in their own right.
If you’re a fan of guitar solos, then be sure to check out the work of these other famous soloists. You won’t be disappointed.
Who is the Best Female Guitar Soloist?
With her spellbinding style and virtuoso technique, Kaki King has established herself as one of the world’s greatest guitar soloists ever. Her intricate fingerstyle playing has enabled her to push the boundaries of contemporary music in a new and unique way.
Kaki’s most notable tracks include “Gay Sons of Lesbian Mothers” and “Bowen Island.”
Who is the Best Electric Guitar Soloist?
Jimi Hendrix’s electric guitar playing is legendary. His skill and innovation are timeless, and he has been a major source of inspiration for countless rock and metal guitarists. Hendrix’s signature tracks include “Purple Haze” and “Voodoo Child (Slight Return).”
Who is the Best Acoustic Guitar Soloist Ever?
Tommy Emmanuel is a talented guitarist, specializing in fingerstyle acoustic guitar. Emmanuel’s guitar playing often sounds like several instruments are playing at once, and his ability to re-imagine old classics has made him popular globally. Some of his best-known tracks include “Classical Gas” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Who Are the Best Bass Guitar Soloists?
Jaco Pastorius’s bass playing is a masterclass in improvisation and virtuosity. His creativity, speed, and technique behind the bass guitar were instrumental in paving the way for future bassists. Pastorius’s most renowned tracks include “Donna Lee” and “Portrait of Tracy.”
Who Are the Best Blues Guitar Soloists?
B.B. King is the embodiment of blues guitar playing. His fluid style, smooth vibrato, and impeccable timing coupled with his melodic riffs and soulful bends have made him a living legend. Tracks such as “The Thrill Is Gone” and “Lucille” showcase King’s unique guitar playing ability.
What Are the Best Guitar Solos of All Time?
While there are countless great guitar solos, there are a few that stand out above the rest. One of the most iconic solos of all time is Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Star Spangled Banner’ from his performance at Woodstock.
Another classic is Eric Clapton’s solo in ‘Layla’, which features some of the most soulful and emotional playing ever captured on record.
Eric Clapton’s solo in “Crossroads” is often cited as one of the greatest guitar solos of all time. The solo builds gradually, starting with a simple blues riff and then slowly adding more and more embellishments. By the end of the solo, Clapton is using all of his technical virtuosity to create a truly unforgettable piece of music.
Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ also features a legendary guitar solo, one that has been imitated by countless guitarists over the years. Jimmy Page’s solo is much more restrained than Clapton’s, but it is no less masterful.
Page uses space and dynamics to create a sense of drama, making the solo an essential part of the song.
These are just three examples of the many great guitar solos that have been recorded over the years. With so many great solos to choose from, it is hard to make a definitive list of the best. However, these two solos are certainly among the most memorable and influential.
These are just a few examples of the greatest guitar solos of all time, solos that have helped to define the instrument and continue to inspire musicians today.
What is a Guitar Solo Called?
A guitar solo is a musical passage or section played by a single guitar player. These solos can be either improvised or written specifically for the song.
Guitar solos are very common in rock and blues music, but can also be found in other genres such as jazz, country, and metal.
Typically, a guitar solo will feature the guitarist playing over the main chord progression of the song. This allows them to show off their technical skills and creativity while still staying true to the melody of the song.
Guitar solos can range from simple lead lines to complex shredding runs, and often reflect the personality of the player. For many fans, a guitar solo is one of the most exciting parts of a song, and can help to make a song truly unforgettable.
Who Has the Longest Guitar Solo?
Though opinions will always vary, most experts agree that the longest recorded guitar solo belongs to Dave Mustaine of Megadeth.
The solo in question can be found on the song “In My Darkest Hour,” which was released as a single in 1988. Mustaine reportedly performed the 15-minute solo in one take, and it remains one of the most impressive feats in guitar history.
In addition to its length, the solo is notable for its level of technicality; Mustaine seamlessly switches between lead and rhythm playing, creating a dense and complex soundscape.
Though other guitarists have come close, no one has yet been able to top Mustaine’s record-breaking performance.
What is the Fastest Guitar Solo?
The speed of a guitar solo is measured in BPM (beats per minute) and the fastest guitar solos can reach up to 600 BPM. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s classical song, “Flight of the Bumblebee,” seems to be the most frequent contender for the world’s fastest guitar solo.
Different guitarists have attempted this solo, including legendary guitarists like Yngwie Malmsteen and Rusty Cooley. And while many guitarists have claimed to break world records in solo speed, it’s worth noting that the record-keeping for such a feat is often based on individual claims and not verified by a reliable, standard authority.
While the fastest guitar solo has become somewhat of a feat among guitarists, some music critics argue that playing fast alone is not enough to make great music. The emotions, melody, creativity, and flow of the solo also matter since playing fast does not equate to the best solo.
For example, some guitarists who played relatively slower solos than their peers, like David Gilmour of Pink Floyd and Eric Clapton, are still highly regarded for their musicality and defining guitar styles. A truly great guitar solo is one that gets the audience to feel and experience the music at a higher level.
Who is the Best Guitar Soloist of All Time?
Many guitar players have made a name for themselves with their incredible soloing abilities. From Jimi Hendrix to Eddie Van Halen, there are countless guitarists who have left their mark on the world of music.
But who is the best guitar soloist of all time? This is a question that has been debated by music fans for decades.
And who knows – perhaps you could be the next best guitar soloist ever!
Do you have a favorite guitar solo but you’re not sure where to start to play it yourself? You can learn your favorite riffs, leads, guitar tricks, and more with help from a private guitar instructor. Find a guitar teacher near you and start shredding today!
Megan L.