If you're hot for guitar playing one of the questions that come up is 'what is the best guitar solo of all time?'. We may include not only rock guitar players but also blues and jazz and country players also. But only for argument sake, let's bring it down to just rock songs.
If you're keen on classic rock music you've a lot of choices. there were some great guitar players in the last 50 years in the idiom. There's Eric Clapton of Cream and lots of other bands, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, Alvin Lee, Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Eddie Van Halen, Duane Allman, and gee I could go on.
Here is a few suggestions for the best lead...
- Jimmy Page on Stairway To Heaven
- David Gilmour on Comfortably Numb
- Jimi Hendrix on All Along The Watchtower
- Eric Clapton on Crossroads
- Eddie Van Halen on Eruption
Again I could go on forever.
But what makes a good guitar lead?
I'm happy that you asked. Naturally, the standards is extremely subjective. One can only venture an opinion. Others will often have their own. But here is a few significant factors in my mind.
It's Got To Be A Great Song
You've got to start with a classic song. If the song is lame or no one has heard it you can't really count it. There are probably many jazz solos that fall into this class. Although not too many folk follow jazz so it might be tough to get any critical mass.
The proven fact that the tune is "a hit" means many individuals have listened to it and will have an opinion. This can mean there will be some voting power.
The Instrument Must Have A Wonderful Tone
Now this will only be necessary to me. But part of a great solo is the sound of the guitar itself. Now this sound does not just come from the guitar or the amplifier, but also from the soul of the player themselves. If you pick up Eric Clapton's guitar and play through his amp, there's an excellent chance you will not sound anything like him. The tone has masses to do with the way the player attacks the strings and the emotional place inside the player himself.
To put it another way... Tone is not in the guitar it's in the fingers of the player.
The Technical Uniqueness
OK this could be a little tough to understand if you're not a musician. By "technical uniqueness" I mean... Does the solo take the instrument, or the style of music, to a new place? Is it something that hasn't ever been done before?
When Jimi Hendrix came along everyone declared that he took the guitar lead directly to a different level. Even other guitarists were in shock of his playing. The same applied to Eddie Van Halen, or Steve Vai, or Duane Allman. All of them seemed to redefine the instrument in their time, in a fashion that other guitar players notice. That is when you know you have something special. When other guitarists are talking about your lead then you know you have it.
That's What Makes The Guitar Unique
As musical instruments go the guitar is pretty unique. It has got a wide selection of possible tones and methodologies that can be applied. The strings can stretch. The dynamic range is wide (particularly with electric guitar). And there always seems to be someone coming along who takes it to a different level.
That's what I like about the guitar. It truly has no limits.
If you're keen on classic rock music you've a lot of choices. there were some great guitar players in the last 50 years in the idiom. There's Eric Clapton of Cream and lots of other bands, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, Alvin Lee, Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Eddie Van Halen, Duane Allman, and gee I could go on.
Here is a few suggestions for the best lead...
- Jimmy Page on Stairway To Heaven
- David Gilmour on Comfortably Numb
- Jimi Hendrix on All Along The Watchtower
- Eric Clapton on Crossroads
- Eddie Van Halen on Eruption
Again I could go on forever.
But what makes a good guitar lead?
I'm happy that you asked. Naturally, the standards is extremely subjective. One can only venture an opinion. Others will often have their own. But here is a few significant factors in my mind.
It's Got To Be A Great Song
You've got to start with a classic song. If the song is lame or no one has heard it you can't really count it. There are probably many jazz solos that fall into this class. Although not too many folk follow jazz so it might be tough to get any critical mass.
The proven fact that the tune is "a hit" means many individuals have listened to it and will have an opinion. This can mean there will be some voting power.
The Instrument Must Have A Wonderful Tone
Now this will only be necessary to me. But part of a great solo is the sound of the guitar itself. Now this sound does not just come from the guitar or the amplifier, but also from the soul of the player themselves. If you pick up Eric Clapton's guitar and play through his amp, there's an excellent chance you will not sound anything like him. The tone has masses to do with the way the player attacks the strings and the emotional place inside the player himself.
To put it another way... Tone is not in the guitar it's in the fingers of the player.
The Technical Uniqueness
OK this could be a little tough to understand if you're not a musician. By "technical uniqueness" I mean... Does the solo take the instrument, or the style of music, to a new place? Is it something that hasn't ever been done before?
When Jimi Hendrix came along everyone declared that he took the guitar lead directly to a different level. Even other guitarists were in shock of his playing. The same applied to Eddie Van Halen, or Steve Vai, or Duane Allman. All of them seemed to redefine the instrument in their time, in a fashion that other guitar players notice. That is when you know you have something special. When other guitarists are talking about your lead then you know you have it.
That's What Makes The Guitar Unique
As musical instruments go the guitar is pretty unique. It has got a wide selection of possible tones and methodologies that can be applied. The strings can stretch. The dynamic range is wide (particularly with electric guitar). And there always seems to be someone coming along who takes it to a different level.
That's what I like about the guitar. It truly has no limits.
About the Author:
Rick Honeyboy Hart has played guitar for years and is an experienced blues guitarist. He's played in many bands and now helps others learn blues guitar solos like Eric Clapton's Crossroad's lead, on his guitar instruction website.
