Greatest Guitar Solos of Rock and Metal

Restricted to rock and metal for an easier comparison of song styles. Please consider talent, originality, and technique for your selections of these solos. Really think and research before you vote. Thank you!

Also, when you add a song, please format it like this:
Song Title- Guitarist/Second Guitarist(if applicable).

The Top Ten
1 Eruption - Eddie Van Halen

Eddie Van Halen's Eruption is only second to Hendrix "Star Spangled Banner" solo at woodstock, but since Hendrix solo isn't on this list (Why?. ) I had to go with eddie who is my personal favorite.
Other notable solo/riffs not on this list that should be.
Slash-Sweet Child of mine is his signature riff.
Clapton-Cocaine.
Chuck Berry-Johnny B. Goode started it all.
Angus Young-Back in Black.
Santana-Smooth.
Jimmy Page-Stairway to Heaven.
And of course Malmsteen, and Satriani, that is all they did in the 80's was solo's!.

Its hard to say what song is the best. But, I do agree with this. I heard it when it first came out and was blown away. I still say WOW whenever I hear it. I'm 47, I've heard it thousands of times. OK, number one.

This is easily the best guitar solo I have ever heard. I have never heard anything anywhere near the capability of Eddie Van Halen. This is easily the number 1 guitar solo.

Here we R. I definitely agree with this. My sister thinks that country artists can shred. Sure kid, sure. Well, this is real guitar playing. Eddie Van Halen is awesome!

2 Stairway to Heaven - Jimmy Page

This guitar solo is a masterpiece! A guitar solo of the best song, made by greatest rock band, containing best guitarist: jimmy page, best vocalist: robert plant, best drummer:john bonham and one of the best bassists:john paul jones nothing can compare to this AMAZING solo

If a 45 second solo can turn an 8 minute song into the most amazing thing I've ever heard then it has to be the best of all time, maybe with exception to Jump in the Fire by Metallica really why isn't that in the to 5?!?!?

Who ever thought that Eruption, which was origionally a finger excercise, is better than this masterfully composed, original, and no less than powerfully emotional piece of art does not know what real music is.

Eruption is technically great, but this one can give you a spiritual high. The song creats a soothing surreal environment. Every time the solo starts I can't help crying. Nothing is compareable to this led zeppline masterpiece.

3 Afterlife - Synyster Gates

This truly is a great song and solo. All the people who say that "People don't know the difference between a good solo and a fast solo" are just crazy. This is both fast and very great. You can hear every note itself as it is played as opposed to some songs on this list that are just 5 guitarists that all play different solos and make it sound like it's 1 player. But Syn went totally insane on his guitar and makes Matthias Jabs (some guy nobody has even heard of) sound like a baby playing a guitar it doesn't even deserve. Enough said. Synyster Gates is the best.

This truly is a great song and solo. All the people who say that "People don't know the difference between a good solo and a fast solo" are just crazy. This is both fast and very great. You can hear every note itself as it is played as opposed to some songs on this list that are just 5 guitarists that all play different solos and make it sound like it's 1 player. But Syn went totally insane on his guitar and makes Matthias Jabs (some guy nobody has even heard of) sound like a baby playing a guitar it doesn't even deserve. Enough said. Synyster Gates is the best...

This is such an amazing solo, why on the hell would this be 3rd, its got everything one likes, instead almost every Avenged Sevenfold song has kick-ass solo- MIA, seize the day, second heartbeat, victim, nightmare, god hates us, critical acclaim, beast and the harlot! Where are they... Avenged Sevenfold foREVer! 1

I honestly don't think that this solo deserves 2nd place I respect this band, they are good but there are so many better solos that deserve second spot like Mr Crowley, Randy Rhoads had 3 solos in that song and they were all awesome, One which is played by Kirk Hammit is also better... But opinions differ I guess

4 One - Kirk Hammet

The sudden bust of kirk's tapping solo is the best, most powerful and rocking solo ever.. My top 10 would be
1. One
2. Free bird
3. Hotel California
4. Stairway to heaven
5. November rain
6. Highway star
7. Crazy train
8. Cliffs of dover
9. Sweet child o'mine
10. Killing in the name

This solo has nothing special. Even Fade to Black ending solo is better. Since when tapping is skill? I am a 8 month guitar player and I can play this solo clean and full speed.

Definitely one of his finest solos, but where the F.. Is Crazy Train or Mr. Crowley? Seriously a metal solo list is not complete without one of Randy's classics.

This is the fastest and best solo ever written. How can it be 4th. It should be 1st. And Kirk is much better than these posers Matthias Jabs or Synyster Gates.

5 Free Bird - Collinsworth/Rossington

Let's get this one correct. Gary played rhythm guitar only. Allan C. Played the entire solo. There is a great video on utube from the BBC in 1974 that will show you all you need to know. They did use two guitars in concerts later on when Steve Gains joined the group.

Great transition in the song to one of the most epic solos in rock history, that truly fits the meaning in the song and uses a metaphor in my opinion of a free bird!

A solo that lasts several minutes yet gives the euphoric feeling of a much shorter and faster solo. This is the genius of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

This is the ultimate finale for any song. A masterpiece solo with two guitars to own all others.

6 Tornado of Souls - Marty Friedman

This solo is very close to perfect from the "pre-bent"intro to the high-speed finish. This solo deserves to be number 3. No synyster gates solo should be on any type of best solo list. Syn is overrated. When you are looking for a kickass solo, look no further than Marty Friedman. His work on Rust in Peace blows synyster gates out of the water.

I don't get it. In the list of greatest guitar solos of rock and metal, Tornado Of Souls is on 8th place (Should be 1), but in the list of greatest guitar solos of history is in 83rd Place. I mean, come on, what the hell? This solo is beautiful, with perfect speed, and really hard. What else could you ask?

Changes your perspective on what constitutes a perfect solo. Heavy on speed, technique, melody, and the "goose-bump, spine-chill" feeling that both you'll get when you hear it and your family and friends get when they hear it played at your funeral.

Ugh. I know most, over 90% of the songs here, but how many of you really know Tornado? It's not just speed.. It has great melody, feel, fantastic phrasing, superior technique, everything! How can anyone vote for something far inferior, poppy songs?

7 November Rain - Slash

I love how the solos are dissected into 3 pieces. The first is very mellow and very slash like, the second solo takes it a step further by really announciating the emotion coming from Slash, then the final solo tops it off with a bombastic impression of both sorrow and emotion pouring down his fingers.

Most touching solo ever, its moving
Slash has a lot of badass solo's but this beats them all.
Slash is a legend!
I love sweet child o'mine to
As for Some of the more recent songs: Anastasia,...
Slash doesn't play fast to impress
He just does what sounds good
That's why he kill's on stage every time
Slash rock's

This is one of the most truly moving Rock anthems of all time. The guitar solo's cut through me like electricity and raise the hairs on the back of my neck like nothing else... perhaps this is why I insist on having this as music at my funeral...

A lot of people imply Slash isn't as technical as the other guitarists in the lists, but I'd like to ask them If any of them could play with the same emotion and feelings that Slash plays with. Literally brought me to tears, the forst solo.

8 The Zoo - Matthias Jabs

What can I say - it's fantastic solo on Voice Box. It very truly and emotional. It's good song with interesting guitar riff. Magnificent game Matthias on Voice Box selects him from the general crowd of musicians!

Matthias kicks major butt on this song. This song is a total turn on and the solo makes me HOT! WooHoo! You the man Matthias! #1 forever...

Truly underrated in all aspects. Jabbs proves his versatility with the solo on the Zoo.

Yeah, MJ on the talk box really stirs the soul! This song is fantastic LIVE! Rawk on Matthias!
ScorpsSistah

9 Comfortably Numb - David Gilmour

To me, what Gilmour has contributed to the song is truly beyond words. And specially the pulse version of the 2nd solo of the Comfortably Numb was the best I heard till date. He just not only rolled over the notes on the fret board over the same chord progressions but also gave the song an announcement of the climax of the theme as the last solo starts. And at the end, the higher pitched fading away gives a perfect end to the message the song conveys to us. It is the best psychedelic rock solo I have ever heard.

There are always two opposing opinions you will hear in regards to David Gilmour. Either he is overrated or underrated. I personally fall within the underrated camp. He isn't the fastest, the most complex or the flashiest, but he knows how to create an emotional response with every harmonic and every bended note. Gilmour can do more with a single fretted note by bending, squealing and holding, than most guitarists can do with an entire fretboard.

One? Afterlife? Forsaken? All these are great songs but the solos are trash. Then there's Through The Fire And Flames. If that is your favorite then you are probably voting for the fastest/longest/one that's on Guitar Hero, it is the most uncreative solo I've ever heard. This is a real solo that, along with Stairway to Heaven and Sweet Child O' Mine are the basis for all solos to follow.

It is amazing what David Gilmour can do with a guitar. It's not that he's fast but the beautiful solos he writes. It's almost like he puts all of his emotions into a song through his guitar and the audience feels that emotion as he plays. He is also one of the nice guys in rock. Never got the big-head as many have.

10 Sweet Child o' Mine - Slash

Epic Song. Epic Solo. There are players that are technically better than Slash but absolutely nobody can beat his delivery and phrasing on his solos. The Last Proper Rock Guitar Hero.

Sweet Child O mine is epic and Iconic, not everybody know about Eruption, but Sweet Child O mine is on of the most wildly known songs and the solo is just amazing.

From start to the end.. Every sec is absolutly worth listening.. Best solo of slash and one of the best in the history of music.. The song has everything rock, emotions,...

Listening to this song at full blast has ruined my ears, but it's worth it.

The Contenders
11 Fade to Black - Kirk Hammett

This and Mr. Crowley are by far the Greatest metal solos with Dance of Death up there, Stairway is the best overall but this is still my favorite solo by my favorite band, one question where's some
Joe Satriani on this list?

Brilliant Guitar work and a song that is stilled played regularly in the metal scene! METALLICA!

The last 2 minutes of that song are indescribable!

Timeless, always get the chills.

12 Master of Puppets - Kirk Hammett

This is the BEST solo ever! I virtually die listening to this one heck of a solo... No one... No one beats kirk!

every time I hear this solo, my mind blows away!
all the song is awesome, I could say is a perfect song: the riff, the vocals, the two solos, the ending, the beat... you can't hate this song!

and since James play that slow and emotional solo and Kirk plays the legendary fast solo, every metalhead should like this song

13 Bad Medicine - Richie Sambora

He is the best guitar player! I love Richie, he is the King of Swing!
I wait of his new solo album!
Richie forever! Nobody is better!

This solo is art! And music! The way it sounds is so unique!

He's the King of Swing. His fingers are flying on the fret board. He's a true genius that helps guide the world's greatest rock n roll band.

14 Mr. Crowley - Ozzy Osbourne

No way that must be number one because is the most epic guitar solo in music history.
The live version is quit epic than the studio version it has more technical guitar work that will make you going to love it for the rest of your life, never will make you stop listening to it because is played by randy rhoads he has a lot of talent to play the guitar but too bad he died by a tragic accident while he was in the bus and the bus driver lost the control and crashed R.I.P. Randy Rhoads. :(

Randy not in the top 3? Shameful...easily one of the best Rock/Metal guitarist of all time.

Randy's solo for Mr. Crowley gets my vote

The feel and the intensity blows anything.. best solo for me in my opinion

15 Crazy Train - Randy Rhoads

I think this solo is better than the solo from The Man Who Sold The World, and I love that song. This deserves to be in the top ten!

Randy could play with only 1 string and be #1. I think his Suicide Solution Live is his best though.

Is my favorite solo of all time, I love to play and listen to it, I love how it starts off with the tapping and plays a little bit of slow then fast and then switches to one handed taping and does the finish, rip randy rhoads

Awesome solo that everyone has probably heard.

16 Bohemian Rhapsody - Brian May

Number seventeen. Proves people are retarded. Seriously, Brian May is a genius with the guitar. One of my favorite solos, if not my most favorite one. In short, excellent. Should be in top ten.

One of the best solos out there. The style and skill it shows is amazing.

This guitar solo is one of the best moments in music ever!

It can make anyone cry

17 Through The Fire and Flames - Herman Li/Sam Totman

I was going to pick eruption, stairway to heaven or november rain, but then I saw this was at number 15- easily should be top 5. This is the craziest, most intense solo played since the 80s and it deserves better. After life is good too, but no contest.

I have never ever heard anything like this. First time I heard this song I couldn't believe how fast this guy plays and how long too! His guitar solo is like more then 2 minutes long

This should be easily in the top 10. This song is unbelievable. Herman li is my idol! He rocks. Why isn't this #1. This song is awesome to play on Guitar Hero.

Are you kidding me? This is EASILY the most intense song on guitar EVER. The whole song is a solo! I love afterlife- A7X too but seriously over THIS?

18 All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix

I was torn between tornado of souls and this, but I had to go with all along the watchtower. Any guitarist can have skill, you just have to spend a lot of time in the shed. While it's not the most complex solo from a theoretic standpoint, staying mostly in the good old minor pentatonic with some slight modal extensions, the phrasing is beyond immaculate - it's godlike. Phrasing is the single purest expression of a guitarist's musical talent -- in my opinion. Anyone can learn theory or spend 8 hours a day to click tracks and metronomes to get lightning accuracy. You can't force phrasing, either you have it or you don't... This is what leads a lot of guitarists down the road of technique and theory. Hendrix didn't give a care, he expressed himself more eloquently with a more limited vocabulary than any of the other guitarists on this list who followed after him, and directly in his footsteps.

Shame on everyone who votes otherwise

It's sound of the notes that gets me. Not the most complex solo by far, but it's the whole feel of it. Number one spot? Probably.

Hendrix the guitar god! No questions!

19 Highway Star - Ritchie Blackmore

I agree with Metal_Treasure
this solo is one of the fastest solos of 70s. Though the first licks weren't very fast. But the last licks of this solo were played very fast.

The first speed metal solo - fast, technical and thundering. Love it!
Should be way way higher.

Highway Star by Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple is definitely a blast...he's my number 1...

Marvelous - this is for Top 10.

20 Rising Force - Yngwie Malmsteen

Once again another AMAZING guitar player absent from the top 10. Slash, Gilmour and others in the top 10...are you F'ing kidding me? This poll is a joke.

Wow, this is a masterpiece - why so low?

21 Seize the Day - Synyster Gates

This solo might not be the fastest but it is still amazing and the most emotional solos I have ever heard.

Amazing solo makes me so happy. Not the fastest but it sounds amazing, maybe my first love.

22 Dry Country - Richie Sambora

This solo should be in the top 5! The greatest solo ever!

23 La Villa Strangiato - Alex Lifeson

One of my all time favorites. Definitely one of the most successful solos when it comes to accurately portraying a unique emotion that no one else has portrayed - song about some of Alex Lifeson's nightmares apparently. Wow, very unique solo; can't think of another solo that has as delicate a build and as good an explosive ending.

Jesus this guy can play... Have you heard this... No.. Hell you should
The solo is almost a song in its own right
You can honestly sing the notes
I can listen to this non stop
I will gladly email anybody who wishes to hear this, this file

Most complicated and exceedingly impressive well done and thought out guitar solo. Who would ever have thought that a cult band like this one could create such a master piece work of beauty?

Great technical skill and the way it builds and builds is incredible. Lifeson will never be a fashionable choice but he really delivers with this solo.

24 Bat Country - Synyster Gates

Love it one of his beat

25 Sultans of Swing - Mark Knopfler

Guitar solos are more than just something fast and difficult to play on Guitar Hero. When you listen to the guitar playing in Sultans Of Swing it almost feels like an angel is taking care of it. Your mind is floating with the sounds of the strings and you never want the song to end. It's one thing to be able to play really fast, but to be innovative and make the guitar sound special and moving is a different story. The top ten, in my opinion, would be

1. Sultans Of Swing - Mark Knopfler
2. Comfortably Numb - David Gilmour
3. Star Sprangled Banner - Jimi Hendrix
4. Free Bird - Rossington & Collinsworth
5. Eruption - Eddie Van Halen
6. Cortez The Killer - Neil Young
7. Stairway To Heaven - Jimmy Page
8. Hotel California - Felder & Walch
9. All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
10. Crossroads - Eric Clapton

Men, just listen to the Alchemy live Version.

I voted for the alchemy version, but studio.

Alchemy Live version please.

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