# Cool Guitar Solos/Playing **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 9, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165 "2012-10-09T02:37:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/21 "2012-10-09T18:24:04Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > I ran into[this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xnl1QHDZ8Y&feature=related)while looking for another link on you tube and instantly fell in love with it. > > Eric Johnson paying tribute to Jimi while adding his own style in at the end. Sorry no link, but Johnson playing Cliffs of Dover is one of my favorite instrumentals. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/22 "2012-10-09T21:18:02Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > [Jason Becker playing Paganini’s 5th Caprice](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jK978921Yw). That guy was better at playing guitar than I’ll ever be at anything. [So sad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYIZP1hrfZI). ☹ ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/23 "2012-10-09T22:51:15Z")
Frank Zappa’s Watermelon in Easter Hay - [Watermelon in Easter hay - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFvzfNtXnVU) ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/24 "2012-10-09T23:06:15Z")
George Lynch… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FqmgkGRqvFg/maxresdefault.jpg "George Lynch - Top 10 Dokken Guitar Solos (In HD)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqmgkGRqvFg) ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/25 "2012-10-10T04:41:25Z")
My standard in these sort of threads: Lindsey Buckingham playing, “I’m so Afraid”. Seven minutes of awesome. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6OrtLxsqSic/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGFMgVihlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCzBnPDotGodIO5d7dpemfU0ciBDQ "Fleetwood Mac - I'm So Afraid - The Dance - 1997") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OrtLxsqSic) I’ve only recently begun to dig into Rory Gallagher, but I’m rather fond of this one: “As the Crow Flies” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Byl5l6kmWw) ---
**Author:** ![ExcitedIdiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea5d25/32.png) [@ExcitedIdiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExcitedIdiot)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/26 "2012-10-10T11:02:36Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Anything by [Rodrigo y Gabriella](https://www.google.com/#q=rodrigo+y+gabriela&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=imvnsl&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ei=DAh0UOW6HoOqyAHX_oFI&sqi=2&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAw&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=1b1590835d9bc16b&biw=1600&bih=736) fits this description in my opinion, but I’m really partial to [Triveni](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0JFzfGeuy0&feature=relmfu). Thanks for sharing this band. They are amazing. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/27 "2012-10-10T12:58:11Z")
The “Great Guitars,” “[Trouble in Mind](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtHRziYQvow)” I love listening to jazz players play the blues; they have such a unique approach to it (virtually no bends, unconventional scales and techniques). And Charlie Byrd is terrifyingly awesome. ---
**Author:** ![PetW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@PetW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetW)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/28 "2012-10-10T13:46:53Z")
How about a little Buckethead - [Nottingham Lace](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyKpoh1YHew) Bonus song, with an AWESOME Hieronymus Bosch triptych-come-to-life HD [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4Sob4qCWCA) ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/29 "2012-10-10T14:39:35Z")
For the finger pickers… Playing a 12-string is hard enough. Playing like _this_ on a 12-string is ridiculous. [Leo Kottke - Last Steam Engine Train](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMsfOpiiX_w) [Leo Kottke - Airproofing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJthGsBB5YQ) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/30 "2012-10-10T14:41:15Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Too late to add: > > ETA: Dude, you start a few Rock/guitar threads. You play? Remind me. If not; well, we need to correct that 😉 > > In the meantime, listen to that track - it’s a Master Class that Steve Vai can’t touch - Beck’s approach trumps Vai’s technique every day - and Vai would be the first to agree with me - and Beck’s vibrato work on other tracks out-techs Vai anyway. > > It sucks to not be Jeff Beck in a thread like this 😉 Yeah, I play. Just not particularly well, and usually sporadically. I’ve got some friends that are accomplished players, and I hate them. I grew up listing to EVH, then all of Mike Varney’s guys from Yngwie onward. I post a lot about Vai because I really like the experimental nature of his approach with all the different gear he (ab)uses as well as his strange arrangements in some of his stuff (which I attribute mainly to his exposure to Zappa). I also really enjoy all the electronics he uses…he’s a technician of the electric guitar, to me, an extension of what Hendrix would have been doing had he lived (but Vai can’t play no blues like Jimi). My favorite guitarist is actually Stevie Ray Vaughn or maybe Ry Cooder. Some of that blues playing just really sticks it to you in a way 64th notes never can. But technicians are fun to listen to just the same. More of a jaw-dropping thing than a “I feel your pain” thing I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Greekfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@Greekfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greekfreak)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/31 "2012-10-10T14:49:31Z")
John McLaughlin just SHREDS in this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZgkQLKqnWI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZgkQLKqnWI) ---
**Author:** ![Greekfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@Greekfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greekfreak)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/32 "2012-10-10T14:55:09Z")
John McLaughlin just SHREDS in this Mahavishnu Orchestra track. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZgkQLKqnWI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZgkQLKqnWI) Most of my favourites are not particularly showy–for example Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson’s twin leads on “Romeo And The Lonely Girl” are more melodic than crazy. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Q3EtZGYUY](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Q3EtZGYUY) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvglqc3QYq8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvglqc3QYq8) Elvin Bishop’s sublime “Fooled Around And Fell In Love”. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/33 "2012-10-10T14:59:43Z")
You can’t beat the late [Michael Hedges](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P9mmZyGb4s). And [William Ackerman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63tczjY0yS4) is a good listen, too. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/34 "2012-10-10T16:00:12Z")
Peter Green and Danny Kirwan of Fleetwood Mac doing an amazing call & response - live at the Boston Tea Party on [“Like It This Way”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr9flVKU6eY). ---
**Author:** ![OtisCampbellWasRight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@OtisCampbellWasRight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtisCampbellWasRight)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/35 "2012-10-10T16:07:51Z")
Sorry, I don’t have a link for you OP, but take a listen to much of Steve Hackett’s post-Genesis solo stuff. Just amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/36 "2012-10-10T16:08:03Z")
[Studio Version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW1Jy-jWx9Y) of the above tune. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/37 "2012-10-10T16:17:57Z")
Talking of call and response, my favourite by a long way is Stephen Stills and Neil Young on the live version of [Southern Man from 4 Way Street](http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSO6PM9j2hQ) - all glorious fourteen minutes of it. It’s like a very exciting dialogue: they are talking to each with their guitars. You have to listen to without interruption because you will lose the plot if you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/38 "2012-10-10T16:31:24Z")
It’s not incredibly flashy, but I always liked Glenn Tipton’s extended solo in Judas Priest’s _Beyond the Realms of Death_: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/y60Mo_Nmydg/maxresdefault.jpg "Judas Priest - Beyond The Realms Of Death [Studio]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y60Mo_Nmydg) And also _Dreamer Deciever_: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjMizl3qQGE) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/39 "2012-10-10T17:16:38Z")
Well, I love the blues, but it seems more than covered. So, I have to mention the coolest noise, and maybe a little surf. Steve Albini w/Big Black [Cables](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWt7dxQLBqc) Sonic Youth [Death to our Friends](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mW0Ngv05Mw) The Deadly Ones [Monster Surfing Time](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-OyMU5I1uA) The Cramps [The Most Exalted Potentate of Love](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8T45wL4eJs) and as a bonus! [Garbageman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N2-jV189Zs) (One of those two guitar parts doesn’t belong. I’ve never been able to tell which one. It’s primitive, but not simple. Plus, two damn cool solos.) And since no one has linked yet: [Baby’s on Fire](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMt1Oy5uQ0w). A fantastic choice. One of the few songs that I’ll listen to whether I’m in the mood or not, just because the solo is so damned awesome. And, not for _treble_ guitar, but for the bass, [Third Uncle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yai4bier1oM), from Mr. Eno. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165/40 "2012-10-10T18:04:24Z")
Nothing much flashy here, just some beautiful playing. Manuel Barrueco playing the [2nd movement](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMG6Oge0B8Y&feature=fvwrel#t=7m23) of the Rodrigo ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’. Of course, the entire concert is pretty amazing, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-guitar-solos-playing/637165.md?page=3)