# Recommend some good solo guitar pieces **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-good-solo-guitar-pieces/218778 "2003-12-13T14:43:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-good-solo-guitar-pieces/218778/21 "2003-12-18T04:46:17Z")
Well, you can’t got wrong with Steve Morse. Some of his stuff can be very challenging. I would recommend Modoc as a good place to start though it has an open tuning. You can find the tab at [http://www.stevemorse.com/tab/modoc1.jpg](http://www.stevemorse.com/tab/modoc1.jpg) For really challenging Morse pieces you can also try Point Counterpoint and Flat Baroque which you can also find on [Stevemorse.com](http://Stevemorse.com) Slee ---
**Author:** ![Nurobath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a88e57/32.png) [@Nurobath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nurobath)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-good-solo-guitar-pieces/218778/22 "2003-12-18T08:19:16Z")
Leo Kottke. Just about anything. He uses a lot of open tunings and the fingerpicking technique can be difficult. The Fisherman is not too difficult and fun to play. Little Martha’s a beauty as well. Check [http://www.leokottke.com/](http://www.leokottke.com/). The discography here lists most of his tunings. If you’re not familiar with his work try out Leo Kottke Live (1995 Private Music 0100582132-2). Great stuff. I second Watermellon In Easter Hay by Frank Zappa. Beautiful tune…not acoustic but, as mentioned earlier, may work well played that way. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-good-solo-guitar-pieces/218778/23 "2003-12-18T10:40:23Z")
Damn, got the (Welsh) spelling wrong, thanks for the second **Jurph** For the record I think **Bron-Yr-Aur** is pronounced Bron-err-eye-er, hence the boo-boo. **Nurobath** are you trying to scare the poor chap with Leo Kottke? While I’m here, Watermellon In Easter Hay is a wonderful tune but I’m not sure you could arrange it for solo guitar. Go on, prove me wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-good-solo-guitar-pieces/218778/24 "2003-12-18T14:40:53Z")
According to the book _Hammer of the Gods_ it’s pronounced “brom-rar”. Are there any Welshmen in the house? _Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp_ (not the same song) and _Gallows Pole_ are good choices if you want something more upbeat. David Bowie’s _Andy Warhol_ is also a very nice acoustic piece. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-good-solo-guitar-pieces/218778/25 "2003-12-18T15:18:47Z")
_Asturias_ by Isaac Albeniz (part of the Spanish Concerto) is the piece I sold my soul to the devil in order to play. (Funny, it also involved months of practise and attentive care of my fingernails - souls don’t go for much these days, it seems.) Bach is always a winner: Air on a G String, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring and the enchantingly titled BVW 903 are all beautiful. The Chilli Peppers _Under the Bridge_ is also remarkably effective if you learn the backing (from TAB or whatever) and include the melody, fingerpicky style (you’d have to work this out yourself). ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-good-solo-guitar-pieces/218778/26 "2003-12-18T19:48:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AV8R \* > \*\*You’ll probably like [Petite Etude](http://www.guitarboard.com/print.php?id=3966048144&type=gtabs). > > It’s an acoustic classical-guitar-sounding tune from Triumph’s “Allied Forces” album from the 80’s. > > I’m not a guitarist, but I would guess it’s about a medium level of difficulty. It’s also fairly short, about 1:15. \*\* Thanks! It’s a gorgeous little gem, and I tend not to like the word “gorgeous” 😉 I haven’t been able to try out all y’all’s suggestions, but I have this thread bookmarked, and I’ll probably keep checking back here when I’m looking for new stuff to play. I think I’ll be occupied for a while, though… I appreciate it, Cafe Dopers. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![moodtobestewed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@moodtobestewed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moodtobestewed)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-good-solo-guitar-pieces/218778/27 "2003-12-18T21:54:07Z")
[Here’s](http://www.renesenn.de/finger-4.htm) an arrangement of St. James Infirmary that’s fairly easy but sounds cool. There’s a midi file too, so you can hear how it goes if you’re unfamiliar with the song. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-good-solo-guitar-pieces/218778/28 "2003-12-18T23:22:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skillet38 \* > \*\*“Mood for a Day” by Steve Howe of YES (off the album Fragile) is always a favorite. I learned it from the sheet music. It’s really beautiful and not as difficult as it sounds. \*\* Touching on Steve Howe, another great solo by him is “The Ancient”, which is in a collection of his pieces that also includes “Mood For A Day”. The actual tune appears within a larger, typically epic song by Yes; actually listening to it first, if you can, will be a great help in working through the many time sig changes. I used to be able to play both, fluently, but sadly have forgotten them. ☹ But wait, there’s more! In the same vein & era, there’s a very short piece called Horizons on Genesis’ Foxtrot album. I don’t know if a written score exists, but it’s probably something you could figure out by ear it’s so simple, yet sounds very cool. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-good-solo-guitar-pieces/218778.md?page=1)