2000 AD Online Forum

General Chat => Music => Topic started by: GrinningChimera on 02 May, 2014, 09:03:50 AM

Title: Best solo ever
Post by: GrinningChimera on 02 May, 2014, 09:03:50 AM
This one should be simple. What is your favourite guitar solo of all time ever? To this day, Stairway To Heaven still inspires me. Every note is just perfect. I can not fault it. So what's yours?

Oh and a close second is Free Bird
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: Ghastly McNasty on 02 May, 2014, 09:29:10 AM
It's gotta be Hans.

(sorry, couldn't resist)
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: Dominic O'Rourke on 02 May, 2014, 09:34:05 AM
Napoleon Solo?
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: Spaceghost on 02 May, 2014, 09:34:13 AM
IT'S NOT HANS!!! IT'S HAN!!! HE'S NOT FRIGGING GERMAN!!! AAAAAARRRRGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!! HOW CAN YOU GET THAT WRONG??!!


*Ahem* ... I don't have a particular favourite but if I did it would probably be one by Frank Zappa.
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: Banners on 02 May, 2014, 09:44:39 AM
Highly esoteric, but John Thoman's solo on the live demo of Rain Parade's Mystic Green is my favourite solo because he plays this seemingly-impossible note which causes singer Matt Piucci to spontaneously whoop.

(At least that's what I like to imagine - he could have just stubbed his toe I suppose).
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 02 May, 2014, 10:06:10 AM
Maggot Brain (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOKn33-q4Ao)
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: NapalmKev on 02 May, 2014, 10:40:20 AM

http://m.youtube.com/?q=megadeath+holy+wars#/watch?v=9d4ui9q7eDM

Megadeth with the mighty - Holy Wars...the Punishment Due. The Solo kicks in at around the 4:35 mark and its absolutely insane, Dave Mustaine manages to make his guitar sound like the Spectrum 128k loading noise, truly wondrous stuff.

Cheers
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: Ghastly McNasty on 02 May, 2014, 11:02:48 AM
Quote from: Spaceghost on 02 May, 2014, 09:34:13 AM
IT'S NOT HANS!!! IT'S HAN!!! HE'S NOT FRIGGING GERMAN!!! AAAAAARRRRGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!! HOW CAN YOU GET THAT WRONG??!!

Oooof. Embarrassed myself there.

(http://i.imgur.com/I9ZW1Ox.gif)
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: Spaceghost on 02 May, 2014, 11:24:31 AM
Quote from: Ghastly McNasty on 02 May, 2014, 11:02:48 AM
Quote from: Spaceghost on 02 May, 2014, 09:34:13 AM
IT'S NOT HANS!!! IT'S HAN!!! HE'S NOT FRIGGING GERMAN!!! AAAAAARRRRGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!! HOW CAN YOU GET THAT WRONG??!!

Oooof. Embarrassed myself there.

(http://i.imgur.com/I9ZW1Ox.gif)

And with that picture you are instantly redeemed.
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: WhizzBang on 02 May, 2014, 11:50:42 AM
F-oldin money by The Fall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U7y_-ubIs8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U7y_-ubIs8)
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: Keef Monkey on 02 May, 2014, 02:38:13 PM
Tough! I love Dave Gilmour's solos so I guess Comfortably Numb is the easy and pretty cliched answer.

I've always adored this one though, from 'Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart' by Stone Temple Pilots. They're not my favourite band in the world or anything but whenever I hear the track and he solo starts up I never fail to find it quite thrilling. Just love all the places it goes, great song too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVPzWkdhwrw#t=97 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVPzWkdhwrw#t=97)
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: 8-Ball on 02 May, 2014, 08:18:43 PM
Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son
http://youtu.be/2X_2IdybTV0 (http://youtu.be/2X_2IdybTV0)

OK, I'm a Supernatural fan.
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: GrinningChimera on 02 May, 2014, 08:29:38 PM
Quote from: Eightball on 02 May, 2014, 08:18:43 PM
Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son
http://youtu.be/2X_2IdybTV0 (http://youtu.be/2X_2IdybTV0)

OK, I'm a Supernatural fan.

Gwar did it best. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baExq6xNhQ8)

Just saying.
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: Colin YNWA on 02 May, 2014, 08:34:16 PM
Typically I answer this question by saying either something by J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr fame OR explain how Neil Young by being a quite astonishing force of nature gets away with stuff I'd find gash by other folk but tonight I think I'll go with something that isn't really a solo just cos I'm in the mood.

But when Thurston Moore and Lee Ronaldo off of Da Youff have one of them there guitar type duel, trade off things live it is a thing of quite exquisite feedback wonder the likes of which NONE YOU NO NONE OF YOU will hear the like of again.
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: Frank on 02 May, 2014, 08:47:01 PM
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 02 May, 2014, 08:34:16 PM
something by J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr fame

Mid-period Dinosaur Jr albums were essentially one long solo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z81LcFhmqP4).

Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: I, Cosh on 03 May, 2014, 12:18:29 AM
Pretty sure it's been scientifically proven that its slightly ramshackle and perfunctory nature is what makes Another Girl, Another Planet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlW7K9Stfrk) the best guitar solo in history. As a bonus, the video also features the best attempt to transcribe a guitar sound ever.

Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 02 May, 2014, 08:34:16 PM
But when Thurston Moore and Lee Ronaldo off of Da Youff have one of them there guitar type duel, trade off things live it is a thing of quite exquisite feedback wonder the likes of which NONE YOU NO NONE OF YOU will hear the like of again.
Unless you're in Glasgow (http://www.tectonicsfestival.com/glasgow/schedule/saturday-2230) next week. When I was a kid I intensely disliked solos. They represented the absolute daddest of music and I didn't understand why, if that was supposed to be the good bit, they didn't all play their solos at the same time and sing over the top. I was pretty happy when I first discovered Sonic Youth had had a similar idea.

I have mellowed slightly from this position, but I've always loved this Mudhoney track where both guitarists seem to be soloing at the same time right after the rudimentary drum break  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMuLYVOqFNQ)
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: Toni Scandella on 03 May, 2014, 03:56:54 PM
The only solo I can put up with is the 2 note one in The Buzzcock's 'Boredom.'
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 03 May, 2014, 04:29:20 PM
yyeeeahhh we get it there's some punks 'ere - now back to the longhair hippie stuff (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcpwMZKPsQM).  :D
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: Definitely Not Mister Pops on 03 May, 2014, 04:44:26 PM
THIS (http://youtu.be/lSIw09oqsYo?t=4m47s)
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: Proteus4 on 02 June, 2014, 02:03:46 AM
Am I late to the party? ...

Stairway has to always got to be a contender because as stated above it's just a perfect length, and every note seems placed just right.  There's also a strong argument to be me made for the emotional impact of Dave gilmours solos on comfortably numb, wish you were here and shine on you crazy diamond. But then, if your more into metal it might be Maidens The Prisoner or Number of the beast. And why has no one given a shout out to Jimi Hendrix's All Along the Watchtower?

Anyway if you'd picked any of those I would naturally mumble assent. But for me the best solo's are...

My Sharona by the Knack

And

All ten minutes of Freebird by Lynrd Skynrd

And

Cherub Rock by Smashing Pumpkins.

Am I allowed three choices? I don't care. How's about that for rock and roll.

Dave
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: HdE on 02 June, 2014, 07:18:19 AM
My favourite guitar solo ever, in my whole history of favourote guitar solos is...

Alex Lifeson's solo on FREEWILL, by Rush.

Utterly brilliant stuff. Love all the sense of motion to it, and the way it drops into chords and back out again. That guy is amazing.
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: CrazyFoxMachine on 02 June, 2014, 10:19:33 AM
Quote from: HdE on 02 June, 2014, 07:18:19 AM
My favourite guitar solo ever, in my whole history of favourote guitar solos is...

Alex Lifeson's solo on FREEWILL, by Rush.

Utterly brilliant stuff. Love all the sense of motion to it, and the way it drops into chords and back out again. That guy is amazing.

Ooooh yeah. Good point - ! There's been a profound lack of Lifeson love on this thread :D
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: HdE on 02 June, 2014, 11:34:17 AM
My absolute favouritestest guitaristist EVERist!

So many great solos - and they're solos that actually MEAN something musically, as opposed to the aimless fretwank a lot of guitarists crank out in their alloted 8 to 16 bars.

I get a lot of mileage out of his solo album, 'Victor', which tends to get played repeatedly during long lettering sessions at the moment. 
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: Dog Deever on 25 August, 2014, 09:11:02 PM
yup- I prefer a pause/ feedback & bassbrake or a rasping pick-slide, or a hanging distorted noise flicking on and off or just something different to  some crappy rising scale runs tapped out at insane speed which makes it all merge into a tepid mush of 'oh fuck off'.
Many songs needs a break of some sort- guitar solo's are often first port of call. If its doing something in terms of adding or changing where the music is going, fine;  but if the guitarist is just using it as his/her 'time to shine' then it's time to hit them in the face with their amp-head, hard. A band is a unit and personal egos are the most destructive force a band can suffer, IMO.
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: HdE on 26 August, 2014, 10:06:48 PM
I've often bemoaned the dearth of proper guitar solos in contempoarary music. But to be honest, there seem to be few newer bands coming up with musicians gifted enough to really pull out anything eloquent and complimentary.

(WHOAH, do I sound like a hipster there. I better just go haave somebody punch me in the face. One sec...)

Uh, yeah [spits out teeth, grimaces.] This is why I find a lot of bands from the '70s and '80s are so hard to beat. I quite often find myself popping a Police album on while I work, just because Andy Summers' solos were ALWAYS superb. I recently started listening to Queen properly, and found there was a lot more by way of really intelligent musicianship there than I'd expected. There's lots of really well judged stuff going on with those bands in terms of pulling the listener along and peaking at the right points.

I always thought Steve Rothery from Marillion was a really under-rated guitarist. The band have gone off the boil for me, but even when their albums wobble a bit, he can be relied on to yank out a tasty solo. And he's not afraid to keep things subtle. That seems to be lost on so many guitarists of a certain era.
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: dweezil2 on 26 August, 2014, 10:38:53 PM
Led Zeppelin- Stairway To Heaven.

Over played it may be, but it's still masterful stuff from Jimmy Page.
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: von Boom on 10 September, 2014, 04:06:34 PM
Stevie Ray Vaughan's version of Little Wing. Brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pO6yg9KBGU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pO6yg9KBGU)
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: klute on 10 September, 2014, 09:47:06 PM
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tE8aP6jALyo

Tool-Jambi about 4:09 onwards
Though I could pick loads from some truly awesome bands.
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: Torque-armada on 18 October, 2014, 08:50:52 AM
Slash's solo in the Guns 'N' roses song Estranged. Plus his image coming out of the water playing it in the music video is awesome.
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: auxlen on 18 October, 2014, 03:46:33 PM
http://youtu.be/R4NMuCvS39U?t=2m40s

morbid angel
Title: Re: Best solo ever
Post by: auxlen on 18 October, 2014, 03:59:05 PM
http://youtu.be/DNKl1KqmFeI?t=3m35s
carcass