There are riffs, and then there are moments. The kind of guitar solos that stop time, melt faces, and make you believe—just for a second—you could be onstage at Wembley with a Flying V and no backup plan. Solos that serve the song but also explode out of it. That say everything words can’t. These are the kinds of solos that define careers, start arguments, and turn quiet car rides into full-on performances (air guitar mandatory).
So whether you’re Team Clapton or Team Morello, here’s a list of 25 iconic solos that continue to echo across generations, genres, and guitar pedals.
Jimi Hendrix – “All Along the Watchtower”
The solo is pure chaos and control—a sonic hurricane of wah, bends, and genius. Hendrix didn’t just play the guitar here—he reinvented how it could speak.
Eddie Van Halen – “Eruption”
One word: revolutionary. Tapping, dive bombs, and a tone that still makes guitarists whisper “how?” 1:42 of pure fire that rewrote every rule.
David Gilmour – “Comfortably Numb”
Emotion over speed. Gilmour’s tone floats like a dream, bleeding feeling into every note. Proof that restraint can hit just as hard as flash.
Slash – “November Rain”
Two solos, actually—one soaring, one screaming. Slash takes over the track like a storm rolling in across the orchestra.
Randy Rhoads – “Mr. Crowley”
Neoclassical drama meets metal precision. Rhoads didn’t just shred—he made it beautiful, dangerous, and unforgettable.
Prince – “Purple Rain”
The final three minutes of this song are the solo. Raw, improvised, and spiritual, Prince turns heartbreak into electricity.
Brian May – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Thirty seconds of perfect melody. Not too much, not too little. Just enough Queen-style grandeur to sing in your sleep.
Eric Clapton – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
Yes, it’s a Beatles song. But that solo is all Clapton—aching, bluesy, and perfectly broken-hearted.
Tom Morello – “Like a Stone”
Morello keeps it simple and soulful here, showing he can say just as much with feel as with effects. A slow-burn stunner.
Mark Knopfler – “Sultans of Swing”
No pick, no flash—just feel. This is the sound of confidence, style, and groove blended into fingerpicked magic.
Stevie Ray Vaughan – “Texas Flood”
It’s not a solo. It’s a conversation. SRV plays the blues like his guitar’s on fire and the only way to put it out is more notes.
Jimmy Page – “Stairway to Heaven”
Soaring, dramatic, unforgettable. The most air-guitared solo in history? Probably. For good reason.
Tony Iommi – “Paranoid”
Short, sharp, and sinister. Proof you don’t need eight minutes to melt minds—just a good riff, a great tone, and timing like a sledgehammer.
Duane Allman – “Layla” (with Derek and the Dominos)
Slide guitar that sings like a voice breaking under weight. A solo that sounds like falling in love and falling apart.
Dimebag Darrell – “Floods”
Emotional, epic, and terrifying. Dime’s outro solo is the sound of thunder rolling through a metal storm.
Johnny Marr – “How Soon Is Now?”
A solo? A texture? A feeling. Marr turned tremolo into poetry and made one chord sound like a thousand.
Kirk Hammett – “Fade to Black”
A lesson in metal mood-building—starts somber, ends shredding. A journey of light and dark in one solo.
Richie Sambora – “Wanted Dead or Alive”
Western. Epic. Iconic. Sambora channels tumbleweeds and arena smoke with one of the most recognizable tones of the ’80s.
John Frusciante – “Scar Tissue”
Understated brilliance. Frusciante’s slide solo floats like it was beamed in from another planet, calm and aching at once.
Angus Young – “Highway to Hell”
It’s not just about the notes—it’s the attitude. Angus doesn’t solo. He struts through your speakers with full swagger.
Alex Lifeson – “Limelight”
Crisp, melodic, and beautifully constructed. A Rush solo that balances technicality with feeling—because both matter.
Nancy Wilson – “Crazy on You”
Wilson shreds with elegance and speed, anchoring Heart’s energy with precision and power. An underrated masterclass.
Gary Moore – “Still Got the Blues”
Every note sounds like it’s begging for mercy. Moore gives us tone, taste, and the purest blues rock emotion.
Joe Walsh – “Hotel California”
Harmonized, hypnotic, and iconic. It’s not just a solo—it’s a duel. And it still wins every time.
B.B. King – “The Thrill Is Gone”
Lucille doesn’t scream—she sighs. Every bend is a life story. King didn’t need speed. He had soul.
That’s 25 solos. But let’s be honest—there are hundreds more. Because as long as there are guitarists with something to say, there will be solos that cut through the noise. Solos that raise goosebumps. Solos that remind you that music isn’t just heard—it’s felt.
