what is your idea of a sincere guitar solo?

okay, here's my position: if a guitar player, wonderful as ss/he might be, plays the same solo gig after gig after gig, that's not really a solo (well, technically I guess it is, but not in my universe).

for me a guitar solo should be an instant composition. That's why I love these ones. Please add your favorites so I can broaden my horizon. thanks in advance.


Frank Zappa, Pink Napkins



Frank Zappa, shut up and play yer guitar some more



but also


as long as those moron stop chanting the finale even before the song actually starts.

I like these because those guys dare to take risks.

hope the videos work. I never understood how to embed them

How about a guitar solo/intro?

reply to post by Swills


yeah, i kinda dig slash. too bad he's in such a fake band. Heard him doing nice things but basically he's not a risk taker as he's sticking to the safe schemes, isn't he (well, maybe he's pushing the envelope in the second clip)

There are solos throughout btw, but this is one of my favorite guitar/solo pieces ever. This was Stevie's last recording from his last album. He told the studio engineer to turn off the lights while recording. So this is all feel and friggn sublime.

A good solo for one compliments the rest of the song, has good musicianship, soul and a touch of dazzle.
For pure solo, this comes to mind: Randy Rhodes


And also, the Zappa Pink Napkin...awesome!

reply to post by speculativeoptimist


yeah! this comes pretty close to what i mean: SRV is telling a story, using strings.
the second one I don't like at all, that's not a solo imo, that's showing off using the old tricks.
Zappa used to call this doing a volcano :-)

okay, one more before i go to sleep (thanks for the replies).
Little Stevie Vai joins the master

This song is my personal favourite solo:

And I guess that technically, this one is better: (Fast Forward to 3.40 then 8.25)

The best part is that they played their solos different each time, even if it was just in feel.

Are you talking about on a recording or live?

Originally posted by intrepid
Are you talking about on a recording or live?

i guess i prefer the live ones as they can't be edited and are "in the moment".
i did some producing myself so i know how many takes a "spontaneous" solo can take in the studio.

but then again, with today's live mixing technologies, real time pitch correction and such, one has to be careful as well. Ever listen to madonna live, before she could afford putting all music in a synclavier, turning her "musicians" into fakers? That woman couldn't sing 2 notes in a row. Thanks to real time pitch correction, that problem is solved.

reply to post by NeverSleepingEyes


uli roth..listen to fly to the rainbow..masterpiece solo..uli rocks...

reply to post by eyeinoz


i will, thanks for the lead
take care
good nite from French Fries and raping Bishop country!

it must do this.

or this



but probably mostly this

This is the most sincere solo I can think of...
It is truly emotional and comes with epic guitar licks!
I think of this song as a truly sincere moment every time I hear it.
There's tons of great solos but this one is my top pick for the category.
Joe Satriani - Always with me, always with you.

Probably cause it was played at my uncle's funeral...who was an epic guitar player too.
(R.I.P. Uncle Mark!)

reply to post by havok


Satriani?



Awesome.

I lost my internet for 2 weeks and the first song I wanted to hear was:



Jimmy Page is considered one of the best for a reason:

reply to post by yourmaker


thanks! liked the first one a lot. The other two? well.... mmm bored me, to be honest.

reply to post by intrepid


honestly I don't dig Satriani whatsover. Sure, a great technician, but not a story teller.
but hey, if a track has emotional meaning to anyone, that track has every reason to exist.

I'll trow in a last one and than I really have to sleep.

How about a Swedish star?

as i am about to close this gig, why not using one of the best concert closers ever



listen to the naked guy searching for new ways. that's what i love so much.

goodnite!

if you can't see the vid: it's Muffin Men live in New York, Halloween show

Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain"
Eddie Hazel was an underappreciated guitar god!



and Ween's atypically sincere tribute, "A Tear For Eddie"

When I was a toddler my dad played this song for me. It was the first time I heard a live guitar performance.
I dont know if this counts as a solo because there is noone else stopping to let him play, but he is alone hehe.