When you go to a rock concert and the lights start to dim, there’s a special anticipation building up, not just for the chorus that everyone will sing along, but for the moment when the crowd goes quiet and the only thing you hear is a guitar solo that could stop time.
A great guitar solo can show how experienced the guitarist is, his precision and speed, but also how they can tell a story and heighten the emotion of a crowd, they often define the identity of the track they’re playing.
It’s at that moment, when they’re at the center of the stage, living their best moment, that the crowd goes wild and leave with a lasting impression. These are twenty legendary solos that stole the spotlight and managed to capture the magic of classic rock at its best.
1
AC/DC - “Let There Be Rock”
Angus Young’s wild stage antics often stretch this solo into a marathon.
2
Queen - “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Brian May recorded the iconic solo with his homemade guitar.
3
Santana - “Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile)”
Santana poured heart and soul into this instrumental.
4
The Allman Brothers Band - “Jessica”
Dickey Betts' bright playing made this a classic.
5
Lynyrd Skynyrd - “Free Bird”
The epic extended outro is a moment that defined their concerts.
6
David Bowie - “Moonage Daydream”
Mick Ronson unleashed one of glam rock's most underrated solos.
7
Deep Purple - “Highway Star”
Ritchie Blackmore’s shredding set a blueprint for solos.
8
Jimi Hendrix - “All Along the Watchtower”
Hendrix transformed Dylan’s song into a masterpiece.
9
Guns N’ Roses - “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
Slash’s soaring solo elevated the song into one of hard rock’s biggest anthems.
10
Eagles - “Hotel California”
Joe Walsh and Don Felder have a duel on stage.
11
Dire Straits - “Sultans of Swing”
Mark Knopfler’s created an effortless-sounding solo that's pretty complex in reality.
12
Led Zeppelin - “Stairway to Heaven”
Jimmy Page spent hours piecing it together, making it one of the most iconic builds in music.
13
Eric Clapton - “Crossroads”
Clapton’s live with Cream is an explosion that defined “Clapton is God.”
14
The Rolling Stones - “Sympathy for the Devil”
Keith Richards’ piercing solo was laid down in just one take.
15
Pink Floyd - “Comfortably Numb”
David Gilmour’s tone is often referenced as the gold standard.
