Gibson.com’s Top 50 Guitar Solos

September 26, 2010 69 Comments

Gibson.com’s Top 50 Guitar Solos: Full List, Readers Poll Revealed

50. “Beat It,” Michael Jackson (Eddie Van Halen)

When fans think of Eddie Van’s best solos, they often forget his guest turn on Michael Jackson’s crossover classic “Beat It.” Van Halen’s solo cuts through the song like a chainsaw, before his fast fingers erupt into a frenzy not normally heard on a #1 pop single. The guitarist — who recorded the solo with Quincy Jones and Jackson free of charge — perfectly balanced his contribution between slick pop and overdriven rock. The result was something perfect for the King of Pop, and yet unmistakably Eddie. — Bryan Wawzenek

14. “Hot for Teacher,” Van Halen (Eddie Van Halen)

How does one describe the best of the best from the best of the best? In the solo for “Hot for Teacher,” Eddie Van Halen doesn’t just deliver one of the most blistering, melodic and captivating solos of his career, which is saying a lot. No, Edward also puts on a clinic on how impromptu time changes for the guitarist (while the rhythm section remains locked in 4/4) are perfectly acceptable — as long as your name is Eddie Van Halen. Do not try this solo at home. You’ll undoubtedly jettison your guitar and take up the recorder, which would be a shame. — Sean Patrick Dooley

2. “Eruption,” Van Halen (Eddie Van Halen)

You’ve heard of the Big Four? With apologies to Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax, I’m referring to the original Big Four: “Mona Lisa” (Leonardo da Vinci), “David” (Michelangelo), “The Thinker” (Auguste Rodin) and, of course, “Eruption” (Eddie Van Halen). The first time I heard “Eruption,” I remember asking my friend to play it again for me because I wasn’t sure what I had just heard. “Oh, it’s a guitar, and it’s being played by one guy!” he assured me. It was too difficult for these young ears to comprehend that the symphonic cacophony I had just heard came from one man, one guitar and no overdubs. “Eruption” was an epiphany to me as a fledgling guitarist, as well as to millions of music fans everywhere. Nearly 30 years (and a zillion guitar solos) later, I’ve yet to hear its equal. — Sean Patrick Dooley

The Top 50 Guitar Solos: Repeat Offenders

Some guitarists’ soloing greatness can’t be contained by one entry (or even three!). Check out these repeat offenders on Gibson.com’s Top 50 Guitar Solos of All Time:

Eddie Van Halen: 3 (“Eruption,” “Hot for Teacher” and “Beat It”)

Filed Under: Eddie Van Halen, Van Halen

MICAL VEE

I was jammin’ on the song BULLETHEAD today…now that solo is one of Eddie’s best!!!!!
JWHII

To “vaijuju”: A solo IS an instrumental, and an instrumental can INDEED be a solo. Don’t be a douche.
jim

Since Ed always gets hosed out of the #1 spot, I’ve always wondered would he would need to do (or be) to get that #1 the he obviously and always deserves.
It always comes down to one of the following:
1. Ed needs to be black.
2. Ed needs to pass away.
johnny5150

@Jeff

Thanx for the correction there, brotha. I only read the top ten from a fellow poster here, and I forgot for a moment that it was a top 50. I thought they had forgotten about Randy. My bad.
freddiegirl

I love Zep, I really do; they’re my second fav hard rock/classic rock band, CVH is of course my first but STH?? There’s so much better Page stuff. STH is up there with ‘Freebird’, ‘Back in Black’ and yes, ‘Jump’ as some of the most overplayed classic rock tunes of all time. I could be happy never hearing any of them again. As far as Page solos go just about anything on the first two Zep albums are better…or how about the work on ‘Achille’s Last Stand’, or ‘Ten Years Gone’ like someone else mentioned? And as much as I love that Eddie got a mention three times ‘Eruption’ really should be number one. I think the guitar work in ‘Mean Street’, ‘I’m the One’ and oh…almost anything on WACF would be great honarable mentions.
motorscooter

As great and revolutionary Eddie is/(more likely was at this point) his solos are not the #1 definitive ones. Top 10 of all time? Abso-freaking-lutely.

But fellas, Jeff Beck takes this one by a long, long mile. Half of the stuff Eddie does Jeff did already during his stints with The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group, and the late 70′s albums. Its not widely circulated, but Eddie has copped to Mr. Beck being an influence.

Jeff never has fully gotten his due for his impact on how electric guitar is played. This cat was doing feedback before Hendrix (which is super hard for me to admit as Im a huge, huge Jimi fan.

Most of Jeff’s innovative solos were done without special equipment. It all comes from the mans fingas! As Mister EVH has time and time again inaccurately attribited to Hendrix doing. Hendrix used equipment sure but not the majority of the time.

I dont want this misconstrued as hating on Eddie. He definately deserves to be in the top 10 of all time. But he shouldnt be listed/claimed as the PREMIER example of how guitar is played.

Jeff Becks playing has only gotten better with age. He’s still innovating on guitar. His 2000′s albums show the constant hybrid of different musical genres. And he makes them work effortlessly. In my opinion, he’s executing the musical direction Hendrix would have done had he lived.
Tom

Jeff Beck is a huge influence on Eddie.When Blow by Blow came out,it showed alot of rock guitarist’s that you dont need vocals to have an impact on music.Jeff started his career as as a blues-based rock player who always changes and evolves the next time you hear him which Ed definately noticed and took as inspriation.They are both fans of each other and friends as far as I have read from both.And as far as Ed needing to be dead…..VH1 was on Gibson’s 1 album spot not long ago.And STH being #1…Page isnt dead yet or black.He just wrote a great song that may be overplayed but it’s still loved and one of the biggest influences on music whether you love or hate it…at some point,everyone has heard it.And most love it which is why it is in the top spot
PeteP

Where is Steve Vai? I always loved listening to Ladies Night In Buffalo. One of the best.
motorscooter

Thanks Tom. Its great you share my feelings on Jeff. I love Eddie’s musicianship. I never said anything about Eddie needing to be dead BTW Confused…LOL

But I think some VH fans can go on the side of overkill saying EVH is the DEFINITIVE guitar player.

It makes me sad more though cause of the fact they’ve not obviously been exposed to other music in general.

Like anyone I understand being a die hard fan of someone. Im a major, major Neil Young fan.

He’s done so much pioneering in music, be it in his songwriting, his contributions to the development of early heavy metal, Punk, Grunge,etc.

But I even have to admit it hes not the definitive songwriter. Thats Bob Dylan. I dont care what anyone thinks of his voice, nobody can come even close to Bob on songwriting. But then again, could anyone really?

Point is, you can still be a fan of an artist but also admit he aint the numero uno in his line of work.

I used to be a huge Zep fan. But their music has been so beaten into the ground by radio and my friends. Plus you can keep hearin stories of Jimmy Page lifting whole pieces music from bands like Spirit to do the music for STH.

Plus Jeff Beck Group’s Truth album came out before Zep 1. That should be properly credited as being the early Metal album. Plus the fact musically, Zep 1 is very similar to the Truth album. Page even put You Shook Me, which Jeff beck already covered in the Truth album on Zep 1.

And the arrangement is similar to Beck. I used to think Page was a god amongst men. But now as I’ve gotten older, he’s just a decent guitar player that cant create original ideas for himself musically.

Im more of a Plant fan nowadays anyway. His voice is not the same anymore obviously. But hes aged gracefully musically. He gets major props from me for not caving in and doing an oldies but goodies tour with a band that doesnt have the original lineup, Hint, Hint. Not to take away from Jason Bonham, he is an awesome drummer in his own right.

Maybe Im just not a fan of old broken up bands reuniting. Mainly because rock musicians dont take care of their health. And their musicianship suffers majorly for it later on when they get older.

If John Lennon and George was still alive, I wouldnt pay money to see a Beatles Reunion. Because toward the end of both their lives, John and George started to lose their voices. I can only imagine how bad they would sound singing today. Paul’s the only one that can still sing. And even he’s starting to lose his voice.

But if VH had MA back in the band, he adds a lot of pluses that compensate for the current minuses (mainly Dave’s current voice) And then and only then would I fork the money out to see them.
Dooley

Motorscooter:

Good post. Only thing I’d add is that Ringo can still sing. Plus, he’s smart for bringing other artists along on his All-Star tours. Like Edgar Winter, Billy Squier, etc. And he’s got a bit of a connection here since he includes Greg Bisonette (Dave’s solo band drummer)on tour. It’s a real “road” band when he tours. The songs take on a life of their own. Whereas with Paul, well he’s a Beatle too and that’s great…but he’s more of a “studio” musician while on the road. The songs sound too much like the original studio versions. My 2c.
motorscooter

Dooley -

Thanks man. Its always a great thing to find someone else open-minded towards things.

Speaking of Ringo, man he is so underrated as a drummer. Just because he isnt flashy like Keith Moon, John Bonham Alex Van Halen. Not a putdown of any of those guys BTW. They’re wizards of the drum kit.

But Ringos fills are very complex. They look simple, but are very intricate. If anyone plays drums, try playing Ringos drumming on songs like Rain, Paperback Writer, especially Tommorrow Never Knows.

He’s doing so many things at once but making it look simple. He still is at the top of his game drumming-wise. heard him play behind Tom Petty for a few songs. He’s arguably better than ever.

Thing with Ringo is he needs to be in an official band similar to Chickenfoot. Mainly so people can really see how amazing his drumming is.

Yeah Paul disappoints me live too. He has the people please syndrome cause of doing stadium shows. So he feels he has to play Yesterday or Hey Jude for the millionth time. Instead of doing his new material.

Speaking of new material, Pauls last few albums (Run Devil Run, Chaos and Creation, Memory Almost Full) are masterpieces. On par with his best Beatles work. I wish he was more confident in the new material to do it live. Would especially love to hear the songs he wrote with Elvis Costello in the 80′s.

BTW I always thought Paul was daft in leaving that collaboration on hiatus. Costello was a perfect foil for him like Lennon was. Even a better lyric writer. Paul and Elvis brought out the best in each other.

To be fair to Paul though, I have heard he’s doing smaller theater shows. And playing more obscure songs from his beatles and solo period. Amazing what a change of venue can do
Dooley

Motorscooter…

You’re right, Ringo always has been a fine drummer. Not a powerhouse like the guys you mentioned but he has a way of leading/following/zipping in and out of a song that’s all his own. I especially liked what he did on “Day Tripper”…the drum roll cymbal crash right towards the end of that song. But he’s 70 years old now. That’s why he’s smart to bring Greg Bissonette along on tour, so he doesn’t poop out mid-way thru the set. Long live Ringo, Paul too !!
motorscooter

To me, my all-time favorite drumming moment of Ringo’s is Ticket To Ride.

The drum fills go from simple to complex so many times it makes your head spin.

I remember reading in a book, John Lennon saying to his drummer at the Double Fantasy sessions “None of that fancy stuff. Keep it simple like Ringo.”

Apparently, he wasnt too fond of busy drummers like John Bonham.

Ive heard from somebody who saw Ringo live a year ago, he played the drums the whole time. But Greg Bissonette is great though. Wish he could find the right artist or band to showcase his chops once more. He would actually be a good replacement for Chad Smith in Chickenfoot if that arrangement no longer works out.
Rocko

Eddie’s Eruption should be #1
patrick

@Rocko,i often wonder why it makes a diffrence to any of us if some lame list doesnt have eruption as #1?when i hear it it sounds just as great wether its list #1,#2,#50 or not at all.these rankings are kind of useless.
Mark McCray

How could the Top 50 Solo’s List NOT include Alvin Lee from Ten Years After–I’m Goin’ Home (live Woodstock version)?!?!?!?!?
David

Well, the list is misleading, It should be ROCK guitar solos. If you are looking for some of the best guitar solos, look at John McLaughlin, especially during the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Shakti and JMT (with Trilok Gurtu). Some of the most compelling solos that most rock players look up to. Also, look at Al Dimiola, Steve Morse, Tommy Bolin (Spectrum album). Obviously, the rock critics always forget the fusion players.
Panama Red

I could go on and on about Eddie’s guitar playing but speaking of some of his solos that jump right out n front of me when I first think of ‘em is his playing in 1978′s “Ice Cream Man”
That shit is….THE SHIT!
Also David Gilmour’s playing in “Comfortably Numb” is amazing. One of my favorite solos.(the second solo)
bill oahu..HI.

I like the debate of the solo or instrumental. Eddie is a true instrumentalist within a solo..eruption is played in a song. By eddy and alex. So soloing in his song w/ instruments. Something to explore with exploration. Should never stop. Eddie is the best but we need a future.. who will it be.. let the music live on…van halen for life.. we need a new leader to break the top ten…for the future of the music we love and profess.