Six-String Mayhem Unleashed
From the roaring ‘70s to modern metal, some guitar solos are so blistering they leave jaws dropped and speakers smoking. These moments of pure fretboard fury defined careers, elevated songs, and set the bar for technical brilliance. Here are 42 face-melting solos that still command awe.
Metallica - One (1988)
Part of what made Metallica's ...And Justice For All album so great were the long intricate songs, strong lyrics, and amazing guitar work. On an album filled with absolute classics, "One" was the song where they put it all together; Kirk Hammett's extraordinary guitar solo is the high point.
Metallica - One (Jammin' Version) [Official Music Video] | Remastered 4K 60FPS, 4K Video Enhancer
Ozzy Osbourne – Mr Crowley (1980)
Randy Rhoads’ neoclassical guitar solo in “Mr Crowley” is a fusion of speed, melody, and baroque-inspired phrasing. The solo was one of several that elevated Rhoads as the new benchmark for hard rock and metal guitar mastery.
OZZY OSBOURNE - Mr. Crowley 1981 (Live Video), Ozzy Osbourne
Scorpions – Bad Boys Running Wild (1984)
Matthias Jabs lights up “Bad Boys Running Wild” with a fluid, fiery solo that was emblematic of the Scorpions. It’s a pure adrenaline rush that captures the band’s transition into global stadium dominance in their 1984–85 world tour.
Scorpions - Bad Boys Running Wild (Live in Berlin 1990), Scorpions
Dokken – Into the Fire (1984)
George Lynch’s solo on “Into the Fire” is an absolute shred-fest wrapped in haunting phrasing. Balancing rapid-fire runs with dramatic pauses, Lynch shows why his tone is so revered. Songs like this and many others helped solidify Dokken’s place in the shredder pantheon.
Dokken - Into The Fire (Official Music Video), RHINO
Ratt – Round and Round (1984)
Warren DeMartini delivers a sizzling, swagger-filled solo on “Round and Round”, effortlessly marrying bluesy bends with tapping runs. This solo gave Ratt the touch of sophistication it needed to become and remain one of the defining bands of the glam-metal era.
RATT - Round And Round (Official Music Video), RHINO
Guns N’ Roses – Nightrain (1987)
Slash unleashes raw, six-stringed firepower on “Nightrain", soaring through blistering pentatonic lines drenched in sustain. His solo captures the reckless spirit of Appetite for Destruction.
Guns N' Roses - Nightrain (Tokyo 1992) HD Remastered, RATSREVUS
Steve Vai – For the Love of God (1990)
Vai’s “For the Love of God” is an odyssey of sound that blurred the line between virtuosity and spiritual expression. More than a showcase of speed, it’s an outstanding channeling of raw emotion.
Steve Vai - For the Love of God (2021 Upscaled Version), SteveVaiHimself
Racer X – Technical Difficulties (1999)
Paul Gilbert’s "Technical Difficulties" is a tour de force of precision shredding. Mixing alternate picking wizardry with insane synchronization, this guitar solo is a display of jaw-dropping technique from start to finish.
Racer X - NAMM 2009 - Technical Difficulties, RacerXband
Pantera – Floods (1996)
Dimebag Darrell’s solo in "Floods" is equal parts aggression and melancholy. The storm of guitar-driven fury crescendos into one of metal’s most breathtaking outros.
Pantera - Floods (Live in Tampa, FL 2-5-24), IFM RAW
Cream – Crossroads (1968)
Most rock guitar solos were fairly rudimentary until this showpiece, recorded live at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom in March 1968. “Crossroads” finds Eric Clapton at his fiery peak, transforming Robert Johnson’s blues into modern rock.
Cream - Crossroads (Farewell Concert - Extended Edition) (5 of 11), theeshrimpking
Thin Lizzy – Emerald (1976)
On “Emerald”, guitarists Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson unleashed a dueling-lead firestorm. The song also saw extensive later live soloing pyrotechnics by the incomparable Gary Moore, who replaced Brian Robertson in Thin Lizzy in 1978.
Eruption (1978)
Van Halen’s “Eruption” isn’t just a solo—it’s a revolution. Clocking under two minutes, Eddie’s tapping technique, blistering runs, and whammy bar theatrics redefined rock guitar. The track single-handedly launched a generation of shredders and remains a rite of passage for aspiring virtuosos.
Eddie Van Halen - Eruption Guitar Solo (Live in New Haven 1986), Guitar Frontier
Jimi Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower (1968)
Covering Bob Dylan, Hendrix delivered fiery bends and soaring sustain. His layered solos explode with emotion, elevating the song into a psychedelic anthem. Each note feels improvised yet deliberate, a master at the height of his powers transforming another artist’s work into something completely his own.
jimi hendrix - all along the watchtower - isle of wight, vegetableman
ZZ Top – La Grange (1973)
Billy Gibbons’ solo in “La Grange” is a classic piece of Texas blues swagger. Channeling the raw energy of roadhouse jams, Gibbons delivers searing bends, gritty pinch harmonics, and irresistible groove. Nothing fancy, but proof that pure tone and feel can melt faces just as effectively as speed and flash.
ZZ Top - La Grange (Live From Gruene Hall) | Stages, GIGS
Jeff Beck – Beck’s Bolero (1966)
On “Beck’s Bolero", Jeff Beck fused power, grace, and controlled chaos into a wordless epic. His soaring leads ride atop Jimmy Page’s rhythm and Keith Moon’s explosive drumming, blending rock fury and classical drama. Beck’s flamboyant playing here set the stage for the instrumental guitar revolution that would unfold in the decades ahead.
The Best Live Perform Ever!!! Jeff Beck - Beck's Bolero | HD, Authentic Acoustic
Quicksilver Messenger Service – Fresh Air (1970)
John Cipollina’s shimmering solo on “Fresh Air” is reminiscent of Santana in its expressiveness. It's a great example of feel over flash—an atmospheric pulse of West Coast guitar mysticism.
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Fresh Air | Live at Winterland (1975), Wolfgang's Jam & Psych
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Simple Man (1973)
Gary Rossington’s solo on “Simple Man” distills Southern rock into a slow-burn masterwork, timeless in its simplicity and power. The solo says far more with far less than Skynyrd's monotonous, interminable solo at the end of "Free Bird."
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man - Live At The Florida Theatre / 2015, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Led Zeppelin – Heartbreaker (1971)
Not the most famous Led Zeppelin guitar solo, but the one with the most swagger. This song inspired a lot of youngsters to pick up the guitar, including Steve Vai.
Led Zeppelin Heartbreaker live complete video, G C
Pink Floyd – Young Lust (1979)
This blistering solo by David Gilmour from The Wall has always been overshadowed by the austere immensity of the album's other tracks, like "Comfortably Numb" and "Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2." Here Gilmour plays with a little more abandon, throwing in some pinched harmonics to hammer the message home with concision and absolute authority.
deep_schismic @ flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/one_schism/, Wikimedia Commons
Rolling Stones – Worried About You (1981)
Before Ron Wood joined the Stones, session ace Wayne Perkins laid down this searing solo way back in 1975 on a ballad that turned up on the much later album Tattoo You. His fluid bends and phrasing add a whole new level of conviction to Mick Jagger’s vocals. It’s a piece of Rolling Stone guitar perfection.
Worried about you Live'n París, AIROZOUNDS
Supertramp – Goodbye Stranger (1979)
Best known for his vocals and songwriting, Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson delivered a blistering fadeout solo on this track from Breakfast in America. Warm tone, lyrical phrasing, and flawless pacing make it unforgettable. The recent passing of bandmate Rick Davies was a bittersweet reminder of the duo’s musical chemistry and originality.
Supertramp - Goodbye Stranger (Official 4K Video), Supertramp Official
Stevie Ray Vaughn And Double Trouble – Tightrope (1989)
On “Tightrope”, Stevie Ray Vaughan raised the bar on his own brand of blistering blues virtuosity. This is a face-melting solo of pure Texas soul combining speed and amazing feel.
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - Tightrope (Live From Austin, TX), Stevie Ray Vaughan
Santana – Blues For Salvador (1987)
Carlos Santana went above and beyond in this six-minute excursion into the far reaches of the guitar universe. The song, dedicated to his son, won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental in 1989.
Santana & Chester Thompson - Blues For Salvador (Live in Montreux '88), arXter
REO Speedwagon – Take It On The Run (1981)
REO Speedwagon’s Gary Richrath poured heart and grit into this sizzling power ballad. His solo packs punch while constantly reaching for those high notes. It’s proof that feel and phrasing can melt faces just as much as speed or flash.
REO Speedwagon - Take It On The Run, REO Speedwagon
Mahavishnu Orchestra – Birds of Fire (1973)
Jazz-fusion pioneer John McLaughlin’s work with Mahavishnu Orchestra pushed technical limits. The result was unlike anything anyone at the time had ever heard before. The soloing over the eerie groove of “Birds of Fire" feels like controlled chaos precision from one of the most advanced guitarists ever recorded.
MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA - BIRDS OF FIRE, Rajkumar Rajamani
Michael Jackson – Beat It (1983)
Producer Quincy Jones brought Eddie Van Halen into the studio, where he ripped through his renowned solo for Michael Jackson’s "Beat It." Recorded in one take, it’s packed with the chops that made Eddie Van Halen so great: rapid tapping, whammy dives, and his signature tone.
Michael Jackson - Beat It (Official 4K Video), Michael Jackson
KISS – Shock Me (1977)
KISS guitarist Ace Frehley’s standout from the classic Love Gun album was his first recorded solo vocal and a guitar statement of identity. The solo and the song testifies to the true musical backbone of the KISS legend. It later inspired countless players, including Dimebag Darrell, who credited Ace as his earliest influence.
KISS - Shock Me (live - East Rutherford 06/27/2000), Luis Garcia
AC/DC – Back in Black (1980)
Few solos are as instantly recognizable as Angus Young’s on "Back in Black." Combining blues phrasing with hard rock bite, his concise, melodic lead hammers through the mix like a thunderclap. It’s the perfect punctuation mark to one of rock’s greatest riffs.
AC/DC - Back In Black (Official 4K Video), AC/DC
Christopher Cross - Ride Like The Wind (1980)
Christopher Cross was a formidable enough guitarist to fill in for a deathly-ill Ritchie Blackmore at a 1970 Deep Purple concert in San Antonio. Cross's blistering guitar solo on "Ride Like The Wind" is obscured under the mix on the original recording, but it's a beauty all the same.
Judas Priest - Painkiller (1990)
Take your pick of songs featuring face-melting guitar solos by Judas Priest axe-wielders Glenn Tipton and KK Downing. This one saw them conquer the commanding heights of metal at a rarefied pinnacle few have ever reached – or ever will reach. Tipton understandably affirms this solo as one of his favorites to play.
Judas Priest - Painkiller, Judas Priest
Heart – Barracuda (1977)
Heart’s "Barracuda" features Roger Fisher at his fiercest. His galloping, harmonized leads slice through the song’s churning riff and Ann Wilson's urgently warning vocals. This song among others cements Fisher as one of the 70s’ most dynamic rock guitarists.
Heart - Barracuda (1977), Heart
Boston – Hitch a Ride (1976)
As with all the songs from Boston's self-titled debut 1976 album, giutarist and producer Tom Scholz crafted this soaring solo in his homemade studio. It’s a showcase of engineering genius and sublime artistry. Plus, we have a soft spot for solos that close out a song.
2015 05 07 Boston - Hitch A Ride, concertserenity
Steely Dan – Reelin’ in the Years (1972)
Steely Dan’s "Reelin’ in the Years" opens with Elliott Randall’s dazzling solo, which was recorded in a single take. Seamlessly blending blues phrasing with jazz sophistication, it’s as catchy as it is complex. Jimmy Page once called this his favorite solo, and who are we to argue? A high-water mark for tasteful, technical perfection.
NEW * Reelin' In The Years - Steely Dan 4K {Stereo} 1973, Smurfstools Oldies Music Time Machine
Megadeth – Wake Up Dead (1986)
Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine opened their Peace Sells...But Who's Buying album with a ferocious riff that gives way to some of his sharpest solos. Angular phrasing and breakneck runs mirror the song’s tension-filled theme. It’s raw, intricate, and pure Mustaine, with all of the fury and technical perfection of "the world's state-of-the-art speed metal band."
Megadeth - Wake Up Dead (Official Music Video), Megadeth
Guns N’ Roses – There Was A Time (2008)
On “There Was A Time” , Buckethead displayed blistering speed and amazing melodic phrasing. His solo bristles with lightning-fast runs, otherworldly bends, and a sense of cinematic drama rarely heard in modern rock. It’s a highlight of Chinese Democracy and proof that face-melting guitar solos never went out of style, they just evolved.
Ringerfan23, Wikimedia Commons
Ten Years After – I’m Going Home (1969)
Alvin Lee’s live performance of “I’m Going Home” at Woodstock is pure rock ‘n’ roll adrenaline. His rapid-fire picking left jaws on the muddy field. It’s a field day of blues-rock virtuosity and improvisational brilliance by the "Fastest Guitarist in the West."
Ten Years Later - I'm Going Home - 5/19/1978 - Winterland (Official), Ten Years After on MV
Black Sabbath – Supernaut (1972)
Tony Iommi’s solo on “Supernaut”, slicing through Bill Ward's thunderous groove laid the groundwork for future generations of headbangers and proved that Sabbath solos could be as amazing as their riffs.
Black Sabbath - Supernaut - Vol IV, BandsThatRock!!
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain (1971)
Eddie Hazel’s solo in “Maggot Brain” is one of the most haunting, emotional guitar statements ever recorded. Legend says George Clinton told him to play as if his mother had just died, and Hazel responded with these ten minutes of searing lamentation.
Eddie Hazel & Mike Hampton - Maggot Brain, bushtales
Iron Maiden – Hallowed Be Thy Name (1982)
Iron Maiden’s "Hallowed Be Thy Name" crescendos into twin harmonized solos from Adrian Smith and Dave Murray. Their joint effort combines melodic storytelling with metal firepower, underscoring Bruce Dickinson’s epic vocals. Pure Maiden excellence.
Iron Maiden - Hallowed Be Thy Name (Rock In Rio 2001 Remastered) 4k 60fps, HeavyMatterCulture
Ozzy Osbourne – Bark at the Moon (1983)
Ozzy Osbourne brought in Jake E. Lee for the unenviable task of replacing the recently deceased Randy Rhoads. On "Bark at the Moon", Lee showed what he could do: aggressive vibrato and rapid-fire legato runs electrify the track. The solo is a standout in Ozzy’s catalog and Jake’s defining moment.
Ozzy Osbourne - Bark At The Moon (Live & Loud), Ozzy Osbourne
The Allman Brothers - One Way Out (1971)
When Duane Allman says he's the second-best guitarist in your band, you're doing alright. Playing bottleneck slide, Allman teamed up with Dickey Betts for this absolute clinic recorded in the last concert at Fillmore East in 1971.
Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Deep Purple - Highway Star (1972)
We saved the best for last, with this classic from the incomparable Ritchie Blackmore. There are some people out there who insist that Deep Purple were the first true metal band. Songs and guitar solos like this are the reason why. Absolute rock perfection!
Deep Purple - Highway Star (from Come Hell or High Water), Deep Purple Official
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Sources: 1, 2, 3, Reddit, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
