Alright you guitarists-- any thoughts on this (greatest guitar solo you can't hear)

[Kenton1971]

I've always liked this song and noticed the end of the song guitar but evidently there's a heck of a lot more to the solo:

[bmac]

John Frusiante is way underrated in my humble estimation. The Intro to under the bridge, is that a guitar solo? Adam Jones is decent too. Maybe the solo in Freebird?..haha. Must mention Jerry Garcia and some of his riffs and solos too.

[JohnS]

Usually, the "feel" in these types of songs are hard to follow for other guitarists, even experienced ones. Other famous examples include John Mayer's "Neon" and Jim Hendrix's "Little Wing".

[benfica_77]

3 hours ago, JohnS said:

Usually, the "feel" in these types of songs are hard to follow for other guitarists, even experienced ones. Other famous examples include John Mayer's "Neon" and Jim Hendrix's "Little Wing".

John you nailed it....John Mayer Neon on acoustic is my mount Everest on guitar. One day my chubby little fingers will figure it out.

[Bords]

It’s fine although buried in the mix. Mostly pentatonic “shredding”, which don’t get me wrong I’m a huge fan of the pentatonic. I’m more moved by Gilmour using the pentatonic soulfully with great phrasing vs fast shred style.


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[Ford2112]

Isn't Rick Beato great? Yeah that's a killer solo. Same with anything from Steve Lukather or Larry Carlton. 

[JohnS]

2 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

Isn't Rick Beato great?

I've had people who aren't musicians tell me that they regularly view Rick's YouTube channel just because his teaching style is so interesting.

[Puros Y Vino]

Great song and yeah, Christopher Cross did get robbed. I would have never seen him as a great guitarist. His songwriting skills is where he got his respect. I think in the US music scene there's been an effort to tone down guitar parts in songs that were destined to be released as "pop" to make them more appealing. Outside of Hard Rock & Metal, where the guitar is king and the audience is niche and small in comparison, loud, clear guitar parts tend to get muted. Once in a while, it gets a bit of a resurgence. I think back to Michael Jackson asking EVH to do a solo for Beat It. It took me years to see that Prince was a monster guitarist. Most of the singles that were released/promoted from his albums were not guitar focused. It took listening to bootlegs of his live shows to hear how damn good he was.

[Fugu]

Funny about this thread, just yesterday RLTW aired while on my commute home, and it struck me for the first time perhaps, what a great and for such a “Pop-song” (I know considered Yacht-rock by some  🙄) almost overperforming, totally under-appreciated guitar solo that is at the end “in the background”…! 

5 hours ago, Puros Y Vino said:

It took me years to see that Prince was a monster guitarist.  Most of the singles that were released/promoted from his albums were not guitar focused.  It took listening to bootlegs of his live shows to hear how damn good he was.

Absolutely! Same with me. From early on I had been aware he was a multi-instrumentalist and a great artist. But what a giant he was at the guitar only transpired to me when seeing him live.

[Ford2112]

One time I turned on MTV and there was some live performance of Prince and the New Power Generation where I tuned in to a walking blues bassline as Prince started ripping. My jaw dropped. He was incredible. Eddie Hazel from Funkadelic was another one. Shawn Lane. The latest guy I am gonna see is Matteo Mancuso next month. He's a young phenom. 

 

[Kenton1971]

7 hours ago, Puros Y Vino said:

Great song and yeah, Christopher Cross did get robbed.  I would have never seen him as a great guitarist.  His songwriting skills is where he got his respect.  I think in the US music scene there's been an effort to tone down guitar parts in songs that were destined to be released as "pop" to make them more appealing. Outside of Hard Rock & Metal, where the guitar is king and the audience is niche and small in comparison, loud, clear guitar parts tend to get muted.  Once in a while, it gets a bit of a resurgence.  I think back to Michael Jackson asking EVH to do a solo for Beat It.  It took me years to see that Prince was a monster guitarist.  Most of the singles that were released/promoted from his albums were not guitar focused.  It took listening to bootlegs of his live shows to hear how damn good he was.

I seem to recall Eric Clapton saying Prince was one of the greatest guitarists he's ever heard. I need to check YT to see if that was in an interview.

[joeypots]

The story goes that Clapton was asked what's it like being the greatest guitarist in the world. He said, I don't know, you have to ask Prince.

[Puros Y Vino]

15 hours ago, joeypots said:

The story goes that Clapton was asked what's it like being the greatest guitarist in the world. He said, I don't know, you have to ask Prince.

Could've sworn his answer was Hendrix.

[joeypots]

14 hours ago, Puros Y Vino said:

Could've sworn his answer was Hendrix.

Well, a quick search says he never said it about anybody. 

Best of threads are always dangerous.

 

[Redgoldband]

Love Prince on guitar. At least every other week, I listen to his"While my Guitar Gently Weeps" solo: 

[Puros Y Vino]

12 hours ago, joeypots said:

Well, a quick search says he never said it about anybody. 

Best of threads are always dangerous.

Yeah. No real sources on that quote. In browsing bootleg forums, the was "talk" that Clapton was well aware of Jimi's guitar prowess and tried to avoid being on the same bill as him as much as possible. 

[Grateful13]

Two words: Billy Strings. 

[Chibearsv]

60s, 70s, and 80s had bunches of great guitarists that poured emotion out of those strings. Tons more that play really well, but I feel it with the great ones. Gilmour can still bring tears to my eyes. And I’ve heard his songs for 50+ years. 

[JohnS]

7 hours ago, Puros Y Vino said:

Yeah. No real sources on that quote. In browsing bootleg forums, the was "talk" that Clapton was well aware of Jimi's guitar prowess and tried to avoid being on the same bill as him as much as possible. 

All the English guitarists revered Jimi because they went and saw him perform in mid-1967 and word got out quickly in regards to his skills.

What sent Jimi's reputation soaring was his performance on Sunday evening following the Who at the Monterrey Festival in June, 1967. In this performance, Jimi was hellbent on 'topping' Pete Townshend's guitar-smashing antics by lighting his guitar and then playing it; this was after he introduced American audiences to a combination of feedback and whammy bar "dive-bombing' that was only just played to audiences in England. At that festival Scott McKenzie and the Mamas and Papas closed the show but no act wanted to follow Jimi ever again.

[Chas.Alpha]

On 5/23/2025 at 9:17 AM, Puros Y Vino said:

Could've sworn his answer was Hendrix.

This is how urban legends are created. I always remember it that Jimi Hendrix was on a bill with Rory Gallagher and was asked how it felt to be the greatest guitar player, to which Hendrix (supposedly) replied, “I don’t know, ask Rory.”

No way to verify anymore.😢

[RSG]

I posted a Natraxas video in the "What Are You Listening To" thread. Not exactly a "solo" (they're mostly instrumental) and maybe not everyone's cup of tea but give a listen. Dude can play.

[Jimmy2]

On 5/24/2025 at 6:55 AM, Redgoldband said:

Love Prince on guitar. At least every other week, I listen to his"While my Guitar Gently Weeps" solo: 

Prince was insulted as he was not on the 100 greatest guitarist of all time list. So when he played on this exact video the band had no idea he was going to pop off in a legendary performance. As we fast forward to today because of this performance he is now listed on the Greatest 100 list. He was a great musician all around and in my eyes better than most overrated musicians on the top 100 list.

RIP .. Prince

Also top 10 list of the best ever Guitar  players in my eyes:

• David Gilmour
• Stevie Ray
• Randy Rhoads