Favourite guitar solos...and why

[EasyGo]

The Edge's solo on U2's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' - Screaming solo using a very economical open string figure. Really brings home the urgency of the track. Also love the great major chord harmonics in the chorus.

Luther Perkins' solo on Johnny Cash's 'Folsom Prison Blues' - Such a simple track, but Luther's tasteful licks inspire a fit of air guitar every time.

Jimi Hendrix's solo on 'House Burning Down' - Insane, fuzzed out tone and hysterical phrasing paired with Eddie Kramer's tape phasing brings across the fire referenced in the lyrics.

Eddie Van Halen 'Cathedral' - Although Eddie is remembered for his incendiary, light-speed hammer-ons and pull-offs, he was quite a tasteful guitarist. I thought this was a keyboard for years, until a kid in my college dorm showed me what Eddie was doing.

Chet Atkins 'Theme From a Dream' - One of the finest pieces of guitar music ever recorded, by anyone, ever. The harmonics in the final verse nearly bring me to tears every time.

[Seej]

Ooooh and every solo I have ever heard of CCR I loved

The bonus live version of Susie Q (at the Fillmore) on the 1st album reissue kills me every time.

[radkins]

Ace Frehley/Kiss 100,000 Years.

Because it is awesome.

[red cross]

Michio Kurihara of Ghost/Boris fame played a really good one on this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUQSLhrU ... re=related

[Zacharia Matilda]

Isn't it awesome when you're listening to a guitar break and when the singer comes back in you can tell by the way he/she is singing that the solo was sooo good it inspired them to push their performance?

I am thinking specifically about the solo by Peter Green in "Your Funeral, My Trial" by the Bluebreakers, When John Mayall starts singing after the break you can tell he was floored by what he just heard (Or maybe that's a harmonica solo...I haven't listened to it in some time). It's when he sings the line about loving his baby and seeing her when he can. Total joy.

[christiannokes]

I feel you

[Nick Sevilla]

Steve Vai.

For The Love Of God.

Wow.

It inspires me still to this day. It is like looking at the Sun, without getting blindness.

[IDQ]

I think at least one person has already mentioned Dave Navarro, but I didn't read all ten pages of responses.

Pretty much every solo on "Nothing's Shocking" rips, but especially the second solo on "Ocean Size."

It's got the right blend of mastery without wanking, and soul without too much repetition.

And I agree with everyone who said Hendrix. As in pretty much every note he ever played.

[Jettison]

John Vanderslice on "Fetal Horses" from Romanian Names. Accidental by design. Probably the shortest guitar "solo" in history. He makes no bones about mocking the very idea of guitar soloing with a guitar solo. F'ing perfect. Just my two bits.