4 Classic Rock Guitar Solos That Blow My Mind Every Time

Who doesn’t love a good, solid guitar solo? We love when guitarists get to shred on a classic song, and there are so many definitive lists of great solos out there. Here are just four of my personal favorites that never fail to get me totally jazzed, from Zappa to Skynyrd and more in between.

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My Favorite Classic Guitar Solos

“Free Bird” — Lynyrd Skynyrd

“Free Bird” is as country-rock classic, and its solo never fails to make me feel like I’m in a Dukes of Hazzard car chase, or tearing down the highway on my way to a new beginning. It’s cinematic and rowdy, but expertly controlled and executed. Let’s just say, I’m not responsible for what I do when the “Free Bird” guitar solo is on.

“Stargazer” — Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow

Speaking of shredding, Ritchie Blackmore goes crazy on “Stargazer” from 1976. Around the four-minute mark he goes into some insane phrasing, which no doubt involves incredibly nimble fretwork. Throughout the entire track, the guitar keeps up the high energy, but the solo is where the instrument really shines.

“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” — Blue Oyster Cult

“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” is generally a clean and controlled track, lacking the distorted messiness that I usually go for. However, the guitar solo here is the strong backbone of the song, holding it up and allowing it to walk. There are hints that an incredible solo is coming throughout the song, but when things slow down in the middle, that’s when you know: this is going to explode. The solo feels like a transition through the underworld and back out again, creating its own narrative to bolster the lyrics.

“Montana” — Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa is a master of improvisation for his guitar solos, so watching live performances means each one is different. A personal favorite of mine is his 1973 performance of “Montana” on the Swedish television Opopoppa Special. Already, “Montana” is my favorite Zappa song, but the solo in this particular performance goes on for about three minutes and features Zappa absolutely shredding to the nth degree. The recorded solo is good, but listening to Zappa live is always best.

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