We don’t get to hear very many good solos anymore due to the state of “popular” music today, which is really a shame. There is nothing better than hearing a truly inspired guitar solo, rewinding it several times in a row to hear the searing climax of a perfectly-bended note, just the right amount of vibrato, or that three-octave sweep arpeggio that defies gravity.

I’ve listened to a lot of guitar players in my day, and a lot of guitar solos. While I wish every rock song could have a stellar guitar performance, there are a few that have stood the test of time for me; solos that I can go back to time and time again for inspiration.

Alan Morse (Spock’s Beard) – Crack the Big Sky on Day For Night

Quintessential progressive rockers Spock’s Beard have a way with music. Though they, unfortunately, are still not as well-known as they most certainly deserve to be, those “in the know” have long praised their expert musicianship and brilliant songwriting. Guitarist Alan Morse is so tasty in his playing that he pretty much slaps the crap out of the listener every time he plays. His solo on Crack the Big Sky is no exception. Playing fingerstyle (without a pick) and often with lots of crazy effects and sounds, Morse jumps out of his own box and tears up a clean-tone solo that left me jaw dropped when I first heard it.

His playing, like his band, is underappreciated by the musical masses, and it’s a shame that he’s not gracing the cover of the major guitar magazines. (Hey guys, if you are listening, you really ought to check out Alan’s playing and do a write-up about him!)

John Petrucci (Dream Theater)

John Petrucci (Dream Theater) – Under a Glass Moon on Images and Words

John Petrucci and Dream Theater are one of a few bands that I get to throw out the old “I heard of them before you did” lines that we music fans love to throw out. I first head DT on cassette while visiting friends at Berklee back in 1990.

Petrucci  was a thorn in my side (in a good way) when Images and Words first came out. I always wondered how the hell he did what he did on the fingerboard. I mean, I’m an okay guitar player, but he did things that just made me want to punch a wall. It didn’t help that he’s also a super cool person to boot.  His solo on Under a Glass Moon, to me, is like a composition within a composition. I think overall this has to be the most perfectly-written guitar solo, ever, period!

Wes Montgomery

Wes Montgomery – D Natural Blues on The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery

Wes Montgomery is, arguably, the greatest jazz guitar player to ever live. I think it’s safe to say that he’s influenced practically every person who has ever picked up a hollowbody and wanted to swing, much like John Coltrane’s universal effect on saxophone players.

For some reason I don’t hear anyone mention D Natural Blues as their favorite Wes solo, but his improvisation on this simple blues progression has always resonated with me in a way that goes beyond just sounding “cool.” His solo has style, groove, soul, swing, and every other adjective you can think of. The best part is that’s it’s also a relatively simple solo; easy to transcribe and play, but worth hundreds of hours of woodshedding for ideas to add to your personal improvisation  arsenal.

Allan Holdsworth

Allan Holdsworth – City Nights on Secrets

My fanboy status for Allan Holdsworth comes as no surprise to my music friends. I have been singing his praises since the 1980′s and will continue to do so to anyone and everyone who will listen. Even my wife is starting to recognize his songs, and that’s saying something!

City Nights is the opening track of his Secrets CD, and for anyone who thinks that Holdsworth is all shed and no substance, please direct yourself to the nearest iPod and have a listen. The first half of the solo is a melodic masterpiece that whets the appetite for the seemingly impossible legato runs that follow. Even when playing hyper-fast runs he still manages to be melodic, unlike most. If you are not familiar with Allan’s work, check out this solo and prepare to hit the woodshed very soon!

Ty Tabor (King’s X) – Prisoner on King’s X

1989 was a very good year of music for me. I discovered lots of new bands that completely blew me away and screwed up my head musically-speaking for a long time: Living Colour, Nine Inch Nails, Fishbone, and the Texas-based trio King’s X. These guys are, like Alan Morse and Spock’s Beard, undeservedly underappreciated (alliteration, anyone?).

Ty’s guitar tone was a much-talked about mystery, so coveted by fans that he literally hid his amps inside of other amp enclosures when playing live so no one would know what he was using. Though it’s less of a secret now (I’ll let you find out on your own – it took me forever!) his solo on the song Prisoner is the perfect example of how a player’s tone can be the essential ingredient that turns a good solo into a timeless one.

George Benson

George Benson – The Cooker on The George Benson Cookbook

It’s unfortunate that Mr. Benson has a reputation among many younger guitarists as being a “smooth jazz” player, and they don’t take the time to listen to his catalog. He is the only jazz guitar player I know of who can come close to Wes Montgomery in terms of influencing of other players. I have not seen Mr. Benson (yes, I said Mr. Benson) live yet, but I am champing at the bit.

The Cooker is a raw, all-out blues that smokes from the first note. His solo sounds like a runaway train that forces you to grab hold of whatever you can just to stay on the ride. From the first phrase of the solo played a whole step “out” and weaved into key chromatically, Mr. Benson’s solo does not let up for one bit. This song was recorded relatively early in his career, and you can tell that it was his wake-up call to all of the other guitarists that he was coming out hard and strong, players beware!

What are you favorite solos and why? We’d love to hear your list and what it is that moves you. Don’t be shy!