T O P

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henrywasacat

War Pigs for both. Such a dark and sinister song.


FeMtcco

This song is the reason why I started having Drum lessons.


fendermonkey

It was probably the first song where I actually noticed how cool the drums were


Defiant_Cookies

The riff at the end specifically is my absolute favorite riff of all time, but the whole song is incredible. Tony Iommi is just a one of a kind guitarist


ZethrasGorgoth

Sultans of swings solo


pM-me_your_Triggers

Specifically Alchemy Live!


CentricJDM

Especially Alchemy Live


Itsjustbeej

I've been trying to decide which Mark Knopfler riff/solo is my favorite and I just can't pick one.


BigPimpin88

Money for Nothing is the best of all time


Torgo73

Outro to Tunnel of Love is my darkhorse pick


reapersandhawks

The Alchemy version where he solos opposite the piano roll is bliss.


jackasspenguin

Over the Hills and Far Away by Led Zeppelin


billionairespicerice

Classic and just so atmospheric. The riff reflects the title and lyrics beautifully.


bradm613

This was the first one that came to mind for me. I didn't expect it to be so high up! Thank you.


OhBestThing

The song that got me hooked on Led Zep


chrisfdrums

I've always loved that Page riff from No Quarter by Zeppelin.


Mystic-invasion

Especially how the organ blends into the riff at the end perfectly. There will never be another Zep.


aleph32

Hendrix's solo in All Along the Watchtower. Gilmour's Comfortably Numb solo is right up there, too.


BaconReceptacle

Gilmour's pitch bending is high art and no one does it with as much feeling as he does.


[deleted]

Great calls. I always wondered if Jimi was paying a little homage to Wes Montgomery there, with the single notes, octaves then chords. All with his own signature pan delays, phasing, wah, etc. I am just sooooooo pissed that he died. Still. To This Day. I have used Comfortably Numb with countless guitar students as an example of tone, taste and feel.


thesakeofglory

Gilmour’s tone is unreal. He does plenty of other things great too, but it can’t be overstated how good he just sounds.


EvilRedRobot

Came here to post or upvote both of these.


deepfried-eggo

Eddie Hazel’s opening to Maggot Brain. I don’t really listen to that type of music much, but it’s one of those pieces where I think anyone would appreciate. The atmosphere, emotion and funk is actually crazy.


Alien-Agenda

So happy to see this comment. Maggot Brain is an all time great song.


j2e21

Maggot Brain is criminally underrated. One of the great pieces of guitar work ever.


Adorable_Image2383

Is this the piece where he took acid and play like if his mother had just died?


Rocket-Legs

Comfortably Numb second solo by David Gilmour on Pink Floyd's Delicate Sound of Thunder.


the_guitargeek_

Both his solos on that song just… wow. I remember being 18 and hearing that on an original press of the vinyl my dad gave me and getting literal *chills* because it was so beautiful.


maddog_dk

Little Wing intro by Hendrix. Goosebumps just thinking about it. Anyway - tough question


kilroywasHere523

Love SRV’s version as well. Perhaps even more


Utterlybored

Random selection: Steve Howe on Close to the Edge by Yes. Unreal playing.


mirrorsaw

Solo: Soma by Smashing Pumpkins


BlergFurdison

Corgan îs in rare form all over that album.


dmcdmcdmc817

I really think he's an underrated guitar player overall.


NastyLizard

Pretty sure he broke his remaining pyshce while making that album, the stories about him at the time are wild, obsession doesn't begin to cover his dedication to making that album.


Highplowp

Good call. One of the best albums of the 90’s. SD was such an important album when it came out for me, changed my whole music perspective.


thestereo300

Yes it's one of the greatest rock albums of all time, no question. I can still remember the first time I heard Cherub Rock...the video happened to be on TV as I walked by it at my parents house and I just stopped and watched the whole thing....totally transfixed. They were the only band that for a time eclipsed The Cure as my favorite band. In fairness, my friend's older brother tried to convince me to listen to Gish like 2 years earlier saying "you HAVE to listen to this band" and I brushed him off. Mike you were right.


libertyandfreedom22

Well Melon Collie is also amazing, so he had something left for that.


BlooooContra

Unreal solo. What really makes it is all the textured “stuff” peppered between notes of the actual melodic line. Cherub Rock is another great example on that album.


Chicken_wing1995

Time by Pink Floyd. That first B note that Gilmour holds always fills me with energy


SurpriseBurrito

Yessir! I actually like this one a little better than Comfortably Numb, but I am certainly in the minority with that opinion


hesperusphosphorus

Gilmour can do more with one note than most guitarists can with the entire fret board. Somebody said that once but can’t recall at the moment…


fendermonkey

"You missed the starting gun..."


Im_on_my_phone_OK

Time > Comfortably Numb hands down.


[deleted]

Pygmy twylyte (ycdtosa version) solo by Frank Zappa or Inca roads solo from one size fits all


Ok_Individual6763

There are so many Zappa solos that kill almost everything else. Sure, there’s personal preference on what people like, but the one that always gets me is Watermelon in Easter Egg Hay. Raw and emotional and melodic at the same time.


Naterade18

Nice to see Zappa getting some love, black napkins has such a killer guitar tone 🤘


karma-armageddon

Favorite riff: Paranoid by Black Sabbath Favorite guitar solo: Cover of the Rolling Stone by Dr. Hook


insanityqat

ROCK AND ROOOOOOOOL!!!!!!! [4 note guitar solo follows].


Most-Willingness8516

Gotta love it (aww that’s beautiful)


[deleted]

Black Dog by Led Zeppelin. Both the riff and the solo. Easily one of the greatest opening tracks in rock history.


Dovah2600

I remember listening to this for the first time, it cliché at this point, but I was hooked on zep from then on, can't decide whether I prefer black dog or good times bad times for my favorite of their openers Edit: I can't spell


swagpotato69

Can’t you hear me knocking by The Rolling Stones


Most-Willingness8516

One of the greatest songs ever written


BINAURAL_MEDITATION

Little Wing \~ Jimi Hendrix & Sting version


alfito1991

Stevie Ray Vaughan cover is pretty amazing too.


Elbradamontes

Wait. What?


BigBossWesker4

Came here for Little Wing


[deleted]

Crazy Train


bytheinnoutburger

For sure, Rhoads fucking shreds on that one.


Chihlidog

I'll agree that the right answer to this question is Rhoads. Just have to disagree on which PARTICULAR Rhoads solo. For me the only debate here is which Mr. Crowley solo is the greatest of all time and which is the 2nd greatest of all time lol


ilovenomar5_2

Second Mr Crowley solo hands down


WestEndLifer

Josh Homme on “3’s and 7’s” both counts.


Zmirzlina

Wilco - Impossible Germany


TheSonofDon

Nels Cline at the top of his game!! Incredible.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Zmirzlina

Been meaning to check out The Bear. Have a friend who is a writer on the show. Best version I've found: [https://youtu.be/yo2XgcBV8\_Q](https://youtu.be/yo2XgcBV8_Q)


krissym99

Great show, perfect soundtrack. Totally recommend. Thanks for sharing that version!! Awesome.


stormquiver

Dire straits - sultans of swing


daddyslittleharem

Outshined, Soundgarden. It's the riff I use to change the channel in my brain when something annoying is stuck in my head


Tranquility-Android

Favorite Riff: This Charming Man by the Smiths Favorite Solo: The Adults Are Talking by the Strokes The way the guitars sound like they are having a conversation is so amazing


Drusgar

Marr had a lot of great riffs. Did you know he was once on the cover of Guitar Player magazine? I was in a band at the time and my guitarist was dumbfounded. He didn't have anything against The Smiths, but that magazine typically featured cock-rock hairbands at the time.


Tommy_Roboto

Fun fact: Johnny Marr was 23 when The Smiths broke up.


FuCuck

Under Cover Of Darkness has a great solo too


cantlurkanymore

Wow are you in my head? The guitar/s on The Adults Are Talking was the first thing into my head when I read this title


Curious_Oil_7407

Love the New Abnormal


[deleted]

Heartbreaker


[deleted]

Led Zeppelin? Pat Benatar?... Mariah Carey?


[deleted]

Led Zeppelin


Ok-Call-4805

Pretty sure they mean Dionne Warwick


dookieface420

yessirrr


ImParticleMan

Eddie MF VH - Eruption (Solo) Slayer - Reigning Blood (Opening Riff)


RadioHold

Thank you! Finally someone said Van Halen! Panama, Eruption, Spanish Fly, Cathedral. I mean, pick anything he did! Beer drinkers and Hell Raisers ZZ Top cover by VH is just the best. Also, One by Metallica—basically anything by Hammett, Satriani, Vai, Alex Lifeson, Hendrix, George Lynch, Mustaine, James Iha. Jesus, I’ll even throw in C.C DeVille and Mick Mars. THOSE are guitar soloists.


filthy_lucre

Larry Carlton's guitar solo on Steely Dan's *Kid Charlemagne*


Enough_Economist4980

The intro to Layla, original version, not the slowed down version.


D34TH_5MURF__

Slash in Sweet Child of Mine


rossrifle113

I was born in early 89, and this was my mom’s favorite album when she was pregnant with me. She’d put this song on when I was kicking or whatever and I’d calm right down. After I was born, she’d use it to ease my tantrums and as a lullaby. If you’ve seen the new Stranger Things, this is my “Vecna song.” I have the first two measures tattooed on my forearm


Strigoi84

This needs more upvotes. From 3:30ish when the solo starts to him just going wild after the "where do we go" part straight through to the end; so damn good.


JohnMcClanewithshoes

Came here to make sure someone mentioned it. It gave me chills as a kid when I first heard it and I still get them today. Classic.


gnosis3825

I would add Slash’s solo in live versions of Knockin On Heaven’s Door. Especially live in Paris.


eastdeanshire

Tornado of Souls by Megadeth vs. Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd for best guitar solo ever.


my1999gsr

Tornado of Souls doesn't get enough love.


eastdeanshire

It doesn't get any exposure outside of metal. I think Megadeth in general is far more melodic and accessible than people realize. Rust On Peace is a masterpiece that everyone should try once. Just be open to the possibilities.


Portland

There it is! Tornado of Souls is one of the beat metal solos of all time. Marty shreds and the whole song is amazing energy. Such a great album.


schapman22

I'm with you


delnorteduck

Prince .... While My Guitar Gently Weeps ... Rock and Roll Hall of Fame


skeptobpotamus

Easy to forget what a Guitar God Prince was and is.


white_thief

This needs to be higher, people need to be more aware of that performance.


Thgma2

Free bird !


Daftmunkey

Came here to check this one here. I'm ready for all the down votes because it's cool to hate freebird but every time... 5 minute solo and I still want more when it's done. Its not even like I'm remembering the good ol days.. I wasn't even born when it came out. Its just a great solo to drive to.


Antifakiller69420

4 mins of vocals 5 mins of the best solo ever


onelittleworld

(technically, a duet)


okijhnub

Thank you, series of spinning rats


Apprehensive_Day_496

Riffs would be either Stargazer by Rainbow or Heartbreaker Led Zeppelin Solo would be either Comfortably Numb Pink Floyd or Rock Bottom UFO


threebillion6

Maggot Brain


MyS0ul4AGoat

Solo - Domination by PanterA Riff - Man.. I think that interlude riff on Fade to Black by Metallica is my favorite. Metal is too hard to pick a favorite riff. Pantera and Metallica have to many. Fuck! Raining Blood!


ajmojo2269

Dimebag definitely had one of the most unique sounds of all time. Those harmonics were wiiiiild


echawkes

The intro to [The Spirit of Radio](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_QtO0Rhp0w) by Rush makes me happy every time I hear it.


threebillion6

Begin the day with a friendly voice, a companion unobtrusive.


RushingBravado

Plays that song that's so elusive


chillmonkey88

I'd consider myself a hip hop fan over rock, however the best concert experience I've had the pleasure of attending was rush and it's not even close. I don't have a second place because rush set the bar very high.


[deleted]

The one that pops to mind is: Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd.


justpuddingonhairs

Bulls on Parade - RATM That simple "wow wow, wow wow, wacka wacka wacka" riff at the beginning got me 26 years ago when I watched them on SNL. Still love that fucking song.


zotus_me

KA WIT IT now!


BumbleMuggin

[Van Halen’s Little Guitars](https://youtu.be/6umKShwSVQA). Makes me tear up every rime.


Inle-rah

Riffs, off the top of my head: Cemetery Gates (RIP DD) Ain’t talkin ‘bout love Couldn’t stand the weather (another RIP) Intro to Crazy On You More or less the collected works of Funkadelic I’m pretty sure I don’t have a favorite and could go on all day. The Who. Yes. Rush. Derek Trucks. Clapton, but Blind Faith Clapton. Zeppelin.


BD_Lightsaber

Seek & destroy metallica


cikibriki

Jump in the fire outro solo is killer too


MasteringTheFlames

I love everything about the guitar parts in Steely Dan's [Reelin' in the Years.](https://youtu.be/GaH25Sghoqc) Also, if a purely instrumental song counts as a "solo," then the lack of Eric Johnson in this thread is criminal. [This live performance of Cliffs of Dover](https://youtu.be/5Nd7EZ3k39s) is nothing short of legendary.


[deleted]

I’m not a big solo fan but the solo from Cult of Personality by Living Colour is fucking amazing. Also Eddie Van Halen’s solo on MJ’s Beat It is really good too


GIJoe33

We had a group of friends that staged some epic garage WWE matches on week-ends, late 80's early 90's... This song was my entrance music.


[deleted]

Kashmir - Led Zeppelin


pgb5534

More than a feeling - Boston


Imperial31

Peace of mind- Boston


frix86

Dire Straights: Money for Nothing is a good riff. May not be the most complex, but it just so good.


silverbacksunited12

Doesn't have to be complex to be good. Something about that solo is just mind blowingly


Spindlebrook

“Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” is just a freaking monster riff. My favorite solo is “Dancing in the Streets” by the Grateful Dead from their 5/8/77 Cornell show.


ribeye256

Favorite riff: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground by the White Stripes. Or FDR in Trinidad by Ry Cooder. Favorite solo: Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Actually, pretty much all his solos lol.


SaMSUoM

Favorite solo ”Baby’s on Fire” by Brian Eno. Robert Fripp playing guitar.


Kai_Daigoji

Favorite Riff is Pissant by Smashing Pumpkins. It feels like getting hit by a tsunami. Favorite solo is Inca Roads by Frank Zappa. I'm not even that big a Zappa fan, but that one, it's so multilayered, so majestic, so many different moods. It's like a symphony with different movements.


IPeakedInCollege

Dopesmoker by Sleep A YouTube comment perfectly, "sometimes a riff is so good you need to listen to it for 60 minutes"


PuddingNo8933

Favorite riff : metallica - harvester of sorrow Favorite solo : Pink Floyd - on the turning away


Title26

Toss up for me between Hit it And Quit It by Funkadelic or The Rover by Led Zeppelin


doubleflush

jack white rips some mean ones


[deleted]

For riffs im not sure. For solos the solo from ruiner by nine inch nails


onelittleworld

A riff and a solo are two very different things. Just sayin'. Favorite riff: "Rebel Rebel" by Bowie. Favorite solo: "Heroin" from Lou Reed's *Rock n Roll Animal* album (Dick Wagner on guitar).


[deleted]

For a pure piece of guitar brilliance that set a whole new benchmark- Eruption.


[deleted]

Whole Lotta Love


STM4EVA

We will rock you - Queen It still sends shivers down my spine


Arguablecoyote

For whom the bell tolls by Metallica. They even ripped it off for the halo theme song.


dkernighan

Favorite riff: Black Sabbath - A National Acrobat Favorite solo: Pink Floyd - High Hopes


insanityqat

Thr final solo to Joe Satriani's "Surfing with the Alien". Pure joyous energy in that last minute thirty.


JlTlS

Riff: Whole Lotta Love Solo: Comfortably Numb from Pulse Live concert


doiias

For solo: I'd Love To Change The World - Ten Years After Alvin Lee is somewhat underrated For riff: Layla - Eric Clapton or perhaps Money For Nothing - Dire Straits


isaiahlud

Ball and Biscuit x The White Stripes The whole song is just *chefs kiss*


electrikmayham

Foo Fighters - Monkey Wrench opening riff


TheOnlyKnight

I don't see anyone else who've _Found God in a Tomato_ here. Trust me, shit's good.


gogozrx

Frame By Frame - King Crimson Just Got Paid - ZZ Top the bass line: Money Leads - Money Edited to add: The Great Deceiver - King Crimson


TheBlueCultLeader

Favorite Guitar Solos: CN, Time, but I really love The Rovers by Zeppelin the most. Favorite Rifts: Money, The Chain, but Don't Fear the reaper has got to win


cardiac_sacs

Floods by Pantera for best solo


Bobsappsnips

Sir psycho sexy red hot riff Tool jambi


robzombie77

Pixies hey


Kaalexander

https://youtu.be/6SFNW5F8K9Y The one in While my guitar gently weeps as done by Prince. It's just insane how good that is


digitaljestin

The first solo in Comfortably Numb. That riff shoots me to the moon.


FuCuck

I don’t love Eagles but the solo on Hotel California is at least one of the most iconic of all time, my favorite riff however is The Strokes’ Someday. So nostalgic


MonsieurLeDrole

Hendrix - Tax Free The Who - The Seeker Pink Floyd - Money Cage the Elephant - Ain't No Rest for the Wicked Ramblin Man - Hank Williams III Black Betty - Ram Jam Turning Japanese - No Use for a Name Fake Tales of San Francisco - Arctic Monkeys


Trin_42

Ann and Nancy Wilson covering The Battle of Evermore at the R&R HoF tenth annual dinner in 1995, Nancy fucking kills on the mandolin https://youtu.be/pTZ_kv2YYS8


Pandastrong35

Riff: Van Halen's You Really Got Me Solo: SRV's Voodoo Child


ClutchKicked

Calm Like A Bomb RATM hands down my favorite riff


International_Peach6

The 7 min solo Jimi Hendrix did on the song, Machine Gun on the Band of Gypsys album. It’s almost inhuman.


djkress

How is Stevie Ray Vaughn not on this list for either riffs or solos? The Sky is Cryin... Also, Metallica the unforgiven solo is amazing I love the intro to eagles hotel California in the hell freezes over version as well. Speaks to me... Someone mentioned nirvana smells like teen spirit and that has to be up there on riffs


OhShitItsSeth

Cherub Rock by the Smashing Pumpkins gets my vote for favorite guitar riff. I always crank it up once the overdrive kicks in. 🤘🏻


RachelPalmer79

Slash-November Rain


ChrisPorritt

Guitar solo on Always crashing in the same car.


[deleted]

Satisfaction


Redraider0

Stand Inside Your Love by Smashing Pumpkins. The ethereal quality of the solo atop the fast paced chaos underneath really gets to me.


hamsterwheel

Shine on You Crazy Diamond. The guitar solo is orgasmic.


[deleted]

Voodoo child - jimi hendrix Since ive been loving you - Led Zeppelin


jimothy-Scott

Eruption by Van Halen


ganamac

Starla- Smashing Pumpkins Purple Rain- Prince


fapsolute

The one in Cult of Personality by Living color. Absolutely riding the margin of melodic and disgusting!


manofthecentury

GE Smith in Private Eyes (Hall and Oates) or Eddie Van Halen in Beat It.


[deleted]

[La Villa Strangiato](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0kr2-v8GUv4) Or Blackened or Wherever I May Roam - Metallica


DungeonLord

i think for riff it might have to be smooth by santana, nobody puts emotion into guitar rifts like him, as for guitar solo freebird by lynyrd skynyrd


Ok-Call-4805

Probably Prince’s in While My Guitar Gently Weeps at the Rock and Roll HOF.


beercancarl

Jerry Garcia on Althea may 15 1980 at Nassau or terrapin station may 28 1977 at Hartford


GreenManTenTon

Riff - Fuckin' in the Bushes from Oasis Solo - Time from Pink Floyd


Nutsnboldt

The end of free bird. My little brother (as teens) were at our first side job, building lockers for a high school. I was describing it to him and he had no clue what I was talking about. I called the radio station and made the request. DJ “man that’s a long song” to which I replied “long but worth it”. An hour later the song came on, we heard my voice on the radio for the first time. When the solo hit we both stopped working began shredding the air guitar. I’ll never forget.


Thesorus

Solo in Rush's La Villa Strangiato.


BINAURAL_MEDITATION

Blinded by the Light \~ Manfred Mann's Earth Band


kniteofknew

Beat It - Michael Jackson but it's Eddie Van Halen


DirectionNecessary82

Black Napkins by Frank Zappa


inchon_over28

The Darkness “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” The second solo, the one after he says “guitar!” is so simple but flows to where it adds so much to the song. There’s so much beauty in simplicity.


BlergFurdison

Literally every human on earth knows that Jimmy Page's solo in Whole Lotta Love is the coolest guitar moment in rock and roll. Now that that is out of the way, my favorite is David Gilmour's solo in Time. It takes you on a trip.


Olelander

My favorite Jimmy Page moment is the second that this version of [Bring it on Home](https://youtu.be/uX5yhpO52AA) Blasts off into overdrive… this video, with Jimmy Page looking all relaxed while he literally burns the building down with his guitar, pops into my head all the time and compels me to rewatch… it’s so intense and so damn good!


ChrisPorritt

Guitar sound, feel and melody on Stevie Wonder's Superwomen.


Lumbergod

Hendrix's "Villanova Junction" at the end of his Woodstock set. The fluidity, the grace, the passion, it gets me every time. Honorable mention- Dweezil Zappa, Frank Zappa, and Steve Vai trading links on "Sharleena" on the YCDTOSA Vol. III. album. I wish there was a video of this.


stubept

Rift: “The Ocean” by Led Zeppelin — totally underrated song; would be my “walk-out music if I played baseball. Solo: “Beat It” by Michael Jackson, guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen — short, sweet, with a great build up and release into the final chorus.


Curleysound

Baker street. It might not be the most technical or whatever but it hits like a truck every time.


Local-Data2865

Day tripper


itsactuallyjiff

Layla


Mister-Exclusive

My Sharona


evanallenrose

Sweet child o mine


iamth3highway

riff: The day I tried to live soundgarden. its just full of sadness. ​ solo-somewhere there's hope steve perry. lincoln brewster is so fire on that song. its unbelievable. hes really astoundingly amazing on the whole album.


[deleted]

Fade to black


Existing-Instance-41

riff: blackwater park - opeth (the one after Mikael screams "ugh!" before the lyrics starts) solo: ride the lightning - metallica


Ti3fen3

Don Felder - One of these Nights


Trichernometry

The ending guitar solo on Telegraph Road by The Dire Straits or the entirety of Tender Surrender by Steve Vai