Ten overlooked guitar solos — from Larry Carlton to Derek Trucks — that will make you a better player through phrasing, feel, and note choice.
▶ LISTEN WHILE READING
We all know the usual suspects. The solo from "Stairway to Heaven." "Comfortably Numb." "Eruption." Those solos deserve every bit of praise they get, but some incredible guitar work tends to get overlooked simply because it isn't talked about as often.
If you're looking to improve your phrasing, vibrato, bending, and melodic sense, these ten solos deserve a spot on your practice list.
Listen While You Read
Queue up the playlist below and let the solos do the talking. Each entry links to a definitive performance on YouTube — studio takes where they exist, live cuts where the live version tells a bigger story.
1. "Kid Charlemagne" — Steely Dan
Larry Carlton's solo is practically a masterclass in phrasing and note choice. Every bend feels intentional, and the way he navigates the chord changes is pure genius. There's not a wasted note in this entire solo.
What you'll learn: Targeting chord tones and tasteful phrasing.
2. "Blue Sky" — The Allman Brothers Band
Duane Allman and Dickey Betts created one of the most melodic guitar conversations ever recorded. It's not about speed — it's about saying something with every phrase.
What you'll learn: Melodic development and major-scale improvisation.
3. "Peg" — Steely Dan
Jay Graydon's legendary solo took multiple takes to get right, and it shows. It's concise, technical, and packed with memorable phrases.
What you'll learn: Economy of notes and tasteful fusion-inspired lines.
4. "Still Got the Blues" — Gary Moore
This one is all about emotion. Gary Moore could make a single bend say more than an entire shred solo.
What you'll learn: Vibrato, sustain, and emotional phrasing.
5. "Reelin' in the Years" — Steely Dan
Elliott Randall's fiery lead work somehow still doesn't get the recognition it deserves. The phrasing is aggressive, bluesy, and endlessly creative.
What you'll learn: Pentatonic phrasing and dynamic picking.
6. "Since I've Been Loving You" — Led Zeppelin
“Sometimes becoming a better guitarist isn't about learning more notes. It's about learning how the great players make a handful of notes mean something.”
Everyone talks about "Stairway," but Jimmy Page's work here might be his finest recorded solo.
What you'll learn: Bending, dynamics, and blues expression.
7. "Kid Gloves" — Rush
Alex Lifeson never gets enough credit as a lead player. This solo combines melody with technical precision and perfectly fits the song.
What you'll learn: Odd phrasing and melodic lead construction.
8. "Hotel California (Live)" — Eagles
The studio version gets all the attention, but some of the live versions showcase even more chemistry between Don Felder and Joe Walsh.
What you'll learn: Harmonized guitar parts and thematic soloing.
9. "Drive Home" — Steven Wilson
Guthrie Govan's solo is modern guitar perfection. It builds slowly and becomes incredibly emotional without ever relying on speed.
What you'll learn: Dynamics, phrasing, and storytelling through lead guitar.
10. "Midnight in Harlem" — Tedeschi Trucks Band
Derek Trucks proves once again that a slide guitar can sing like a human voice. This solo is absolutely dripping with feel.
What you'll learn: Vocal phrasing and expressive slide techniques.
Learn These Solos
You can only get so far from listening. To actually put these solos under your fingers, pair the recordings with structured material:
- Books: Guitar Aerobics by Troy Nelson, Fretboard Logic SE by Bill Edwards, and The Advancing Guitarist by Mick Goodrick — the closest thing to a phrasing bible in print.
- Transcriptions: Hal Leonard's Steely Dan Guitar Anthology covers Carlton, Graydon, and Randall in accurate note-for-note detail.
- Online courses: Guthrie Govan's Creative Guitar series on TrueFire, Tomo Fujita's phrasing courses, and JamPlay's blues and fusion tracks are all worth the subscription.
- Backing tracks: Search "Kid Charlemagne backing track" or "Still Got the Blues backing track" on YouTube and put the vocabulary you're learning to work over the actual changes.
Final Thoughts
The best guitar solos don't always end up on "greatest of all time" lists. Sometimes the most valuable solos to learn are the ones that quietly teach you something new every time you play them.
If I had to pick just three from this list, I'd start with "Still Got the Blues," "Kid Charlemagne," and "Drive Home." They cover nearly everything that makes a great lead guitarist: feel, melody, phrasing, and knowing exactly when not to play.
Sometimes becoming a better guitarist isn't about learning more notes. It's about learning how the great players make a handful of notes mean something.
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