Iconic Solos
Note-by-note breakdowns of the solos that changed everything.
The Sultans of Swing Solo: Mark Knopfler's Masterclass in Taste, Touch, and Timing
Forty-five years on, Mark Knopfler's 'Sultans of Swing' solo is still the gold standard for how phrasing, dynamics, and storytelling can outshine speed and distortion — a masterclass in feel built on nothing but fingers, a clean Strat, and impeccable taste.
The Solo That Changed Guitar Forever: Inside Eddie Van Halen's Eruption
At just 102 seconds, Eddie Van Halen's Eruption rewired what a rock guitarist could do — a perfect collision of speed, feel, the legendary Brown Sound, and fearless innovation that still defines electric guitar nearly five decades later.
The Mr. Crowley Solo: Randy Rhoads' Six Minutes of Guitar Immortality
Randy Rhoads' solo on Ozzy Osbourne's 'Mr. Crowley' from Blizzard of Ozz remains one of the most iconic guitar solos ever recorded — a perfect fusion of classical phrasing, neoclassical fire, and unforgettable melody that still defines classic rock guitar more than 40 years later.
Stairway to Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Solo Ever Recorded
More than 50 years on, Jimmy Page's solo on Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' is still the gold standard — a masterclass in phrasing, tone, and emotional payoff that helped define the greatest guitar solos of all time.
The Highway Star Solo: 50 Years Later and Still Untouchable
More than five decades after Machine Head dropped in 1972, Ritchie Blackmore's solo on Deep Purple's 'Highway Star' still sets the bar for melodic, classically-influenced rock guitar.