Most _tasteful_ guitar solo ever, in my opinion

I've been listening to Zappa's One Size Fits All album since I was 2 years old. I would make my dad play it over and over. Now at the age of 40 I still listen to it on a regular basis. And the guitar solo in Inca Roads still remains for me, the most tastefully phrased guitar solo in existence. A few years ago I dreamed this solo, from beginning to end, in full HD audio. Just goes to show how good the brain is at retaining audio. 

Starts at 1:58 or so....(amazing to see a Zappa album track that's remained on YouTube for so long, usually Gail has them taken down within seconds)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg6X2hsl52E

jamesg1213


Very nice indeed..it made me wonder what a Steely Dan/Zappa collab would have sounded like..

Totally different, but here's my favourite tasteful one; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP4dhY7f96U

I could play for hours with a guitar tone like that. Lovely.

And THIS.

SteveStrummerUK


I love the tone and technique in THIS

Gary Moore was a superb guitarist. 


Right now I'm just rediscovering Rory Gallagher, surely one of the best of all time. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ky7pmnF9WQ

SteveStrummerUK


I love the tone and technique in THIS

Yes.
 

SteveStrummerUK


And THIS.

Hell yes (probably my favorite two solos).

What about David Gilmour's solo in 'Money'

I like Jerry Douglas' sublime dobro break at 2:13; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBPTuAl2Qyk

Rain


Other than that, I've always loved Jimmy Page's solo on the live version of No Quarter from the Song Remains the Same.

That's been a favorite of mine since I was 15. Love his phrasing and tone on it. 

I've recently heard a version of Mr. Crowley by Yngwie Malmsteen. 

W/ all due respect to the guy and as much as I can dig some of his own stuff, that was an example of how taste makes a huge difference. 

No matter how many extra notes as he managed to squeeze in there, the song sounded bland by comparison to the original. 

Rhoads didn't have the best guitar sound and by today's standards his chops may not be as impressive, but I always felt he played w/ great taste and felt every single note, which contributed in making him unique.


Another metal guy who's tasteful playing always worked for me - Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden. His solos in songs like Stranger in a Strange Land always send a shriver down my spine. Beautiful playing, great vibrato. 

For me, Murray does his thing and it works w/ the song and all, but when Smith kicks in, that's like the emotional anchor of the song.

Yep love 'em all. Great stuff. My second favorite Zappa solo is the one on Montana. It's one of the best one-chord solos ever recorded. 

Have you ever noticed, Zappa barely ever used vibrato, if at all? It just wasn't in his style. His trademark was a very vocal sense of phrasing that almost sounded like speech. 

craigb

sharke


Yep love 'em all. Great stuff. My second favorite Zappa solo is the one on Montana. It's one of the best one-chord solos ever recorded. 

Have you ever noticed, Zappa barely ever used vibrato, if at all? It just wasn't in his style. His trademark was a very vocal sense of phrasing that almost sounded like speech. 

He also hated the quack you could get with Strat pickups in certain positions.  Heh...

Zappa had the most awesome single coil tone. Thinking of Watermelon In Easter Hay as a prime example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Rdkucr3zqI

Jeff Evans


Here is a tasteful solo from my old friend Frank Gambale:

Check from about 1.30 into the vid onwards. The first part is some sweep picking technique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgzChwBD-R8

Frank can play very fast but when he holds back he is truly tasteful and amazing. I used to play in a band with him in Canberra in the early 80's and it was like listening to this all night. We played a lot of country then. He is a very tasteful country lead player too. He learns pedal steel solos and plays those on guitar. It is quite something.  Was playing a Tele then too. Although I do like that lovely big fat guitar in the vid. 

This Blues lesson is pretty cool too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KUhADOESHY&feature=related

Ha, Frank Gambale! I haven't seen him since the 80's, when he was featured in guitar mags quite a lot. He sure looks different from the last time I saw him, with spiky hair and a bright yellow Ibanez! You know, back then I didn't rate him very highly (probably because the only track I ever heard was on a guitar mag flexidisc and it was more a showcase of his sweep picking technique) but I will have to check him out now because that is some very tasteful playing. 

Yeah and with Jean Luc Ponty you're getting someone who was undoubtedly shaped by his time in the Zappa band. What a fantastic learning experience it would be to play with Ponty. 

Yes Knopfler can teach a thing or two about tasteful phrasing. Plus I went to the same school as him!

I love this from Gary Moore. The Messiah will come again

What a guitarist