Fox’s Weekly Rock Question Vol 1 – What Makes A Guitar Solo Memorable?

For this segment we want to ask you a rock related question and have you answer it in the comments section below! We will also give our own thoughts that you can discuss with us.

Question

What makes a guitar solo memorable?

Fox’s Thoughts

Boy this is a really complex one to think about and answer! I think I will start off with length. Both in that it needs to be long enough that it is memorable, iconic. But at the same time not too long that it feels out of place. The solo at the end of Dani California in my opinion is the perfect length.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Dani California (All Rights Are Retained By Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Then I guess it depends on whether its acoustic or electric guitar. In my mind guitar solos are better on electric, but acoustic also have their share of moments! Acoustic seems to blend I think easier with the rest of the songs than electric does, so essentially if the solo is the first thing you think of then it is has done its job. Think “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac.

Fleetwood Mac – Landslide (All Rights Are Retained By Fleetwood Mac)

Finally does it have enough variation in the notes? If it’s a guitar solo that is just repeating the same bits over and over then is it really even a solo? Boring!!! With variation comes putting it in our memory box. And it enables that air guitar to the fullest too!

Guns N’ Roses – November Rain (All Rights Are Retained By Guns N’ Roses)
All rights to the songs used in this post are retained by the relevant artists. This site claims no rights over them.


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25 responses to “Fox’s Weekly Rock Question Vol 1 – What Makes A Guitar Solo Memorable?”

  1. Leon Stevens avatar

    So many reasons. The first guitar solo that blew me away was Eruption. Yes it was technically proficient, but there was an element of pent-up emotion. Several Angus Young solos, while sounding repetitive are crafted to expand on the song it is used in.
    Stairway? Freebird? Solos you can sing or hum, for sure.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      I think for sure there is something to be said about solos that you can sing or hum! I think that makes some of them extra memorable too and almost even more a part of the song.

      Liked by 2 people

  2. bredemarket avatar

    Does the guitarist make the guitar sing? “The Wind Cries Mary” is a perfect example.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      Yeah that is pretty much what a good guitarist does 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  3. lyndhurstlaura avatar

    I’ve never really thought about it, just enjoyed each and every one that I’ve heard. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      That is perfectly acceptable 🙂 Just enjoying the music is more than enough 😀

      Liked by 2 people

      1. lyndhurstlaura avatar

        Having said that, this morning I had a playlist on and ‘Hotel California’ by the Eagles came up; some pretty nifty guitar work on there! 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

          A song that many dont attribute great guitar work to… Incorrectly it is magical!

          Liked by 2 people

  4. richardbist avatar

    As silly as it may sound, I think it’s the emotion conveyed by the guitarist. They can be technically proficient and speedy on the frets, but if there isn’t any emotion to it, the solo feels cold and sterile.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      Yeah it’s true the best guitarists are not always the most technically brilliant. Conveying the emotion of the song is just as important,

      Liked by 1 person

  5. S.Bechtold avatar

    If the guitarist can capture the song and roll with it but bring another layer to the song. Those are my favorite ones. Tom Morello in Killing In the Name Of or Brian May in Bohemian Rhapsody. I’m always a sucker for melodic solos though.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      Melodic solos for sure are the way to go! I think you’re right it needs to feel like a natural part of the song!

      Liked by 2 people

  6. Divinity Brownwood avatar

    When I read this post the solo that came to mind was slash’s in sweet child of mine. The ending of it blended perfectly into axls next verse. Then the next few notes were almost a continuation of the solo. I can hear it in my head now. I wonder exactly what it was that made it so popular and memorable.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      I guess part of the popularity of it would have been how well known the song is. But the solo in that song is especially brilliant and the core part of that song for me.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Divinity Brownwood avatar

        Agreed! It’s the best part of that song.

        Liked by 2 people

  7. RasmaSandra avatar

    When Jimi Hendrix played the Star Spangled Banner,

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      No arguments here that was special!

      Liked by 2 people

  8. Frank Hudson avatar

    I’ll second that emotional communication element. Of course, it’s music, so its shape and how it relates to the rest of the song is part of things too, but particularly in rock music I want feeling!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      I could not agree more 😁👍🏻

      Like

  9. writinstuff avatar

    Man, I really don’t know what but you listed some of my favorites (totally forgot how awesome Dani California is). I’ll also add Hotel California and Free Bird so I guess, intensity and how it feels like a story break in the song where a montage might play, like it just enhances the story of the song with this break that lets you just live in it for a little longer. I dunno…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      I love both those songs you added, they both tell stories for sure!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. unchargedion avatar

    Hey, lovely review as always and the intricacies you venture into are amazing!
    I’d love your thoughts on the new muse track unraveling!
    Fond reader 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      Hey! 🙂

      Unravelling was actually featured on one of our segments where we talk about the coolest new songs! 🙂

      You can find our related playlist here https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2XNSN4wu2Zvhh19VzWdjfH?si=870eb73b24b849b8

      Liked by 1 person

  11. lyndhurstlaura avatar

    Now I’ve had time to think, how about Martin Barre on Aqualung?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar

      It is a wonderful choice! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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