292 - Rolling Stone's 5 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time… Do They Deserve Their Place?

In this episode, Paul Andrews dives into Rolling Stone Magazine’s recently released list of the 100 greatest guitar solos of all time. Guitarists everywhere are debating the rankings, so Paul Andrews breaks down the top five solos, highlighting what makes each one so exceptional, what techniques to listen for, and key lessons you can take into your own playing.Beginner Guitar Academy NewsAnnual SurveyBeginner Guitar Academy members: Complete the annual survey by Sunday (28th June) for your chance to win a 1-to-1 guitar lesson with Paul Andrews over Zoom! Survey takes around five minutes and helps shape the direction of the Academy.Live Member Q&AThis Sunday, 28th June at 9 pm GMT — Join Paul live on Zoom to get your questions answered. Can't make it live? Pre-submit your questions, and watch/listen to the recording later in the Academy.Rolling Stone’s Top 5 Greatest Guitar Solos5. “Eruption” - Van Halen (Eddie Van Halen)Released in 1978; revolutionized guitar playing with two-handed tappingNot just technical—exciting and joyfulGreat for working on tremolo picking, tapping, bends, whammy barhttps://youtu.be/CU-vvlFvzuk?si=cASD-8I25wFdZeK74. “Comfortably Numb” – Pink Floyd (David Gilmour)The opposite of “Eruption”: all about phrasing, feeling, and the emotion behind each noteGilmour’s playing is like singing through the guitarKey lessons: bending, vibrato, and the power of space in solos https://youtu.be/o5Ht6WIhhmU?si=GRpCHWFKKeVXOr3a3. “Hotel California” – The Eagles (Don Felder & Joe Walsh)Orchestral in arrangement with legendary harmonized endingMemorable and melodic—easy to humLesson: Make your solos singable and memorablehttps://youtu.be/FlxE6jROiGI?si=BTB6HSwXrO0eSjGg2. “Machine Gun” – Jimi HendrixChosen not for the most famous Hendrix licks, but for raw emotional powerHendrix used guitar as his voice to express himselfTip: Watch Hendrix live to see his expressive playing styleFor more on Hendrix, revisit Episode 114: “What’s All the Fuss About Jimi Hendrix?”https://youtu.be/GklrHwwEq-8?si=AVw6Mt2tG5guAzKm1. “Purple Rain” – PrinceMaybe a surprising number one, but stands out for pure emotion over technicalityEach bend and phrase is meaningful—like pouring out his soulReminder of how great a guitarist Prince really was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPGVD7Yy3Ys&list=RDJPGVD7Yy3Ys&start_radio=1DiscussionOther classics not in the Top 5: “Stairway to Heaven,” “Sweet Child O’Mine,” “November Rain,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and others got honorable mentions.What’s your all-time favorite guitar solo? Share yours in the Beginner Guitar Academy forum!Links and ResourcesFull Rolling Stone ListEpisode 114: What’s All the Fuss About Jimi Hendrix?Join the CommunityTry Beginner Guitar Academy: 2-week trial for $1 at beginnerguitaracademy.comLeave a review: If you enjoyed the show, please rate and review in your podcast app!See you next Friday for another episode! Until then: Have fun, keep practicing, and share your favorite solos with us!