guitar solos

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Marty Friedman

“I would prefer no solo in a song to a solo that’s just an obligation”: Marty Friedman sets the record straight on guitar solos

By Andrew Daly published

We asked the Japan-based virtuoso to elaborate on his thoughts surrounding technique, self-indulgence and the future of solos. What we got was a manifesto for the guitar solo in the 21st century

Carlos Santana

Technique, theory, taste and feel are the key ingredients in any guitar solo – work on these elements and you will play better, more expressive leads

By Jon Bishop published

There's no messing around with this tab and video lesson: it’s time to workshop some lead guitar ideas and get your solos spotlight-worthy

Neil Young

How to solo over relative major and minor chords

By Andy Aledort published

It's one of the oldest tricks in the book, used by everyone from the Beatles to Neil Young and Pink Floyd, but playing around the major and minor tonalities can produce melodies that stick in the mind forever

Angus Young

Take your guitar solos to the next level with these genre-spanning tips

By Richard Barrett published

Soloing ideas for lead guitar in rock, blues, acoustic, metal and more to make you a better player now

Male guitarist plays music in neon light with smoke.

5 ways to start a guitar solo

By Jenna Scaramanga published

Grab the audience's attention right off the bat with these fail-safe lead guitar tips

TG Greatest Solos

The 50 greatest guitar solos of all time

By Total Guitar editors last updated

The best lead playing ever committed to record, as voted by you

Billie Joe Armstrong

Is the guitar solo dead in the 21st century?

By Jonny Scaramanga published

Opinion: With guitar solos absent from the charts, Green Day championing the anti-solo and Eddie Van Halen gone, is it the end for the fret-melting guitar hero?

Man playing Les Paul electric guitar

What do the greatest solos of all time have in common? We investigate

By Milton Mermikides published

Total Guitar follows the science behind the solos to find out exactly what makes the top 50 guitar leads so enduring

Guthrie Govan

The 20 best guitar solos of the decade

By Jonathan Horsley published

The results are in. This is the best lead playing from 2010-2019, as voted by you