For guitarists just starting their journey, mastering rhythm and chords is often the first step. But let’s be honest, the real thrill often comes from unleashing a guitar solo. The history of rock guitar is punctuated by those electrifying moments where the guitar takes center stage, singing its own melody within a song. While solos might seem daunting at first, especially for beginners, the good news is that many iconic solos are surprisingly accessible. They might not be blazing fast or technically complex, but they are packed with musicality and are incredibly fun to learn.
To truly grasp a guitar solo, start by immersing yourself in the music. Listen to the solo repeatedly, internalizing its flow and feel within the song. Understanding the rhythm part of the song first will provide crucial context for how the solo fits in. Then, it’s time to dive into the solo itself. Resources like the Play Guitar Hits app offer a wealth of guitar lessons that can guide you through beginner-friendly lead guitar parts, showing you the techniques step-by-step.
Download Play Guitar Hits
The key to learning solos effectively is patience and a gradual approach. Don’t rush to play at full speed immediately. Begin with small phrases, practicing them slowly and meticulously until they are clean and accurate. Gradually increase the tempo until you reach the song’s original speed. Piece by piece, phrase by phrase, build your way through the entire solo. Memorization is crucial to truly mastering a solo. This process not only allows you to play the solo flawlessly but also helps you absorb valuable techniques and licks that you can incorporate into your own guitar playing and songwriting.
To get you started, here are ten legendary guitar solos that are perfect for beginners, requiring just a bit of dedicated practice. You can find the Guitar Solo Tabs and video lessons for all of these on Play Guitar Hits, where you can even slow down the videos to catch every nuance.
So, pick a solo that resonates with you and get ready to embark on the exciting journey of playing lead guitar!
Nirvana – Come As You Are (Part 8)
Kurt Cobain, the legendary frontman of Nirvana, was a master of conveying raw emotion with minimal notes. His guitar playing, though often described as sloppy, was incredibly impactful. This solo from “Come As You Are” is a perfect example of his genius. It’s deceptively simple, built around the vocal melody of the song, making it instantly memorable and singable on the guitar. This is a fantastic technique to emulate when crafting your own lead guitar parts – let the vocal melody inspire your solos.
Technically, the solo features prominent slides and a two-string bend, but the beauty of Cobain’s style lies in its raw energy, not technical perfection. Don’t worry about perfectly hitting every bend; focus on capturing the feel and emotion.
To nail the sound, distortion is essential, and a chorus pedal will help you achieve that signature watery, slightly detuned tone reminiscent of the original recording.
Come As You Are Guitar Solo Tab by Nirvana
The Pixies – Where Is My Mind (2) (Part 1)
This indie anthem from The Pixies, released in the late 80s, opens with an instantly recognizable guitar melody. While technically not a traditional solo, this iconic lick showcases soloing techniques and is incredibly enjoyable to play. It’s a brilliant example of how a simple melodic idea can become an integral part of a song’s identity.
Guitarist Joey Santiago uses a Les Paul with a medium overdrive to create this distinctive sound. A key element of this lick is the dissonance created by playing the open high E string against the Eb note on the 4th fret of the B string. Interestingly, the solo utilizes the E major scale, deviating from the more common minor pentatonic scale in rock solos, adding a unique flavor to the sound.
Where Is My Mind Guitar Solo Tab by The Pixies
Oasis – Don’t Look Back in Anger (2) (Part 2)
Another solo based on a major scale! This time in C major, this solo from Oasis’ “Don’t Look Back in Anger” is as anthemic and uplifting as the song itself. Noel Gallagher, known for his melodic guitar work, delivers this solo with a crunchy Epiphone Sheraton. On Play Guitar Hits, you can even find a more mellow acoustic arrangement, proving the solo’s melodic strength translates across different styles.
This solo introduces you to double stops – playing lead guitar on two strings simultaneously. This technique, popularized by guitar legend Chuck Berry, adds thickness and harmonic richness to your playing. Learning double stops is a crucial step in expanding your lead guitar vocabulary.
Don’t Look Back in Anger Guitar Solo Tab by Oasis
The Blues Brothers – Peter Gunn (Part 2)
Speaking of Chuck Berry, “Peter Gunn” by The Blues Brothers, while originally a theme song, features a bluesy guitar riff that is heavily influenced by Berry’s signature style. This track provides a fantastic introduction to blues-based lead guitar playing.
Although Steve Cropper played rhythm guitar on the original recording, Play Guitar Hits offers a cool bluesy solo arrangement that perfectly complements the E minor pentatonic vamp that forms the song’s foundation. The solo incorporates elements from the E major scale as well, blending major and minor pentatonic scales – a common technique in blues and rock guitar. You’ll encounter great licks, including a killer one that combines a bend on the G string with an unbent note on the B string. Each lick in this solo is a valuable addition to your blues guitar toolkit.
Peter Gunn Guitar Solo Tab by The Blues Brothers
The Cranberries – Zombie (Part 2)
“Zombie” by The Cranberries, a timeless 90s hit, features a guitar part that blurs the line between a melodic theme and a guitar solo. This guitar melody is so intrinsic to the song that it’s unimaginable without it – a testament to a perfectly crafted solo that serves the song beautifully.
Interestingly, Dolores O’Riordan, the band’s singer and primary songwriter, played this iconic solo herself on her distorted Gibson ES-335, not Noel Hogan, the band’s guitarist. To recreate the sound, use a standard overdrive pedal, increase the gain, and add a touch of reverb to create a smooth, blended tone.
Zombie Guitar Solo Tab by The Cranberries
The solo is based around the E minor pentatonic scale, and its primary challenge lies in the slides between notes. It starts with single-note slides and gradually progresses to two-string slides, building in complexity as it unfolds. This solo is a great exercise in developing smooth and controlled slide technique.
The Raconteurs – Steady As She Goes (Part 7)
“Steady As She Goes” by The Raconteurs, the band formed by Jack White and Brendan Benson, is packed with cool guitar layers and arrangements. This particular solo appears subtly in the background during the third verse. The Play Guitar Hits version allows you to isolate and clearly hear this often-overlooked guitar part.
The solo follows the vocal melody in the B minor natural scale and features a heavy fuzz sound. The main challenge here is maintaining clarity and articulation while using a fuzz pedal. Practice playing it slowly to ensure each note is defined before gradually increasing speed as you become comfortable.
Steady As She Goes Guitar Solo Tab by The Raconteurs
The Beatles – Drive My Car (2) (Part 2)
George Harrison, the lead guitarist for The Beatles, wasn’t known for flashy shredding, but he was a master of crafting concise, melodic guitar hooks that became integral parts of The Beatles’ iconic songs. Any Beatles solo is a valuable study in phrasing and note choice, but this solo from “Drive My Car” is particularly interesting because it provides a perfect introduction to bottleneck or slide guitar technique.
Bottleneck or slide playing originated with Delta Blues musicians in the early 20th century. It involves using a glass or metal tube on your finger (typically ring or pinky) to slide between notes on the fretboard, creating a smooth, vocal-like effect.
This simple D minor pentatonic solo is an ideal starting point for learning slide guitar. It allows you to practice essential slide guitar skills like intonation, clean playing, and vibrato.
Drive My Car Guitar Solo Tab by The Beatles
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication (Part 7)
For many aspiring lead guitarists, the solo in “Californication” by Red Hot Chili Peppers is the perfect gateway to expressive lead playing. John Frusciante’s guitar work is not about technical complexity; it’s about soulful phrasing and perfectly placed notes that serve the song’s emotional landscape.
The “Californication” solo is in F# minor pentatonic and beautifully elevates the song from the melancholic A minor mood of the verses. The guitar tone is relatively clean, with a touch of compression. A slight overdrive can help smooth out the sound and prevent unwanted squeakiness, especially given the numerous bends in the solo.
Californication Guitar Solo Tab by Red Hot Chili Peppers
U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (Part 6)
Short but incredibly impactful, the guitar solo in U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” played by The Edge, transforms an already powerful song into a monumental anthem in just eight bars. The Edge is known for his complex, layered guitar sounds, but this solo is surprisingly direct and effective.
The sound is achieved with a standard Stratocaster into a Vox amplifier, with a subtle delay to add depth and sustain. However, the magic lies in The Edge’s phrasing and melodic ideas, which are both simple and highly effective, while remaining accessible for beginner guitarists.
The Edge plays the main melody on the high E string, accompanied by the open B string as a drone. This drone note works perfectly because the song is in B minor. This technique adds harmonic richness and fills out the sonic space without resorting to complex playing.
Sunday Bloody Sunday Guitar Solo Tab by U2
John Lee Hooker – Boom Boom (2) (part 4)
If your goal is to learn how to improvise compelling guitar solos, learning the blues is absolutely essential. The pentatonic scale, slides, bends, double stops – much of the vocabulary of rock lead guitar playing is derived from the blues idiom. And when it comes to boogie rhythms, John Lee Hooker is the undisputed master.
“Boom Boom” is a classic in Hooker’s repertoire, and Play Guitar Hits features a straightforward 12-bar blues solo in E minor pentatonic that introduces you to many essential blues licks. These licks are versatile and can be applied in various musical contexts. Trust us, mastering these blues licks will be a valuable investment in your guitar playing journey.
Boom Boom Guitar Solo Tab by John Lee Hooker
These ten solos offer a fantastic starting point for beginner guitarists eager to explore lead guitar playing. All of them are available on the Play Guitar Hits app, complete with guitar solo tabs and video lessons.
Take your time to learn them properly, and you’ll not only be playing some iconic guitar solos but also building a foundation of valuable techniques and licks that will enrich your own guitar vocabulary for years to come. Enjoy the process!
About the Authors
Florent Elter
Florent Elter
Florent Elter has dedicated over 20 years to guitar instruction. A professional guitarist, arranger, composer, and performer, Florent also holds the position of artistic director at Play Guitar Hits.
Julien Bitoun
Julien Bitoun
Julien is a multifaceted musician, writer, journalist, and educator specializing in the history of rock music. He contributes to numerous guitar publications and performs with his band Julien Bitoun & The Angels.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published.
