If you want to become a great lead guitarist, learning iconic guitar solos is one of the best ways to improve your phrasing, vibrato, and note choice. The best guitar solos to learn aren’t just about speed or technical skill—they’re about emotion, storytelling, and timing.
Whether you’re into blues, rock, or classic solos, mastering these guitar solos to learn will enhance your phrasing and help you build a better sense of melody and rhythm. In this guide, we’ll break down 12 essential guitar solos that every guitarist should know, along with tips on how to improve your technique and play with feel.
By the end, you’ll know:
✔ Why these solos are essential for your growth
✔ The key phrasing techniques used by legendary guitarists
✔ How to make your solos sound more expressive and professional
✔ How FretDeck helps you master pentatonic scales for better lead playing
Let’s dive into the top guitar solos to learn and take your playing to the next level. 🎸🔥
1. “Comfortably Numb” – David Gilmour (Pink Floyd, 1979)
This is one of the most emotional guitar solos to learn, and a masterclass in phrasing and sustain.
Why This Solo is Essential:
✔ Slow, expressive bends – Every note is carefully chosen for maximum impact.
✔ Wide vibrato – Gives each note a singing quality.
✔ Perfect note placement – Gilmour lands on the strongest chord tones for tension and release.
🔥 Pro Tip: Don’t rush! Let each note breathe and focus on controlling your bends.
👉 Want to phrase like Gilmour? FretDeck helps you target the best notes over every chord. Get it here.
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2. “November Rain” – Slash (Guns N’ Roses, 1991)
This epic power ballad solo is one of the most expressive guitar solos to learn if you want to improve sustained bends and melodic phrasing.
Why This Solo is a Must-Learn:
✔ Long, sustained notes – Teaches patience in soloing.
✔ Big, emotional bends – A hallmark of Slash’s playing.
✔ Melodic phrasing – Sounds almost like a vocal line.
🔥 Pro Tip: Play through without distortion first to focus on phrasing before adding gain.
3. “Hotel California” – Don Felder & Joe Walsh (Eagles, 1976)
One of the best twin-guitar solos to learn, this song features harmonic lead lines and bluesy phrasing.
Key Techniques to Master:
✔ Call and response – The two guitars interact like a conversation.
✔ Blues-based phrasing – Heavy use of the B minor pentatonic scale.
✔ Harmonic lead playing – Develops your sense of dual-guitar melodies.
🔥 Pro Tip: Record yourself playing one lead line and improvise over it to develop your phrasing.
4. “The Thrill Is Gone” – B.B. King (1969)
One of the best blues guitar solos to learn, this track proves that less is more.
Why This Solo is Essential:
✔ Minimal notes, maximum emotion – Every note counts.
✔ Sustained bends – King’s bends cry with feeling.
✔ Signature vibrato – One of the most recognizable vibratos in blues.
🔥 Pro Tip: Play slowly and with intention. Don’t just hit notes—make them sing.
5. “Texas Flood” – Stevie Ray Vaughan (1983)
If you’re looking for a blues-rock guitar solo to learn, this one is full of fire and emotion.
Key Techniques in This Solo:
✔ Aggressive, dynamic bends – SRV attacks the strings with passion and intensity.
✔ Fast, fluid blues runs – Helps develop speed and articulation.
✔ Rhythmic lead playing – The solo moves with the groove, not just over it.
🔥 Pro Tip: Focus on picking dynamics—dig into the strings for that signature SRV attack.
6. “Since I’ve Been Loving You” – Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin, 1970)
A classic blues-rock solo to learn that teaches phrasing, sustain, and timing.
Why It’s Essential:
✔ Slow, dramatic bends – Create tension before resolving.
✔ Vocal-like phrasing – The solo interacts with the vocal line.
✔ Smooth slides – Helps with fluid transitions between phrases.
🔥 Pro Tip: Use your fingers instead of a pick for certain notes to add dynamic variation.
7. “Sultans of Swing” – Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits, 1978)
A fantastic fingerpicking guitar solo to learn, perfect for improving dynamics and articulation.
What You’ll Learn:
✔ Fingerpicking technique – Gives a round, percussive attack.
✔ Laid-back phrasing – Some notes are played slightly behind the beat.
✔ Melodic variation – No phrase is played exactly the same twice.
🔥 Pro Tip: Ditch the pick and use your fingers to get closer to Knopfler’s tone.
8. “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers” – Jeff Beck (1975)
One of the most beautifully phrased guitar solos to learn.
Why It’s Important:
✔ Expressive vibrato – Jeff Beck’s vibrato is smooth and controlled.
✔ Melodic storytelling – The solo unfolds like a vocal line.
✔ Subtle dynamics – Some notes are whispered, others are screamed.
🔥 Pro Tip: Play it with your fingers for better tone control and articulation.
How to Master Guitar Solos Faster with FretDeck
If you want to solo confidently, you need to:
✔ Know pentatonic scales in every key
✔ Find the strongest chord tones to land on
✔ Move smoothly between scale positions
That’s where FretDeck helps.
🎯 Why FretDeck Works:
✔ Teaches pentatonic scales in every key with interactive exercises
✔ Shows the best target notes for phrasing
✔ Helps you break out of repetitive scale runs
👉 Get FretDeck today and improve your solos instantly
Download The FretDeck & Pentatonic Secrets Course!
Download Our Course
Join Our Guitar Freaks Discord – Learn, Jam & Get Feedback
Want to improve even faster? Join our Guitar Freaks Discord, where you can:
✅ Get feedback on your solos
✅ Jam over backing tracks in real-time
✅ Learn phrasing tips from other guitarists
👉 Join our Discord here:
Join Guitar Freaks Hangout on Discord! 🎸
Get Fret Logic FREE!
Join the Guitar Freaks Hangout Discord and get exclusive access to my entire e-book, Fret Logic! Master the fretboard and elevate your solos with this comprehensive guide.
👉 Don’t miss out—join now and download your free copy!
Final Thoughts: Why These Guitar Solos Will Transform Your Playing
These guitar solos to learn will improve your phrasing, vibrato, and timing—the key ingredients to sounding like a pro.
🚀 Ready to unlock the fretboard and phrase like a legend?
👉 Get FretDeck today: [Insert Link]
🤝 Join our Guitar Freaks Discord and jam with other players: [Insert Discord Link]
Now grab your guitar and start playing with feel, not just speed! 🎸🔥
For additional insights on mastering guitar solos, check out our e-book, Fret Logic, available for free to our community members.
For a deeper understanding of iconic guitar solos, explore 10 Essential Guitar Solos And What We Can Learn From Them by Leigh Fuge.
