Songs with some great guitar work in them...

[FuzzyKitten99]

Yes, another song thread.

I love hearing guitar work. Any-acoustic or electric, it doesn't matter. If the technique and skills are there, any melody will do. I am a child of a woman who had me very young (16) in 1980, so I grew up listening to Ozzy, Poison, Def Leppard, Pink Floyd, Guns & Roses, etc. My step-dad and his buddies are actually fairly good hobby-players. My husband's friend is so talented with guitar playing, you give him ANY song to listen to, he can match it on his guitar in a matter of minutes, and he doesn't read a note of music.

Anyhow, post a list of songs, and even better, if you can find a link to the actual song, post that too.

One of my all-time faves, is Hellraiser by Ozzy. This is one that I remember my mom playing a lot when the album came out (back then she had cassette). I found the video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pbl4x1OKqs

Then we can't forget Def Leppard. I think nearly all their songs warrant being here, so I won't single out just one. But "Pour Some Sugar on Me", "Photograph" & "Hysteria" are three-way tied as my favorites. "Two Steps Behind" is a close 2nd. I love the "Two Steps Behind" video (I have always had a teeny crush on Joe Elliot, and he is HOT in this one :o ): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv829hUuYAM&feature=related

Of course, Trans-Siberian Orchestra cannot be left out of this. They are the only Christmas music I like anymore, and I love their other work too. I love classical music, but their guitar work and they give a real edge to it all. And for someone to be able to play "Flight of the Bumblebee" on guitar without a mistake is pure talent. It took me 4 months of daily practice to just do it at half-time when I played it in high school on flute. video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChImLYQt-Cs

[ArenaBoy]

I play guitar and I try to expose myself to as many artists as possible in order to develop myself as a musician. I have plenty of favorite guitarists that a casual listener may have never heard of. I like a variety of guitar work but my favorite usually comes from the alternative scene such as Sonic Youth, Mudhoney, and My Bloody Valentine.

Justin King - Knock on Wood (http://youtube.com/watch?v=yh_24DXNy8E)

Justin King - Phunkdified (http://youtube.com/watch?v=aOdcqUTju5k)

Justin King - Untitled Project (http://youtube.com/watch?v=cRRF_M2T-vY&feature=related)

Kaki King (No relation) - Playing With Pink Noise (http://youtube.com/watch?v=_wsFeXWc82Y)

Rage Against the Machine - Township Rebellion, (http://youtube.com/watch?v=r13MQyr8RQs) lovely bass riff in that song. NSFW though.

Stone Roses - Fool's Gold (http://youtube.com/watch?v=k4bHMVAKDao)

Sonic Youth - Star Power. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=6ztH6Uk_Rq0) I list them as a main influence of mine. Very unique band in it's own sense.

John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist) - What I Saw. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=PlbvWtlRcH4&feature=related) He releases some amazing solo albums but I consider this one of my favorites.

Public Image Ltd - Public Image. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=KpWJRNuLHmM)

My Bloody Valentine - Only Shallow. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=GB8nCE2EoIw) Very unusual guitar work and a bit disturbing but I like it. Various modern alternative bands have looked up to these guys. Their album Loveless is a classic.

Sorry for the list being long but when I think of more artists I'm definitely posting them.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

The guitar greats when I was listening to guitar greats (and there haven't been too many since) were Steve Morse, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, that crowd. I bet you could find all sorts of stuff by these guys on You Tube.

[ArenaBoy]

The guitar greats when I was listening to guitar greats (and there haven't been too many since) were Steve Vai.

He played and learned under the one and only Frank Zappa. Zappa does not get enough credit for his guitar work.

[Fashion Lad!]

My favorite accoustic: "Pallar Anders Visa" by In Flames
Just about anything in which Slash is playing. Really.

[AnaKhouri]

Opeth has some awesome guitar work in their songs. I don't know that much about it but even I can tell it's pretty impressive. :)

[myswtghst]

I've actually fallen in love with a number of hardcore/metal type bands for the amazing guitar work, including In Flames, Killswitch Engage and Soilwork. Can't think of any specifics off the top of my head, but thought I'd throw those out there.

There's a bridge on the song Obsession by 18 visions that gets me every time. :o

I'm sure there's more, but without my iPod in front of me, I can't think of all the songs.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Almost any Black Flag song. Especially later ones. I've always said if there were any Black Flag songs on Guitar Hero, nobody would ever win. Greg Ginn is up and down the fretboard and back again so much it makes your head spin.

Any song by the DC punk band Void would be good too, if you're into that atonal, amelodic kind of guitar work.

[BlaqueKatt]

Dragonforce-fastest guitar player in the world

[monolayth]

To be a nerd....lindsey buckingham from fleetwood mac has some amazing work on their songs.

[ArenaBoy]

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Mellowship Slinky in B Major (http://youtube.com/watch?v=D3g-DEcbvlQ). The guitar in this song is fun to play.

Stone Roses - Waterfall. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=7uQMqsWsGtA) Their debut album (Self-titled = Stone Roses) has some of the most amazing songs with guitar work in them. When I bought it I couldn't stop listening to it on my ipod.

[Liminality]

Heavily biased post ahoy... I have to promote my favourite band, Dream Theater, when it comes to this. :> If you like guitarwork you cannot live without John Petrucci, his hands are phenomenal!

Okay, that was borderlining on fangirl-obsessive, but here's some songs that should set a good example:
The Mirror, Erotomania, Hell's Kitchen, Endless Sacrifice, Home, Metropolis Pt. 1, The Glass Prison, In The Prescence of Enemies Pt. 2 ~ Heretic - the Slaughter of The Damned.

Hopefully that'll do it. If not, listen to some other songs and you might get hooked. :3

[Spiffy McMoron]

Dragonforce-fastest guitar player in the world

It's true (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jgrCKhxE1s)--this video blows my mind!

Also, check out this guy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjA5faZF1A8)! :D

[Jester]

Amusingly, I was just talking about this to a friend of mine the other day. I basically called myself a guitar whore, saying that any song with good guitar in it, I'd be there.

The Cult is awesome. Yes, it's over the top. Yes, it's overdone. But honestly, can you listen to the Sonic Temple album and not be blown away? Especially Fire Woman (http://youtube.com/watch?v=E0coJxNgASs), but definitely not limited to that.

Uriah Heep's Easy Livin' (http://youtube.com/watch?v=kMQ2enDYt-g) is another favorite of mine for this. And of course Molly Hatchet's Flirting With Disaster. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=VOyXLYadgzI) (Amusingly, when I went on youtube to find this, I found this (http://youtube.com/watch?v=20iJjDubZFs) video of a performance of this same song down here in Key West that I was AT. Judging from the apparent point of view of the camera, I was only about ten feet to the right or so of the cameraman, right up near the stage. It was awesome, and sounded much better live than it sounds on this video...my guess is the camera microphone was blown!)

Obviously, Jimi Hendrix belongs in this conversation. Hell, this conversation should probably start and stop--and have many detours in between--with Jimi Hendrix. The man was so far ahead of his time, I don't think too many people have caught up to him yet....over 30 years after his death!

China Grove (http://youtube.com/watch?v=CcfEmG3TrMg) by The Doobie Brothers has some nice guitar in it, at least to me.

Ane earlier poster was right about Lindsey Buckingham. He rocks. Especially on Oh Well (http://youtube.com/watch?v=GoGnkUmvahM), even though I know that was not his song originally.

And I could go on and on and on.....and maybe later I will.

But I cannot end this post without saying that to me, the greatest single guitar riff of all time is the one in the middle of the song http://youtube.com/watch?v=wBkTUzKAiXQ by Pink Floyd off of The Wall album. Wow. Just....wow. And then.......wow!

And even beyond that song, I have always believed that David Gilmour of Floyd did not get nearly enough credit for his guitar work, which is truly spectacular.

[ArenaBoy]

Hendrix is decent to me but I think Zappa's better. He's such an underrated guitarist it's not even funny. One of my favorites of his is Willie The Pimp (http://youtube.com/watch?v=-p8eHeKYTKg) from the Hot Rats album.

One other guitar song that I love is Mother Love Bone's This is Shangrila. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=h9AjYfGMZaA)
1.
Primal Scream's Rocks (http://youtube.com/watch?v=bGJKkBmpMZA). The main riff and general feel have a Rolling Stones type sound going. They've done a variety of things but they love doing classic rock.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Hump De Bump. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=BdH987JJDYs) John Frusciante = Guitar genius. He was the reason I started playing guitar.

Ever since I've started playing I've discovered more and more guitarists, some don't even get the credit they deserve.

[Gawdzillers]

Anything by Buckethead. Look that brilliant SOB up (tons of videos on YouTube). My favorites are Carpal Tunnel Slug, Soothsayer, Final Wars, Frozen Brains Tell No Tales, and For Mom.

Anything by Paul Gilbert or with Paul Gilbert. My favorites are Green Tinted Sixties Mind by Mr. Big, King Of The Monsters by Racer X, and SVT from his solo band.

Keziah Jones, an impressive "blufunk" (his word) acoustic guitarist. Try to find "Funderlying Undermentals".

John 5. The former guitarist for Marilyn Manson and current guitarist for Rob Zombie, this mastermind can do anything from psycho-shred to face-melting bluegrass chicken-pickin' to sweet, twangy ballads. My favorite songs for all three categories, respectively, are "Feisty Cadavers", "Gein With Envy", and "Behind The Nut Love".

As for bands, I especially enjoy metal. Metallica, Megadeth, Death, and Necrophagist.

I'm all out of ideas at the moment.

[Jester]

I absolutely LOVE the guitar in Alive by Pearl Jam. Back in my college radio days, I used to JAM the monitors up in the studio whenever I played that song. For me, at least, Pearl Jam peaked with that song. Side note: Ask me sometime about the time I didn't go to dinner with them. It's quite amusing.

I love the guitar in Hunger Strike by Temple of the Dog, though even my non-playing self recognizes that it is not all that complex. Honestly, his voice is what makes the song, but I still love it....AND the guitar work.

"Gein With Envy"

That song title may be one of the greatest I've heard in a long, long time! :cheers:

(And yes, I know that most people probably don't get it. I get it. I love it!)

[ArenaBoy]

Justin King - Crown (Double neck, nuff said.) (http://youtube.com/watch?v=k-pk4osQ5to)

[Shabo]

umm... don't mind me...

Muse has some *fantastic* bass lines... in like, all of their songs... but most notably Hysteria off of Absolution.

I am so amazed at the skills in that band. The lead singer plays guitar AND piano AND sings... just... wow. Both concerts I've been to of theirs I have always been just so impressed.

[Eireann]

"It's All Too Much" by the Beatles - Jimmy Paige did the guitar solo.

"Spanish Caravan" by the Doors.

"For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her" by Simon and Garfunkel.

"Smooth" by Santana and Rob Thomas.

"Helter Skelter" - you MUST know who did THAT one. :)

[Jester]

Muse has some *fantastic* bass lines...

Good bass is so often overlooked.

I know the song is way overdone, but the bass line in Heart's Barracuda (http://youtube.com/watch?v=4bt_-R5LInU) is not only perhaps the most recognizable bass line ever, but one of the all-time best....which is probably WHY it is perhaps the most recognizable ever!

Okay, I know I am biased being a Heart pimp and all, but it IS a great bass line!

[ArenaBoy]

Best bassists have to be either Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) or Tim Commerford of Rage Against the Machine. Although the best bass I've ever heard was in Ronnie Hudson's West Coast Poplock.

Drums: John Bonham, Keith Moon, Brad Wilk (Rage Against the Machine), Terry Bozzio, Dave Grohl, John Densmore, and a lot of jazz drummers. They put rock drummers to shame. Of course the best solo is Moby Dick by Led Zeppelin.

[Knightmare]

Everyone has posted some really good ones on here! All some good names.
But we are forgetting:
Eddie Van Halen
Prince (yes, really)
Vernon Reid (Living Colour)
Et al

My two cents:

Hum: "Stars" (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rfbn3ieVUYU)
Faith No More: "Epic" (http://youtube.com/watch?v=nsETamxkT9E)
Eric Johnson: "Cliffs of Dover" (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Gi0nHPSCsAs) This guy is awesome. This is an OLD clip.

[Melxb]

I'm a child of grunge music so I'm going to put in a vote for every song on Ten by Pearl Jam. Garden still gives me the chills and Black is (to me) the perfect combination of guitar rock and sappy love song (even though it's a break-up song really).

I'm also a fan of Eric Clapton and nothing rocks like the first half of the original version of Layla. For slow songs, Wonderful Tonight in all its simplicity, just hearing the guitar riff brings tears to my eyes. Yeah, I'm maudlin like that. Having seen Eric Clapton in concert 5 times in my 30 years on earth I can honestly say that he's one of the top 5 rock guitarists EVER. But that's just my opinion.:rolleyes:

[Gawdzillers]

I really like Queens Of The Stone Age. "Go With The Flow", "Little Sister", "Song For The Dead", "Into The Hollow", "Turnin' On The Screw", and "Millionaire" are the best selections I've heard.

Priestess is another great band. The big, crunchy tone isn't just in the guitars, but the bass and drums, too. Though I have to admit, the vocals are goofy, except on "Blood".

And Wolfmother. Another tasty stoner rock band. The entire album is just phenomenal.

[irateguy]

2 classics

Deep Purple- Smoke on the Water
Jimi Hendrix - star splangled bAnner although any Hendrix guitar work is great same w Jimmy Paige.
I agree w Mel On Layla too Why in the Hell did he have to slow that song down the slow version Sucks

[Spiffy McMoron]

I know the song is way overdone, but the bass line in Heart's Barracuda (http://youtube.com/watch?v=4bt_-R5LInU) is not only perhaps the most recognizable bass line ever, but one of the all-time best....which is probably WHY it is perhaps the most recognizable ever!

I'd argue that Longview by Green Day has the most recognizable bass line ever, but that's just me. It might be a generational thing. :p

I will agree that a good bass is overlooked. Nobody loves a bass player. :(

[ArenaBoy]

Flea bass solo: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DPGlB8PZ448

Red Hot Chili Peppers:

True Men Don't Kill Coyotes. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z3Jwvk6MGV8)

Just about any Chili Peppers song has some awesome bass.
Funk has some awesome bass by the way.

And Rage Against the Machine has some awesome bass in their songs.

Township Rebellion. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=r13MQyr8RQs)

Bullet in Your Head. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=o_-QGNUYL5g&feature=related)

AND how could I forget the Smiths' Frankly Mr. Shankly for bass riffs? http://youtube.com/watch?v=iBZ1BwBBrrk

[ArenaBoy]

Back on the topic of guitars.

Sonic Youth - Teenage Riot. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=xRi2epOS5SA&feature=related)

Sonic Youth - Mary Christ. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=ndOB2V-OuDo) The riff in this song is intense.

Soundgarden - Rusty Cage. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=IHy5tFI05js&feature=related) In case you didn't know, that's Chris Cornell with the long hair. Man that was ages ago.

[Jester]

Drums: John Bonham, Keith Moon, Brad Wilk (Rage Against the Machine), Terry Bozzio, Dave Grohl, John Densmore, and a lot of jazz drummers. They put rock drummers to shame.

I agree that Densmore is often overlooked in these types of discussions. But how can you possibly not list Neil Peart of Rush? Seriously.......

Jimi Hendrix - star splangled bAnner

One of the greatest reinterpretations of all time. Period.

I'd argue that Longview by Green Day has the most recognizable bass line ever, but that's just me. It might be a generational thing.

I don't know about EVER, but yes, it is highly recognizable.

One bass riff I totally forgot about mentioning is the bass solo part of Free's All Right Now. Now THAT is some playing. Ditto for the guitar. And Paul Rodgers' vocals brings it all together. THAT is a truly great and timeless song.

[DarthRetard]

You want a sweet bass line? Look up:

Keasby Nights by Catch 22

Here's To Life - Streetlight Manifesto

The Saddest Song- Streetlight Manifesto

Down Down To Mephisto's Cafe has an amazing drum riff in it, along with If and When We Rise Again, both by Streetlight Manifesto.

Arenaboy, the two best drummers to ever sit on the throne were easily Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. Look em up, other posters if you haven't heard of em.

On to guitar work, I nomnate:

Even Flow - Pearl Jam

Slash's tribute to Jimi Hendrix on "Hey Joe"

Beer- Reel Big Fish

Tom Sawyer- Rush

YYZ- Rush

The Hand That Feeds - Nine Inch Nails

[Becks]

(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth, with ass-kicking bass work by Cliff Burton. :muya:

If you go to cdnow.com and look up the song, you can listen to it there.

{No YouTube links, for the simple fact that I find the site next to impossible to deal with, what with having dial up.}

[hecubus]

As far as guitar goes, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Page Hamilton of Helmet. Classically trained, but he can kick ass with the best of them.

Also, Brendon Small, who plays all of the instruments for Dethklok. One of the fastest I have ever heard.

[PCGameGuy]

Since my son is not actually a star yet, I'd go with Les Claypool for bass. Listening to him twist around on a Primus album is quite a joy!

Jimmy Page used to freak me out listening to Dazed and Confused in the dark as a teen, that creepy solo in the middle just latched onto whatever disturbed me at the time.

I'm agnostic on the Roger Waters/David Gilmour debate, I love stuff from both of them post-Floyd, and in Pink Floyd they meshed sooo well. Run Like Hell is still one of my faves.

I still play Eruption from Van Halen with headphones, classic Eddie doing what he does best. :)

And the acoustic version of Plush from Stone Temple Pilots is rather nice as well.

[Jester]

I'm agnostic on the Roger Waters/David Gilmour debate, I love stuff from both of them post-Floyd, and in Pink Floyd they meshed sooo well.

I am a huge Floyd fan, and was unaware there was much of a debate.

Especially since Waters played bass in Floyd.

[Massage Therapist]

ANYTHING by Rodrigo y Gabriela is phenomenal!

[Jaden]

As far as bass playing goes, I'm amazed nobody has mentioned John Entwistle of The Who, one of rock's greatest bassists. Check out "The Real Me" or "My Generation". He's a freakin' beast.

I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention Chris Squire of Yes. Check out "The Fish" for some phenomenal bass work.

As far as guitar, I'd say Hendrix FTW. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" is amazing, containing one of the greatest riffs of all time and possibly Jimi's finest moment of guitar-playing ever. Seriously. He really sounds like he's making massive overdubs, like there has to be at least 3 different guitars in there, but apparently that's him playing just one guitar and creating all of that noise while soloing and riffing. Wow. Wow.

[PCGameGuy]

Wiki to the rescue! Darn my failing memory. ;)

In 1985, Waters declared Pink Floyd defunct, but the remaining members, led by Gilmour, sued by Waters for rights to the name; they continued recording and touring as Pink Floyd and enjoyed commercial success.

When I was growing up, around that time frame, this lead to alot of the fans I knew of picking a 'side' in the debate. You are right, it's probably just a footnote in history now, but at the time it was a hot button issue. :)

[Jester]

Oh, I remember that debate. The question was who IS Pink Floyd. Waters had the audacity to say "I AM Pink Floyd" or some such. To his credit, he had written most of their bigger songs. However, as far as performance, he had played bass. Period. In my opinion, the whole band "was" Pink Floyd, and if one person could claim to be Pink Floyd, it could only be the band's founder and original lead singer/lead guitarist, Syd Barrett. The Madcap himself.

When I said I was unaware of any "debate," I meant as far as who was a better guitar player, Waters or Gilmour. I think anyone who has listened to them would agree that Gilmour is the far superior guitarist. Certainly Waters was an amazing songwriter. But the two are quite different.

My opinion? Waters is a pompous ass who tried to take more credit than was his due. Also, I was never all that impressed with his solo stuff. But that's just me.

[FuzzyKitten99]

I am actually surprised at the take-off of this thread!

I am enjoying some of the links provided by other members, and sharing them with my husband and mom, who have similar tastes as me.

[Jaden]

Actually, to some extent, I agree with Roger Waters there. Don't get me wrong, he is a pompous dickhead, but having Pink Floyd without Roger Waters would sort of be like having The Who without Pete Townshend - he's not the only important member of the band, but he's certainly the heart and soul.

The fact that Pink Floyd sucked after Waters left supports my theory ;)

[hecubus]

I refuse to even acknowledge that Pink Floyd existed after Waters left. To me, the post-Waters group will always be, "David Gilmour and Friends."

[Jester]

Actually, to some extent, I agree with Roger Waters there. Don't get me wrong, he is a pompous dickhead, but having Pink Floyd without Roger Waters would sort of be like having The Who without Pete Townshend - he's not the only important member of the band, but he's certainly the heart and soul.

The fact that Pink Floyd sucked after Waters left supports my theory ;)

I half-disagree. Their new songs after Waters left, while good, were not nearly on the level of the ones he wrote, no.

But performance-wise, they were just fine. I saw them three times in concert, always with great seats, never with Waters, and they were fantastic each time.

I disagree with comparing him to Townshend, as Townshend not only wrote most of The Who's songs, he also was lead guitar. Waters was.....bass. 'Nuff said.

[Spiffy McMoron]

I disagree with comparing him to Townshend, as Townshend not only wrote most of The Who's songs, he also was lead guitar. Waters was.....bass. 'Nuff said.

And again, I'll say:

Nobody loves a bass player. :(

:p