Worst guitar solos in popular songs

[edvard]

THIS is my absolute No. 1 of guitar solos, where I just never know, what they were thinking ?

Starts about 2.37:




And another one, talk about overplaying Ca. 2.47:

Ya know, the first one was at least in tune, it just sounded like it was pasted on as an afterthought. The second one I don't really have a problem with either; it was in tune and fit in the mix, though I agree the wang bar abuse was a bit more than I'd like.

 

[edvard]

CC Deville. I think the solo I first thought of is from the song Fallen Angel? But I think most any solo will suffice... I'd describe it as randomly thrown together masturbatory licks, unrelated to melody, over-processed, over-performed, and best banished to the decade from whence it came.

Haha, you've just described CC Deville in his entirety. Sounded to me like a re-hash of his "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" solo. I mean, same tone, same licks, just re-arranged a bit. It fits the genre pretty well though, so I can't justify calling it anything worse.

 

[edvard]

The solos on Foreigner’s Hot Blooded are kinda suspect.
Of course, the F-boys ain’t noted for taste.

I listened and at first I was like, "well, it fits the song, and it's in tune..." then I heard the part where it sounded like he dropped his pick and got a string stuck under his belt buckle when he reached down to pick it up.

 

[edvard]

John Frusciante in the Chili Peppers’ “Dani California.” It just rips off the opening few notes of “Purple Haze,” and then does it a few more times, then progresses into noodling. I love Frusciante, by the way, but that one song is terrible.

I used to be a big fan of the Peppers, up until Hillel died, then not so much. That said John's a decent guitarist, and I don't mind that solo at all. The way-over-the-top wah bit at the end was a tad unnecessary, but that's the worst I have to say about it. I think the music video is hilarious, BTW. Anthony makes a pretty good Misfit, LOL.

 

[edvard]

Living Colour - Cult Of Personality.

Probably one of Corey Glover's best vocal performances, however.

Ha! I remember when Guitar Player had tabs of the solo when the song first came out and that first bit where he just kind of wails off the hook for a while, the tab notation said something like "(hit-or-miss randomness for 2 bars)" or something like that. Vernon's a decent player, so I hear, so I'll chalk it up to going over-the-top for the spirit of the song, and also youth. Yep, that'll do it.

 

[edvard]

I think George was only halfway through the Bert Weedon book at this point.

Winner winner chicken dinner!! (facepalm)

 

[edvard]

Tune your guitar, Skippy!

And people I used to work with couldn't understand why I didn't like Janis Joplin. I mean, the reason is right there.

 

[edvard]

Dr Hook - Cover of the Rolling Stone. And this song did indeed get the band on the cover:

ROCK AND ROOOOOOLL!!! (yeah, I agree that one was on purpose)

 

[edvard]

The solo in skynyrd's "free bird." Five seconds of that is too much. Just as bad or worse than Young's "Cinnamon Girl."

Aw yes, The Solo Everyone Loves To Hate. Most folks complaint is that it goes on too long, but seriously, if you learn to play the whole thing, it's a master class in rock lickage. I should try to do that someday...

 

[edvard]

I always thought his solos were terrible. Still an absolute banger

Wow, a Metal solo I can actually play! At least it's not out of tune or sound like he used a cardboard fruit box for an amplifier.

 

[edvard]

Rick Derringer has played some of the best I've heard, but the solo in Hang On Sloopy is "I don't know how to play the guitar" garbage.

Honorable Mention goes to Dave Davies for that similar solo in All Day and All of the Night.

Thumbs up on both counts, but I can't help but think that back then, rock guitar solos were still being worked out as to what should actually be done. Should they sound like a saxophone solo? Violin? Bagpipes? I mean, listen to 'Johnny B. Goode' and as groundbreaking as that song was, even the legendary Mr. Berry pulled a few clunkers in the main solo. Liquid sustain and two-hand tapping were a million miles away from that point, but it was the start.

 

[edvard]

Definitely Steve Winwood's worst guitar solo, but I love the fuzz tone.

Oof. I agree; put that one on the list for sure. Yipes...

 

[edvard]

Driven to Tears by The Police. Not only is the lead bad, it doesn't even remotely fit in with the song.

Oy vey, yep. That one's a clunker. At least it fits in the mix OK...

 

[Lucius Paisley]

Ha! I remember when Guitar Player had tabs of the solo when the song first came out and that first bit where he just kind of wails off the hook for a while, the tab notation said something like "(hit-or-miss randomness for 2 bars)" or something like that. Vernon's a decent player, so I hear, so I'll chalk it up to going over-the-top for the spirit of the song, and also youth. Yep, that'll do it.

Has GP ever got the tab right on anything?

 

[edvard]

Man, the first time I learned that trick (G and B string, pick a fret, G string played 2 frets up and bent up to the note played on the B string), I thought I was a rock 'n roll animal! Rawr!!

 

[edvard]

That's funny. That solo 100% sold me on Vernon the first time I heard it. It's my favorite metal solo and it wasn't even in a metal song. I used it as a reference point all through high school when I played metal. I played fast to sound frantic, not frilly.

"I played fast to sound frantic, not frilly" - The best reason I didn't go with any Slayer songs. I seriously doubt that either King or Hanneman know how to solo in any given key or scale, but what they do is absolutely perfect for the music they make.

 

[Trenchant63]

Driven to Tears by The Police. Not only is the lead bad, it doesn't even remotely fit in with the song.

I always thought the weird tone, phrasing and lack of resolution in that solo was intended to match the disturbing lyrics of the song. I’m that context, it’s a brilliant solo to me.

 

[Trenchant63]

Not exactly the solo you would expect from either of these guys at 0:45.

The song is about starting on guitar with Mel Bay books.

 

[Mark617]

Steve Howe was excellent both in Yes and in Asia. I don't get the criticism of the solo in "Heat of the Moment". It works. There is space to fill in the break and he fills it...quite nicely, I might add. That Asia album with Sole Survivor, Without You, Heat of the Moment, etc. was pretty darn good.

Vernon Reid's solo in Cult of Personality is another top notch piece of work. I wouldn't change a note.

Neil Young has played many of the worst solos known to mankind. His voice isn't as bad as Dylan's Elmer Fudd thing, but it's pretty bad. But, hey, it's Neil Young. It's too late to give him voice or guitar lessons - especially after he's given us 5 decades of sporadically decent stuff.

I love the KinKs. Dave Davies' leads in the 60s left much to be desired. But his style matured. In the 70s, he leads were much more fluid and melodic. Think Juke Box Music or Celluloid Heroes. His work on the live versions of latter one in particular was a joy to listen to.

The solo on Celluloid Heroes, from One for the Road is insane.

 

[Rick330man]

Thumbs up on both counts, but I can't help but think that back then, rock guitar solos were still being worked out as to what should actually be done. Should they sound like a saxophone solo? Violin? Bagpipes? I mean, listen to 'Johnny B. Goode' and as groundbreaking as that song was, even the legendary Mr. Berry pulled a few clunkers in the main solo. Liquid sustain and two-hand tapping were a million miles away from that point, but it was the start.

Where would the guitar solo be if Marty McFly hadn't gone back in time and shown the rock and roll world how it is done?