Many players consider guitar solos the holy grail of playing professional guitar. And it’s true — a brilliant solo is a great way to show off your improving guitar skills, but most aspiring guitarists find it difficult.
One of the most effective ways to learn to play guitar solos is by practicing existing ones. But which one should you start with? Well, it’s not a good idea to start with a complicated solo like Steve Vai’s “Juice” or Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing.”
So, to simplify things for you, here are some easy guitar solos for beginners and intermediate players.
Easy Guitar Solos For Beginners
In this section, we will review solos for total beginners.
Later in the article, we will take on solos more suitable for more advanced beginners or early intermediate players.
“Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton
Listing great guitar solos and not including at least one by Eric Clapton is challenging. Whether you like his music or not, he is a guitar legend, and “Wonderful Tonight” is one of his most well-known songs. This simple guitar solo is easy enough for any beginner to start playing but also complex enough to push you to improve your skills with bends and slides.
How To Practice
Take it slow, and don’t push yourself. Start by learning the introductory notes and work your way up from there. It doesn’t require fast finger movements, but you will soon find that the song sounds bland without well-executed bends. Once you’re comfortable with the notes, you can start working the bends into it.
What Might Trip You Up
The solo extensively uses bends and vibrato and sounds complete with them. It’s also essential to get the extent of the bends just right, or it will sound off. This might be a bit difficult at first but keep at it; it’s not as complicated as it sounds.
• • •
“Come Together” by The Beatles
Not many of The Beatles’ songs have iconic guitar solos, but “Come Together” is iconic from start to finish. The solo is effortless to learn in its simplest form, but it sounds kind of flat when you just follow the tabs. The song’s popularity is mainly due to its funky riffs and soul-like sound, making it an impressive and fun piece to play in front of friends.
How To Practice
Play with the strums and the notes until you get a feel for it. It also helps to split it into different sections since there’s quite a bit of variance between the different parts of the solo. Practice each piece until you get it right, then move on to the next.
What Might Trip You Up
The bends are exact. The song has very high notes that it hits with bends, and getting it exactly right can be difficult. The rhythm is also slightly different from what most new players are used to.
• • •
“Come As You Are” by Nirvana
Nirvana’s “Come As You Are” is one of those songs that always gets stuck in your head, whether you’re a Nirvana fan or not. It has a catchy beat and is an overall fun tune. But it’s most well-known for the simple but brilliant guitar riff that makes up the song’s intro. if you want to learn it, we cover the riff in this article, and the song’s chords here.
How To Practice
The solo is straightforward, using mainly one string. Slow down and focus on hitting the right notes first, then work on the bends and vibratos.
What Might Trip You Up
The bend on the high end of the solo is quite complex, playing two strings at that point. It’s going to take some practice to get that right.
• • •
“Can’t Stop” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Can’t Stop” is one of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ most successful live songs, performed more than 530 times since it came out in 2002. One reason for its success is its beautiful but straightforward solo and how it accentuates the rest of the song.
How To Practice
The solo uses only the B and G strings, playing most notes in the 15th and 12th frets. As usual, the best way to practice it is by first playing the notes without bends or vibratos; that way, you can get your fingers used to the movements. Once you have that under control, start working in the bends.
What Might Trip You Up
This easy guitar solo contains extreme bends, plenty of vibratos, and a slide. Though it’s not a difficult solo by any stretch, beginners might find it hard to flex their fingers enough, especially with the ring finger doing the vibrato.
• • •
“Sympathy For The Devil” by The Rolling Stones
“Sympathy For The Devil” was one of the Rolling Stones’ most controversial songs, especially in the late 60s and early 70s when it was a massive hit. But part of its modern appeal, apart from its Latinesque rhythm, is its solo, the only guitar piece in the entire song.
How To Practice
The guitar solo is simple; you don’t have to change frets often. Most of the time, your fingers are comfortably close together. But it’s best to start practicing it at around 60% or 50% of its original speed, even though that may sound strange with all the breaks between notes.
What Might Trip You Up
This easy guitar solo is sometimes slow but has moments with fast finger movements. One part close to the end has an irregular rhythm which is also strange for rookie guitarists and could take some getting used to. It will probably help to use a metronome while you’re practicing this one.
• • •
“When I Come Around” by Green Day
Billie Joe Armstrong wrote “When I Come Around” to declare his devotion to his then-girlfriend (and current wife) and the frustrations they faced while he was touring with the band. As such, it has a simple but passionate solo that conveys those feelings.
How To Practice
Green Day isn’t known for complicated guitar solos, and this is no exception. It’s one of the easiest guitar solos to learn. The first part involves a simple G triad and the progression from there is obvious. Practice it slightly slower than in the song, and you will get it right quickly.
What Might Trip You Up
There are a few instances where Billie plays two strings at once. Though that’s not difficult to manage with practice, it might be slightly tricky to get used to.
• • •
“Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” by Van Halen
Few consider Van Halen’s guitar solos easy because they sound insanely impressive. Almost everyone agrees that he was one of the greatest guitarists ever. But, despite his incredible solo sound, many of them are pretty simple, and beginner players can get used to them quite quickly.
How To Practice
This one doesn’t require the tapping that Van Halen is famous for. The first part of the solo is mainly played on one string, so get to know your fretboard first so you know which note to play where. That will also help you with the second part, which is much faster but still not very difficult. Start slowly and, very importantly, keep to the beat.
What Might Trip You Up
The first part of the solo is so simple that most players can learn it at the normal tempo, and it’s frustrating to play slowly. Due to how fast the finger movements are in the second part, new players have to slow it down. Not practicing both parts at the same speed often causes an imbalance, so instead, start both slow, even if it’s frustrating.
• • •
“Champagne Supernova” by Oasis
Noel Gallagher says that Champagne Supernova is the only Oasis song they’ve played at every gig since they wrote it, and it remains a favorite of many of their fans. Yet nobody in the band knows what it’s about. Still, it’s a beautiful song, with Noel playing an amazing but straightforward solo through much of it.
How To Practice
The solo is a single lick on the A major pentatonic scale. First, it’s good to get a feel for it by strumming the underlying chords. Once you have that down, picking the right strings will be pretty easy.
What Might Trip You Up
The solo is quite long, although it eventually fades into the background. There are no tricky parts, but it repeats the same pattern repeatedly, which can be tiring for the hands of a beginner. Gallagher also improvised a bit more during live performances, so if you’re trying to play one of those versions of the solo, you might find it more difficult.
• • •
“Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” by Guns And Roses
Slash is also considered one of the world’s greatest guitarists, and the first solo for “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” is a classic he often improvised on stage. Despite being a distinct Slash solo, it’s great for beginner guitarists because it’s one of his slower and simpler guitar solos.
How To Practice
The solo consists entirely of notes in the G major scale, all in the 5th, 1st, and 2nd positions of the scale between the 11th and 20th fret. This makes it relatively easy to play, but practicing the scale is vital too.
What Might Trip You Up
There are two guitar solos in this song, and although both are played similarly, the second solo requires some faster fingerwork and is slightly more complex. Start by learning the first solo, then move up to the second.
• • •
“Waiting On The World To Change” by John Mayer
John Mayer’s hit contains some fun guitar techniques for beginners, and the slightly bluesy tune makes it even better. And what’s best is it’s not an overly complicated solo.
How To Practice
The entire solo is in the D major pentatonic scale, and it’s all played on one string, so this might be one of the easiest guitar solos you will ever learn. Take time to get to know the scale and become familiar with the positioning of the notes. You don’t have to slow the song down much because it’s already quite a slow tune.
What Might Trip You Up
As great as it is to play it all on one string, it makes it slightly difficult to get to the right spot quickly enough, especially in the beginning. Beginners who learn to play this way will likely fall into the trap of memorizing the notes on one string and then playing using only that one, which stunts your growth as a guitarist.
• • •
“Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley
Many people don’t realize that Elvis Presley wasn’t a very accomplished guitarist, focusing mainly on acoustic guitar. Scotty Moore played most of the lead guitar on his songs. And this solo has become a natural rock ‘n roll legend. It’s aa straightforward solo to play since this was a time before complicated guitar solos became mainstream.
How To Practice
It’s a quick and simple solo that you can play using only two strings over four frets. It’s based on the E minor pentatonic scale, so that’s an excellent place to start practicing. The bends and slides are significant parts of the song’s unique sound, but leave those until you can play the notes without a hitch.
What Might Trip You Up
There isn’t much that’s complicated about the solo. From my experience, the only part that people sometimes struggle with is the timing of the slide and the bends. Be sure to play it with the song in the background until you get it right.
• • •
“Animal” by Def Leppard
The unconventional solo in Def Leppard’s hit song, Animal, adds a great touch to the piece which wouldn’t be nearly as great without it. The solo sounds difficult because of some strange timings and techniques, but it’s easy.
How To Practice
The solo starts with a sequence of bends, starting from the fourth fret and moving up one fret at a time. This is relatively easy to pull off with some practice. You can practice the central part of the solo note-by-note until you get used to it, then start incorporating the bends and other aspects.
What Might Trip You Up
The bends seem intimidating initially, but they’re not too hard to get used to. The pinched harmonic towards the solo’s end proves challenging to many beginner players. Unfortunately, it’s a vital part of it, but you will get there with practice, and you can use this pinched harmonics tutorial on YouTube to help.
• • •
“High And Dry” by Radiohead
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke did not intend for “High And Dry” to be included on their 1995 album, considering it to be “not bad… it’s very bad.” And yet the song went on to achieve great commercial success. It has a simple solo but a fun one to play.
How To Practice
The “High And Dry” solo is so easy that there’s no trick to playing it. The solo is played entirely on the B string except for the last note, which is on the G string. Most guitarists don’t even find it necessary to switch to a lower tempo to learn to play it, so just play along with the song, and you will pick it up.
What Might Trip You Up
Nothing, really. The tune is easy, and once you have the frets figured out, you will play it perfectly before you know it.
• • •
“We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister
This hit song from Twisted Sister became an anthem among people lashing out against authority figures in the mid-to-late 1980s. The solo is simple in that it mainly follows the melody of the lyrics, but it has a few exciting catches.
How To Practice
The tune is simple enough to follow, but even though it’s not fast, a slower tempo might help you initially. Leave the fancy aspects like the slides and whammy bar dips for when you have the rest of the solo down correctly.
What Might Trip You Up
Depending on your skill level, the dips and slides could take some time. Other than that, this is a really simple solo.
• • •
“Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” by Green Day
As we’ve seen, Green Day has few complicated solos, and most of Armstrong’s guitar solos are simple picking patterns. “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” isn’t even considered by many to have a proper solo because the entire solo consists of strumming, not picking. However, it’s still an impressive and unique-sounding piece of guitar.
How To Practice
The solo consists entirely of a shape similar to a typical barre chord. You bar the A, D, G, B, and e strings on the 8th fret with your index finger to mute them, then mute the E with your middle finger on the 9th fret. Keep your pinky on the G string on the 10th fret, then strum up and down. Like regular barre and power chords, move your hand to other frets while maintaining the shape.
What Might Trip You Up
It’s a strange solo and requires a unique hand shape. Though it’s easy to play, beginners often struggle to maintain the shape throughout the solo.
• • •
“Easy” by Faith No More
This song has a simple solo with plenty of musical nuances. It’s a fun solo to show off your improving guitar skills.
How To Practice
The solo relies strongly on bends and slides, but its foundation is on the D string between the 7th, 8th, and 9th frets. Start by getting those three notes right, including the bend that it starts with, then incorporate the B string on the 10th fret with a slide upwards. The rest of the solo follows a similar pattern, so once you’ve mastered that, you can easily play the rest.
What Might Trip You Up
The bends and slides are all short. You need to strike and release quickly to give the song its funky sound; holding them too long will ruin the uniqueness of the solo.
• • •
“Maybellene” by Chuck Berry
“Maybellene” isn’t as well-known as other Chuck Berry songs, but it’s a simple and catchy tune with a pure 1950s feel. As great as Berry was, his guitar solos are often excellent training for beginners because they’re so much fun to play.
How To Practice
The solo is based on simple pentatonic licks, so it’s easy to get into. Certain parts can be a bit too fast for some, so play at a tempo that works for you.
What Might Trip You Up
The rhythm is the factor I’ve seen people struggle with the most because Berry plays a few off-beat notes here and there. Always play it with the song or a backtrack.
• • •
“Wanted Dead Or Alive” by Bon Jovi
Richie Sambora, Bon Jovi’s lead guitarist, rarely plays complicated guitar solos, yet they always fit so perfectly into the style of the song. “Wanted Dead Or Alive” is an excellent example of how a good guitar solo can add character and climax.
How To Practice
Sambora is a bit all over the fretboard with this one, but he doesn’t make any fast movements. Take the time to get your fingering right and practice it one segment at a time.
What Might Trip You Up
The song seems quite complex when you first try it. Keep going, and you’ll find it’s straightforward. The pinch harmonics might appear problematic for some, but they aren’t difficult to pull off.
• • •
“Living After Midnight” by Judas Priest
This song is about how rock stars live at night. Glenn Tipton got the inspiration for the song while working on guitar riffs at 1 AM, waking up lead vocalist Rob Halford. It’s a fun song with a short and simple solo.
How To Practice
Play this once you’re comfortable with bends, vibrato, and slides, or you can use it to jump into the deep end with these skills. The solo extensively uses them, so even though there are no fast movements, it’s a good idea to take it slowly.
What Might Trip You Up
The rapid use of bends and slides might make this solo difficult for some, but I’ve found it to be good practice for those skills if you play it at a slower tempo.
• • •
“Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls
Iris is a touching song from the Nicolas Cage movie “City of Angels,” with plenty of musical nuances that make up what many consider a modern masterpiece. Its solo is a vital part of that.
How To Practice
The solo is mainly played on the G string, except for incorporating the D and B strings for a few moments. Most note transitions involve slides, making it rather easy for beginners.
What Might Trip You Up
There’s nothing complicated about the solo, but it sounds bland when you don’t have the rest of the song playing with it, so don’t play it on its own until you have all the timings right.
• • •
Simple, Easy Solos For Intermediate Guitar Players
We will now go through solos more suitable for those who already have developed their guitar playing skills a little beyond the total-beginner stage.
“Cocaine” by Eric Clapton
Cocaine is an interesting song. Its solo is simple and easy to learn but utilizes most traditional lead guitar skills, including bends and slides. The entire piece is built around a two-chord riff with very particular timings, making it a great song to learn.
How To Practice
This solo is relatively fast, so try it at a slower tempo first. You should be comfortable with bends by now, but you must practice your hammer-on a bit to get it right. Break it up into smaller parts to keep things simpler.
What Might Trip You Up
This solo has a few fast finger movements and fancy lead guitar tricks, so learning it will take some time.
• • •
“Let It Be” by The Beatles
“Let It Be” is an impressive track and one of the most popular songs by The Beatles. Interestingly, the “Mother Mary” referenced in the song is Paul McCartney’s deceased mother, not the Biblical connection most people associate the name with. Like most other Beatles songs, the solo isn’t very complex, but it’s a beautifully melodic solo.
How To Practice
The solo is relatively fast and moves all over the fretboard, so it’s a good idea to break it up into different parts and play them slowly. It also has a few hammer-on notes, so you should get some practice with those if you haven’t already.
What Might Trip You Up
The speed and exact timings are this solo’s two most challenging parts. Strangely, I’ve found that practicing it on an acoustic guitar (or on an electric guitar on a clean channel) helps with the timings, possibly because of the reduced delay, but that might be different for you.
• • •
“Californication” by Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Californication is a straightforward but dynamic song. You can play it in different styles using an acoustic or electric guitar to suit your mood and preference. The solo is also relatively slow and simple.
How To Practice
The solo only uses a few frets and strings, and it’s pretty slow, so it’s not challenging to play. The most important part is to keep your timing and rhythm right, so practice it with a backtrack or a metronome. It also helps to practice on an electric guitar since it’s usually easier to do bends on them.
What Might Trip You Up
The only challenging parts are the bends since you have to pick two strings simultaneously but only bend one (called a unison bend). This will take some practice, but it’s not very difficult to do.
“Californication” solo video lesson
• • •
“Mother” by Pink Floyd
This song from Pink Floyd’s album “The Wall” is about overprotective mothers. It’s a highly emotional song, causing many to believe it’s a personal reflection on Roger Waters’ mother, which he stoically denies.
How To Practice
This is one of Pink Floyd’s easier solos, and there’s nothing too complicated about it. Some parts require quick finger movements, so practicing them at a lower tempo is a good idea. You need to practice your hammer-on and pull-off skills a bit, but the bends are pretty straightforward.
What Might Trip You Up
Some of the bends might not be what you’re used to, like the slight bend down toward the end of the solo. Two very subtle sweep-picked arpeggios towards the end might be challenging for some non-professional guitar players.
• • •
“You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC
AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” was Brian Johnston’s first song written for the band after Ben Scott’s untimely death. It only reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it gained iconic status over time. The song’s solo isn’t overly complicated, but still an awe-inspiring piece of guitar work!
How To Practice
The solo is fast and goes all over the place on the fretboard, but at least each section is played in one area. However, it’s still a good idea to take it slowly and master one section at a time.
What Might Trip You Up
Perhaps the most difficult parts for beginners are the pick harmonics that happen a few times throughout the solo. You can practice these separately to get them right, then incorporate them into the solo.
• • •
“Highway To Hell” by AC/DC
“Highway To Hell” is one of AC/DC’s most iconic songs, right up there with “Thunderstruck,” but Highway definitely has the easier solo. It’s a bluesy solo that’s a lot of fun to play and a great way to show off your improving guitar skills.
How To Practice
It starts with a unison bend on the 7th fret and moves slowly from there. A slightly slower tempo and splitting the solo into sections might help you initially, but it really comes down to just playing the notes. As long as you keep the rhythm right and follow the tabs, it’s hard to mess this one up.
What Might Trip You Up
Apart from the unison bends, the only significant challenge is that Angus Young plays some notes separately but in such quick succession that they sound like he’s playing them simultaneously. It’s a good idea to follow the proper tabs for this one rather than play it by ear.
• • •
“Runnin’ With The Devil” by Van Halen
This song was the first track on Van Halen’s first album, and it set the tone for the band’s future by including David Lee Roth’s signature squeal, Michael Anthony’s backing vocals, and, of course, this great solo by Eddie Van Halen.
How To Practice
The solo is just one segment repeated several times throughout the song. You can make your life easier by barring the D, G, and B strings on the 14th fret, then do the same on the 14th fret for the next segment. The solo isn’t very fast, so you might not have to slow it down much.
What Might Trip You Up
Some relatively fast and complex bends later in the solo require you to use all four fingers, which takes some practice to pull off correctly.
• • •
“We Will Rock You” by Queen
Brian May is known for his easy solos, but his talent combined with the unique sound of the Red Special makes them incredibly memorable. “We Will Rock You” is one of Queen’s most famous songs (and that’s saying a lot for a band with Queen’s legacy), and the solo stands out, partly because it’s the only part of the song that involves instruments.
How To Practice
The first part of the solo is a build-up with A and E power chords, so practice your vibrato and rhythm to build the anticipation. After that, it slides up to the 14th fret, where you can play most of the solo on the A major pentatonic scale, so it’s also a good idea to practice that. Though the solo isn’t fast, it helps to play it at about 45% slower.
What Might Trip You Up
The solo often switches between strumming and picking, which takes some getting used to, but apart from that, it’s a pretty straightforward solo.
• • •
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” might be Nirvana’s most iconic song. Everyone loved it, except Kurt Cobain. He loathed the song towards the end of his life partly because of its popularity. Yet many people still adore it, almost like an anthem, and Teen Spirit’s solo (despite being very simple) is always fun to play.
How To Practice
The solo is elementary. Slow it down to around 60% of its original tempo, and you will figure it out quickly.
What May Trip You Up
Teen Spirit’s solo is relatively fast, and your hand must move over about half of the fretboard to play it. There are a few bends, but they aren’t too challenging.
• • •
“Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica
“Nothing Else Matters” is undoubtedly a beautiful song and one of the first songs many guitarists try to play. It’s so common that the song made it to the list of “forbidden riffs,” a list of songs that are “forbidden” from being played in guitar shops because everyone always plays them, proving how easy the solo is to pull off.
How To Practice
The solo focuses mainly on fret 12 to 14, but you should play it slowly at first. Practice some of your lead guitar skills, like unified bends and slides, before attempting it because “Nothing Else Matters” has plenty of those.
What Might Trip You Up
The major problem I’ve noticed when people start playing this solo, even if they get everything perfect, is that they miss the rhythm. The solo sounds strange and out of place without the backing music, leading to them playing some parts too fast. Practice it while listening to the song until you have the rhythm perfect.
• • •
“La Bamba” By Los Lobos
This hit by Los Lobos is a cover version of Ritchie Valens’ rendition of a traditional Mexican folk song. It gained international popularity after the release of the 1987 movie, making its solo one of the most recognizable solos ever recorded.
How To Practice
This solo doesn’t require moving around the fretboard too much but has fast fingerwork. It’s a good idea to practice it much slower than usual. Since most of the solo uses major scale patterns, practicing those before you attempt the solo is a good idea.
What Might Trip You Up
Apart from the slide early on and some hammer-ons and pull-offs, the speed is the most challenging part to master. This is one to start slowly.
• • •
“Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes
A song that everybody knows and either loves or hates, “Seven Nation Army” is an example of how great a simple song can sound. There is nothing complex about the music at all. Still, it has some subtle intricacies that make “Seven Nation Army” exceptional, especially with its catchy riff (which we covered in this article).
How To Practice
Because it’s a slide solo, you should ideally play this one with a finger tube of your choice. The solo is extremely simple and not really fast, mainly played on the G and high E strings in standard tuning, so understanding the CAGED method and barre guitar chords will help.
What Might Trip You Up
Slide solos aren’t very common in rock, so musicians who are used to traditional lead guitar could find it strange at first, but once you realize how easy it is, it won’t be a problem at all.
• • •
“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd
“Wish You Were Here” is a deeply emotional and often troubling song about how people break with reality, either on purpose or subconsciously, partly inspired by former Pink Floyd’s lyricist Syd Barrett’s slide into schizophrenia. The solo manages to convey this in a beautiful and haunting way.
How To Practice
The solo has slow and fast moments, with some strange rhythmic passages occasionally. It’s best to practice it slowly and one segment at a time, even though a slower speed can be frustrating in the parts that are already slow at normal speed.
What Might Trip You Up
The solo combines common lead guitar tricks like slides, bends, pull-offs, and releases. But it also has a pre-bend and release technique that’s rarely used, so many guitarists don’t know how to do it. Here’s a helpful YouTube tutorial that shows it in detail, though.
• • •
“Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses
“Sweet Child O’ Mine” is a classic Guns N’ Roses song that’s become so popular that it also made it into the “banned riffs” list, especially its intro sequence. The solo is one of Slash’s less complicated pieces, but it’s particularly striking because the entire song switches into minor chords when it starts, setting a beautiful contrast with the rest of the song.
How To Practice
It’s not a tricky solo. It follows a solid rhythm for the most part and lets you gradually flow into the faster finger movements, so you can lower the tempo a bit, put on a backtrack, and simply play it.
What Might Trip You Up
The solo starts slowly but reaches a climax at the halfway point, where you need some fast fingers. The best way to get used to this is by practicing your scales.
• • •
“Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix
“Hey Joe” is a legendary song. Over 1,000 artists, including Cher, Deep Purple, and Robert Plant, have recorded it. The cover of the song performed by guitar legend Jimi Hendrix by far the most well-known, though, especially with its catchy blues-like guitar solo.
How To Practice
It’s a pretty basic solo, but it has plenty of slides. For the most part, you can follow the standard practicing tips of slowing it down, playing with a backtrack, and splitting it into segments. The slides and bends are essential, so be sure to practice them to perfection; they contribute immeasurably to the bluesy feel of the song.
What Might Trip You Up
The only bit that’s a bit tricky is the rhythm. Because it’s so bluesy, you must hit the notes at the right moment to get the right feel. Don’t play it without a backtrack until you’ve mastered that.
• • •
“Stairway To Heaven” by Led Zeppelin
This is the number one track on the list of “banned riffs,” and with good reason. “Stairway To Heaven” is such an iconic and beautiful song that many guitarists take their first steps learning it. The guitar solo is a fitting climax to such an incredible song.
How To Practice
Jimmy Page used almost every soloing trick in this one, but it’s all standard, so it’s not too difficult to learn. It helps to use a metronome since the solo is very rhythm-focused, like most of Zeppelin’s solos. Learning it at regular speed is also nearly impossible at first for a non-professional player, so slow it down before you start practicing.
What Might Trip You Up
The guitar solo is quite long, and many beginners lose their nerve when they can’t get it down right away. Don’t give up. Take it one segment at a time, and you will get there. Don’t try to do it in a few days; it will take some time.
• • •
“Black Magic Woman” by Santana
The intro solo to Santana’s “Black Magic Woman” sets an incredible tone for the rest of the song in that unique Carlos Santana way. It starts pretty slow but builds up to some fast fingering with musically brilliant off-beat notes.
How To Practice
The first part of the guitar solo is easy to practice at normal speed, but once you get to the second half, you will have to slow it down and play with a backtrack because that’s when it gets fast, and the off-beat notes strike in.
What Might Trip You Up
The second half of the solo. That’s where things get complicated, and people get discouraged. Just push through and keep practicing.
• • •
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles
This might be one of The Beatles’ most beautiful and haunting songs. Few people realize that Eric Clapton played the song’s first guitar solo, but the distinct Clapton style is definitely there when you listen.
How To Practice
Most of the solo is in the A minor pentatonic scale, so that’s where you should start practicing. You should also practice your bends because the guitar solo has plenty of them, in true Clapton fashion.
What Might Trip You Up
There’s nothing complicated to overcome in this solo. It’s not the first solo a beginner should learn, but if you’re on an intermediate guitar level, you should manage just fine.
• • •
“Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry
“Johnny B. Goode” is an absolute classic; few people can say they don’t know the tune. The guitar solo adds so much that many people consider it their favorite part of the song. Playing this guitar solo is a lot of fun and sure to impress people.
How To Practice
The guitar solo starts with a small slide, but it’s mostly standard after that. Slowing it down at first and playing with a metronome or a backtrack can be helpful, but you should master it quickly.
What Might Trip You Up
As great as it sounds, this guitar solo has no real tricks, and you should be able to master it quite quickly.
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“Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz
This song is most famous for its fantastic riff, featured in many movies and TV shows. But it has a flashy solo that fills the piece beautifully, adding that extra bit of kick before it finishes.
How To Practice
It’s not one of the easiest solos on this list. Kravitz loves his fast fingering, bends, and off-beat notes. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to start practicing it very slowly, segment by segment, and to always play it along with a backtrack of the original song until you’ve mastered it.
What Might Trip You Up
The speed and variance are intimidating to absolute beginners, but intermediate players will find that it’s not as difficult as it seems.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Easy Guitar Solos
Solos and lead guitar often seem intimidating to beginner guitarists, and the same few questions always tend to come up, especially when they are starting to get the hang of rhythm guitar. Here are some of the questions beginners ask most often.
Why Do Beginners Always Struggle With Guitar Solos?
There are a few reasons. First, beginner guitarists don’t recognize that the solo is like a song in itself, so you should practice it as if it is a new song you’re learning. Second, like Tom Hess points out, beginners tend to practice each technique isolated from the others. A guitar solo combines techniques, so practice them in a musical context before mastering them.
Should I Become A Proficient Rhythm Guitarist Before Learning Solos?
There’s no need to perfect your rhythm guitar skills before learning solos. Learning rhythm first is helpful because it will help you understand chord progression, give you a feel for a song and its rhythm, and, of course, develop the all-important calluses, especially when you just start playing guitar.
But once you have the basics of rhythm guitar down, it’s perfectly fine to start learning solos.
How Do You Start Learning Guitar Solos?
Most rock, blues, and pop guitar solos are tightly linked with the major and minor pentatonic scales, so practicing them is an essential first step. When choosing a solo you want to learn, decide if you will use tabs or figure it out by ear. Break the guitar solo into smaller parts and learn to play it one piece at a time. It also helps to slow down the tempo of the song a bit.
Also, try to emulate the guitar tone of the solo as much as possible. Sounding as close as possible as the guitarist you want to emulate can give you a huge motivational boost. And with a gazillion plugins available nowadays at affordable prices, creating a great guitar tone isn’t difficult at all.
What Guitar Solo To Learn First?
That’s a matter of personal preference. Start with something slow, preferably focused on a few strings and frets. “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley and “High And Dry” by Radiohead are two of the most accessible solos on this list, so they might be excellent solos to start with. Don’t shy away from bends and slides, though. The sooner you develop those skills, the better.
Image Credits
Phil Collen: Kevin Nixon, CC BY-SA 4.0; Radiohead: Chris, CC BY 2.0; Twisted Sister: dr_zoidberg, CC BY-SA 2.0; Green Day “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams”: Ed Vill, CC BY 2.0; Faith No More: de: Benutzer:Smalltown Boy, CC BY-SA 3.0; Chuck Berry (“Maybellene”): Chess Records, public domain; Bon Jovi: Rosana Prada, CC BY 2.0; Judas Priest: opethpainter, CC BY 2.0; Eric Clapton (“Cocaine”): Majvdl, CC BY-SA 3.0; Let It Be: Bill Nichols, CC BY-SA 2.0; Californication: Kreepin Deth, CC BY-SA 4.0; Mother: Jean Pierre Jeannin, CC BY-SA 2.0; “You Shook Me All nite Long”: Joan Sorolla, CC BY 2.0; “Runnin’ With The Devil”: UCLA Library Special Collections; CC BY 2.0;” We Will Rock You”: Thomas Steffan, CC BY-SA 3.0; “Smells Like Teen Spirit”: Nirvana, public domain; “La Bamba”: Arthur Dark, public domain; The White Stripes: Fabio Venni, CC BY-SA 2.0; “Wish You Were Here”: Quique, CC BY 2.0; “Sweet Child O’ Mine”: Mermin Sven, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jimi Hendrix: Ary Groeneveld (?) ; Auteursrechthouder: Gemeente Rotterdam (Stadsarchief) CC-0, CC0 1.0; “Stairway To Heaven”: Andrew Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0; Santana: David Gans, CC BY-SA 2.0; “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”: Steve Mathieson, CC BY-SA 2.0; “Johnny B. Goode”: Billboard p.52, public domain; Lenny Kravitz: Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0.
