Beyond the Canon

Great solos the big 'greatest ever' lists overlook: each is a top-5 pick in one of our genre lists but isn't in the 79-list consensus.

1. 1
   The Train Kept A-Rollin'

   Johnny Burnette and the Rock 'n Roll Trio · solo by Paul Burlison · 1956
2. 2
   Black Mountain Rag

   Doc Watson · solo by Doc Watson · 1964
3. 3
   Cler Achel

   Tinariwen · solo by Tinariwen · 2007
4. 4
   Pyramids

   Frank Ocean · solo by John Mayer · 2012
5. 5
   Pipeline

   The Chantays · solo by Bob Spickard, Brian Carman · 1963
6. 6
   A Sailor's Life

   Fairport Convention · solo by Richard Thompson · 1969
7. 7
   Meeting of the Spirits

   Mahavishnu Orchestra · solo by John McLaughlin · 1971
8. 8
   In Memory of Elizabeth Reed

   The Allman Brothers Band · solo by Duane Allman, Dickey Betts · 1971
9. 9
   September Gurls

   Big Star · solo by Alex Chilton · 1974
10. 10
    Manzanita

    Tony Rice · solo by Tony Rice · 1979
11. 11
    Even Flow

    Pearl Jam · solo by Mike McCready · 1991
12. 12
    To Zion

    Lauryn Hill · solo by Carlos Santana · 1998
13. 13
    Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)

    T-Bone Walker · solo by T-Bone Walker · 1947
14. 14
    Be-Bop-A-Lula

    Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps · solo by Cliff Gallup · 1956
15. 15
    Wipe Out

    The Surfaris · solo by Jim Fuller · 1963
16. 16
    Listen to the Mockingbird

    The Kentucky Colonels · solo by Clarence White · 1964
17. 17
    Matty Groves

    Fairport Convention · solo by Richard Thompson · 1969
18. 18
    Dark Star

    Grateful Dead · solo by Jerry Garcia · 1969
19. 19
    Baby Blue

    Badfinger · solo by Pete Ham · 1971
20. 20
    Almoraima

    Paco de Lucía · solo by Paco de Lucía · 1976
21. 21
    Diaraby

    Ali Farka Touré & Ry Cooder · solo by Ali Farka Touré, Ry Cooder · 1994
22. 22
    It's a Moot Point

    Melanie Faye · solo by Melanie Faye · 2019
23. 23
    Blue Suede Shoes

    Carl Perkins · solo by Carl Perkins · 1956
24. 24
    Let's Go Trippin'

    Dick Dale & the Del-Tones · solo by Dick Dale · 1961
25. 25
    Río Ancho

    Paco de Lucía · solo by Paco de Lucía · 1976
26. 26
    Shoot Out the Lights

    Richard & Linda Thompson · solo by Richard Thompson · 1982
27. 27
    Church Street Blues

    Tony Rice · solo by Tony Rice · 1983
28. 28
    Let's Dance

    David Bowie · solo by Stevie Ray Vaughan · 1983
29. 29
    Say It Ain't So

    Weezer · solo by Rivers Cuomo · 1994
30. 30
    Vultures

    John Mayer · solo by John Mayer · 2006
31. 31
    Chismiten

    Mdou Moctar · solo by Mdou Moctar · 2021
32. 32
    Swing to Bop

    Charlie Christian · solo by Charlie Christian · 1941
33. 33
    Mystery Train

    Elvis Presley · solo by Scotty Moore · 1955
34. 34
    Walk, Don't Run

    The Ventures · solo by Bob Bogle · 1960
35. 35
    Hey Jude

    Wilson Pickett · solo by Duane Allman · 1968
36. 36
    Oye Como Va

    Santana · solo by Carlos Santana · 1970
37. 37
    Mountain Jam

    The Allman Brothers Band · solo by Duane Allman, Dickey Betts · 1972
38. 38
    Go All the Way

    Raspberries · solo by Wally Bryson · 1972
39. 39
    La Barrosa

    Paco de Lucía · solo by Paco de Lucía · 1987
40. 40
    Live Forever

    Oasis · solo by Noel Gallagher · 1994
41. 41
    Tenere Taqhim Tossam

    Tinariwen · solo by Tinariwen · 2011
42. 42
    Cold Little Heart

    Michael Kiwanuka · solo by Michael Kiwanuka · 2016