Canadian · #1 of 18
#1

Cortez the Killer

Neil Young · 1975 · solo by Neil Young
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Spotlights · 18 solos

The Greatest Canadian Guitar Solos

Canada gave rock two very different guitar heroes: Neil Young, with long, raw solos that stay on one note, and Alex Lifeson of Rush, precise and full of ideas. Around them are Robbie Robertson's stinging leads with The Band, Randy Bachman's jazzy breaks in BTO, Frank Marino's Hendrix-style fireworks, Jeff Healey playing lap-style, Rik Emmett of Triumph, Pat Travers, Devin Townsend, and newer players like Aaron Marshall of Intervals. Only Canadian-born guitarists are included, and every video starts at the solo.

  1. 1
    Cortez the Killer
    Neil Young · solo by Neil Young · 1975
  2. 2
    Limelight
    Rush · solo by Alex Lifeson · 1981
  3. 3
    Like A Hurricane
    Neil Young · solo by Neil Young · 1977
  4. 4
    La Villa Strangiato
    Rush · solo by Alex Lifeson · 1978
  5. 5
    Working Man
    Rush · solo by Alex Lifeson · 1974
  6. 6
    Southern Man
    Neil Young · solo by Neil Young · 1970
  7. 7
    YYZ
    Rush · solo by Alex Lifeson · 1981
  8. 8
    Down by the River
    Neil Young & Crazy Horse · solo by Neil Young · 1969
  9. 9
    Powderfinger
    Neil Young & Crazy Horse · solo by Neil Young · 1979
  10. 10
    It Makes No Difference
    The Band · solo by Robbie Robertson · 1975
  11. 11
    Blue Collar
    Bachman-Turner Overdrive · solo by Randy Bachman · 1973
  12. 12
    See the Light
    The Jeff Healey Band · solo by Jeff Healey · 1988
  13. 13
    Electric Reflections of War
    Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush · solo by Frank Marino · 1978
  14. 14
    Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights)
    Pat Travers Band · solo by Pat Travers · 1979
  15. 15
    Fight the Good Fight
    Triumph · solo by Rik Emmett · 1981
  16. 16
    Blow at High Dough
    The Tragically Hip · solo by Rob Baker · 1989
  17. 17
    Kingdom
    Devin Townsend · solo by Devin Townsend · 2000
  18. 18
    I'm Awake
    Intervals · solo by Aaron Marshall · 2015

Quick answers

Who is the greatest Canadian guitarist?

Neil Young and Alex Lifeson are the two names that come up most, and each has several solos ranked on the site's combined ranking of published lists. Robbie Robertson, Randy Bachman, Jeff Healey and Frank Marino are also often named.

What is the best Canadian guitar solo?

Going by the site's combined ranking of published lists, it's Neil Young's 'Cortez the Killer', followed by Rush's 'Limelight' and Neil Young's 'Like a Hurricane'.

Wasn't The Band mostly Canadian?

Yes. Four of its five members were Canadian, including guitarist Robbie Robertson, who was born in Toronto. That's why 'It Makes No Difference' is on this list.