The 16 Best Country Guitar Solos
Country guitar has its own language of chicken pickin', hybrid picking and Telecaster twang, and its best players are among the most technically gifted guitarists anywhere. This list runs from Chet Atkins' "Country Gentleman" (1953) through Jerry Reed, Albert Lee and Danny Gatton to Brad Paisley's "Cluster Pluck" (2008), and every video starts right at the solo.
- 1Albert Lee · solo by Albert Lee · 1979
- 2Brad Paisley · solo by Brad Paisley · 2008
- 3Vince Gill · solo by Vince Gill · 1991
- 4Jerry Reed · solo by Jerry Reed · 1967
- 5Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed · solo by Jerry Reed and Chet Atkins · 1972
- 6Glen Campbell · solo by Glen Campbell · 1968
- 7Danny Gatton · solo by Danny Gatton · 1991
- 8Emmylou Harris · solo by Albert Lee · 1977
- 9Brad Paisley · solo by Brad Paisley · 2008
- 10Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler · solo by Chet Atkins · 1990
- 11The Byrds · solo by Clarence White · 1969
- 12Roy Buchanan · solo by Roy Buchanan · 1972
- 13Lonnie Mack · solo by Lonnie Mack · 1963
- 14Jerry Reed · solo by Jerry Reed · 1977
- 15Vince Gill · solo by Vince Gill · 1994
- 16Chet Atkins · solo by Chet Atkins · 1953
Quick answers
Who played the guitar on Emmylou Harris's "Luxury Liner"?
Albert Lee, who played lead guitar in Emmylou Harris's band. "Luxury Liner" is from 1977, and Lee's own "Country Boy" (1979) tops this list.
Who plays on Brad Paisley's "Cluster Pluck"?
"Cluster Pluck" is a 2008 instrumental on which Brad Paisley trades solos with guest guitarists. It is one of several instrumentals on this list, alongside Jerry Reed's "The Claw" and Danny Gatton's "Elmira St. Boogie".
Who played the guitar solo on "Wichita Lineman"?
Glen Campbell himself. Before his solo career he was a session guitarist, and he plays the solo on his 1968 hit.