The Best Green Day Guitar Solos

Green Day built their sound on hooks rather than shred, but Billie Joe Armstrong's compact, melody-first leads became a template for how punk bands could use a solo without abandoning economy. The rock-opera era of American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown, and the unabashed soloing on Saviors, showed him stretching out while keeping every break singable.

Informed by: Guitar World, Guitar World, Guitar.com

1. 1
   Jesus of Suburbia

   Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 2004
2. 2
   Boulevard of Broken Dreams

   Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 2004
3. 3
   Holiday

   Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 2004
4. 4
   American Idiot

   Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 2004
5. 5
   Wake Me Up When September Ends

   Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 2004
6. 6
   21 Guns

   Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 2009
7. 7
   Homecoming

   Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 2004
8. 8
   Know Your Enemy

   Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 2009
9. 9
   21st Century Breakdown

   Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 2009
10. 10
    She

    Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 1994
11. 11
    Basket Case

    Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 1994
12. 12
    When I Come Around

    Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 1994
13. 13
    Letterbomb

    Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 2004
14. 14
    Oh Love

    Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 2012
15. 15
    The American Dream Is Killing Me

    Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 2024
16. 16
    Dilemma

    Green Day · solo by Billie Joe Armstrong · 2024