Guitar Solos for a Funeral or Memorial · #1 of 17
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Stairway to Heaven

Led Zeppelin · 1971 · solo by Jimmy Page
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Moods & moments · 17 solos

Guitar Solos for a Funeral or Memorial

Choosing music for a funeral or memorial is hard. A guitar solo can say what words can't. These are songs whose solos people turn to in grief and remembrance: Stairway to Heaven, Free Bird, Say Hello 2 Heaven (Chris Cornell's tribute to his friend Andrew Wood), Shine On You Crazy Diamond and Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd's songs for Syd Barrett), and Buckethead's quiet instrumentals. Each video starts at the solo, so you can hear the exact moment before you choose.

  1. 1
    Stairway to Heaven
    Led Zeppelin · solo by Jimmy Page · 1971
  2. 2
    Free Bird
    Lynyrd Skynyrd · solo by Allen Collins & Gary Rossington · 1973
  3. 3
    While My Guitar Gently Weeps
    The Beatles · solo by Eric Clapton · 1968
  4. 4
    The Sky Is Crying
    Elmore James · solo by Elmore James · 1960
  5. 5
    Shine On You Crazy Diamond
    Pink Floyd · solo by David Gilmour · 1975
  6. 6
    Wish You Were Here
    Pink Floyd · solo by David Gilmour · 1975
  7. 7
    High Hopes
    Pink Floyd · solo by David Gilmour · 1994
  8. 8
    Say Hello 2 Heaven
    Temple of the Dog · solo by Mike McCready · 1991
  9. 9
    Tuesday's Gone
    Lynyrd Skynyrd · solo by Gary Rossington · 1973
  10. 10
    Let It Be
    The Beatles · solo by George Harrison · 1970
  11. 11
    Who Wants to Live Forever
    Queen · solo by Brian May · 1986
  12. 12
    The Show Must Go On
    Queen · solo by Brian May · 1991
  13. 13
    Knockin' on Heaven's Door
    Guns N' Roses · solo by Slash · 1991
  14. 14
    Soulshine
    The Allman Brothers Band · solo by Warren Haynes · 1994
  15. 15
    Nothing Else Matters
    Metallica · solo by James Hetfield · 1991
  16. 16
    Watching the Boats with My Dad
    Buckethead · solo by Buckethead · 1998
  17. 17
    Parisienne Walkways
    Gary Moore · solo by Gary Moore · 1978

Quick answers

What guitar songs are good for a funeral?

Stairway to Heaven, Free Bird and While My Guitar Gently Weeps are the most common rock choices. Instrumentals like Parisienne Walkways or Buckethead's Watching the Boats with My Dad work well where you don't want lyrics.

Can I play just the guitar solo at a memorial service?

Yes, and it's often a good fit for a short tribute moment. Check with the venue or celebrant about playback and timing. Our videos start at the solo, so you can find the section you want before you choose.

Who was Say Hello 2 Heaven written for?

Chris Cornell wrote it for Andrew Wood, the Mother Love Bone singer who died in 1990. It appears on Temple of the Dog's 1991 album.