Guitar Solos That Give You Chills · #1 of 18
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While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Prince · 2004 · solo by Prince
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Moods & moments · 18 solos

Guitar Solos That Give You Chills

You know the moment: the hair on your arms stands up before you can think about why. These are the goosebump solos. Hendrix turns the national anthem into feedback at Woodstock, Prince steals the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to George Harrison, Mike McCready takes Alive into the sky, and Gilmour's slow entrance on Shine On You Crazy Diamond is here too. Hit play, and each video starts at the solo.

  1. 1
    While My Guitar Gently Weeps
    Prince · solo by Prince · 2004
  2. 2
    Star Spangled Banner
    Jimi Hendrix · solo by Jimi Hendrix · 1969
  3. 3
    Machine Gun
    Jimi Hendrix · solo by Jimi Hendrix · 1970
  4. 4
    Hotel California
    Eagles · solo by Don Felder & Joe Walsh · 1976
  5. 5
    Layla
    Derek and the Dominos · solo by Eric Clapton & Duane Allman · 1970
  6. 6
    Alive
    Pearl Jam · solo by Mike McCready · 1991
  7. 7
    Sultans of Swing
    Dire Straits · solo by Mark Knopfler · 1978
  8. 8
    Marquee Moon
    Television · solo by Tom Verlaine · 1977
  9. 9
    Cliffs of Dover
    Eric Johnson · solo by Eric Johnson · 1990
  10. 10
    For the Love of God
    Steve Vai · solo by Steve Vai · 1990
  11. 11
    Shine On You Crazy Diamond
    Pink Floyd · solo by David Gilmour · 1975
  12. 12
    Like A Hurricane
    Neil Young · solo by Neil Young · 1977
  13. 13
    Southern Man
    Neil Young · solo by Neil Young · 1970
  14. 14
    Mr. Crowley
    Ozzy Osbourne · solo by Randy Rhoads · 1980
  15. 15
    Time
    Pink Floyd · solo by David Gilmour · 1973
  16. 16
    Child in Time
    Deep Purple · solo by Ritchie Blackmore · 1970
  17. 17
    Achilles Last Stand
    Led Zeppelin · solo by Jimmy Page · 1976
  18. 18
    Hallowed Be Thy Name
    Iron Maiden · solo by Dave Murray, Adrian Smith · 1982

Quick answers

Why do some guitar solos give you chills?

The chills response, sometimes called frisson, is often linked to surprise and a build in tension: a sudden jump in volume or register, a held note, or a change of harmony. Many of the solos here work that way, rising to a peak rather than staying at one level.

Which guitar solo gives the most chills?

There's no single answer. Hendrix's Star-Spangled Banner, Prince's solo at the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to George Harrison, and Hotel California's twin-guitar outro are named constantly. Put two against each other on our matchups page and vote.

What was Prince's famous While My Guitar Gently Weeps performance?

At the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction of George Harrison, Prince joined Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Dhani Harrison and others for the song, then took over the ending with an extended solo.