# The Best Smiths Guitar Solos

> The 17 best Smiths guitar solos, ranked. #1 is How Soon Is Now? (1984), then Shoplifters of the World Unite and The Queen Is Dead.

Canonical URL: <https://greatestsolos.com/list/the-smiths-guitar-solos/>

The Smiths became one of the most influential guitar bands of the 1980s without relying on conventional solos: Johnny Marr's layered arpeggios, tremolo textures and overdubbed hooks did the work. Their rare true lead breaks are treasured because they are so carefully arranged.

Informed by: [Last.fm - The Smiths top tracks](https://www.last.fm/music/The+Smiths/+tracks)

1. [How Soon Is Now?](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-how-soon-is-now/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1984
2. [Shoplifters of the World Unite](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-shoplifters-of-the-world-unite/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1987
3. [The Queen Is Dead](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-the-queen-is-dead/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1986
4. [This Charming Man](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-this-charming-man/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1983
5. [Paint a Vulgar Picture](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-paint-a-vulgar-picture/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1987
6. [Bigmouth Strikes Again](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-bigmouth-strikes-again/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1986
7. [Barbarism Begins at Home](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-barbarism-begins-at-home/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1985
8. [That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-that-joke-isn-t-funny-anymore/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1985
9. [The Headmaster Ritual](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-the-headmaster-ritual/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1985
10. [Death of a Disco Dancer](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-death-of-a-disco-dancer/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1987
11. [The Boy with the Thorn in His Side](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-the-boy-with-the-thorn-in-his-side/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1986
12. [Rusholme Ruffians](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-rusholme-ruffians/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1985
13. [London](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-london/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1987
14. [What Difference Does It Make?](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-what-difference-does-it-make/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1984
15. [Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-last-night-i-dreamt-that-somebody-loved-me/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1987
16. [Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-some-girls-are-bigger-than-others/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1986
17. [Hand in Glove](https://greatestsolos.com/song/the-smiths-hand-in-glove/) — The Smiths · solo by Johnny Marr · 1983

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