Dry County
Bon Jovi, 1992, from Keep the Faith. Solo by Richie Sambora.
'Dry County' is Bon Jovi's most ambitious song, and it gave Richie Sambora space for his longest and most expressive solo. He plays with a big, warm Stratocaster tone, building from bluesy, melodic phrases into faster runs and dramatic bends as the song reaches its emotional peak. The solo mirrors the lyric's story of hardship in a fading oil town, adding weight and drama. Many fans consider it Sambora's finest moment on record. Listen for how he develops a few simple ideas over the course of the solo, returning to them with more intensity each time, until the band rises to meet him.
Dry County by Bon Jovi is ranked #169 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Richie Sambora and the song was released in 1992. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #12 (Planet Rock).
In our lists
Sources
- Planet Rock: The Top 40 Greatest Guitar Solos Ever — #12
- Planet Rock: The 75 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — #16
Who played the guitar solo on Dry County?
Richie Sambora played the solo on Bon Jovi's Dry County (1992).
What guitar was used on the Dry County solo?
A fender stratocaster, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does Dry County rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#169 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 2 of them.