The Count of Tuscany
Dream Theater, 2009, from Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Solo by John Petrucci.
A nineteen-minute epic where Petrucci's slow, spacious middle solo stands out among the band's heavier sections.
The Count of Tuscany is a nineteen-minute closer that moves through heavy riffs, complex instrumental sections and quieter passages. Amid all that, John Petrucci's slow, spacious middle solo stands out. Instead of speed, he focuses on tone and atmosphere, playing long, sustained notes and gentle bends over a calm, ambient backdrop. The contrast with the surrounding heaviness makes the solo feel like a moment of reflection before the song's big finale. Listen for how Petrucci uses silence and space, letting notes fade before starting the next phrase, and for the way the solo gradually gains intensity, preparing the listener for the song's triumphant closing section.
The Count of Tuscany by Dream Theater is ranked #283 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by John Petrucci and the song was released in 2009. It appears on 1 lists, placing as high as #19 (guitarguitar).
In our lists
- The Greatest Solo of Every Year — #66
- The 25 Greatest Prog Guitar Solos — #24
- The 2000s — #21
- The Best Dream Theater Guitar Solos — #15
- The Best John Petrucci Guitar Solos — #11
Sources
Who played the guitar solo on The Count of Tuscany?
John Petrucci played the solo on Dream Theater's The Count of Tuscany (2009).
Where does The Count of Tuscany rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#283 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 1 of them.