Zoot Allures
Frank Zappa, 1976, from Zoot Allures. Solo by Frank Zappa.
The title track of Zappa's 1976 album is a slow, moody instrumental that shows another side of his guitar playing. Over a spare, atmospheric backdrop, he plays long, sustained notes and eerie melodic phrases, letting the SG's tone hang in the air. It's less about speed than about mood, and the result is haunting and cinematic. Zappa returned to it often in concert, where it could stretch into long improvisations. Listen for how he lets notes decay into silence before the next phrase, and how the song's slow pace allows every bend and slide to carry weight, giving the whole piece a sense of suspended motion.
Zoot Allures by Frank Zappa is ranked #134 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Frank Zappa and the song was released in 1976. It appears on 4 lists, placing as high as #23 (Music in Minnesota).
In our lists
- The 25 Greatest Prog Guitar Solos — #13
- Instrumentals — #17
- SGs & Telecasters — #20
- The Best Frank Zappa Guitar Solos — #5
Sources
- Music in Minnesota: 38 Best Guitar Solos Of All Time — #23
- Bombay Lives (Substack): 100 Greatest Guitar Solos — #60
- Topito (now 10h26.com): Top 100 des plus grands solos de guitare de l'histoire (Benoit Floyd) — #60
- Guitar Tricks: 200 Best Guitar Solos of All Time — #65
Who played the guitar solo on Zoot Allures?
Frank Zappa played the solo on Frank Zappa's Zoot Allures (1976).
What guitar was used on the Zoot Allures solo?
A gibson sg, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does Zoot Allures rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#134 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 4 of them.