Revelator guitar solo

Gillian Welch, 2001. Solo by David Rawlings.

Rawlings' small archtop guitar plays long, searching solos that answer Welch's voice.

Revelator is a long, haunting ballad in which David Rawlings' small archtop guitar plays searching solos that answer Gillian Welch's voice. His lines are spare and eccentric, full of unexpected notes, slides and rhythmic twists that give the music a restless quality. The archtop's tone is dry and woody, with a nasal bite that cuts through without overwhelming. Rawlings' approach is unlike any other guitarist in folk or bluegrass, drawing on jazz and old-time music. His solos build slowly, adding tension and mystery. Listen for the way his lines wander away from the melody and then circle back, creating a sense of searching that matches the song's mood.

Revelator by Gillian Welch is featured in our Bluegrass (#19) list. The solo is played by David Rawlings and the song was released in 2001.

In our lists

• The 20 Greatest Bluegrass Guitar Solos — #19
• Top 20 Guitar Solos of 2001 — #6
• The Greatest Acoustic Guitar Solos — #17

Sources