# Blues for Willarene guitar solo

> The guitar solo on Blues for Willarene by Grant Green (1961). From the album Grant's First Stand. Watch from the solo, plus the story and gear.

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Grant Green, 1961, from *Grant's First Stand*. Solo by *Grant Green*.

Green plays the blues like a horn player, repeating short figures until they build real momentum.

On Blues for Willarene, from the trio album Green Street, Grant Green plays the blues with the logic of a horn player. His single-note lines are clean and direct, and rather than rushing through scales he repeats short, catchy figures over and over, letting the repetition build momentum until the groove seems to lift. His tone is clear and slightly bright, with little distortion, so every note carries. The track is often cited by players learning how to swing a blues with simple material. Listen for the choruses where he hammers a single riff several times in a row, then subtly shifts its rhythm or ending, making a tiny change sound like a major event.

Blues for Willarene by Grant Green is featured in our Jazz (#13) list. The solo is played by Grant Green and the song was released in 1961.

## In our lists

- [The 25 Greatest Jazz Guitar Solos](https://greatestsolos.com/list/jazz/) — #13
- [The Best Grant Green Guitar Solos](https://greatestsolos.com/list/grant-green-guitar-solos/) — #13
- [Top 20 Guitar Solos of 1961](https://greatestsolos.com/list/best-guitar-solos-1961/) — #6

## Sources

- [JazzGuitar.be: Top 10 Best Jazz Guitar Solos That Will Inspire You](https://www.jazzguitar.be/blog/best-jazz-guitar-solos/) — #10

### Who played the guitar solo on Blues for Willarene?

Grant Green played the solo on Grant Green's Blues for Willarene (1961).

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