Hammerhead
Jeff Beck, 2010. Solo by Jeff Beck.
Hammerhead is a late-career showcase for Jeff Beck's unique approach, heavy and aggressive but full of subtlety. Playing with his fingers rather than a pick, he shapes each note with remarkable control, using the whammy bar to bend and slide pitches with slide-guitar precision. The riff is heavy and grinding, but his lead lines float over it with a vocal quality. His Stratocaster tone is warm and dynamic, responding to every change in touch. The track proves that Beck's creativity only deepened over time. Listen for the way he uses the whammy bar to glide between notes, creating smooth, singing lines that sound more like a voice than a guitar.
Hammerhead by Jeff Beck is featured in our Fusion (#21) list. The solo is played by Jeff Beck and the song was released in 2010.
In our lists
- The Greatest Solo of Every Year — #67
- The 25 Greatest Fusion Guitar Solos — #21
- 2010 to Now — #3
- Best of the 21st Century — #4
Sources
Who played the guitar solo on Hammerhead?
Jeff Beck played the solo on Jeff Beck's Hammerhead (2010).
What guitar was used on the Hammerhead solo?
A fender stratocaster, according to widely reported accounts.