Always with Me, Always with You

Joe Satriani, 1987, from Surfing with the Alien. Solo by Joe Satriani.

Satriani's ballad sets a sung-sounding melody over tapped arpeggios before a restrained solo.

Always with Me, Always with You shows Joe Satriani's softer side. The song opens with a gentle, tapped arpeggio pattern that creates a shimmering bed of sound, over which he plays a melody that sounds almost like a voice singing. When the solo arrives, it is restrained and tasteful, with smooth legato phrases and expressive bends that keep the emotional focus. Satriani uses his technique to serve the melody rather than to show off, which is why the track remains a favourite among players and listeners. Listen for how the tapped arpeggios provide a steady background, and notice how the main melody returns after the solo, bringing the piece back to its calm, reflective mood.

Always with Me, Always with You by Joe Satriani is ranked #159 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Joe Satriani and the song was released in 1987. It appears on 3 lists, placing as high as #65 (Radio Beat).

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Shred Guitar Solos — #15
• Instrumentals — #21
• Ballad Solos — #24
• The Best Joe Satriani Guitar Solos — #2

Sources

• Radio Beat: 88 kytarových sól na Beatu — #65
• Digital Dream Door: 250 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos — #72
• Guitar Player: The 40 Most Important Guitar Solos of the 20th Century