Communication Breakdown
Led Zeppelin, 1969, from Led Zeppelin. Solo by Jimmy Page.
'Communication Breakdown' is a burst of pure energy, built on a relentless, down-picked riff that anticipated punk by years. Jimmy Page's solo is short, frantic and slightly unhinged, full of rapid-fire pull-offs, bends and squeals that seem to erupt from the song rather than being placed within it. His Telecaster tone is raw and trebly, giving the track a garage-rock edge. It's a lesson in how much impact can come from a solo lasting only seconds. Listen for the way Page pushes the tempo slightly ahead of the beat, making the solo feel as if it's barely holding on before crashing back into that riff.
Communication Breakdown by Led Zeppelin is ranked #161 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Jimmy Page and the song was released in 1969. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #15 (NME).
In our lists
- The Pioneers: 1950s & 60s — #25
- Short & Perfect — #15
- Best of Jimmy Page — #6
- SGs & Telecasters — #24
- The Best Led Zeppelin Guitar Solos — #8
Sources
- NME: 50 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — #15
- Guitar Tricks: 200 Best Guitar Solos of All Time — #63
Who played the guitar solo on Communication Breakdown?
Jimmy Page played the solo on Led Zeppelin's Communication Breakdown (1969).
What guitar was used on the Communication Breakdown solo?
A fender telecaster, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does Communication Breakdown rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#161 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 2 of them.