Enter Sandman
Metallica, 1991, from Metallica. Solo by Kirk Hammett.
Kirk Hammett's solo on 'Enter Sandman' is a burst of wah-drenched energy, full of fast runs and screaming bends. It fits the song's heavy, driving groove, adding drama without derailing the momentum. The main riff is one of the most recognisable in metal, and the solo gives the song a moment of release before returning to it. It's a textbook example of Hammett's style: fast, aggressive and tightly structured. Listen for how he uses the wah pedal to shape each phrase, giving the solo a vocal, almost howling quality, and how it builds to a peak before crashing back into that relentless riff.
Enter Sandman by Metallica is ranked #152 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Kirk Hammett and the song was released in 1991. It appears on 3 lists, placing as high as #3 (Alternative Nation).
In our lists
- The Most-Taught Solos — #9
- The Modern Canon: Best Since 1990 — #37
- The Road Trip 50 — #33
- Wah & Talk Box Solos — #8
- Hidden Gems — #4
- The Best Kirk Hammett Guitar Solos — #4
- The Best Metallica Guitar Solos — #6
Sources
- Alternative Nation: Top 10 Iconic Guitar Solos Of The 90's — #3
- Magazyn Gitarzysta: 100 solówek wszech czasów [100 solos of all time] — #5
- ADCI: Essentials - I 10 assoli di chitarra elettrica più iconici — #8
- Guitar Solo Legends: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — Ranked (2026) — #60
Who played the guitar solo on Enter Sandman?
Kirk Hammett played the solo on Metallica's Enter Sandman (1991).
What guitar was used on the Enter Sandman solo?
An esp, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does Enter Sandman rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#152 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 3 of them.