YYZ

Rush, 1981, from Moving Pictures. Solo by Alex Lifeson.

Named for Toronto airport's code and built on its Morse-code rhythm, with a brief Lifeson solo between band workouts.

YYZ is named after the code for Toronto's airport, and its opening rhythm spells out those letters in Morse code. The track is mostly a band workout, full of intricate unison passages and shifting meters, with a brief, fiery solo from Alex Lifeson in the middle. His solo mixes rock power with a slightly exotic, melodic flavour, and it works as a short release of tension between the band's tightly composed sections. It shows Rush's ability to combine complex writing with raw energy, and it became a live showcase for all three players. Listen for how the solo launches out of the intricate ensemble section and then drops neatly back into it, like a sprinter rejoining a relay.

YYZ by Rush is ranked #252 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Alex Lifeson and the song was released in 1981. It appears on 3 lists, placing as high as #80 (Guitar Solo Legends).

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Guitar Instrumentals — #15
• The 25 Greatest Prog Guitar Solos — #17
• The Best Alex Lifeson Guitar Solos — #6
• The Best Rush Guitar Solos — #7

Sources

• Guitar Solo Legends: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — Ranked (2026) — #80
• Digital Dream Door: 250 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos — #130
• Musician Tuts: The 51 Best Guitar Solos Of All Time