Reach Down
Temple of the Dog, 1991, from Temple of the Dog. Solo by Mike McCready.
Over eleven minutes, McCready gets room for a long, searching solo recorded in tribute to Andrew Wood.
Reach Down stretches over eleven minutes, and it gives Mike McCready room for a long, searching solo. The track was recorded in tribute to Andrew Wood, and the guitar carries much of the song's grief and release. McCready's phrasing is bluesy and exploratory, with wide bends and long, singing lines that build slowly. His solo moves from patient, reflective phrases into a fiery climax, matching the song's cathartic arc. Listen for the moments when he holds back and lets the band breathe, then surges forward, giving the solo a sense of emotional release.
Reach Down by Temple of the Dog is ranked #339 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Mike McCready and the song was released in 1991. It appears on 1 lists, placing as high as #100 (Classic Rock (Louder)).
In our lists
Sources
Who played the guitar solo on Reach Down?
Mike McCready played the solo on Temple of the Dog's Reach Down (1991).
Where does Reach Down rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#339 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 1 of them.