Is there such a thing as the best guitar solo of all times? Considering a compilation of favorite guitar solos may answer that question. Guitar solos have been around since the dawn of the guitar itself. Sometimes melodic, sometimes raucous, slow or fast, and always passionate, the best solos are those that stand the test of time with listeners, critics and musicians alike. There may be disputes among music fans as to which song deserves the coveted title, but all music fans can appreciate the intricacies that go into making an iconic guitar solo. Rolling Stone's Top 10 Greatest Guitar Solos of all time feature solos originating from rock music. However there are many additional other genres of music such as country or jazz to qualify in the best guitar solo competition.http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/20947527/the_100_greatest_guitar_songs_of_all_time/print

The "mother" of the modern guitar is possibly the vihuela, a 15th century Spanish 12-stringed instrument. http://www.guitarnoise.com/lesson/brief-history-of-the-guitar/ This instrument was soon phased out by the 17th century because it was hard to play, had acquired too many strings, and was difficult to tune. It was replaced by four and five course guitars that had seven and nine strings respectively. A course of six strings was also created in Italy in the same century, causing other guitar makers across Europe to follow suit.http://www.guyguitars.com/eng/handbook/BriefHistory.html In 1850, Antonio Torres Jurado increased the body size and width of the neck, creating a guitar for louder sound and bass response, especially for solo performers and concerts. http://www.guitarsalon.com/articles.php?articleid=35 This is the type of guitar which is prevalent today.

• Lynyrd Skynyrd: Freebird
• Guns N' Roses: November Rain and Sweet Child O Mine
• Jimi Hendrix: Machine Gun, All Along the Watchtower and Voodoo Child
• Led Zeppelin: Stairway to Heaven
• The Eagles: Hotel California
• Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb and Time
• Dire Straits: Sultans of Swing
• Stevie Ray Vaughn: Texas Flood
• ACDC: You Shook Me All Night Long
• Eric Johnson: Cliffs of Dover
• Van Halen: Eruption
• Cream: Crossroads
• Chuck Berry: Jonny B. Goode

From Spinal Tap:

• Marty DiBergi: "Do you feel that in collaboration with David, that you are afforded the opportunity to express yourself musically the way you would like to?"
• Nigel Tufnel: "Well I think I do. In my solos. My solos are my trademark"