My favorite guitar solos - Part 1 -

Introduction

So I have decided to write a new series about songs with what I consider to be the best guitar solos. I have no real criteria that is consistent from song to song - other than originality and tone. I like shredding, just like anyone else, but it is rare that a shredding solo sticks out to me. I'm more about the feel of the song, and how well that solo matches the song and mood. I'll be giving a gear rundown for each song (at least as much as I can find), as well as what I think the solo does well. I hope this series shows you guys some new music, or at least another way to look at songs

-Now, on with the show!

"I Could Have Lied" - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Album: Blood Sugar Sex Magick

Year: 1991

Guitarist: John Frusciante

I think this song is an appropriate starting place for this new series. Placed at number 6 on the record, this song is a stripped down acoustic number for the most part. The song is very moving to me, and the overall instrumentation is great towards pushing the stripped down - near depressive mood of the song. All the emotions from the lyrics (dealing with a lost love, this is the Chili Peppers after all) continues to build into the guitar solo, and Frusciante just nails the tone of longing from the lyrics. Some have called it a bit sloppy, but I think that this just adds to the tone. He didn't care if the technique was perfect, he cared that the mood came across, and it did. Light overdriven pentatonic licks - present in so many songs old and new, have never felt this much emotion. Opening bends lead into a version of the vocal melody (with a bit of slurred timing, almost a "drunk" feel), then leads up the fretboard into another separate, but higher melody based on the vocals. It's such a moving solo, reminiscent of Hendrix. I can't speak higher of the rhythm section here as well; Chad Smith and Flea are monsters on their instruments, but they had the wisdom to just hold the base here, allowing Frusciante to soar. This is a must listen to anyone looking for inspiration on how to play a great pentatonic solo.

On the gear side - Frusciante is using a Stratocaster of some form (possibly his '62), into a basic driven amp. Not many other effects on this song (he is rather fond of effects, judging from the size of his pedal board and other RHCP and solo songs), which I think really adds into this song. It's rare that I ascribe to the "less is more" theology, but that applies here in spades.