I don’t mean the fastest, or the most technical etc, but ones that tug on the ole heart strings.

To start: The one at the end of this:

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtHcM29klfQ[/video]

and this:

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIFgKwWnyrE[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXT1h3Ags94[/video]

This. More Dave Gilmour.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mRbUo4496g[/video]

I did a search but youtube is filled with crap.

Brian May, we will rock you, most recognisable and most awesome guitar solo, ever.
[video]http://youtu.be/tZGpYwTNPe8[/video]

Hotel California sprang to mind as well, but I was just listening to those I posted, so went with those instead

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr3dWscslo8[/video]
Redneckrock. Love this tune.

Just seen this in the Guardian, does it qualify (around the 2:20 mark)?
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDcBKVKQizg[/video]

Hahaha no, definitely not. I’ve seen that before and it is truly horrific, even coming from someone who was into a bit of hair metal at one point.

Frank Zappa- Watermelon in Easter Hay.

from 3:06 [video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YpmqeAgEA0[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvaDNgQB6oo[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0aMm8R9Uuc[/video] i love steve rothery.he’s my fav guitarist of anyone 😀

Sends a shiver down my spine[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcj3hzRl2D8[/video]

The very solo that inspired me to learn guitar @ 1m18s

[video]http://youtu.be/QfKdzpta-Ss[/video]

I saw Rush on that very tour RF. It turns out I am as old as Rush, lol, and I won tickets to see them on Total Rock. They were awesome.

Oh, and I love that song.

Edit: Sorry, but I don’t do post-Fish Marillion 🙂

Can’t Stop by the Chilis… So simple, just 4 notes, some bends, a killer tone…

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfOdWSiyWoc[/video] (3:20)

(ironically I’ve seen it live twice, both times he turned it into a terrible fretwank)

There doesn’t seem to be a good version of Someone’s Crying by the Crimea online, but it’s bloomin good.

have been lucky enough to see rush 5 times now,they are always awesome 😀

i must agree about preferring fish also,but steve is always awesome have seen marillion a few times also.

I reckon this fits the bill nicely:
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96-7KzO_O2I&sns=em[/video]
The extraordinary Mr Lofgren at his finest, at 2:21 and 3:21
Damn, but I love this song!

Couple from Sabbath

Intro to this one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFEglC9OAns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF3jeAPGhrY

But surely no one’s mentioned Comfortably Numb from Pulse?

Amongst many I love the solo’s In I Am The Resurrection by the Stone Roses and Telegraph Road by Dire Straits. Makes me want to learn the guitar!

Any of Status Quo’s classics.

All time classic

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CohG31ecYfA[/video]

From about three minutes of this one

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV9Yj3cc3KI[/video]

Yee Gods, no Jimi. 😐

These two together, one of the best duet instrumentals I’ve enjoyed, many moments of excellence…

[video]http://youtu.be/aSPHuQY79B8[/video]

OK, it’s cheesy but to a young lad in his early teens this was about as cool as it got

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg3BYU2U6ic[/video]

Frank Zappa vs. Stevie Vai. Check out that fashion statement!

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEnzdp71U78[/video]

And this one from Lindsey Buckingham. Always find myself looking for the other guitars….

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdXbiB354us[/video]

Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil. 1968 and still way above any of that metal shite.

Dinosaur Jr. – Freak Scene

DezB, so good that deserves a link (from about 1.40)…

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxLpEX2bt8w[/video]

most of Eric Johnson but I’ll go with trail of tears

centralscrutinizer has it. Unsurprisingly.
Watemelon in Easter Hay does make my eyes a bit gritty. Memories of Frank’s early demise I suppose. 🙁

Good choice slowoldman…

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9DqykUsqRY[/video]

I just check these out to see what poor taste you all have 😉

IF you mean “rock” then something by Hendrix and also Led zep
Otherwise it would be classical from me

Any of the solos on the Blue album or Pinkeron by Weezer

cinnamon_girl – Member
Yee Gods, no Jimi.

If we’re talking heart strings and Jimi, it has the be Wind Cries Mary.

welshfarmer – Member
Good choice slowoldman…

I can’t take the credit, it was centralscrutinizer who said it.

Ah got to love the guitar solo….foot planted on monitor….fan blowing the hair…eyes closed in rapture….and inevitable air soloists playing along in perfect time and rhythm.

[ video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3cu8sDa90Y[/video ]

Watermelon in Easter hay, the live version is OK but this is the superb album version, possibly the most moving guitar solo of all time. (or it is in my little world)

Pffft.

This:

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOKn33-q4Ao[/video]

Cream – ‘Crossroads’.

Fairport Convention ‘A sailor’s life’

Rory Gallagher ‘Hey Joe’

Michael Angleo Batio – deeply moving, very sensitive playing as always! 😀 I’d like to see that quad-guitar of his setup thus:
Neck 1) 6 string. Neck 2) banjo. Neck 3) ukelele. Neck 4) sitar 😀

These kind of “power” solos are all about target notes hitting bang on chords on slow(ish) repeated progressions. As a listener it seems like it’s all down to an amazing soloist but IMO when composing / playing, it’s actually the chord progression behind it that really dictates 90% of the feeling and sound there. In some ways it dictates what’s played. (doesn’t stop Stairway’ being a blinding solo, of course!)

For anyone that likes the Gilmourish stuff, you might enjoy this one: (5:00 onwards)

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycYewhiaVBk[/video]

and this ‘ un from about 3:25

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNilsLf6eW4[/video]

Gilmour has the touch, for me. This may deliberately be emotionally cold, but the phrasing and spareness of it makes it spine-tinglingly lovely – from 2’07
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zACEJdFOpA[/video]

This is one of the best pieces the band ever did, with Gilmour’s solo striking right at the heart of it…at 2’52 if you have to jump straight to it, but it’s worth spending the time getting there.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0HrrR9QDQU[/video]

I always found this beautiful and restrained.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5AUm_xaE9A[/video]

This George Harrison track deserves to be better known, because the guitar playing is sublime.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY9TX_Q7j-o[/video]

I think also it’s George playing guitar on this minor masterpiece by JL>>>
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Kh-IMKDqM[/video]
I think JJ Cale deserves to be in here somewhere but I can’t pin him down to one solo!

Oops, forgot this:

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkQ0tpQmobc[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_Qo2-vQXQ4&feature=kp[/video]

About 5 mins in…then 90 seconds or so of bliss..