Top 10 Greatest Acoustic Guitar Solos Of All Time

Guns N' Roses
After "Appetite for Destruction" helped revive heavy metal with a vengeance, Guns N' Roses shocked fans with an acoustic ballad as their second LP's sole single. "Patience" still rocked audiences as an unlikely hair metal masterpiece, partly for its epic guitar solo. It's not epic in the usual way for Slash, where the ego is backed up by huge sound and blistering shreds. Unplugged, he really displays his precise chording and soulful feel. The swooning and sweeping solo is as thrilling as any heavy metal lead. Sure, Slash's electric live version is as much of a showstopper. But the studio solo for "Patience" lives up to the title as a real work of art.

Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian may be known for their rapid-fire power metal, but "In the Forest," the understated first part in "The Bard's Song," spawned the nickname “the Bards” among fans. The acoustic folk ballad still picks up with a classical-style guitar duo by André Olbrich and Marcus Siepen. This passage may not be as momentous as Olbrich's usual electric shred, but the guitarists play off of each other with grace and complex progression. Plus, the tone is breathtaking. It's a dramatic break to bring home the song's harrowing theme, if not foreshadow the explosive "The Bard's Song: The Hobbit." Even as a standalone single, "In the Forest" demonstrates the raw creative ability and chemistry between Blind Guardian's formidable guitar duo.

Al Stewart
Beloved folk revivalist Al Stewart landed his biggest pop hit with help from prog legend Alan Parsons. The title track off the innovative soft rock album "Year of the Cat" is distinguished by an intricate sequence of multi-instrumental solos, featuring Tim Renwick on acoustic guitar. His beautiful, bright tone and groovy chord progression are immediately striking. Then, the solo gradually evolves from the song’s folksy melody into a jazzy lead. It’s the perfect transition between a cello break and a screaming electric guitar, also played by Renwick. This massive instrumental segment is very unusual for soft rock, especially for the initially traditionalist Al Stewart. But with Renwick's iconic guitarwork, especially ingenious in the acoustic bridge, “Year of the Cat” works brilliantly.

Flipsyde
The alternative hip-hop group Flipsyde exploded onto the scene with their debut single "Someday." The breakout is so powerful that it was selected as the theme for NBC's coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics. That caliber of hype is only enhanced by Dave Lopez's intricate Spanish guitar solo. Any type of guitar solo is usually considered jarring for hip-hop. But besides Lopez's exquisite flamenco ability, his style is a perfect mix of groove and rocking energy. The organic contrast between Latin acoustics and rhythmic hip-hop alone announces Flipsyde's quintessential West Coast sound. At the very least, Lopez's solo rounds out "Someday" as a true rap rock anthem.

Days of the New
Distinguished by skilled acoustic musicianship, Days of the New showed that grunge doesn't need distortion to go hard. Their biggest hit, "Touch, Peel and Stand," is considered a heavy post-grunge classic with a killer melodic interlude. Todd Whitener keeps the energy going with a sprawling guitar solo akin to Metallica. He's very open about Kirk Hammett's influence. But how many pupils can pull off that style of tone and shredding unplugged? With melodic and staccato riffs to play off of "Touch, Peel and Stand"'s persistent hooks, Whitener is clearly not just showing off. He just knows how to complete Days of the New's well-structured acoustic anthem with an iconic spotlight solo.

Stevie Ray Vaughan
The short-lived career of Stevie Ray Vaughan is surely one of the greatest in the history of blues rock. "Pride and Joy" particularly lives up to its namesake as the singer-guitarist's first single and signature song. As iconic as its hard-driving electric solo is, the 12-string acoustic version for "MTV Unplugged" shows a blues guitar master at work. The twangy boogie gets toes tapping, while the power and complexity of the hardest rock solos pull you out of your seat. SRV perfectly adapts a piece that's challenging enough on an electric six-string, with the feel of fully authentic blues. Though the virtuoso tragically passed away not long after his "Unplugged" set, its version of "Pride and Joy" alone ensures SRV's undying legacy.

Tommy Emmanuel
Classically and comedically gifted guitarist Mason Williams has left a lasting impression on pop culture with "Classical Gas." Tommy Emmanuel's version, however, is no joke. The Australian virtuoso has made a name for himself as one of the greatest fingerstyle guitarists of his generation. After his rearrangement of "Classical Gas" broke out on the album of the same name, with a string section, it has become a concert staple as a one-man symphony. Emmanuel elaborates the piece's namesake with stunning classical runs to complement Williams's iconic riff. The jazzy chords and percussive flamenco further showcase his expansive range. Mason Williams may have laid the groundwork with his enduring classic, but Emmanuel has made it his own masterpiece, as well.

Eric Clapton
Ever since Eric Clapton debuted "Layla" with Derek and the Dominos, it has become recognized as one of rock's great love songs. While Duane Allman's slide guitar dominated the original's instrumental sections, Clapton's live solo for "MTV Unplugged" is just as legendary. This smoky jazz rearrangement suddenly breaks into a catchy blues jam. The feeling is authentic, but the 40-second-long passage is dynamic and airtight. And with no frills to the mild acoustic tone, the hook is all on Clapton's playing skills. This is just one of countless awesome experiments with "Layla" as a live staple for his solo act. But Clapton’s solo for the hit "Unplugged" version rounds out the ballad's infectiously smooth groove.

John Butler Trio
John Butler's unique blend of alternative rock and refined Americana immediately won his Australian jam band renown. Their debut album is so bold that it features a 12-minute-long, 11-string acoustic guitar jam without the rest of the John Butler Trio. "Ocean" is a vanity piece, obviously, but Butler has the prowess to pull it off. His classically-infused bluegrass and serene range of emotion lead an epic instrumental odyssey. Those 12 minutes float by. Butler considers the piece to be his ongoing passion project, which he continues to rearrange and improvise with perspective in life. All the same, as an adventurous testament to the acoustic guitar's technical and emotional versatility, Butler's "Ocean" is timeless.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Don’t Speak” (1996), No Doubt
Tom Dumont’s Nylon String Solo Holds More Heartbreak Than Words Can Say

“Slow Dancing in a Burning Room (Acoustic)” (1995), John Mayer
The Acoustic Version of John Mayer’s Haunting Bridge Exemplifies the Fan-Favorite Ballad’s Bittersweet Soul

“Stranger Things Have Happened” (2007), Foo Fighters
An Intricate, Harmonious Duo Is a Strange But Stunning Turn for Dave Grohl & Chris Shiflett’s Guitar Skills

“Wanted Dead or Alive (Acoustic)” (1987), Bon Jovi
Richie Sambora’s Quick-Draw Acoustic Version of a Signature Solo Rides High

“Wish You Were Here” (1975), Pink Floyd
David Gilmour’s Bright Guitar-Vocal Duo Takes You Away in Pink Floyd’s Melancholy Masterpiece

Queen
Brian May's groundbreaking use of tone and effects helped define the unmistakable sound of Queen. But Steve Howe of Yes deserves credit for pioneering the progressive rock guitar style of such epics as "Innuendo." The whole song showcases May's mastery of the guitar, complete with a solo that abandons the electric crutch. Howe makes a guest appearance to join May in a full-throttle flamenco duo. In signature Yes style, no other instruments accompany this mind-blowing barrage of catchy rhythm and complex arpeggios. It takes a lot of nerve to unplug a prog anthem as massive as Queen's "Innuendo" right in the middle. Few guitarists besides Brian May and Steve Howe could make that the most epic part of the song.