[2025] A Collection of Classic Western Songs with Cool Guitar Solos

Purple RainPrince

Prince – Purple Rain (Official Video)

Prince, an American singer-songwriter with world-class guitar skills, was hugely active in the 1980s and rivaled Michael Jackson in popularity.

One of his signature works is Purple Rain.

It’s a piece that seems to encapsulate Prince’s artistry—his exceptional songwriting, emotive vocal delivery, and remarkable guitar technique.

The final guitar solo, in particular, is breathtaking; he wields the guitar as if it were an extension of his own body.

You Really Got MeThe Kinks

the kinks- you really got me

Released in 1964, this was a truly revolutionary track that redrew the map of rock music.

Issued as The Kinks’ debut single, the song—written by Ray Davies—is brimming with youth and passion.

Its distorted guitar sound and powerful riff are distinctive, and it’s often cited as a forerunner of hard rock and heavy metal.

Dave Davies’s innovative guitar solo influenced countless musicians.

A powerful, catchy number that seems to embody youthful energy and a love for street culture, it’s recommended not only for rock fans but also for anyone interested in the history of music.

For The Love Of GodSteve Vai

Steve Vai – “For The Love Of God”

Steve Vai is a famous guitarist known as one of the disciples of the great artist Frank Zappa.

He’s a Grammy-winning guitarist with extraordinarily advanced playing technique.

Among his works, one I especially recommend is For The Love Of God.

As you can tell from the fact that he joined Frank Zappa’s band as an official guitarist, you can experience exceptionally high-level guitar technique.

It’s an instrumental track featuring only guitar, so be sure to check it out.

The TrooperIron Maiden

Iron Maiden – The Trooper (Official Video)

Centered on a bass-driven band ensemble and showcasing a style defined by dramatically interwoven twin leads, Iron Maiden has had an immense impact on the history of heavy metal.

This track, included on the 1983 masterpiece Piece of Mind, is a classic packed with the rousing essence of heavy metal—so much so that the Japanese title “A Fight Without Tomorrow” feels understandable.

Faithful to fundamentals yet executed with solid technique, its melodic guitar solo is the sort of thing any metal guitarist would want to try imitating at least once.

Under A Glass MoonDream Theater

Under a Glass Moon

Dream Theater is a progressive metal band featuring guitarist John Petrucci, renowned for his technical and academic playing.

The track Under a Glass Moon, from their second album Images & Words, creates impact with arrangements that make characteristic use of odd time signatures.

The flowing, rapid-fire phrases that epitomize a true metal guitar solo are so commanding that even listeners unfamiliar with guitar will likely be overwhelmed by their power.

It’s a metal tune packed with highlights not only on guitar, but also in the vocals, bass, keyboards, and drums.

Man in the BoxAlice In Chains

Alice In Chains – Man in the Box (Official Video)

Alice in Chains, a rock band from the United States that rose to popularity during the grunge boom of the 1990s, achieved both musical and commercial success.

“Man in the Box,” a track from their debut album Facelift, is a memorable number featuring lyrics themed around animal cruelty and a rock sound characterized by looseness and a languid atmosphere.

The guitar solo, unfolding with wah-pedal tones and edgy phrases, meshes with the ensemble and draws you deeper into the song’s world.

It’s a message-driven rock tune with a tight sound that lingers in the ears.

Sleep Now in the FireRage Against The Machine

Rage Against The Machine – Sleep Now in the Fire (Official HD Video)

A masterpiece packed with quintessential Tom Morello playing that, it’s no exaggeration to say, changed the very concept of rock guitar.

Rage Against the Machine, who shattered the boundaries between hip-hop and rock with their innovative sound and political ethos, released this as the lead track on their third album, The Battle of Los Angeles, in 1999.

Beyond the unmistakably Morello-esque, original riff, the solo—unleashed through a special technique that masterfully manipulates the toggle switch—hits with such impact that you might wonder if it’s even being produced by a guitar.