The electric guitar has always stood for freedom, virtuosity, and raw emotion. If the ’70s and ’80s elevated guitar solos to an art form (thank you Hendrix, Gilmour, and Van Halen), the 2015–2025 era is no slouch either. In a musical landscape dominated by electronic production, several artists have returned the six-string to glory with solos that are technical, inventive, and moving. Here’s our pick of the 5 best guitar solos of the decade.
Between tech innovation, hybrid technique, and a return to analog tone, guitarists are exploring brand-new sonic territory. Whether you’re into blues, metal, or neo-jazz, this selection shows just how rich and diverse the language of the modern guitar can be.
1. Polyphia – “Playing God” (2022)
It’s hard to open this list without mentioning Tim Henson and Scott LePage from Polyphia. With Playing God, the Americans quite literally redefined modern guitar playing: a blend of fingerstyle chops, flamenco-inspired phrasing, and pin-sharp production, all performed on their Ibanez signature models.
Tim Henson’s final solo distills everything that makes modern guitar great: fluidity, melody, masterful vibrato, and a tone of surgical clarity. This isn’t about mindless speed—every note is weighed, given room to breathe. The mix puts guitar front and centre, leaving space for every nuance to shine. It’s virtuosity and musicality in rare balance.
Why it’s iconic: it perfectly embodies the post–guitar-hero generation—visually stylish, technically fearless, but always musical.
Chasing the Polyphia sound: try the Ibanez TOD10N-TKF Tim Henson Signature!
To get close to Tim Henson’s tone, combine a transparent compressor, a very clean overdrive, and a well-set hall reverb. A touch of digital delay helps create that controlled sense of space.
Polyphia helped popularise an aesthetic where the guitar is almost percussive—somewhere between slap and melody. This solo bridges tradition and modernity: think Paco de Lucía meets Steve Vai, filtered through a 2.0 production lens.
2. John Mayer – “I Guess I Just Feel Like” (2019)
John Mayer has nothing left to prove. Yet in 2019 he delivered a solo of disarming restraint and beauty. No shred, no fireworks—just pure feel. It’s a masterclass in bluesy phrasing, somewhere between SRV and Clapton.
Tracked in an intimate, almost acoustic setting, every breath becomes part of the story. Mayer chooses to tell an emotion rather than flaunt technique. This minimalist approach is a true clinic in controlling tone—and silence.
Why it’s iconic: it reminds us that a guitar solo can move you to tears without ever breaking 80 bpm.
Chasing the John Mayer sound: go for a PRS Silver Sky—his signature model—or a vintage Stratocaster, paired with a Fender Blues Junior. The perfect foundation for a warm, expressive tone.
for that soft, expressive dynamic, work your volume control and play with your fingers—no pick. Don’t be afraid to let the phrases breathe.
Mayer’s solo is a hymn to simplicity. In an era saturated with digital virtuosity, he proves that a single, perfectly placed note can still floor an audience.
3. Mateus Asato – “Tremble” (Live Sessions, 2018)
Brazilian guitarist Mateus Asato conquered the internet with his Instagram performances, but it’s live where his playing truly blossoms. In Tremble, his solo makes every nuance, slide, and silence count. His sound approach is almost orchestral: complex harmonies, yet crystal-clear melodies.
The solo unfolds like an intimate conversation between guitar and listener. With artificial harmonics and spot-on bends, Asato proves he’s among the decade’s most expressive players. He plays with a singer’s sensibility, treating each string like an extra vocal cord.
Why it’s iconic: he brought guitar back into the spotlight via social media while remaining a genuine six-string poet.
Chasing the Asato sound: a Telecaster Custom with a Keeley compressor is a winning combo.
Mateus Asato often uses a subtle chorus to widen his clean tone—an underrated yet deadly-effective trick. Try placing it before your delay for a more organic texture.
4. Nita Strauss – “Dead Inside” (ft. David Draiman) (2021)
Known as Alice Cooper’s guitarist, Nita Strauss proved with Dead Inside that she’s far more than a live shredder. This electrifying solo blends melodic aggression, razor precision, and a monster riff. It’s raw energy, structured with near-academic rigour.
It opens with rapid scalar runs before settling into a lyrical theme carried by a powerful vibrato. Impeccable legato and modern tapping throughout. Strauss shows how virtuosity can serve a song’s narrative.
Why it’s iconic: it fuses modern metal’s fury with FM-radio clarity—a rare balance. In a male-dominated scene, Nita Strauss stands out as a role model for a whole generation of female guitarists.
Chasing the Strauss sound: test an Ibanez JIVA10 or a guitar with active pickups, like an ESP LTD with EMGs. These setups deliver a precise attack and tightly controlled saturation.
To tighten your picking accuracy, practise slowly with a metronome, then ramp up. Clarity always comes before speed.
5. Plini – “Electric Sunrise” (2016)
Australian guitarist Plini has carved a unique sonic identity—equal parts prog, fusion, and cinematic ambience. The solo in Electric Sunrise remains a touchstone for a generation of players: ethereal tone, elegant harmonic architecture—a true journey.
It isn’t about showing off—it’s about storytelling. Lines flow, vibratos are round, and the spacious reverb lends a near-weightless feel. Plini proves an instrumental solo can be as moving as any sung ballad.
Why it’s iconic: it inspired a whole scene of modern instrumental guitarists to blend virtuosity with spirituality—and showed how independent artists can release music without traditional labels.
Chasing the Plini sound: try an Ibanez Q52PB with the Archetype: Plini plugin by Neural DSP. Add stereo delay and shimmer reverb for those airy textures.
experiment with shimmer reverb and stereo delay to recreate those floating atmospheres.
Conclusion: the guitar solo is alive and well
The 2015–2025 decade proved the guitar is nowhere near done. Trends change, but the six-string remains a unique vehicle for expression. Whether it’s a Strat, an Ibanez, or a Strandberg, a solo is emotion in its purest form.
These artists remind us that guitar isn’t just about technique—it’s about soul, sound, and identity. Clean or saturated, jazz or metal, guitar is still the bridge between emotion and freedom.
Which solo has stuck with you over the last ten years?
Sources:
- Guitar World (2024)
- Premier Guitar (2024)
- MusicRadar (2024)
