5 Best Guitar Solos of 1986 – And 1 That’s Not Good

The solos of 1986 left a lasting mark on music history. In this article, I highlight five best guitar solos from 1986—moments of pure brilliance that still resonate today—while also pointing out one, despite being included in a great song, falls flat in the shadow of the era’s giants. And as always, leave your thoughts and top 5 in the comments (you’ll find comments after the article below!).

Did you know? The solos of number 4 have Allan Holdsworth influences as it’s well documented that 1 of the guitarists of the band got massive inspiration and influence from Holdsworth.

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Jump to the best guitar solos of 1987>

First, here are some great albums from the year 1986 with amazing guitar playing in them:

Artist	Album Name	Genre
Metallica	Master of Puppets	Metal
Iron Maiden	Somewhere in Time	Metal
Slayer	Reign in Blood	Metal
Megadeth	Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?	Metal
Bon Jovi	Slippery When Wet	Rock
Van Halen	5150	Rock
Cinderella	Night Songs	Rock/Metal
Europe	The Final Countdown	Rock
Tesla	Mechanical Resonance	Rock
Ozzy Osbourne	The Ultimate Sin	Metal
David Lee Roth	Eat ’Em and Smile	Rock
Ratt	Dancing Undercover	Rock/Metal
Queensrÿche	Rage for Order	Metal
Poison	Look What the Cat Dragged In	Rock/Metal
Judas Priest	Turbo	Metal
AC/DC	Who Made Who	Rock
The Smiths	The Queen Is Dead	Rock
Peter Gabriel	So	Rock
Stevie Ray Vaughan	Live Alive	Blues
Robert Cray	Strong Persuader	Blues
Eric Clapton	August	Rock/Blues
Fates Warning	Awaken the Guardian	Metal
Krokus	Change of Address	Rock
Yngwie Malmsteen	Trilogy	Metal
Accept	Russian Roulette	Metal
King Diamond	Fatal Portrait	Metal
Vinnie Vincent	Invasion	Rock/Metal
W.A.S.P.	Inside the Electric Circus	Metal
Loudness	Lightning Strikes	Metal
Alcatrazz	Dangerous Games	Metal
Keel	The Final Frontier	Rock/Metal
Stryper	To Hell with the Devil	Metal
Black Sabbath	Seventh Star	Metal/Rock
The Fabulous Thunderbirds	Tuff Enuff	Blues/Rock

Now, let’s check out these awesome solos!

1. Tesla – “Modern Day Cowboy” (Frank Hannon)

Tesla - Modern Day Cowboy

Frank Hannon’s guitar solo in Tesla’s “Modern Day Cowboy” is an underrated masterpiece. It weaves sharp bends and gritty shredding into a hard rock framework, layered over a pulsating rhythm. Hannon’s biting tone carries a rebellious swagger, making it a standout moment in this 1986 classic.

2. Eric Johnson – “Cliffs Of Dover” (Eric Johnson)

Eric Johnson - Cliffs Of Dover [HQ Studio Version]

The centerpiece of this brilliant instrumental features cascading legato runs, pinpoint arpeggios, and a crystalline tone. Johnson’s melodic skill shines and cements this solo as an iconic 1986 guitar moment.

Browse the best solos of other years:

3. Yngwie Malmsteen – “You Don’t Remember, I’ll Never Forget” (Yngwie Malmsteen)

You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget

A display of rapid scales, sweeping arpeggios, and baroque-inspired phrasing, all delivered with Malmsteen’s signature precision. His searing tone and relentless speed make it a dazzling showcase of shredding mastery.

4. Megadeth – “Peace Sells” (Dave Mustaine & Chris Poland)

Peace Sells (2004 Remaster)

This solo features a dynamic interplay between Dave Mustaine and Chris Poland. Together, their contrasting styles blend raw energy and technical skills, creating the best solos of early Megadeth.

5. Metallica – “Master of Puppets” (James Hetfield & Kirk Hammet)

Master of Puppets (Remastered)

The guitar solos in “Master of Puppets” spotlight Kirk Hammett’s speed and raw shredding, with James Hetfield laying the rhythmic foundation. Hetfield’s solo is my personal favorite, but Hammet’s faster solo is nothing too shabby either.

Honorable Mention

An honorable mention goes to Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden for his excellent solo on Wasted Years. Amazing use of open strings to create melodies that fit the song perfectly.

1 Not-So-Good Guitar Solo: Slayer- “Angel of Death” (Kerry King & Jeff Hanneman)

Angel Of Death

At the end of the total killer riff mashup, the ending solos are just random shredding. At the same time I do understand that Slayer is not really about melodic solos.

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