Top 10 Best Keyboard Solos in Rock
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
- These keyboard solos are epic! For this list, we’ll be ranking the most righteous and evocative keyboard solos in the genre. Our countdown of songs with awesome keyboard solos includes “Frankenstein”, “Catherine Parr”, “Light My Fire”, and more! What’s your favorite keyboard solo of all time? Let us know in the comments below.
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What’s your favorite keyboard solo of all time? Let us know in the comments below.
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WHAT ABOUT FELIX CAVALIERE, HAMMOND B3 from 1965 to Present.The King of Blue Eyed Soul and Leader of the American Band, The RASCALS??
Lucky Man--ELP, not Dave Koz.
The organ solo in "A Whiter Shade of Pale" is truly iconic. Not even mentioned.
I'm 42 and I knew that my guy! Very well said though! Now I definitely have to go and listen to it now! 😆
The reason it's not mention is because the organ lines on that song is a riff not a solo.
@@bpabustan Bullshit. Its a long beautiful solo. Not a riff
I was going to mention that one.
Agreed. It was a perfect bit of song form and melodic composition. Just right.
“And I’m more rock n roll than you’ve ever been! Don’t believe me?! Ask Led Zeppelin!” JRR Tolkien
My favorite line in that ERB!!
How on earth could you not have Argent's 'Hold Your Head Up' (Long Version) on this list? Even Rick Wakeman himself says it's the best rock keyboard solo of all time. Also, there's few keyboard solo's in rock as epic as Tony Bank's on 'The Cinema Show' by Genesis. And an honourable mention to Lenny Matlin's organ solo on Donovan's 'Season of the Witch'.
I love the huge organ sounds on God Gave Rock n Roll to you as well
Armageddon in 9/8(Featuring the Delicious Talents of Gabble Ratchet)!!
Agreed, hold your head up should be in there, as should Wakeman's solo in close to the edge
@@bradstensland506 Um, Apocalypse in 9/8
@@uckbee OOOPS!!! yes, but both have the same ending. :)
No Genesis?
If you like keyboard solos, you should introduce yourselves to Tony Banks' performances on The Cinema Show, In the Cage, Riding the Scree, In That Quiet Earth, Duke's Travels, and The Fountain of Salmacis (that solo is often mistaken for a guitar solo because it was run through a fuzzbox).
Yes! How do you have this list without Tony?
100% yes. Tony Banks' keyboard skills are all over every solitary track you mentioned in your mini list.
On the Three Sides Live version of "In The Cage", he played that synth solo like you can imagine a guitarist would... it sounds fucking awesome! "Duke's Travels" equals yet more synth-led awesomeness! The thing with Genesis is, Tony Banks started off with basic keyboards like Hammond organs, Mellotrons hooked up to fuzzboxes etc, but he moved with the times and got into Synclaviers, Emulators etc as they became available. But the big difference is, the guy can actually play... even though he's in his 70's nowadays.
I was thinking the same thing
It's WatchMojo.
To them, Genesis sucks. They never mentioned them... Well except once when talking about the worst #1 songs on Billboard and had to bring up Invisible Touch.
Maybe after Peter and Phil die they will give them some credit.
Not to mention the opening piano to The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
Being a huge Emerson Lake and Palmer fan, what you played at the clip for Karn Evil 9, was actually a song from their debut album in 1970, called Knife Edge
That section was a hot mess. And Emerson absolutely wipes the floor with everyone else on this list.
Yeah and they played the guitar solo during Light my fire
Iron Butterfly should've been on this list too
At least as an honorable mention
And rockenist religious song . 🙏👼
@@akfreed6949 "Wait, this is rock and/or roll."
In a Gadda da Vidda SHOULD be top 1# it is not just missing in the list!
Also nothing from Steve Winwood? not even from his band Blind Faith but neither from his main band Traffic?
And why didnt they show When the Music is Over also when talking about Ray from The Doors?
Keyboard Rock is pure unadulterated awesomeness.
Jordan Rudess plays everything from classic to metal, he should be there somewhere
Agree 100% with "Highway Star" by Deep Purple and "Foreplay" by Boston. But "Jump" by Van Halen? Are you fucking kidding? That's entry-level stuff there.
This absolutely could have been a top 20. Some amazing (and popular) solos you missed are Close to the Edge, Octavarium and Thick as a Brick, for example
There is nobody better than Keith Emerson. Keith Emerson is God on the keyboards.😊
the MASTER
@@blutomindpretzel1735 you're not just Whistling Dixie.
@@blutomindpretzel1735 the master of disaster the man with the plan the boss with the hot sauce the boy with the Tonka toy.
He's my all-time favorite musician.
@@MikeCohenSF him along with the great mr. Jeff Beck. R.i.p. to both
The solo in Del Shannon's "Runaway" was better than the one in "Jump".
Yep.
Yes. Equally iconic and both you can “hum”
Jon Lord has the most awesome keyboard solos!
Santana has some of the BEST solos ever! They were so incredible to watch live back in the 70’s. The Doors ‘Light My Fire’ is another great example of iconic solos. Van Halen’s ‘Jump’ is another timeless tune that will live on. Great examples!
Thanks for posting these great keyboard solos. One of my favorites that wasn’t listed was Black Licorice by Grand Funk.
The Hammond Organ is one of the greatest instruments of all time.
Sitting infront of my m-100 right now and I couldn’t agree more
@@Rigbysalad Love my M-100. I'd been looking for a Hammond. I wasnt going to pay to ship one here but everyone kept saying to be patient and one will find me. Finally, I was coming home from Guitar Center and decided to swing by Goodwill. Wouldnt you know it, they had an M-100 sitting there for $40. It wouldnt power up though. I of course brought it home and all it needed was a new rectifier tube. A B3 would have been nicer but Im not complaining one bit.
@@FloydYESterZep At GOODWILL…? That’s a steal man! I got mine fully functional and freshly serviced for $550 and had to move it myself. You my friend got a steal.
Jon Lord is the absolute master playing the Hammond Organ.
Well said. Hard to match the incredible sound of the Hammond.
The piano "outro" for Layla is epic!
Thank you for recognizing the keyboard players as real rockers!
No Emerson solo is more iconic than the one on Lucky Man it became a landmark in music history, and isn’t me saying. Deserved n. 1 or at least be in Karn Evil 9’s place.
I’m disappointed, but not at all surprised, that you completely left out Garth Hudson of The Band. He was a musical and electronic genius who paved the way for everyone on this list. His improvised piece “The Genetic Method” in which he plays three keyboards, one with each hand and another with his feet, is a mind blowing experience.
I can proudly say I was lucky to see most of these artists in concert. The only two I didn't see is The Animals and The Doors.
Im surprised that The Final Countdown by Europe wasnt on here. 😮
That's more of a riff than a solo
it's not a solo, it's a riff
Oh. Very interesting! Thanks for letting me know 😊
You have no idea how happy I am to see "One with Everything" on this list. My favorite song on such an underrated album.
A personal favorite of mine is Vincent Crane keyboard player for Crazy World of Arthur Brown and the song was "Fire"
They completely forgot about Carry On My Wayward Son. That tune has one of the best organ solos of all time.
So many choices with Steve Walsh/Kansas....a mention would have been nice.
Where's "Subdivisions" by Rush, WatchMojo?
Tarkus is the best ELP keyboard solo, 20 minutes of pure unadulterated prog.
It's definitely up there. May I recommend you watch the live video of country pie performed by Keith Emerson with the nice. It will blow you away. Go ahead and Google it it's on TH-cam😊
Huge omission is the organ solo in Green Eyed Lady by Sugarloaf!
Jon Lord's solo on No No No, is a masterclass in building tension!
Uh no! The number 1 keyboard solo in rock is Rick Wakeman's organ solo in Roundabout. None of your top 10 even comes close to it.
duh ikr these videos suck..
Time of The Season - The Zombies
On The Silent Wings of Freedom - Yes
my vote on Time Of The Season, also on She's Not There Rod Argent was brilliant although it was an electric piano so that does not count on this list
Brian Auger, don't forget Brian Auger, still alive, still playing !!
Thanks. Additions: "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" (Traffic); "Green Onions" (Booker T. & the M.G.s); "Hold Your Head Up" (Argent) [This last one is actually Rick Wakeman's pick (and mine)]. tavi.
Of these amazing players, I gotta give the nod to Rick Wakeman - such a discography, and amazing concepts in every song he touches!
No one is better than Emerson
It's kind of interesting. For most other instruments, when you hear the term "solo," that instrument's player usually gets a singular moment to shine with no other competing instruments or vocals. But, with these keyboard "solos," there's almost always at least one other instrument playing with or against the keyboard.
"Tom Sawyer" by Rush has a pretty iconic keyboard solo in the middle 🎹🙌
Agreed. But most of their keyboard work was done using Moog pedals.
8:22, Emerson used a Moog Modular, not a Minimoog. Also, the name Moog is Dutch and rhymes with vogue. Moog even named one of their synthesizers Rogue.
The best keyboard bands back in the day were Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, and The Doors.
And Genesis, Yes with Pink Floyd too
If you want to include Jazz/fusion, my all time favorite is Chick Corea's solo from "Vulcan Worlds"
One of the best synth solos of all time is The Strangler's Dave Greenfield's synth solo on Nice 'N' Sleazy.
I was waiting for someone to mention Dave Greenfield, what a keyboardist, one of the best of all time
Loved his solo in the Stranglers Walk on By cover (a nod to the Doors)
I would have also put Break on Through (To the Otherside), Baba O'Reily, A Whiter Shade of Pale, In a Gada da vida.
I like it when people who literally can't play a note or two without making a mistake and/or resort to single-note riffs because of their ineptitude, call prog rockers' music "excessive", "self-indulgent" and other BS like that. Well some of it was excessive and self-indulgent, but most of it was beautiful and classy.
Although The Stranglers have been described as being "sub-Doors" and their style of music is represented by the choice of the Doors in this selection, I still think room should have have been found for The Stranglers' keyboardist, Dave Greenfield. His soaring arpeggios are magnificent. Tracks like Down In The Sewer and Goodbye Toulouse compare well with all the solos in this selection.
Please, listen the keyboard solo of "The Cinema Show" by Genesis, played by Tony Banks! It's 5 minutes long, with a memorable melody, a lot of key changes, modal scales... all in a terrific 7/8 time signature! I think it's the best solo ever!
Hear hear!!
Or Firth Of Fifth
Yes ,or this one on SUPPER S READY 😢😢😢
Solid list but I’m surprised that there was nothing from Genesis, Pink Floyd, Procol Harem or Rush included
No Tony Banks ?
Ohhh yes. The version on "Seconds Out" when they done "The Cinema Show" in its entirety.
For the final half of it (roughly five minutes straight) the Banksmeister hit that synth and practically owned the stage. Awesome! 😎👍
Here are few of the early rock keyboard intros/solos that were truly iconic, distinctive and wildly popular in the 60’s:
1. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly
2. Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf
3. Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf
Absolutely love all three songs!
Especially In-a-gadda-da-vida Full version!
Search Adam Holzman - Moog Solo - Steven Wilson Band and you'll find the best keyboard solo ever
Yes ,on ancestral ?
I guess they carefully avoid ELP Tarkus cause it's a whole bible of masterful solos by the Hendrix of keyboard
I opened this video with a simple thought: "No.1 is The Doors, probably "Riders on the Storm:, but WatchMojo will AS ALWAYS SOMEHOW screw up".
Well, some things never change. Sun rises, water flows, WatchMojo guys don't know what they're talking about.
I like that deep purple got a place on this list but I feel like burn should've been picked rather than highway star
To me it's a toss up....both are mind blowing.
I would've went with child in time instead
i read the title. the first reason that i kept watching this video was because the first song i heard was 'jump'.
all in all,, good picks!
Eddie was just damn great at everything!
Depends if you count them as rock or metal but if you like a good keyboard player I'd point you in the direction of Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater) and Tuomas Holopainen (Nightwish) 🙂
“Light My Fire” deserves its spot, but “Riders On The Storm” is better than 3 or 4 songs in this list. It should have made it here.
I saw Rick Wakeman in concert once, i'm told i had a great time. good for me.
Lol 😂
OMG!! How can anybody take this countdown seriously when it doesn't feature the mind blowing solo from Firth Of Fifth by Genesis,
or anything for that matter by the genius who is Tony Banks??
As well as Firth Of Fifth they could have chosen the Hammond solo from Supper's Ready during The Apocalypse In 9/8 section,
the solo from Robbery, Assault And Battery, the solo from Unquiet Slumbers For The Sleepers/Quiet Earth, The solo from The Cinema Show,
or my personal favourite, the solo from In The Cage!!
This countdown loses ALL and any credibility for omitting Tony!!
Country pie performed by the great Keith Emerson when he was with the nice has to be up there with the best if not the best. However I'm a realist and would never expect Mojo to have it on their list especially since it's totally non-commercial you could almost even say Underground😮
Well done for including Deep Purple, Highway Star! That Hammond solo is mint! I'm also happy to see Van Halen, Jump & The Doors, Light My Fire. I've played both of those songs on keyboard before, in different bands I've played with. Believe it or not, both of those solos are actually pretty easy to play!
ELP's " Lucky Man" thats a great syth Solo!
Lazy by Deep Purple?
Also burn.
Surprisingly decent list...Wakeman, Emerson, Lord, Manzarek are obvious. The Styx song is an unknown gem and I'd have gone Foreplay over Smokin' for Boston. Gotta mention Steve Walsh and Kansas....so many choices and unfortunately overlooked.....and how is Funeral For A Friend (Elton John) missing?.....but Jump at #1? Pure radio cheese.
As usual metal is completely overlooked. Bands like Nightwish and Ayreon should be included in a list like this one.
When we talk about rock keyboard solos, you can't forget the great Keith Emerson. Edgar is the winner in this list, imo.
IN-NA-GADA-DA-VIDA is my favorite keyboard solo, followed by Frankenstein Then Whiter Shade Of Pale. Keith Emerson I thought did much better solos on the TARKUS album. after all it is almost entirely an instrumental album. Sorry Jump isn't even in the same class as all the other songs you mentioned!
Really??? No Rosanna synth solo? Massive oversight. So creative and instantly recognizable.
haven't watched the list but boston foreplay/long time needs to be on this
ok, smokin'. I'll allow it.
How did "The final countdown" not makw this list???
Because that song has no keyboard solo, only an intro riff.
@@bpabustan Shit, good point
I think Highway Star should be number1
Rod Argent's solo on "Hold Your Head Up" was rated the greatest of all time by no less an authority than Rick Wakeman.
Epic let go 🔥
Weird list. Selecting a solo from Wakemans' Henry the 8th album over his iconic solo on 'Roundabout' is just...Weird.
Rick Wakeman is the greatest rock and roll keyboardist of all time.
*Jon Lord has entered the chat*
Emerson wipes the floor with him.
I think you met Keith Emerson. Wakeman would be number three vanleer of focus would be number two. However Wakeman is not even in Keith Emerson's League😢
@@edljnehan2811 I must disagree.
I have a great deal of respect for Keith. I saw ELP at the St. Pete Bayfront Center. Unquestionably, the show was stellar. Carl Palmer was still drumming.
However, I've seen Rick 5 times, 4 with Yes, once solo. I love his banks of keyboards and flashy capes, a true showman and superb musician. A pretty good composer, too.
So while I admire them both, and someone put in a vote for Jon Lord, which I find to be noble (nobody knows blues keyboard better than Jon), I stick with Rick.:)
@@jasonbean2764 well of course I strongly disagree. Everyone Falls for that cape well I have to tell you Keith Emerson was wearing capes with the nice long before Rick Wakeman did it. It's a matter of fact Keith Emerson said the back in the old days he would notice Rick Wakeman peeking at him around the speaker cabinets as early as his nice days. He not only wanted to check out Emerson's playing but his stage outfits that Keith was wearing that were specially imported for him from Japan. I'm sure you remember the silver space suit and the armadillo just chest garb. Wakeman pretty-much copied Emerson at least insofar as his stage presence. Keep in mind that Keith Emerson was a savant a prodigy and a genius. He couldn't be touched by anyone back then. The amount of preparation, practice and learning that went into his playing was totally off the chart. His piano concertos we're even recognized by highly acclaimed classical keyboard and piano players. Not only did he win all of the polls back then and even today you can even Google who is the best rock keyboardist and that little voice will tell you Keith Emerson. Add on the fact back he pretty much introduced the Moog synthesizer into rock music and was the first to bring the synthesizer on a concert stage and you just have a package that Rick Wakeman cannot compete with. From playing the Hammond backwards at top speed 2 stretching the limits of the soundscape produced by the Hammond such as tweaking pitch volume using daggers two hold notes Etc to extend the vastness of sound he could get from the instrument before the Moog was even available. I used to do secondary and I landed a gig picking up Symphony musicians so naturally I got to conversate with them. They even told me that out of all of the rock keyboard players Keith Emerson was the one that they admired and the only one they ever really considered. Now these are Symphony Orchestra musicians from my city which is no Podunk town. Keith Emerson's work even got played on classical stations back then. May I suggest to you Googling Keith Emerson and the nice doing cherry pie live in concert. It lasts about 8 minutes and it's totally instrumental featuring Keith Emerson on the Hammond. I defy you after watching that to tell me that Rick Wakeman is better than Keith Emerson. It only takes 10 minutes of your time to Google and subsequently watch it on TH-cam. You spend more time than that with these text messages. If you truly like Keith Emerson prove it and listen and watch that video. I think it will change your mind and what do you have to lose. Also remember I was around back then so I got to see all of this first-hand. Peace out.
Van Halen is my all time favorite band, nice to see them at #1, but I am very surprised that when focusing on Synth solos, "Spaceship Superstar" by Prism isn't even on the list. Probably one of the most iconic keyboard solos of all time.
Van Halen? Number 01? Serius? Keyboard solo?
In guitar, maybe, but Keyboard solo? It' s crazy...
Tony Banks anyone?
Won’t get fooled again didn’t make it?!?!? Invalid!
Absolutely!!!!!
Steve Walsh's solo on "The Pinnacle" from the album Masque by Kansas is frankly amazing
You missed the synth solo on Genesis' "In The Cage."
Other great keyboard solos in rock music:
Cocaine by Humble Pie
Video killed the radio star by The Buggles
Gimme Some Lovin by Spencer Davis Group
Tell me some other rock songs with great keyboard solos
RIP Eddie 😢. You are missed.
The band Bloodrock the song DOA.. Epic
Back when Keyboards were used to play music. Nowadays Keyboards are used to show how toxic humans are.
r/im14andthisisdeep
@@jimpickens8551 u really 14? please don't grow up.
I'm 20 years old and I play keyboards to make music instead of messing around.
Bud is mad music he doesn't love, is relevant expression.
@@harrywashington3759 Thank you for that. Over sampling, digging your claws into vinyl and banging away on a cheap keyboard is NOT music. We always had a piano in the house when I was a kid.
No Firth of fifth (Genesis)? No Never let go (Camel)? No Child of vision (Supertramp)?
Personally I feel that Led Zeppelin's Trampled Under Foot should've been on the list
Ahh, WatchMojo, I feel like a 17 year old again!
Honorable mentions: Won't Get Fooled Again..The Who. Hold Your Head Up..Argent Castle Walls...Styx Low Spark of High Heeled Boys..Traffic
When I cross myself, I say "Emerson, Lake and Palmer".
Lol
Billie Currie’s synth solo on Gary Numan’s cover of On Broadway is pure moog/ARP odyssey heaven
My personal nomination is Toto's "Africa." Yes, it's short, but every note is so perfectly placed.
"Call me" by Blondie is a great one.
Seeing how far back you had to go for great keyboard solos makes me sad. So much has been lost over the decades.
Guys, this is a Top 10 keyboard SOLOs in rock. Many of the songs mentioned in the comments that were thought to be ommited, do not have keyboard solos, but riffs. There is a difference between a riff and a solo. A riff is always repetitive while a solo is a "spontaneous" or "improvised" spots showcasing a musician's prowess to convey a message through the instrument.
Highway Star is cool, but what about Hush? For my money an even more classic Jon Lord solo. Plus, all due respect to Eddie, putting Jump at #1 over Light My Fire is, in a word, BLASPHEMY.
"Lazy" is my favorite by Jon Lord.
Another Purple Jon Lord Masterpiece::LAZY and a Hard to Find Rarity: DOA-Bloodrock
John carpenter is my favorite ❤
Roundabout by Yes.
Kinda disappointed that Type O Negative’s Josh Silver isn’t mentioned. My dude is a beast on the keyboards.
Rick Wright on "Any Colour You Like," anyone? Tony Banks on "Cinema Show"? No disrespect to EVH, but I'm sure even he'd agree there are nine better solos than "Jump" on this list, and many more not on the list.