Get Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: go.nebula.tv/12tone Or go straight to The Ballad of John and Yoko: nebula.tv/videos/lindsayellis-the-ballad-of-john-and-yoko?ref=12tone Some additional thoughts/corrections: 1) This solo was a huge pain to transcribe, so I wanted to shout out Jon Chorba of Really Easy Guitar Lessons, who had by far the most accurate transcription I could find: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/orZ8Z66XppfPl2g.html I still double-checked everything myself, and my transcription differs from Jon's in some places (Although who knows, maybe he's right and I'm wrong. there's certainly some parts I'm not confident on, and a few outright mistakes that I caught after filming, although nothing that would significantly affect my analysis.) but having such a good starting point made this process go a lot faster than it would have otherwise. 2) When I say Prince opted not to play the solo in rehearsal, that's glossing over a bit of nuance. Basically, Mann had been playing this song in other tribute contexts before, and so when they went to rehearse he basically assumed he'd be doing the same thing and played them by default. Gallen pulled Petty and Lynne aside to address Mann stepping on Prince's toes, but when he eventually talked to Prince himself about it, he told him not to let Mann take the middle solo. From what I can tell, it's not clear whether that had always been the plan or if he was adapting, and it's also not clear if Prince intentionally hid his solo or if he made that call once Mann interrupted him. I compressed that 'cause it wasn't the point of the story, but I wanted to acknowledge the fuller context. 3) Honestly there's not all that many F#s in the solo either: The major 6th clashes with the minor 3rd, and since the first five bars all have C in the harmony, he doesn't get a lot of space to use it. They mostly come as approach notes to G, until the octave section at the end where he does more clearly settle on the F# itself. Still, though, the complete lack of Fs makes it seem like he's thinking of the whole thing in Dorian, even if he's mostly drawing from a hexatonic pitch collection. (That is, minor with an added 2. I've seen some sources call this mainly pentatonic, but there's too much of an emphasis on B for me to feel comfortable with that analysis.) 4) Another difference between the two open-E 16th parts is that in the first one he does a really quick pull-off so you barely get the note, whereas here he lets it sit for a full 16th, giving it a clearer melodic shape. Didn't think of that 'til I was editing. 5) I realized after filming that the long gap in release between Godfather Part 2 and Part 3 might make the reference I made seem like I was saying Part _2_ was disappointing, but I was just really struggling to come up with a good pictogram for a bad sequel, and Godfather Part 3 is famously underwhelming. Sorry for any confusion. 6) In retrospect I wish I'd talked a bit more explicitly about his tendency to take an idea and repeat it over and over, and the impact that has in making his solo seem intentional and meaningful. I touched on it indirectly, but it's a really important point: A solo that's just one long string of unrelated ideas is less interesting than a solo that ties everything together, and those connections come from repetition. Sometimes this is really explicit, like that G-A bend or the lick he plays after the four-bar break, and sometimes it's more about playing around with a figure, like the pattern accelerations of that constant return to the A-B-A thing in different shapes, but the point is he's building something, and to do that he needs to acknowledge his foundation.

Irony...there was NOTHING gentle about the weaping of Prince's guitar. It was full throated sobbing and screaming in anguish. And we were here for every note of it.

The best part is him throwing the guitar in the air and it never landed

Watching this, I'm mostly just heartbroken that we've lost Harrison, Petty, and Prince.

Prince told them "don't worry about it." Around the 5-minute mark of the song he smiles at the rest of the band as if he was saying "see? I told you!"

I was watching this live on TV as it happened (or as it was broadcast), and I did an immediate 180 on Prince. I was 12 and had only known Prince as the guy from that weird movie that was played on cable constantly. As I type this, I'm suddenly realizing I started playing guitar that same year. I might have started playing because of Prince, and never realized it.

he did not throw the guitar in the crowd. he threw it up, there was a stage hand who had to catch it and keep it from falling down. making the impression it just disappeared. the solo is fantastic, but this final surprise move makes it unforgettable.

There will never be another Prince. He was a goddamned miracle, and a gift to the world. Rest in peace, you absolute legend.

"He's more painting a picture of A Dorian..." Oh man, I don't know whether to give you a standing ovation or a hearty Bronx cheer for that one. So bad and so very good!

As someone who grew up obsessively playing Guitar Hero as a kid, I've always had a fixation on guitar solos, but I noticed that a lot of music analysis videos hardly ever devoted much time to breaking them down. I always wondered if the generally fast and chaotic nature of solos just didn't really lend themselves to detailed analysis, and perhaps they were simply better enjoyed "from a distance" instead of under the microscope of musical theory. Actually seeing a bar-by-bar breakdown of a guitar solo like this is genuinely fascinating to me.

22:25 "How can you possibly bring this to a conclusion without disappointing?" Draws a House Stark crest.

When I worked at the House of Blues Sunset Strip, we had Prince come play a full 2 hour set in the concert hall, then do an hour acoustic set in the restaurant, then play another 2.5-ish hours of jazz-fusion jam session with his band in the upstairs bar/lounge area. Over the course on the night he played literally every single instrument on every stage better than almost anyone else I’ve ever seen. It’s one of my fondest memories of my time there, and really cemented him for me as probably the greatest single musician of all time. Dude was a fucking legend.

If you go to the Rock hall, they have a show designed to give you the feel of attending an induction ceremony using archival footage. The solo is so legendary that it's what they use to close the show. If I had a nickel for every time Prince did a mic drop moment, cementing himself as the greatest to do a show ever, I'd have two nickels. It's not a lot, but it's weird that I have two; one for the Rock Hall and another for the Superbowl. The man was legend.

Prince is by far one of the most underrated musicians in rock and pop history. Thank you for giving him his due.

I've never been a particular fan of Prince, not that there's anything wrong with his work its' just not my thing, but whatever else you want to say about the man, could certainly play the dang guitar. RIP

Prince was a goddamned fucking genius and we lost so much with his death.

Thank you for this analysis. I watched this solo so many times over the years. Not only because of Prince's playing, but also because of the looks of delight and disbelief on Dhani Harrison's face; that's priceless.

when all the legends are staring at you with their mouths open... i think thats proof you are the best guitarist they've ever seen ! RIP Prince Rogers Nelson. an amazing force for music.

I’m not a musician, but I know this solo by heart. I watched it live and it felt like I was watching the moon landing (which is similar to how I felt watching Prince’s halftime show). I’m so glad to see it get the attention it deserves!

For beginners and intermediates just know Prince did not improvise this solo. It’s ok to have a plan….

The moral of the story: Contrasting flavours are the spice of a good solo.

Knew it would be this performance. I love how Tom Petty and Steve Winwood go from annoyed to stunned while Prince shreds on

Saw this live and I remember thinking "well that was probably the greatest live solo I've ever seen, and of course it was prince. This human is an enigma."

Really just par for the course for Prince, most people just never realized it because he mostly saved guitar lead cathartic extravaganzas for his live shows and not as much on singles or albums. If you didn't go, then you didn't know...

The guitar toss at the end btw

Prince is a very underrated guitar player. As soon as I clicked the video I knew you was gonna mention this performance. Real fans know this performance. R.I.P Prince.

I've always loved this solo, but I never realized just how appropriately the notes in it were chosen. This is instantly one of my favorite videos you've done.

Nearly 20 years later and I'm still processing that performance.

Can’t believe you didn’t mention his awesome hat.

Prince was the most phenomenal musician anyone I know has ever experienced. His guitar mastery and technique is belied by what I have come to call “Prinsimplicity”. Keep Bustin’ We miss you 💜

This solo is one of the best pieces of content that KZfaq has to offer, period. I think more should see it. I'm surprised but so grateful you made this video on it!!!

Dude I needed this analisis. TY

The first time I heard this solo was a life-changing experience; there were chills, goosebumps, the whole 9 yards. Sadly it was after Prince himself had passed, as well as Petty, so the experience was poignantly bittersweet. Thank you for doing this passionate cry justice.

I’ve been a guitarist for many years, I’ve seen all the greats, Prince impressed me the most.

Brilliant analysis. Thank you

Great video as always

What an amazing video. Thank you for introducing me to this.

I had never heard this tribute song. I'm in tears after listening to it for the first time.

I feel so lucky to find this analysis. The depth of observation and analysis is amazing.🤩

Phenomenal video. Thank you for this. What a great breakdown of a beautiful musical moment.

Analysing this performance with anything approaching accuracy, is an achievement in and of itself. You should be proud.

Another note to put the solo in "historical context": A few months prior, Rolling Stone magazine had published its first list of "100 Greatest Guitarists". As is par for the course with these lists, there were some real head-scratchers: Eddie Van Halen at #70 but Kurt Cobain at #12. Joan Jett was on it, but one name totally absent? Prince. Of course Rolling Stone and the RRHoF are (were) both controlled by Jann Wenner. So there's no doubt in my mind that part of Prince's motivation to empty his entire bag of tricks onto that solo was to send a message to Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone.

I like the points you make about the rests/pauses. Silence and the space between notes were important to Prince/his music. He's mentioned how Miles Davis' music had that.

This is just incredibly good content, thank you

“Because he’s Prince” words that say a lot.

Great piece of analysis. Love it!

This video is both magisterial and majestic. Well done

Ingenious illistration & explanation coupled with an understanding I wish I could one day have. Kudos!

Awesome. I knew the guitar solo you are talking about! I'm on my knees! Thank you!

As a recording studio owner and music producer who is, ultimately, just a slightly-reformed drummer, this is an epic video. You're illustrating theory over emotional moments I had, watching Prince play, with additional context. Thanks man!

I've always felt that this was the best someone ever got to play the guitar, I showed all my friends it. Now I can show them this video!

Prince's legacy is a touch weird to me, the man famously refused parody whatsoever until relenting somewhat in his later years, though he maintained an almost petty relationship with Weird Al. His estate is also infamously controlling and litigious of his music and image. Which is a shame because the man also did some incredibly selfless philanthropy he would keep anonymous about just because he wanted to. And he was such a god damn showman, as evident by this performance and the Super Bowl halftime where he ascended above everyone to ever do that gig. We really did lose the man too soon.

I just watched this on Nebula. Helpfully, it included a link to the performance on KZfaq, which of course I had to play immediately. And this here was at the top of the Recommendations in the right margin! Perfect!

Your intrinsic jokes are killing it! The Dr Manhattan when playing loose with time, the Dire Wolf of Game of Thrones while talking of a disappointing ending? Savage. I love it!!!

I read the title and immediately thought of this solo!!! I completely agree! Love this video 🎉

What a great breakdown of a perfect guitar solo. Time to watch that performance again! 🔥

thanks for explaining all this!

This is a brilliant video !!!!!!

Dog I already KNEW what solo it was gonna be. I just already knew.

I love KZfaq. You've obviously been around for a while, but just found you tonight (through a rabbit hole involving Big Country and Level 42). This is the most brilliant, imaginative format for music/audio channels I've ever seen. Congrats on being THIS talented! Insta-sub.

God, this cover is like a yawn! the second I even think about it I have to immediately go listen to it at least twice!

Prince was never big in my country, but this will definitely get me to delve deeper into more of his music. Also, I'm happy to be this early to a vid!

This rendition of While My Guitar...was a powerful musical moment, for which no music lover needs an explanation. But anyone who plays music wants an analysis of what went into making it so powerful. I hereby declare you the most powerful music theorist ever. I don't know anyone who could have broken this great performance down in a better way. I can say that every bit of Prince's solo was While My Guitar Gently Weeps, and at the same time, entirely Prince. Thank you for being entirely 12tone.

Wow, great analysis! Thanks! :)

This guitar solo is about half as good without the choreo and stunts. It was at least as much of a show as it was a piece of music.

I only needed to hear that opening guitar note and I knew what performance we were going to be hearing about.

This is an excellent video.

Loved this

My appreciation for Prince's talent went skyhigh after I saw this solo. I must've watched it a hundred times. The best guitar solo performance I've seen. Just unbelievable!!

Heavily played in my playlist. What a performance from ALL on stage.

A great breakdown of an iconic solo. One thing that goes unmentioned here is Prince’s incredible tone. Yeah, it looks like just any old Tele and I don’t know what kind of amp he’s playing through but the tone is just massive. Prince’s aggressive vibrato adds to the overall effect but I’ve just never heard a Tele sound like that.

This solo is so much more than just the music too, the showmanship is easily the greatest ever.

The very first time I heard this solo it seared into my soul. Even though I was alone I yelled " And THAT is how you play electric guitar!"

Wasn't a large part of Prince's performance that night based on the act of his getting snubbed on the Rolling Stone's top Guitarists of all time list? I don't recall if that was the exact situation off the top of my head, but I remember learning about the solo myself from that

Awesome video.

That was a brilliant breakdown of a brilliant song. I recall that his first big gig was opening for the Rolling Stones in Los Angeles. He was literally booed off the stage. And a year later people got his music and he was a giant, and was until his unfortunate death. I never thought i could touch this masterpiece and /i never will. But I may be able to play some of his brilliant licks. One last thing: I was really touched by Dhani's obvious amazement and thrill at this magnificent solo

A month late to the party but youtubee finally gave me this gem today and I enjoyed your analysis, in particular contrasting the speed vs the quiet and the ramp-up. But along the way I kept thinking of the Tim Reynolds solo in the video "Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Lie In Our Graves - LIVE - Canandaigua, NY 7.6.16" - in a song so closely tied to living and dying, I see that second solo as the journey of life, with Tim starting by getting his legs, expanding, stumbling, coming back later and shredding those stumbling blocks, and steaminrolling to the end. It is so emotive throughout with moments of virtuoso billiance as he plays off the D major chorcs vs the E minor chords. A four minute solo that takes you on a journey of a lifetime - and afterwards Dave gives him that look. I've never seen a greater solo. Prince here is my #2. :D

Prince is never included in those stupid "greatest guitar player ever" polls you see on here, and that's a goddamn travesty.

This solo is good, I wish it was on DSPs. It perfectly has all the flare, theatrics and build up of a guitar solo. Seeing the video is almost as important as hearing the solo itself

Unrelated to the video, but is any one else here who is also currently trying to more or less only listen to 3rd studio albums. For me that lead to a very different way of especially searching for the music I want to listen to and also I've made a list of the stuff I already discovered. So Cory, thanks for that idea, I love your videos and the podcast!

The smile that Dhani gives Prince partway through the solo is one of the best parts for me. You can reinforce your solo with all the theory and technique you want, but the son of the man you're paying tribute to grinning ear to ear at you is the ultimate impact.

If you ever get a chance to go to The Rock and roll hall of fame there's a room with incredible speakers and incredible sound and they play this and it just blew me away

I don’t think I’d ever heard this; brilliant bit of work, both in the original and Prince’s tribute.

FINALLY! Some Prince love 💜

Please examine something by Björk some day. There’s plenty there to analyze with her vocal melodies alone and you’d be one of the only people outside of David Bennett to make a video on her

Insane how many people are down here just to comment that 12tone is somehow wrong about that title. Art is subjective y’all. I could argue that 4’33” has the best guitar solo of all time and no one could ever prove me wrong. And of course it’s clickbait, you’re on KZfaq and your comments disagreeing are only feeding the interaction algorithm. A video called “Why Prince’s Guitar Solo Is Musically Incredible” wouldn’t get as many clicks as “Why Prince is the Guitar GOAT”. It’s the same reason that Rolling Stone had a “Greatest Guitarists of All Time” list and not a “Here’s Some Guitarists We Think Are Swell” list. The first provokes emotional conversation about why someone’s favorite guitarist, for example, Prince, was left off the list. And it leads directly to Prince proving Rolling Stone wrong by playing the best guitar solo of all time.

My absolute favorite guitar solo ever. Thank you for helping explain why I like it so much! (also love the dig at GOT)

Prince returning to the rhythm part with that huge distortion but short staccato mutes is just so iconic.

We will never see his like again, and the world is poorer for it.

25 or 6 to 4... same descending bass line over Am so D9/f# etc which is why the Am focus works throughout

This impressed when I saw it, and it's in one of my playlists

The breakdown i didnt know i needed

What I do remember from watching Prince is that he just made it look so casual. Like he could have thrown in making a coffee at the same time or signing autographs. I think when you're at that level of musical genius - you are the music, the instrument. I think you could've given him a melody he'd never heard or seen before and he could've improvised it note perfect, changing keys, rhythm, time and then come straight back in line.

3:30 I love that when he says “is gonna pop up a lot” he draws a zubat.

I know Prince did that end part in Let's Go Crazy and the intro part to When Doves Cry, but I had no idea he was such a serious rock guitarist until I heard this, and that was shortly after his death. Yeah, I came late to the game, but I'm glad I didn't miss it. I knew he liked classic rock, but I never heard that in his music. This solo was breathtaking!

This is the most masterful editing display I've seen in YEARS on KZfaq. What NLE are you using?

I never heard of Prince outside of his song Kiss, but was a huge Beatles fan. When discovering more of the Beatles catalog in the early 2000s, I found this and at first was shocked that a cover would be done by anyone not touted as a classic rock legend. I quickly learned that this was one of the most incredible performances in history; I may not have known who prince was, but i certainly knew he was incredibly talented and had an aura about him.

My favourite cover of this song is probably the one by Jeff Healey. I'd love to see a video about some of his works

Dhanis orgasmic glee at every moment of this solo is the best

This is the kind of solo that encourages me to keep practicing