Check Out Guitar George, He Knows All the Chords Quiz

Answer: George Harrison

Dedicated to George Harrison's then-wife Pattie Boyd, "Something" first appeared on The Beatles' celebrated "Abbey Road" album (1969). The guitar solo on encapsulates George Harrison's often understated skill as both a lead guitarist and a songwriter. Neither flashy nor lengthy, the exquisitely melodic solo enhances a song that is unabashedly romantic without being in any way sappy. Harrison's second contribution to the album, the Eastern-influenced "Here Comes the Sun", was composed in Eric Clapton's garden on one of Clapton's acoustic guitars.

One of the founding members of The Beatles, George Harrison was responsible for a number of other famous songs by the Fab Four. After the quartet disbanded in 1971, he embarked on a successful solo career, which was sadly brought to an end by his untimely death from cancer in 2001, at the age of 58. Among other things, he is known for his embrace of Indian culture and spirituality, including the use of traditional Indian instruments such as the sitar. Pattie Boyd, who was married to Harrison from 1966 to 1977, and subsequently married Eric Clapton, was the inspiration for another iconic guitar song - "Layla" by Derek and the Dominoes - featuring one of the most recognizable riffs of all time.

Answer: Jimi Hendrix

"All Along the Watchtower" was originally featured on Bob Dylan's 1967 album, "John Wesley Harding". The version recorded by The Jimi Hendrix Experience for their third studio album, "Electric Ladyland" (1968), is often cited as one of the best cover versions of all time, turning an acoustic blues song into a guitar-led, psychedelic rock barnstormer that injects a palpable sense of menace into its visionary lyrics. In Hendrix's version, the song contains no less than four solos. The whole album - the Experience's swan song - is one of rock's undisputed masterpieces, packed with stunning guitar performances.

In the short 27 years of his life, James Marshall Hendrix revolutionized guitar playing, developing or popularizing new techniques - such as the use of the wah-wah pedal - and spawning hundreds of imitators. He recorded three studio albums with the Jimi Hendrix Experience - the quintessential power trio along with Cream - and a live one with Band of Gypsys. His appearance at Woodstock, closing the festival at 8 am of Monday, 18 August 1969, with an incendiary version of "The Star Spangled Banner", gave him legendary status. Barely over a year later, Hendrix would die of a drug overdose in London.

Answer: Duane Allman and Dickey Betts

The original lineup of the Allman Brothers Band was the stuff of legends - as witnessed by the history-making performance captured on "Live at Fillmore East" (1971), considered by many rock fans to be the best live album ever recorded.

Written by vocalist/keyboardist Greg Allman, "Whipping Post", one of the staples of their blistering live shows, was originally the closing track of the band's self-titled debut album (1969). With Gregg providing rugged, bluesy vocals and rumbling Hammond organ, the song showcases masterful dual lead guitar attack by Duane Allman and Dickey Betts, which would later be adopted by many "Southern rock" bands. As good as the studio version is, however, it is but a patch on the 23-minute version on the Fillmore East album - a veritable guitar masterclass from two young, incredibly gifted instrumentalists.

Sadly, Duane Allman - who had founded the band in 1969 together with his brother Gregg, Betts, bassist Berry Oakley, and drummers Butch Trucks and Jaimoe Johanson - died in a motorcycle accident just a few months after the Fillmore East performance, on 29 October 1971, at the age of 24. In spite of his youth, before the Allman Brothers Band came into being Duane was already a much sought-after session player, in particular for his skill on the slide guitar. In 1970 he appeared on the only album by Derek and the Dominoes. "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs", alongside Eric Clapton. After Duane's death, Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts took on lead guitar duties, first on his own, then flanked by other guitarists; he also pursued a solo career during the band's various break-ups, and after he was fired in 2000 because of his heavy drug and alcohol use.

Answer: Jimmy Page

When discussing Jimmy Page's greatest guitar solo, most people's choice is likely to fall on "Stairway to Heaven" - a legendary song which, however, has suffered much from overexposure, sharing the same fate as the likes of "Hotel California" and "Bohemian Rhapsody". However, magazines and websites that would rather think outside the box often mention the solo in the middle of "Heartbreaker" as one of Page's finest moments.

Written by the whole band, the song appears on their 1969 "Led Zeppelin II" album - widely held as their heaviest effort. Unrehearsed and without any accompaniment, Page's solo was recorded in a different studio with a Gibson Les Paul guitar amplified by a Marshall stack. It became a major influence on younger generations of heavy rock guitarists, including the late, great Edward van Halen.

James Patrick Page began his career as a session guitarist in the early 1960s, contributing to the recordings of many famous artists of that era. In 1966 he joined the Yardbirds - initially sharing guitar duties with Jeff Beck, then as the band's only lead guitarist. When the Yardbirds split up in 1968, Page put together a band with vocalist Robert Plant, drummer John Bonham, and bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones. Initially known as New Yardbirds, they changed their name to Led Zeppelin - becoming one of the most successful and influential rock bands of the Seventies. After the band's end following the death of John Bonham in 1980, Page embarked in a series of short-term collaborations - such as The Firm with singer Paul Rodgers, the Coverdale-Page project with singer David Coverdale, and Page-Plant with Led Zeppelin's former vocalist. In spite of various attempts to reform Led Zeppelin, with the exception of a handful of one-off performances, the project never came to fruition.

Answer: Carlos Santana

Written by legendary British blues-rock guitarist Peter Green, one of the founding members of Fleetwood Mac, "Black Magic Woman" was originally released as a single in 1968. Because of its Latin-inspired rhythm, it was the perfect choice to be covered by iconic Latin rock guitarist Carlos Santana and his multinational band. Santana's version of the song, recorded in 1970, is a medley with 1966 instrumental "Gypsy Queen" by Hungarian-American guitarist Gábor Szabó. It blends the blues structure of the original with jazz, rock, Latin and Afro-Cuban influences, adding various layers of complexity, as well as almost three minutes' running time in the version featured on Santana's second studio album, "Abraxas" (1970). Carlos Santana's trademark fluid, soulful soloing is interspersed by the verses sung by keyboardist (and founding member) Gregg Rolie.

Born in Mexico, Carlos Santana moved to San Francisco with his family in the mid-1960s. In 1966 he founded the Santana Blues Band, whose name was shortened to Santana when it was signed by Columbia Records. The band appeared at Woodstock Festival a few days before the release of their self-titled debut album, which marked the beginning of a career that would last over 50 years. During his long career, Carlos Santana has embraced various styles, from jazz to more radio-friendly sounds, contributing his distinctive guitar tone to a vast number of recordings, both with his eponymous band, as a solo artist, or collaborating with other musicians. Early in his career, Santana favoured Gibson guitars, later switching to custom-made PRS guitars.

Answer: Martin Barre

Almost two decades before their notorious Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance (1989), Jethro Tull were already flirting with the heavier end of the rock spectrum. Much of the credit for the harder edge of their sound goes to guitarist Martin Barre, who truly came into his own as an electric guitarist on the band's fourth studio album, "Aqualung" (1971). The opening riff of the title-track would not be out of place on a Led Zeppelin album: however, it is the song's solo - often voted as one of the best guitar solos of all time by the readers of influential guitar magazines - that displays Barre's fiery yet melodic style. Another outstanding Barre solo on the "Aqualung" album is featured in the song "My God", which originally opened Side 2 of the album.

Martin Lancelot Barre joined Jethro Tull at the end of 1968, replacing Mick Abrahams, who had appeared on the band's debut album, "This Was". Barre remained with Jethro Tull for over 42 years, until mainman Ian Anderson dissolved the band in 2011. When Anderson reformed Jethro Tull in 2017 on the occasion of the band's 50th anniversary, Barre was not invited back. In spite of the disappointment, he has continued pursuing his solo career, touring extensively with his band and releasing a number of studio and live albums.

Answer: Ritchie Blackmore

Written in the aftermath of the fire that destroyed the Montreux Casino on 4 December 1971, "Smoke on the Water" first appeared on Deep Purple's sixth studio album, "Machine Head" (1972). With its iconic guitar riff - which has launched a thousand guitarists since its release - it quickly became the band's signature song, and a staple of their live performances. "Smoke on the Water" also provided a showcase for guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's considerable skill as a soloist. About 50 seconds long in the original version, the deceptively easy solo - played on a Fender Stratocaster - takes up a sizable part of the song, flowing effortlessly into the main riff.

Richard Hugh Blackmore, nicknamed The Man in Black, was one of the founding members of Deep Purple. He stayed with the band from its inception in 1967 until 1975, when he left to form Rainbow. He was also on board when Deep Purple reformed in 1984 with the classic Mark II lineup (Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Jon Lord, Roger Glover and Ian Paice), but left again - this time for good - in 1993. In 1995, he formed Blackmore's Night - a folk-rock project inspired by traditional and Renaissance music - with his then-girlfriend (now wife), vocalist Candice Night. With Blackmore's Night, he still plays the electric guitar, as well as the acoustic guitar, the hurdy-gurdy, the mandolin, and other traditional string instruments.

Answer: Don Felder and Joe Walsh

The Eagles' "Hotel California" often appears in lists of songs people are heartily sick of, or consider overrated, due to its overexposure on radio stations and other outlets. Because of the song's perceived ubiquity, it is far too easy to overlook its instrumental brilliance. The deceptively laid-back song with rather sinister lyrics - written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Don Felder, and first released on the album of the same name in December 1976 - culminates in a stunning, 2-minute-plus solo performed by Felder with a Gibson EDS-1275 double neck and Joe Walsh with a Fender Telecaster. The two guitarists take turns in soloing, then harmonize together before the song fades out. Since the album's release, the solo has appeared in numerous lists of the best guitar solos of all time.

Donald William Felder joined the Eagles in 1974, first appearing as a full member on their 1975 album "One of These Nights". In 1975, Joseph Fidler Walsh (formerly with the James Gang) was recruited to replace founding member Bernie Leadon. "Hotel California" was the first album released by the band with both Walsh and Felder on board. Felder was also involved in the Eagles' reunion in 1994, 14 years after disbanding in 1980: however, he was fired in 2001 due to his conflicted relationship with Henley and Frey. On the other hand, Walsh has been part of all the band's subsequent incarnations; he has also released a number of solo albums, and collaborated with many high-profile musicians.

Answer: David Gilmour

A hauntingly melodic, soothing song about being injected with tranquilizers before going on stage, "Comfortably Numb" originally appeared at the end of Side Three of Pink Floyd's 11th studio album, the rock opera "The Wall" (1979).

Though the partly autobiographical lyrics were written by bassist Roger Waters, the music was composed by guitarist David Gilmour. The two guitar solos featured in the song were pieced together from other solos that Gilmour had been working on. The second, final solo - stripped down of the song's orchestral arrangement - lets Gilmour's guitar shine in all its glory. A quick Internet search will turn up dozens of sites where this vibrantly emotional solo is listed as the greatest solo of all time. Another of Gilmour's finest moments is the nearly three-minute solo at the beginning of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", on the 1975 album "Wish You Were Here".

David Jon Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in 1967, when it had already become clear that founding member Syd Barrett was suffering from serious mental issues. The band was briefly a five-piece with both Gilmour and Barrett on board; then Barrett left, and by 1969 Gilmour had become the only guitarist - as well as one of the vocalists of the band. In 1985, after years of tension, Waters left, and Gilmour became the leader of the band until their end in 2015. He has also released various solo albums, and contributed to recordings by a large number of other artists.

Answer: Slash

When, in 1987, they broke on the international rock scene with the release of their debut album "Appetite for Destruction", Guns 'n' Roses quickly earned the nickname of "world's most dangerous band" due to their reputation for excess. However, amidst the album's celebration of debauchery, lurks one of rock's most moving love songs. Dedicated by lead singer W. Axl Rose to his then-girlfriend (and future wife) Erin Everly, the mid-tempo song became the band's only Number One US single. Its main claim to fame, however, is Slash's passionate guitar solo, starting out in a low-key manner and progressively gaining in intensity. Not surprisingly, "Sweet Child o' Mine" appears in quite a large number of "Greatest Guitar Solo of All Time" lists. Another great guitar track by Guns 'n' Roses is "November Rain", featured on their 1991 album "Use Your Illusion I".

Born in London as Saul Hudson, Slash grew up in Los Angeles; he got his nickname from his habit of moving around quickly, always in a hurry. He was invited to join Guns 'n' Roses in 1985, replacing founding member Tracii Guns on lead guitar. Slash left the band in 1996, but rejoined in 2016 when Guns 'n' Roses embarked on a massive world tour. His various side projects include Slash's Snakepit, Velvet Revolver, and Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators; he has also worked extensively as a session guitarist. The Gibson Les Paul is Slash's favourite guitar, which he uses both in studio and on stage.