The 4 Longest Guitar Solos In Soft Rock Classics

When one thinks of the longest guitar solos in rock history, that person might envision a heavy metal solo or one in the hard rock category, but there are some incredibly lengthy guitar solos in soft rock as well, and we picked the ones that stretch on for some time.

These solos weren't singled out by us just for their length, since none of them seem like they were merely plopped into the song. Instead, the solos were carefully infused and are just as much a part of the cut as, say, the chorus and verses. Take Prince's 1984 classic "Purple Rain," which could certainly be considered a soft rock song. It's probably hard for a lot of people to imagine that tune without its long, stunning guitar solo, as it's such a major and memorable part.

The guitar solos that we've picked do the same since each take listeners into a different melodic direction before bringing them back to the primary riff or closing out the song in spectacular fashion, like a grand finale. These lengthy soft rock solos also helped to make all of these songs undeniable classics.

The word epic may come to mind when thinking about The Alan Parsons Project's 1980 album "The Turn of a Friendly Card," a conceptual release about the perils of gambling. The title track is split into part one and two, and it's part two where guitarist Ian Bairnson gives a near 45-second solo, which closes out both the song and album. There are other instruments that float in during the solo as well, like regal-sounding horns and a lush string arrangement, but the guitar is clearly the star of the show.

Yes, The Alan Parsons Project only consisted of two members, Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson, but outside musicians were brought in to flesh out ideas. But in Bairnson's case, he didn't only play the majestic solo; he constructed the entire sound of the album, according to what Parsons told Louder in 2025. But it just isn't the specific sound of the solo that makes it so stupendous; it's the placement, since it fits perfectly after the last chorus, which allows the listener to sit back and ponder all of the important warnings about gambling.

While songs like Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" capture the joys associated with tour life, Journey's 1983 single "Faithfully" is about the difficulties of maintaining a relationship with the person back home. The song could be called one of the strongest and most adored power ballads in rock history, and much of that has to do with guitarist Neal Schon playing his solo for over a minute long. He also adds a high amount of drama to the track, like a director using thunder and lightning in a movie scene to create a certain mood.

It's clear that the solo, as well as Jonathan Cain's touching lyrics and Steve Perry's soaring vocals, has made "Faithfully "a huge fan favorite. "It's still that big with fans every night when we play it," said Schon in an interview with The Professor of Rock (via YouTube), also known as Adam Reader. "People are very connected with it."

Elsewhere in the interview, Schon said that Cain received a phone call from someone on Prince's team after Prince wrote the song "Purple Rain," just to make sure the guitar solo in the cut wasn't too close to the one in "Faithfully" ... and if you listen to it now you can hear similarities, but they are two different songs," said Schon.

The guitar solo in the Eagles' 1977 classic "Hotel California" lasts for about two full minutes and comes shooting in after Don Henley uses his powerful vocals to warn the listener that one can't leave the sad hotel psychologically, even after checking out. Eagles guitarist, Joe Walsh, talked about the dual guitar solo on the Long Distance podcast, explaining that he and Don Felder created it by feeding off of each other.

"Don Felder and I sat down and we worked all the descending lines and after the basic track was done and Don [Henley] had sung it, it was our turn," Walsh stated. "That was the first set of overdubs. We agreed on who was going to play at the end — at the big solo — and we tried to compliment each other and to build it up to that very last part, so the solos were not planned. They were spontaneous. Playing off of each other. We were really good at that."

The fact that Walsh and Felder were able to build off each other instead of compete speaks to their willingness to do whatever necessary to create the very best song, as opposed to dueling it out to see who would have the strongest part. Not only did the pair create one cohesive solo, but it also drips with so much soul that it wouldn't be surprising if a puddle of moisture was left on the studio floor when they were done.

Bon Jovi's 1992 album, "Keep the Faith," spent 46 weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at No.5, and if someone argued that the song "Dry County" is one of the reasons for the album's success, that person probably wouldn't get a lot of pushback. What makes the song such a standout has to do with a gorgeously played guitar solo by Richie Sambora that lasts well over two minutes long.

The minute-and-a-half long solo comes in full throttle before softening and slowing down, then it increases in tempo moments later, reminding us that while this may be a softer rock song, he still shreds with the best of them. Sambora does a first-class job of taking the listener through various sonic, as well as emotional peaks and valleys, which not all solos accomplish.

The song, as well as the solo, also inspired an entire generation of guitarists. Just head over to YouTube and you'll find a bunch of musicians playing it on video. A lot of people also praised it on X in June 2026, which Sambora shared on his account. "Your best. I've been playing this for over 20 years and still can't get it spot on," reads one X comment. "Easily Top 5 solos ever recorded ... by anyone ... at least from my perspective," reads another.