This solo has been one of my favorites ever since I first read something in a guitar magazine about it being one of the first recorded examples of tapping.
Of course, that’s not entirely true. A) there’s only a single tapped note in the whole thing, and B) Steve Hackett had been doing much more intricate tapping licks for years by the time this record came out (hell, Emmett Chapman was already building sticks!)
In any case, that’s how I first heard of this solo, and the inaccuracy of that statement in no way lessens its awesomosity.
I was always intimidated by it, but I was surprised at how easily it came to me. I imagine that won’t be the case for everyone, as the shifting positions and general lack of traditional solo boxes can be quite foreign to most people, but it was right at home for me.
It’s a great case-study in playing to the changes as well! Carlton does a fantastic job of navigating some odd chord changes without leaning too heavily on the roots.
Anyways, here ya go: