YOU ARE HERE: zharth.net / Zharth's Music Log / Week 183 (Guitar Instrumentals)
(Originally finalized on February 3, 2026)
Preface: Notwithstanding the perfect synergy of the concept, you didn't really think I was gonna end this music log on such a lackluster selection of songs as we had last week, did you? For the first time since I resurrected this music log almost two years ago, I've completed a quarter without having at least another quarter's worth of themes on deck. That said, I had the previous quarter pretty much planned out in advance, so I could choose the strongest themes out of the scraps I had left. Until I got to about three weeks from the end, when I spontaneously realized (as tends to happen) that I had another theme I wanted to do. So, without committing myself to anything (not least of all another full quarter), I think I'm just gonna leave some space to tackle a few of those scraps as I see fit.
I came up with the idea for this theme a long time ago. I think the reason it never really came to fruition is that I was torn between two similar ideas. As an alternative to simply listing some of my favorite guitar instrumentals, I had considered sharing some lesser known tracks, and framing it as an activity in "guessing the guitarist". As a guitarist myself, I have an unfair advantage, but I think it's fun to listen for the stylistic flourishes that distinguish different guitarists from each other. But there's also a purity to the guitar instrumental, that just lets the instrument shine. By now I've spent some of the best examples across other themes, but there are a few prominent ones that deserve better than to remain over-looked.
Monday: Santana - Europa (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile) [Amigos, 1976]
Comments: We'll start with Europa, since it's pretty much the greatest guitar instrumental ever recorded. It's a wonder it hasn't appeared on this music log yet, but I can tell you that it has been under consideration - especially for Heaven and Hell. I think a part of me was holding onto it because I knew that some day I would do this theme. If you want another guitar instrumental by Santana that's not as well-known, I can also recommend Samba Pa Ti.
Tuesday: Stevie Ray Vaughan - Little Wing [The Sky Is Crying, 1991]
Comments: Almost as incredible as the fact that any guitarist could cover Jimi Hendrix and improve the material, is the fact that this track was recorded and then left on the cutting room floor, until Stevie's posthumous release The Sky Is Crying. Once again, if you want a lesser-known guitar instrumental, I will point you to Lenny, from Stevie's debut album.
Wednesday: Jimi Hendrix - Star-Spangled Banner (Live) [Woodstock, 1969]
Comments: Jimi Hendrix made history when he performed the Star-Spangled Banner at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in 1969. Reinterpreted as an antiwar protest (using distortion and feedback to imitate screaming jets and exploding bombs), squares all over the country objected to what they perceived as disrespect being done to the national anthem. I suspect what really offended them was its patriotic statement to the country that this mass of freedom-loving hippies represented the principles of democracy better than they ever had.
Thursday: Robin Trower - Secret Place [20th Century Blues, 1994]
Comments: I don't have enough space this week to cover all of my favorite guitarists (Jimmy Page and Peter Green are two conspicuous omissions), but though there aren't a lot of instrumentals in Robin Trower's early discography (all the better to show off Jimmy Dewar's incredible vocals), I was delighted to discover this one from a later album of his from 1994. There's something distinctly profound in both Trower's tone and phrasing, that I feel makes his work stand out.
Friday: David Gilmour - Raise My Rent [David Gilmour, 1978]
Comments: My favorite guitar instrumental featuring David Gilmour is actually Marooned from The Division Bell, but I've already shared that one, so here's the runner-up from his solo debut, recorded and released between Pink Floyd albums. Although he was never as flashy as, say, Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page, David Gilmour's playing always had a soulful contemplativeness, and a lyrical quality that lent itself to some of rock's most climactic guitar solos.
Saturday: Jeff Beck - Cause We've Ended As Lovers [Blow By Blow, 1975]
Comments: As an artist who always seemed more interested in exploring the sonic capabilities of the instrument of his choice than the art of popular songcraft, Jeff Beck has a number of instrumentals to choose from. I like this one, because it is dedicated to an even less celebrated, but by no means less talented pioneer of the guitar - who we'll hear from next.
Sunday: Roy Buchanan - After Hours [Second Album, 1973]
Comments: Despite his singular talent in expanding the capabilities of the electric guitar, Roy Buchanan never broke into the mainstream (rumor has it that he turned down an invitation to join The Rolling Stones after Brian Jones' death). Like many of his peers, though, he struggled with his own demons, who sadly won out in the end.
Honorable Mention: Funkadelic - Maggot Brain [Maggot Brain, 1971]
Comments: I'm including this song as an honorable mention partly because it includes a spoken word passage at the beginning - making it technically not a "true" instrumental, although I think it's still in the spirit of the theme - and partly just so I could use it to close out the set. Formed by George Clinton as part of the P-Funk collective, Funkadelic's third album opens with this 10-minute tour de force (and title track!), showcasing guitarist Eddie Hazel's heart-wrenching licks.