[2026] Masterpieces of instrumental music. Recommended instrumental tracks.

Cause We’ve Ended As LoversJeff Beck

JEFF BECK LIVE Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers

Jeff Beck, a legendary British rock guitarist who is sometimes mentioned alongside Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page as one of the “big three rock guitarists.” I wrote “rock,” but what’s remarkable about Beck is that, while rooted in blues and rock ’n’ roll, he has continually and flexibly embraced the cutting-edge sounds of each era—fusion, electronica, techno—expanding the possibilities of guitar instrumentals.

His 1975 solo album Blow by Blow is a truly monumental work, a masterpiece that has profoundly influenced generations of musicians.

From that classic, let’s look at “Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers,” known in Japanese as “Kanashimi no Koibitotachi” (“Lovers in Sadness”).

The song was originally written by Stevie Wonder for his then-wife Syreeta Wright, and after various circumstances, Beck covered it as an instrumental.

Pouring a wealth of his then-current guitar techniques into the track, Beck transformed it into a dramatic guitar instrumental.

“Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers,” which remains a highlight of his live performances to this day, has become one of his signature pieces, beloved by music fans around the world.

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SolearesNino Ricardo

Niño Ricardo – Soleares

Soleá is also a musical form that uses the Phrygian mode, a hallmark of flamenco, and it has a uniquely flamenco atmosphere.

Niño Ricardo was a master flamenco guitarist who emerged before Paco de Lucía, and with his arrival, flamenco performed solely on guitar became established.