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

Rockabilly HolidayDuane Eddy

Rockabilly Holiday

Nowadays, when you think of the electric guitar, it’s the star of a rock band, but it was once a modest accompaniment instrument.

The guitarist who overturned that notion and was among the very first to make the electric guitar a lead instrument, carrying the melody in instrumental pieces, was Duane Eddy.

One of his signature songs is this one, and the guitar instrumental format he established became a foundation for later rock music.

falkorCovet

Covet – falkor (full band playthrough)

Tapping is a special technique for stringed instruments like guitar and bass, where the right hand—normally used with a pick—takes on the left hand’s role of fretting the strings.

Covet is the band led by the rising star guitarist Yvette Young, who wields this technique with effortless control.

Among their songs, Falkor stands out as a highly recommended track for instrumental beginners: instead of flaunting technique, it focuses on an accessible melodic line.

It’s a gentle sound that’s also great for those who find guitar instrumentals too intense.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Yuuki

Report a problem

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.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem

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.

Holy Diver (Dio Cover)Paul Gilbert

Paul Gilbert — “Holy Diver” | Live at Sweetwater

Paul Gilbert, who has been active as a super guitarist in bands like Mr.

Big and Racer X and continues to energetically release work as a solo artist, is also a great Japanophile and enjoys immense popularity in Japan.

His 2023 solo album, “The Dio Album,” as the title suggests, is a covers album of songs left by the legendary singer Ronnie James Dio.

Rather than featuring guest vocalists, Paul drew attention by pulling off the daring feat of recreating not only the riffs and solos but even the vocal melodies with his guitar.

The track featured here, “Holy Diver,” is a cover of the classic released by the heavy metal band DIO, and it brilliantly reproduces Ronnie’s magnificent vocals on guitar.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem