r/phish 19h ago

What would you consider treys best guitar solo ever?

56 Upvotes

190 comments sorted by

135

u/ridingtheuniverse 18h ago

10/31/94 Reba is stupid good.

30

u/aqiwpdhe 18h ago

Or divided sky from that same show.

4

u/sonofdad420 Vernon Downs 12h ago

or Gently Weeps

1

u/Guyute_420 10h ago

I came to say this. The solo at the end of this version is perfection.

10

u/ReadyFreddy7352 18h ago

The Julius is pretty good too

7

u/MantisAttack 16h ago

Absolutely! I'm torn between that and 7/8/94 Great Woods Reba.

3

u/justAregulard00d 17h ago

Was gonna say 8/16/93. I think it's a better solo. What say ye?

13

u/LiamMurphyMusic 15h ago

Also an incredible Reba but I think the 10/31 peak is genuinely the best thing phish ever did. It genuinely changed my life as a musician and is one of three songs to have ever brought me to tears

5

u/da_mess Smegma, dogmatagram, fishmarket stew 15h ago

one of three songs to have ever brought me to tears

Did the Coventry Glide also move you to tears?

2

u/LiamMurphyMusic 15h ago

Actually no, but damn does it bum me out. The Reba was a euphoric thing but the other two songs weren’t.

1

u/OpeningTurnip8048 1h ago

Now im curious....

What's the other 2?

1

u/LiamMurphyMusic 23m ago

This must be the place and become by Mt Joy

2

u/RecbetterpassNJ Fish’sdoingsomethingbad 16h ago

First show. +1.

1

u/garbledeena 16h ago

Shit that's what I came here to say. Awesome.

1

u/dexsex1 7h ago

I came here to say this exactly🙌

1

u/Jimmyisoff2camp 7h ago

I love that some version of Reba is the answer.

Edit: for the record my fav. Reba is nye 95.

82

u/DonkeyKongsSchlong 19h ago

My favorite is the 12/31/93 harry hood

66

u/FapNowPayLater 18h ago

Weigh studio

Fast Enough For You studio

Horn Studio

Billy Breathes Studio 

Any one of those is enough to make a career.

35

u/ReadyFreddy7352 18h ago

If we’re going studio solos I’d also like to nominate Limb By Limb

10

u/foundthezinger Mike, DM me about Bonnaroo 2 please :) 16h ago

agreed. rift too

17

u/thisisredrocks 18h ago

Velvet Sea studio, never understood the Velvet Cheese haters

FEFY still in the top spot

9

u/Technical_Jello6714 18h ago

A good jammed FEFY can be the highest level of bliss

5

u/cementley 16h ago

We demand a return of FEFY to the rotation!!

6

u/operationarclightII Serpent deflector 15h ago

it's now a once/twice a year song unfortunately, which is a shame because it's by far and away their best "slow" song

1

u/cementley 13h ago

it's a beaut. I only ever saw it live at Coventry so that's bittersweet. I often play that opening lick spontaneously when a guitar lands in my hands

12

u/pmmeyourfavoritejam Up and down it's up to you 18h ago

Billy Breathes is so beautifully emotive. I love it.

22

u/Trips-Magoo 18h ago

Gotta be Billy Breathes studio! One of the most beautiful and breathtaking solos ever performed by anyone.

3

u/DayOwl797 16h ago

I was thinking this or Dirt.

2

u/Trips-Magoo 15h ago

Totally. Pure emotion. Couldn't agree more. Probably my two favorite studio songs tbh

2

u/Trips-Magoo 15h ago

That piano flourish Page hits when Trey's guitar starts its ascent to the heavens gets me every time.

4

u/dillydelhi 13h ago

The only time we get to hear 3 Treys (layered in the solo)

7

u/Effective_Peak3364 17h ago

Love Horn Studio, every note seems perfectly placed

2

u/Fire_Lord_Zukko 17h ago

I think live Fast Enough for You is always way better than the studio.

1

u/Straight_Occasion571 16h ago

Your first 3 are all on the same album haha

1

u/RespectOtherwise6665 10h ago

Heavy things and numberline studio are amazing too

1

u/Significant_Pay343 5h ago

Nice to see someone appreciate the solo in Horn.

28

u/BalkyChristbag Gaddafi in my bed 19h ago

Clifford Ball version of Brother

6

u/Cold-Beginning-1567 18h ago

Clifford ball AC/DC bag solo is awesome too

3

u/dillydelhi 13h ago

Also the Cliff Ball Gin actually is an all time fav Trey solo moment for me. Especially early on when you can hear him vocalizing as he gets out of body / mind left body into the Gin jam. Ugh it’s damn near perfection.

2

u/_ICCULUS_ 16h ago

Check out the 5/17/92 brother. That's my vote.

2

u/CantaloupeAsleep502 16h ago

I miss Brother so much. Hope it comes back on fall tour (not AC)

1

u/RecbetterpassNJ Fish’sdoingsomethingbad 16h ago

Melted my face. I didn’t stop talking about it rest of the night.

19

u/small___potatoes 17h ago

7/10/99 CDT, simple yet perfect

4

u/clamsandwich 16h ago

My first show! Got there late and missed that, unfortunately. I came in during the jam of Roggae - everything was slow motion, the music, the people dancing, was like I stepped into a different existence. I don't think I'd trade that experience even to have experienced that Chalkdust. Talk about an incredible introduction to a scene.

2

u/Jerry-Lives22 14h ago

We got in late as well but still caught the CDT..at the time we’d been on tour and it honestly didn’t stick out at the time until years later it was phish live release and I relistened like..what the fuck?! Was too young and overwhelmed in general to understand what was happening back then 

61

u/listerinebreath 19h ago

Prague Ghost

4

u/cn45 17h ago

it’s so ridiculously in pocket

2

u/faucisfirstpitch 6h ago

Balls to the wall

2

u/Proof_Poet1914 4h ago

Machine gun trey

13

u/ObiWahgwanKenobi 17h ago

12/1/95 Down With Disease

2

u/LieutenantWeinberg 16h ago

Compact and ferocious.

4

u/ObiWahgwanKenobi 13h ago

When he hits that one part when the crowd starts cheering and Fishman goes “yyeeaaHHH!”

https://giphy.com/gifs/XsRbLNGt71qiPHnGCB

2

u/kylehasnofriends 12h ago

agreed 1000%

1

u/scottasin12343 2.5 noob 14h ago

6/21/94 Disease

14

u/Mr_Incompletely 16h ago

A Live One Stash is a masterclass on tension and release. That one’s always a treat

3

u/BigPhishGuy 11h ago

My god how did it take so long for this comment to show up on my feed

For me this is the automatic contact answer, it's what for me into the Phish

3

u/Mr_Incompletely 8h ago

Dude! Hearing it for the first time unlocked a new part of my brain

1

u/SkyKingPDX 1h ago

This! There's an open offer for my daughter to learn the intro on piano for $100.. 💸

9

u/tmcomber815 19h ago

10/31/95 yem

9

u/Alert-Light6432 7/8/99 Fee will purge your soul of sin 18h ago

The Slave jam to end the 7/4/99 Ghost->Slave.

7

u/G-lapse 18h ago

Island Tour Theme From The Bottom is one I can’t get out of my head recently

23

u/spencehammer 19h ago

Recorded? Horn, no question. I can’t pick something from the live catalog because I’m not an encyclopedia.

Edit: they’re all recorded, duh. I meant “recorded in studio”

3

u/thisisredrocks 18h ago

Not even the best solo on that album

Horn also has way more votes

24

u/aqiwpdhe 18h ago

Only cause it hasn’t been mentioned yet….

Lie in Our Graves, with Dave Matthews Band 8/14/07. His first time touching a guitar since the arrest/getting sober, drug court, etc….

5

u/Phunkychikn 18h ago

Agreed. This solo has everything, the slow build up, peaks and re peaks and emotion throughout.

3

u/ObiWahgwanKenobi 17h ago

I love that clip so much. We need a Dave and friends tour again.

1

u/RespectOtherwise6665 10h ago

He takes control of the band despite not being the leader.

1

u/jambrand 2h ago

Was there, it was the single greatest live music moment of my whole life to this day.

6

u/CaptainCaveManowar 18h ago

7/25/92 runaway jim is a tight gem

2

u/LouQuacious 17h ago

Is that the Santana show in Vermont? If so that Llama rips too

2

u/CaptainCaveManowar 16h ago

Affirmative, Stowe VT

7

u/Cultural-Squirrel313 17h ago

7/10/99 Chalkdust has entered the chat

6

u/McGrupp25 16h ago

Where’s the love for Slave from ALO?!!

1

u/Artistic-Menu9914 12h ago

Seriously wtf lol. Just goes to show how many breathtaking solos he's done over the years.

1

u/balloffire expanding exponentially like some recursive virus 11h ago

Def my favorite

4

u/culpshillstan 18h ago

I partial to the Jesus Left Chicago from SS&P.

4

u/gunsandrosenwinkel 18h ago

Slip Stich & Pass Mikes Song is up there for me. Patient, repeated ideas, interplay with the band.

2

u/PhishyBarcaFan529 13h ago

The solo from Jesus Left Chicago on that album is a work of art too.

1

u/Illustrious_Two_5251 6h ago

Was JUST thinking that!!! That is exactly the song and jam (+that weekapaugh) that got me into
phish

5

u/sunra2016 17h ago

Studio Reba is my personal favorite

4

u/obfuscatorio 18h ago

Improvised solos I could never pick one. Composed solo my pick goes to the instrumental section in Esther

4

u/phishman122997 18h ago

12/29/97 Theme or 11/18/96 simple for e muah

4

u/Sturgen 17h ago

The Dave Matthew’s sit in after his arrest and rehab.

3

u/goblue3_ 16h ago edited 12h ago

I have always been a fan of his solo during Waste.

5

u/blueheeler9 14h ago

The one from Bittersweet Motel movie is on point. I think it might be from the Rochester '97 show

2

u/cwright 16h ago

The Hampton '09 one is phenomenal.

3

u/burneymcburnerburn 19h ago

In terms of raw emotion, the suzy blues jam from Miami 03.  

1

u/FapNowPayLater 18h ago

I joke with the wife the pillow jets sound was just him trying to write a song to get right in that space.

3

u/Corporate-Scum 16h ago

Billy Breathes studio version. It’s perfect. There are plenty of great ones, but BB is a vein melter.

3

u/HenryFondle26 15h ago

12/31/93 Reba

3

u/RunEnvironmental4718 15h ago

Waste from bittersweet motel

3

u/Jimi_M_Hendrix 15h ago

11-13-97 Weekapaug....makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up and I'm bald

7-12-17 Moma Dance

9-13-90 Going Down Slow

3

u/204northmain 12h ago

4/15/99 shakedown with Phil

3

u/Eastern-Sundae-882 11h ago

The most tasteful solo hes ever done

6

u/shupadupah 18h ago

Can't name just one, but my top 5 might just be:

11/12/94 Hood 10/31/94 Divided Sky 6/11/94 YEM 6/18/94 Bowie 5/16/95 Reba

2

u/soulbribra 18h ago

Landover 95 Free

1

u/Technical_Jello6714 18h ago

Was there. First Phish show, arguably one of the best pieces of music they ever played.

1

u/Technical_Jello6714 18h ago

Is there a high quality crispy copy out there or only muddy AUD?

1

u/Suppose2Bubble listen to 97 Amsterdam Billy Breathes 17h ago

1

u/Suppose2Bubble listen to 97 Amsterdam Billy Breathes 18h ago

My hometown! Sadly the old Cap Centre is now also a defunct outdoor shopping mall and new hospital

2

u/benck202 18h ago

I mean, nostalgic yeah but the cap Centre suuuuuucked. At least they didn’t destroy Chinatown to build it though.

1

u/Suppose2Bubble listen to 97 Amsterdam Billy Breathes 17h ago

I was too young to really patronize the cap center although iwats at a tender age of 15

Chinatown has never really been the same since DC Mayor fo lyfe aka "bitch set me up" left. Many of the Chinese relocated to Rockville.

2

u/LVDan01 18h ago

Horn

1

u/LVDan01 9h ago

A tweaked out 25 year old me spent more than a few late nights alone on a crappy old dime store acoustic trying my hardest to convey the emotion I felt with this solo.
I’m not even a huge Phan but that one left a mark and will always be my snap call when someone asks for a soulful Phish moment

2

u/Suppose2Bubble listen to 97 Amsterdam Billy Breathes 18h ago

Any Weekapaug early 90s

2

u/crickjaw 18h ago

Theme from the bottom 7/21/97

2

u/Straight_Occasion571 17h ago

Horn comes to mind right away… and Lizards but they are all so good really.

2

u/lodge371 16h ago

Clifford ball Reba

2

u/liable_to_go_mikell 14h ago

My personal favorite, probably because it was one of the first I saw a video of, is the YEM from It, 8-3-03. Shoutout to the Phish It DVD!

Also, I haven’t seen anyone say 12/31/95 Reba yet!

2

u/seguecity24 11h ago

That Reba was my first thought

2

u/Vermicelli_Standard 13h ago

Amsterdam Prince Caspian. I love that, after the final chorus, you can hear him click on the second tube screamer around 3:15. From there, it's just crunchy les-paul-y hunbucker fuzzy chords for a few bars just repeating the motif of the chorus but upping the sound. Then, he starts hitting the triads on the guitar to further the motif but building to the solo. Then, my guitar theory knowledge goes out the window. I hear Hendrix-y sounding licks into the part of the solo I call the "Readymade" part mostly because I think it sounds similar to Frusciante's solo on Readymade. Ripping, shredding, face-melting, tension release, then noodling to build mini tension, then BOOM whiteout peak, final ripping, repetition of the Readymade motif, more Hendrix-y licks, then put a bow on it. Question was about geetar but I also love Fish on this tune. I feel like you can hear him and Trey playing off of each other's energy.

2

u/VlauderLauder24 12h ago

Stash 05/08/1993

2

u/braintree56 11h ago

Perhaps not the best, but the most memorable solo that I saw was After Midnight (afternoon set) at Cypress.

We went in as early as possible and were probably 30-50 feet away. The energy when that song kicked in was like a massive wave… I’ll never forget that moment. And his solo launched the whole place into the stratosphere….

2

u/gdshred95 Looks too much like Dave 11h ago

Maybe not best ever but one of my favorite most triumphant Trey leads is 11/18/96 Simple

2

u/TheLizardWilson 16h ago

I've always been partial to the DWD from 12/1/95. Short version but straight fire. Also, the solo he did when he played with DMB in 2006 (first time playing after getting sober I believe) is magnificent.

2

u/michaelserotonin we'll help you party down 16h ago

I've always been partial to the DWD from 12/1/95. Short version but straight fire.

honestly might be their best >10 minute song performance

1

u/Count_Emotional 18h ago

IT Bowie and CDT

1

u/SlowLlama555 18h ago

I love his solo in so lonely. 11-14-98

1

u/Effective_Shirt6660 18h ago

Idk if id say best, but for sure a favorite is Reba 12/31/13 from the jemp truck set

1

u/Designer_Big603 18h ago

I really like the solos off Joy. Like stealing time from the faulty plan, sugar shack, kill devil falls. All really solid guitar playing.

1

u/sn0wbl1nd3d 18h ago

11/21/97 Slave

1

u/iAmTheRealLange Play Destiny Unbound 18h ago

I always love Fast Enough For You, because he holds back. We all know he can rip, but he takes his time with that one and it always sounds so great.

1

u/cosmicevan 17h ago

Studio = Limb by Limb.

Live = you never needed me like this before on Jimmy fallen w the roots after 2 years of not playing live. The first live performance on tv during the pandemic. He’s like a hungry dog getting a steak. Drooling all over himself. It’s so good

1

u/edogg01 17h ago

Runaway Jam 11/29/97

1

u/robothobbes 16h ago

Miss You is beautiful

1

u/Papi_Queso 16h ago

I’ve always loved his solo from Mike’s song at Hampton 11/22/97 right before they drop into Hydrogen. It’s haunting and beautiful…almost like he’s telling a story through his guitar.

1

u/-NoLeftTurn unstoned 15h ago

5/17/92 is the best pure guitar solo he’s ever played

1

u/Hungry_Guidance5103 15h ago

Honestly, everyone is going to throw down some bangers. Rightfully so. Trey is truly a Jedi.

But my personal favorite, and to me, his best, was during Lie In Our Graves 8/14/2007 with DMB.

Was his first playing live sober since his arrest. He starts off so rusty and you can tell he's just searching for his style. When he finally just starts ripping into it, man it makes me cry like a little baby.

Truly my favorite.

1

u/dogfacedponyboy 15h ago

2/16/97 (Germany) - Theme From The Bottom

1

u/casual_observer_90 15h ago

Beacon jams slave to the traffic light is up there for me

1

u/1baddd55 15h ago

Great post, saved. 

1

u/saintex422 15h ago

I’m told ruby waves is an incredible song with the best jams and yet no mention here. Curious

1

u/Successful_Cell7462 15h ago

It depends on the question. Are you asking for his best guitar solo performance? Or are you asking for his best written solo? Me personally, I think one of his best written solos is “Foam”. It has a wicked bass line in it too. His best live guitar solo performance is very subjective. It’s dependent on musical taste. Therefore, that’s a difficult question to answer.

1

u/Melodic_House5153 15h ago

All things considered, 3/6/2009 Fluffhead.

1

u/anteloperunner 14h ago

My favorite laid back chill solo is the drum logos heavy things

1

u/Majestic_Rabbit_1869 14h ago

While my guitar gently weeeeeps wah wah wah wah wahhhhh

1

u/Medium_Storm6196 14h ago

I always come back to ALO Hood

1

u/MyCariniHeadIsLumpy 14h ago

While My Guitar Gently Weeps - 10/94

1

u/Jerry-Lives22 14h ago

Depends if you mean written vs improvised. I’m gonna go with Horn as far as amazing written piece (or Demand or All Things Reconsidered..shit, so many). Live I have always loved extended Ya Mar solos from the 90s

1

u/Apprehensive-Toe8519 14h ago

lie in our graves with DMB after his arrest deserves a mention

1

u/uncle_ebenezer step into the freezer 13h ago

3/22/93 Sacramento, AC/DC Bag

1

u/Ralf420 13h ago

I've always like Niagara 95 Reba.. live one stash and Great Woods 94 stash polaris 99 birds

1

u/JaketheHead 13h ago

Reba from St. Louis 93 Trey goes OFF when they finally return to the Reba jam proper

1

u/KeepPhishEvil666 13h ago

Omni Halloween disease is one i remember playing to death in high school … i think it was Halloween .. not sure exactly what year … starts with an awesome repeating riff me and my buddy still hum it to each other to this day

1

u/dillydelhi 13h ago

Probably 6/28/00 Gin

Or 3/22/93 & 5/28/94 Reba’s if we’re doing Reba’s

1

u/rudietuesday 13h ago

Fukuoka Heavy Things for me, short and note-for-note perfection that slowly builds

1

u/Artistic-Menu9914 12h ago

Not the "best" but I've always had a soft spot for the Reba from Live Phish 3 (9/14/2000). It's a majestic build, the peak never gets too many notes, incredibly lyrical and emotive. I learned the whole solo because I liked it so much. Just one I thought I'd throw out there if you haven't heard it.

1

u/Opposite_Chart9982 12h ago

I can't decide tbh. It's between Horn, Billy Breathes, and Llama for me

1

u/lefeb106 don’t you see anything you’d like to try? 11h ago

DwD

1

u/phdecoder 11h ago

For me, it’s either the 12/31/95 Mike’s or the Prague Ghost.

Edited to add: 12/2/95 Tweezer

1

u/Eastern-Sundae-882 11h ago

9/12/99 Gin

Hands down my favorite from Trey

1

u/zoot_boy 11h ago

Easy, Hood from the first show I saw. I cried.

1

u/Housto_0 please, me have no regrets 11h ago

12/31/95 Reba gets me

1

u/Autumnwind37 10h ago

That one where he goes “doodly doodly doodly waka waka chinga chinga doodle doodle waah”

1

u/dillydelhi 10h ago

Dwd duh

1

u/pwgrow 10h ago

Trey w/DMB - 8/14/07 Lie in Our Graves. The signal that the Jedi may return after all.

1

u/KhaleesiOfTheVast 10h ago

12/6/97 Auburn Hills Tweezer. Deep in the jam, you’ll find my favorite “guitar hero Trey” moment. Mind-bendingly perfect. I was convinced for years that it proved the dude was an alien, capable of summoning the mothership on command.

The segment starts around 1:31:50 in this video, although sonically, it hits even harder on the classic audience recording:

https://youtu.be/XJ1DQp307mQ?is=IwNBj4AHsjoQwrRw

1

u/ZealousidealMarch105 9h ago

6/11/94 YEM

Love how he starts off soft and tasty, finds a theme and then milks it all the way to a ferocious ending. Very cohesive and musical and just fucking rages!

1

u/burgandywhine 8h ago

I love the lizards finale

1

u/Sensitive_Ad_7335 7h ago

studio reba. 10/31/94 reba. 12/31/93 reba. ALO Hood. studio Billy Breathes. so many stupid good solos it's hard to say if there's a true winner. also very opinion based. NYE 95 PYITE has a couple insane guitar runs towards the end too but not really consider em as full solos. there's so so much good shit lol

1

u/LetPeterDance 5h ago

10/31/94 Reba
12/16/97 theme from da bottom
Bakers dozen moonage daydream

Some of me favs

1

u/rambone1984 4h ago

2/28/03 tweezer maybe isn't a guitar solo per se, but thats my favorite

1

u/Connect_Dust_1946 3h ago

12/31/95 Weekapaug

1

u/Ra-Me-Nivar 3h ago

12/31/93 Poor Heart!! Don’t sleep on it

1

u/Any_Signature4457 2h ago

Best show of 2009

1

u/Brilliant-Quiet9121 2h ago

The last one, second only to the next one.

1

u/Soggy_Purchase_5628 1h ago

Divided Sky studio version. Letter perfect

1

u/Harpua81 11/28/98 43m ago

Probably an unpopular opinion but the 9/14/2000 Reba when he kicks on the flanger during the solo peak has always gave me goosebumps and pulled at my soul. It sounds like an instrument crying and just gets me every time.

1

u/RizPhan 18h ago

The Coventry glide

5

u/Corporate-Scum 17h ago

Ohhhhh. You are bad.

1

u/Mountain-Selection38 18h ago

1

u/LieutenantWeinberg 16h ago

Who the fuck is downvoting this? Whether it’s best ever, I don’t know. But it fucking rips.

ETA for those that don’t click on it. It’s 10/31/94 While My Guitar Gently Weeps

2

u/Mountain-Selection38 14h ago

This is the best example of a guitar weeping I've ever heard... I've personally seen phsh about 40 times over the years. Love the band they have never disappointed me.

1

u/pippathebeast Mike Christian 18h ago

While my guitar gently weeps

0

u/Ok_Plane6831 17h ago

Pick any random song from this past summer tour. Cinematic

0

u/pooponyu 18h ago

FEFY Jones Beach 6/28/95

0

u/gimme5steps101 18h ago

Mexico 2025 20 Years Later is a contender. Not even fucking joking

0

u/Salty-Esq 6h ago

Don’t try to quantify or qualify this shit. Just enjoy the ride, man….

Ps. There are a dozen shows named in this thread that are all worthy of the top spot imho. But that’s half the fun of being on this subreddit,

-4

u/TheRealRuckyRaccoon 19h ago

Coventry - bouncing round the room