Watch Rayman’s 5 Favorite Guitar Solos [VIDEO]

The real story of how Eric got the handle "Slowhand."

If you were ever at a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert, When Ronnie Van Zandt asks the question "What do you want to hear?", the answer is always Freebird. I chose the band on the strength of Allen Collins. The chords were already done, and it was up to Allen to figure out a lead, and he did so in only two takes. Remarkable.

As the lead guitarist for Guns N' Roses, Slash established himself as one of hard rock's finest and most soulful soloists during the late '80s, technically adept yet always firmly grounded in the gritty licks he loved. Slash also became an important part of the band's visual image, with a top hat and a mound of shaggy black hair covering his face as he typically staggered around the stage with a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

Yngwie Malmsteen is arguably the most technically accomplished hard rock guitarist to emerge during the '80s. Combining a dazzling technique honed over years of obsessive practice, he wrote the book on heavy metal guitar. His is responsible for the '80s guitar phenomenon known as shredding, in which the music's main focus was on impossibly fast, demanding licks rather than songwriting. He is a true genius.

Eddie Van Halen is  is primarily known for his guitar mastery. Both fans and musicians were awed by his unorthodox guitar technicians. Eddie would build and customize his guitars using sandpaper and even a chainsaw to alter the sound of his instruments, and achieved a distinctive sound as a result. He often played with his back to the crowds to guard his guitar playing techniques.