Some solos make you want to shred
Some make you want to scream
But The Unforgiven?
It makes you feel
And that’s exactly why—out of all the solos Kirk Hammett has played—this one stands as his finest moment.
The external factor
We have to give credit to Bob Rock here for helping bring this solo to life. It’s not because he told Kirk what notes to play or what kind of phrasing to use. The reason why Bob Rock play a major role is because he forced Kirk to bring out his best playing and The Ripper delivered in spades.
Let’s be honest, if we do a top 20 of the best metal guitarists based on their phrasing ability, Hammett is very unlikely to be part of that list. He has never been known for having a solid vibrato or for optimal control of his bends, but in this solo, he does some incredibly tasteful phrasing from beginning to end.
Even in the faster portions of the solo, the shred feels like it truly brings something of value to the song. I don’t feel that there is a single bar in this solo that is not played with intent. This is something so difficult that I feel Hammett has not been able to replicate it before or after the Unforgiven was recorded.
This Solo Speaks
It’s a masterclass in phrasing, tone, and emotional pacing. Every note breathes. Each bend aches with the pain of the unforgiven. Every pause is deliberate. Kirk doesn’t play fast or slow here, he plays right. Metallica’s the Unforgiven is an anthem of sorrow.
No Wah!
It almost seems unbelievable that Kirk is not playing wah in this one, but he used to play much less Wah-Wah on his solos back in the early days. In fact, my top 5 of Kirk solos only includes one that uses the Wah pedal. The unforgiven needed to bring in a pure heavy meta solo without too many added effects and this made it much more powerful.
The Phrasing Is Top-Tier
I know the phrasing here feels like a small thing when compared to a Guthrie Govan or Max Ostro solo, but the type of phrasing used in the unfogiven is ideal for the music being played. What really sets this solo apart is the space Kirk gives the listener. It’s all in the way that the solo breathes, builds and burns slowly.
Technical? Yes, but mostly tricky
This solo is sneaky. On the surface, it sounds easy, like something any intermediate player could stumble through.
But if you’ve ever tried to play it right…
To get the feel, the vibrato, the timing just right…
Then you know: this is not a beginner solo. This solo is actually harder to nail correctl than most fast Hammett solos.
In a world full of guitarists showing off their scales, The Unforgiven shows off maturity. That’s a word we don’t throw around enough in metal. I feel that this is Hammett’s lead guitar magnum opus.
Final Thoughts on The Unfogiven Solo by Kick Hammett
Kirk Hammett will always be known for One, Fade to Black, Master of Puppets and similar solos. Surely, those are killer solos, but they don’t sound as mature and tasteful to my ears as The Unforgiven.
But The Unforgiven?
That’s the solo that sneaks into your chest and doesn’t let go.
It’s not about proving anything. It’s about feeling everything.
And in my book, that is exactly what makes it the greatest solo he’s ever played.
Learn it, learn from it, experience it!