10 Perfect Rock Albums For Guitar Players

When you're approaching rock guitar, there's always a balancing act that has to be done between style and substance. Though there are a million guitarists who have great technique in their solos, there are also a select few that care more about the swagger that they have when they play than actually hitting the right notes. There is a sweet spot though, and Slash had it down to a science when Appetite for Destruction hit the scene in 1987.

Much like the Rolling Stones had done back in the '70s, this was the kind of rough and tumble rock and roll that had been missing from the hair metal scene, with Slash playing off of Axl Rose at every turn. Though it's easy to gush at the solos on here, the mix of Slash and Izzy Stradlin is always important, as Stradlin comes in with just the right riff to keep everything in check behind the soloing.

And this isn't just playing scales for the hell of it. On every single one of these tracks, Slash weaves together notes that are as powerful as the actual choruses, like on the instrumental section of Sweet Child O Mine which could practically be a separate musical piece all on its own. With all that flash though, there was never a moment where Slash seemed to be struggling or anything. Here was a guy that lived and breathed rock and roll from the moment he stepped onto the stage, and this record turned him into the co-frontman alongside Axl. Because when you have licks that are this good, you really don't need to say a damn thing.