2006 IN THIS YEAR…

Daniel Craig stars as James Bond for the first time in Casinoroyale

Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy tops the UK singles chart for 9 weeks

In Poland, a new world record is set when 1,951 guitarists simultaneously play Heyjoe

KNIGHTS OF CYDONIA

MUSE

Video: bit.ly/tg336video

How to choose Muse’s greatest guitar track? It’s a near impossible task, if we’re honest. You could argue cases for Pluginbaby, Stockholmsyndrome, Hysteria, Reapers and plenty more, really. We’ve opted for the space-rockcum-spaghetti-western brilliance of a track that owes as much to Misirlou and the theme from The Good,thebadandtheugly as it does to prog rock circa 2006. The guitar parts that kick off at 0:20 outline the western vibe. Theory buffs will recognise the exotic sounds of the harmonic minor scale (in E) here followed by a shift to C harmonic minor at 1:10. Matt Bellamy’s rapid-fire tremolo picking at 1:32 is pure Dick Dale. Don’t worry about how many notes you’re playing – just try to keep it even. All in all it’s a two-minute frenzy of fiery playing before verse 1 even kicks in. We love it... But we might change our minds!

REDNECK

LAMB OF GOD

Video: bit.ly/tg336video Dimebag died less than two years earlier. Redneck suggests Pantera’s groove metal torch had been safely passed on.

SUPER COLOSSAL

JOE SATRIANI

Few strike such a perfect balance between pentatonic and diatonic lines as Satch. This 2006 title track would win the guitar hero his 13th Grammy nomination.

WONDERFUL SLIPPERY THING

GUTHRIE GOVAN

It would be the making of a legend, earning him the title of Guitarist Of The Year in 2003 and establishing himself as the world’s finest.