Joe Satriani Songs Ranked

Joseph Satriani (born July 15, 1956) is an American rock musician, composer, songwriter, and guitar teacher. Early in his career, Satriani worked as a guitar instructor, with many of his former students achieving fame, such as Steve Vai, Larry LaLonde, Rick Hunolt, Kirk Hammett, Andy Timmons, Charlie Hunter, Kevin Cadogan, and Alex Skolnick; he then went on to have a successful solo music career. He is a 15-time Grammy Award nominee and has sold over 10 million albums, making him the best-selling instrumental rock guitarist of all time. In 1988, Satriani was recruited by Mick Jagger as lead guitarist for his first solo tour. Satriani briefly toured with Deep Purple as the guitarist, joining shortly after the departure of Ritchie Blackmore in November 1993. He has worked with a range of guitarists during the G3 tour, which he founded in 1995. Satriani has been the guitarist for the supergroup Chickenfoot since joining the band in 2008. Here are all of Joe Satriani’s songs ranked.

Relive the music of this English rock guitarist. Click below and listen to his most memorable songs.

20. Super Colossal (Super Colossal, 2006)

“This song straight rocks like no other song I have ever heard in my entire existence. There are those other songs of Satch’s (my personal FAVORITE guitarist ever) like Made of Tears or Always with Me, Always with You that are amazing, but this song rocks so freakin hard.”

19. Clouds Race Across the Sky (Engines of Creation, 2000)

“Probably one of the most relaxing and yet technical songs Joe Satriani has ever done. Listen to it at least once a day.”

18. Circles (Surfing with the Alien, 1987)

“Oh man I love this song. Don’t get me wrong, I mostly agree with this list in terms of the popular opinion. But Circles gets my vote, mainly because it should go higher than 10. It’s so catchy, you gotta love it!”

17. The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing (Flying in a Blue Dream, 1989)

“So beautiful! This song has everything! Rhythmic, chords, solo, melody that surpasse anything you can hear! His live performances of it are just huge!”

See more: Joe Satriani Albums Ranked

16. God is Crying (Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards, 2010)

“There may be songs with better melodies and hooks, but this one features his best playing from a technical standpoint. Definitely my favorite Satch tune.”

15. Time (Crystal Planet, 1998)

“This song, written by Satriani, and in which ALL instruments are played by Satriani shows the true flare he can really display as a musician. Great song, constructive. Incredible song, good intro riff 3:08 extra riff with 2 guitars”

14. Ice 9 (Surfing with the Alien, 1987)

“This and the Extremist are probably his best. Today at least. That’ll probably change tomorrow. Ice 9 is the best. It has killer riffs and the solo is amazing.”

13. Is There Love in Space? (Is There Love in Space?, 2004)

“As the riff starts, you’ll know a great song is gonna kick in. This is one of the greatest riffs I’ve heard from him. The solo jams through the song and you’ll not be able to stop yourselves from jamming with it.”

12. It´s So Good (Super Colossal, 2006)

“My fave, this is the kind of song I wish I wrote, I am never proud of anything I do, but if I were to have written this song I would content that I left a good mark of myself in this world.”

11. The Forgotten (Flying in a Blue Dream, 1989)

“I thought picking one from Satch’s collection would be difficult, but really, nothing matches the intensity and range of this one. Listening to it from beginning to end is an emotional rollercoaster. A true masterpiece”

10. Flying in a Blue Dream (Flying in a Blue Dream, 1989)

“Possibly my all time favorite. This song is so incredibly amazing with some of the most intricate scaling and progressions I’ve ever heard, right up there with some of Steve Vai’s best. Love this track”

9. Crystal Planet (Crystal Planet, 1998)

“This is one of my favorite compositions… It so rich with the joe sat flow and charm. Very good guitar licks… Brilliant song Joe’s unique note choice and gift for melody shines like a supernova on this track.”

8. Crushing Day (Surfing with the Alien, 1987)

“That unending intensity that just flies all over the fret board from 1:54 to 3:50 is just Joe “going off” at his best. Sheer joy – energy – passion – wicked flow of notes just pouring out in creative melodic hypnotic fashion. #1 for me, even above SWTA and Satch Boogie.”

7. A Door Into Summer (Unstoppable Momentum, 2013)

“This is one of his best songs. It’s very intense. Listening to it at full blast is amazing. This song is the best. The melody is amazing.”

See more: Culture Club Albums Ranked
6. Cryin’ (The Extremist, 1992)

“Such an emotional song… its perfect… listening to this songs goes me to heaven, what a perfect song, guys do yourself a favor and listen to this song then you will understand how amazing is this”

5. If I Could Fly (Is There Love in Space?, 2004)

“As a guitarist as well as a listener, this has to be the best song to improvise to and in my opinion this beautiful song doesn’t sound a lot like viva la vida. I love Joe Satriani’s music and I’m absolutely no fan of cold play but I’m afraid I slightly disagree with Joe’s accusations.”

4. Satch Boogie (Surfing with the Alien, 1987)

“It’s just amazing how Joe combines country riffs and goes from amazing riffs to blazing fast guitar play, with a whammy bar dance. This guy really know how to treat that whammy.”

3. Summer Song (The Extremist, 1992)

“Great high energy song perfectly captures the excitement of summer. Great guitar/bass exchanges too in the bridge, not common in Joe’s music. If only he would play Speed of Light publicly…”

2. Always with Me, Always with You (Surfing with the Alien, 1987)

“This song has so much emotion in it, the guitar actually speaks to you. And it proves that you don’t need so many tricks to make a solo awesome. Satriani had not used any of his special whammy tricks, or even wah effects. Just the classic finger-frets relationship is what makes this song great.”

1. Surfing with the Alien (Surfing with the Alien, 1987)

“Surfing with the Alien was the one song that changed my whole view of what guitar playing is. Until then, I thought strumming a couple chords and playing an eight bar melody is good enough. My parents handed a Greatest of Joe Satriani CD, and this is the first one I heard. This song inspired me to create my own solos, and he is my role model. In short, fantastic song!”