Ep179 Fixing the Worst Guitar Solo – Heat of the Moment by Asia (feat. Matt Reviere & Jon "HW" Sullivan)

Guitar Music Theory

Desi Serna

Musictheoryforguitar, Guitar, Guitarscales, Performing Arts, Guitarmusictheory, Music, Guitarlessons, Arts, Guitarchords, Guitartheory

4.6 • 931 Ratings

🗓️ 12 November 2025

⏱️ 85 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode, Desi Serna is joined by friends and fellow guitarists Matt Reviere and Jon "HW" Sullivan for a lively discussion about one of the most debated solos of the 1980s — Steve Howe's guitar solo in "Heat of the Moment" by Asia.

The trio breaks down why the solo doesn't quite hit the mark, exploring its phrasing, tone, and fit within the song. Along the way, they take a deep dive into Steve Howe's legendary work with Yes, examining how such a brilliant player could deliver something that feels so out of place.

Then things get creative — each guitarist reveals and plays a replacement solo they composed themselves, reimagining what the song could sound like with a stronger melodic statement.

It's equal parts music theory, guitar nerdery, and good humor between three friends who love to analyze and play great guitar music.

🎧 Listen to Our Solos

Desi: Heat of the Moment Solo – Desi
Jon "HW": Heat of the Moment Solo – HW
Matt: Heat of the Moment Solo – Matt

🎵 Get the Backing Track:
Asia – "Heat of the Moment" Guitar Backing Track (Karaoke-Version.com)

🎚️ Tone Used:
Inspired by the 80s – Kemper Pack by Tone Junkie

🎸 Free Custom Video Course:
https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com

📘 Lead Guitar Unlocked: Master Expressive Soloing With the Pentatonic Scale:
https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Guitar-Unlocked-Expressive-Pentatonic/dp/B0FY4XH4TP

Transcript

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0:00.0	In episode 179 of the Guitar Music Theory podcast, a couple friends and I discuss what might be the worst guitar solo ever recorded, Heat of the Moment by Asia.
0:38.8	Greetings, Guitar Engineers. Welcome to the Guitar Music Theory podcast. I'm your host, Desi Cerna. And today, in episode 179, I'm joined by my good friends Matt Revere and John H.W. Sullivan for a fun and lively conversation about one of the most debated guitar solos of the 1980s, Steve Howe's part in Heat of the Moment by Asia. We start by analyzing
0:45.6	the solo, breaking down what doesn't quite work musically or stylistically, and how it
0:50.6	contrasts with the rest of the song. Then we'll take a deep dive into Steve Howe's
0:55.1	broader body of work with Yes, exploring how such a brilliant and influential guitarist could
1:00.6	produce something that feels, well, a bit off. And finally, Matt, John, and I each share our
1:08.0	own replacement solos, new versions we composed and recorded to see if we could
1:12.4	capture what the song really needed. It's equal parts critique, creativity, and guitar geekery. It's going to be a
1:19.7	great discussion, but before we get started, what should you specifically be working on right now to
1:24.9	become a better guitarist. Go to my website,
1:27.9	Guitarmucetory.com. Answer the question I ask you about your playing, and I'll
1:32.7	send you free custom video instruction that's calibrated to your current level.
1:36.4	Whether you're just getting started and need to learn the basics, struggling with
1:39.8	bar chords or finger-picking, working on your lead guitar skills, or ready to dive
1:43.9	deeply into
1:44.5	music theory, I have a free course for you. I'll give you a step-by-step plan so you can
1:49.8	stop guessing about what to do, make consistent progress, and finally reach your music goals.
1:55.2	Enroll in your free video course now at guitar music theory.com, you can click on the link
2:00.0	in the podcast show notes.
2:02.0	A couple more quick announcements.
2:04.1	First, my new book, Lead Guitar Unlocked, master expressive soloing with the pentatonic scale,
2:09.8	is now available in print and Kindle editions on Amazon.
	...

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