NOVEMBER RAIN

The song is composed in the key of C major aside from the coda, which is in C minor, but due to guitars, basses and piano being tuned a half step down, the song sounds like being in the keys of B major and B minor. At 8:57 seconds, it is the second-longest song on that album, the longest being the 10:16 "Coma". Its distinct symphonic overtone owes to a sweeping string arrangement, orchestrated by Rose.^[1][2]:318 Most live performances during the Use Your Illusion tour lacked the orchestral backing of the song (the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards being the best-known exception). It is the longest song to reach the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.^[3] The song peaked at #3 on the chart, becoming the band's sixth and last Top 10 hit, and eighth Top 40 hit. On the radio, "November Rain" is sometimes played in a shortened version of approximately six minutes, but many classic rock stations continue to play the full version. At around seven minutes in, the song fades and then builds into a two-minute coda featuring lead guitar by lead guitarist Slash, accompanied by vocal chants. This song is listed at number six in the The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos list by Guitar World.^[4] "November Rain" was voted #1 on the Rock 1000 2006, an annual countdown of the top 1,000 rock songs by New Zealand radio listeners. It was voted #2 on the Rock 1000 2007, being beaten out by "Back In Black" by AC/DC.^[5] The song was placed at #140 on Pitchfork Media'sTop 200 Tracks of the 90s.^[6] The song's solo is also ranked #6 on Guitar World's "The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos" list in 2008

When we were doing that EP for L.A. Guns, like '83? He was playing "November Rain" — and it was called "November Rain" — you know, on piano. The guitar solo is amazing. Way back then. It was the only thing he knew how to play, but it was his. He'd go, "Someday this song is gonna be really cool." And I'd go, "It's cool now." "But it's not done", you know, he used to say. And, like, anytime we'd be at a hotel or anywhere, there'd be a piano; he'd just kinda play that music. And I'd go, "When are you gonna finish that already", you know? And he'd go, "I don't know what to do with it.