How Do I Learn To Play A Good Solo?

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How Do I Learn To Play A Good Solo?

Guido Bungenstoc... Guido Bungenstock View Member Profile	Feb 23 2014, 04:51 PM
Feb 23 2014, 04:51 PM	Instructor Posts: 631 Joined: 9-January 14 From: Hamburg/Germany	This is a common question that I heard so many times during my guitar teaching period(teaching for almost 20 years now) and I thought this might be interesting for you too. The truth is, there is NO ONE BIG ANSWER!!! Sorry about this, haha. Because first of all it's always a matter of taste. But there are some important points that could help you to make it possible. Let me know about YOUR thoughts! ;-) I paste and copy here from my Facebook wall. Sorry, I'm a lazy guy... QUOTE A nice student from Belgium asked me for some hints to learn playing a "good" solo. I decided to share this with you. Remember this is only MY point of view, there are many other ways 1. Melodic lines A good melodic line(or lick) is something you always have to keep in mind and has to be present in your solo. Only learn SHORT simple lines(from guitar players, singers, sax players. etc) and remember these for a life time, it's like short sentences like "How are you?", "thx, Im feeling good", "how about you?" etc. etc. You never forgot this too, right? . A simple line can sound just awesome if you phrase it with different techniques like vibrato, bending, slide. etc. experiment with all these techniques to produce a bunch of different sounds. Combine your new line together with other lines you already know and experiment with it. 2. Music theory Learn the music theory, it's just a musical language to communicate with another musicians. So, isn't that great and fun to learn a new language? 3. Transcribing Transcribe whole solos, songs, riffs whatever is interesting for you. First try to imitate the style as close as you can get and then experiment with your own style to make it more personal. 4. Rhythm & Groove Once you learnt a new melodic line experiment with different rhythms, for example move them to another positions in a bar or add a shuffle to it. etc 5. Harmonies Take your lick and play it over various chords(or chord progressions) and remember what happens with your lick and how the chord can paint a new colour. Move your phrase in the diatonic(remember the sound of different intervals) or just change the key(from major to minor, Altered etc) Learning the Modes(in Minor, Major, Melodic Minor, Harmonic Minor etc.) is always very helpful to enter new music territory. 6. Try & error Combine your new licks with your favorite stuff and place them in a musical situation(like Jam track, jam session with REAL musicians, on a gig etc.) and add them to your own vocabulary. Listen to yourself and also learn from your mistakes to make it better the next time! 7. Open minded All music styles can give you something to learn from. Sometimes it takes time to understand the new music you have just discovered. But it's always worth it. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! This post has been edited by Guido Bungenstock: Feb 23 2014, 05:00 PM -------------------- FIND ME HERE AT: Guidorist.com

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wollace03 View Member Profile	Feb 23 2014, 07:28 PM
Feb 23 2014, 07:28 PM	GMC:er Posts: 639 Joined: 27-July 08 From: Austria	thanxs for the posting... you just tackled one of my main questions.... You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My mentoring threads: https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...showtopic=45556 https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...showtopic=45613 youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/dasnapalmquintett?feature=watch https://www.youtube.com/user/wollace99?feature=results_main

Jouve View Member Profile	Feb 23 2014, 07:36 PM
Feb 23 2014, 07:36 PM	Learning Roadie Posts: 282 Joined: 22-July 12 From: Russia	Nice post Guido! Looks like a nice manifesto for me You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Guido Bungenstoc... Guido Bungenstock View Member Profile	Feb 23 2014, 07:39 PM
Feb 23 2014, 07:39 PM	Instructor Posts: 631 Joined: 9-January 14 From: Hamburg/Germany	Thx guys! For me it worked over the years like the golden rules. But as i said just my point of you ;-) You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! This post has been edited by Guido Bungenstock: Feb 23 2014, 07:40 PM -------------------- FIND ME HERE AT: Guidorist.com

Gabriel Leopardi View Member Profile	Feb 23 2014, 07:47 PM
Feb 23 2014, 07:47 PM	Instructor Posts: 36.043 Joined: 3-March 07 From: Argentina	Excellent post Guido. You listed here an excellent guide that can be applied to creating solos but that are very connected to my way of composing full songs, even with vocals. Do you usually apply these things for songs? We could add "Chord combinations" , also as the short sentences in the melodic lines item and Structures and Arrangements as extra items and we would have the ultimate composition secrets. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel

DeGroot View Member Profile	Feb 23 2014, 08:02 PM
Feb 23 2014, 08:02 PM	Experienced Guitar Hero Posts: 1.511 Joined: 16-January 12 From: Chicago, Illinois	A lot of great points you make here! I will save this to read over again. Lately I've been trying to approach a solo by not having my guitar in my hands. Perhaps a vocal line I can hum or sing and then translate it to guitar later on. It is often the kind of lines I would not have come up with with a guitar in my hands. Another thing I always try to remind myself is that its not always the most technical solo that makes it good. Playing less or not at all for a moment to let a solo breath can have a good impact. I generally enjoy solos more when they connect with the song or the emotion of that moment. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! --------------------

Guido Bungenstoc... Guido Bungenstock View Member Profile	Feb 23 2014, 08:15 PM
Feb 23 2014, 08:15 PM	Instructor Posts: 631 Joined: 9-January 14 From: Hamburg/Germany	QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Feb 23 2014, 07:47 PM) Excellent post Guido. You listed here an excellent guide that can be applied to creating solos but that are very connected to my way of composing full songs, even with vocals. Do you usually apply these things for songs? THX Gabriel, You're right. My "golden rules" work for me in other musical situations as well. For example, when I compose a song I try to see the whole picture and not only just the guitar solo of course. That's just small piece that I gonna add at the very end and sometimes there isn't a place for that, and that's absolutely fine for me too. I always want to have the connection between The chords progressions, the groove, the melody, the mood etc. etc. AND finally the other musicians. And that's one of the biggest point here, specially young guitar players sometimes can act like egoists and their playing seem very isolated from the rest of the song or the other musicians, and I'm missing the strong connection here, in my opinion. But that's one of the hardest lesson to learn, playing with other musicians in a live situation or recording, specially while jamming. But yeah, I usually apply these things for songs too. ;-) QUOTE We could add "Chord combinations" , also as the short sentences in the melodic lines item and Structures and Arrangements as extra items and we would have the ultimate composition secrets. That's right!! At the end, it's all about music. But I choosed this question "How Do I Learn To Play A Good Solo?" because I heard this so many times. But you could call it also " how do I get a better musician?" and finally we would come to the same conclusion. ;-) QUOTE (DeGroot @ Feb 23 2014, 08:02 PM) A lot of great points you make here! I will save this to read over again. THX a lot!!! QUOTE Lately I've been trying to approach a solo by not having my guitar in my hands. Perhaps a vocal line I can hum or sing and then translate it to guitar later on. It is often the kind of lines I would not have come up with with a guitar in my hands. Another thing I always try to remind myself is that its not always the most technical solo that makes it good. Playing less or not at all for a moment to let a solo breath can have a good impact. I generally enjoy solos more when they connect with the song or the emotion of that moment. You nailed it!!! ;-) You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! This post has been edited by Guido Bungenstock: Feb 23 2014, 08:22 PM -------------------- FIND ME HERE AT: Guidorist.com

Hajduk View Member Profile	Feb 23 2014, 08:17 PM
Feb 23 2014, 08:17 PM	Learning Rock Star Posts: 991 Joined: 8-February 13 From: North Vancouver	Thank you Guido, really good advice there You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Tomislav

Guido Bungenstoc... Guido Bungenstock View Member Profile	Feb 23 2014, 08:20 PM
Feb 23 2014, 08:20 PM	Instructor Posts: 631 Joined: 9-January 14 From: Hamburg/Germany	QUOTE (Hajduk @ Feb 23 2014, 08:17 PM) Thank you Guido, really good advice there Thank you, Hajduk!! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- FIND ME HERE AT: Guidorist.com

Monica Gheorghev... Monica Gheorghevici View Member Profile	Feb 23 2014, 08:29 PM
Feb 23 2014, 08:29 PM	Learning Tone Master Posts: 2.324 Joined: 12-July 13 From: Bucharest, Romania	Golden words.... advices that always should be kept in mind!!! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Gabriel Leopardi View Member Profile	Feb 23 2014, 08:35 PM
Feb 23 2014, 08:35 PM	Instructor Posts: 36.043 Joined: 3-March 07 From: Argentina	QUOTE (Guido Bungenstock @ Feb 23 2014, 04:15 PM) THX Gabriel, You're right. My "golden rules" work for me in other musical situations as well. For example, when I compose a song I try to see the whole picture and not only just the guitar solo of course. That's just small piece that I gonna add at the very end and sometimes there isn't a place for that, and that's absolutely fine for me too. I always want to have the connection between The chords progressions, the groove, the melody, the mood etc. etc. AND finally the other musicians. And that's one of the biggest point here, specially young guitar players sometimes can act like egoists and their playing seem very isolated from the rest of the song or the other musicians, and I'm missing the strong connection here, in my opinion. But that's one of the hardest lesson to learn, playing with other musicians in a live situation or recording, specially while jamming. But yeah, I usually apply these things for songs too. ;-) "Listening", something so simple but that many young musicians and drummers forget to do when they are rehearsing or even arranging a song. Listening the idea as a listened, not as the player, listening the whole thing. I find a bit more difficult to listen the whole thing when I'm arranging or composing a song in the rehearsal room with the whole band. That's why I like to record and then listen to the recording to see how everything fits together. EDIT: I didn't mean that "drummers" aren't musicians haha, but I knew many experienced drummers that still don't listen to the other members of the band and that play for themselves instead of for the song. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! This post has been edited by Gabriel Leopardi: Feb 23 2014, 08:35 PM -------------------- My lessons Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel

Guido Bungenstoc... Guido Bungenstock View Member Profile	Feb 23 2014, 08:42 PM
Feb 23 2014, 08:42 PM	Instructor Posts: 631 Joined: 9-January 14 From: Hamburg/Germany	QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Feb 23 2014, 08:35 PM) "Listening", something so simple but that many young musicians and drummers forget to do when they are rehearsing or even arranging a song. Listening the idea as a listened, not as the player, listening the whole thing. I find a bit more difficult to listen the whole thing when I'm arranging or composing a song in the rehearsal room with the whole band. That's why I like to record and then listen to the recording to see how everything fits together. As long as you found YOUR way, it's perfect! ;-) You're right, it's difficult to hear as a listener and not as a player sometimes and then beeing objective is even more difficult. QUOTE EDIT: I didn't mean that "drummers" aren't musicians haha, but I knew many experienced drummers that still don't listen to the other members of the band and that play for themselves instead of for the song. Oh yeah, I heard about this too that drummers are musicians, haha. just kiddin.... But it can be difficult to find the right one sometimes not only because they are the loudest in the band. :-D You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! This post has been edited by Guido Bungenstock: Feb 23 2014, 08:43 PM -------------------- FIND ME HERE AT: Guidorist.com

klasaine View Member Profile	Feb 23 2014, 10:21 PM
Feb 23 2014, 10:21 PM	GMC:er Posts: 4.552 Joined: 30-December 12 From: Los Angeles, CA	I'll add ... Listening to music in general - a lot! It's shocking how little time so many people who also play instruments (and by extension aspire to play well) spend actually listening to music. You wanna play good music? - good solos? - listen to good music ... constantly. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- - Ken Lasaine https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d

SlowFingaX View Member Profile	Feb 23 2014, 11:30 PM
Feb 23 2014, 11:30 PM	GMC:er Posts: 152 Joined: 5-January 14 From: Finland	Thanks Guido for these Golden rules! Very informative post and I have to read it many times with truly focused to it. Of course it takes some time to fully understand and master it for my kind of novice, but I'll have time and I'm not too impatient ! I'm going also test that humming and singing, what DeGroot mentioned. There isn't right or wrong way to make solo, especially if result is something great, maybe even something very unexpected (in good way of course) You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My Gear: Jackson DX10D Dinky Boss GT-10 Boss Micro BR BR-80 Korg Pandora PX4 Guitar Rig 5 Ezmix 2 + many metal packs Reaper

Cosmin Lupu View Member Profile	Feb 24 2014, 12:14 PM
Feb 24 2014, 12:14 PM	Instructor Posts: 22.808 Joined: 14-June 10 From: Bucharest	I have to admit that I've gone away from lead guitar in it's shreddy/guitar hero idea for some time now, because I am in a different state of mind/soul and I am listening to and writing music in accord with it But, when I have to come up with lead lines, I usually put the guitar aside and sing over the backing track - then sort it out on the guitar and record it. I give it a listen and change a thing here and there, if I want to give it another flavor in respect to the note choice or so I am trying to keep it simple You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons We can work on YOUR GUITAR and MUSIC development TOGETHER. Write me a private message if you wish to! Please subscribe to my Youtube Channel Days Of Confusion Facebook Page Mozart Rocks My facebook page

Guido Bungenstoc... Guido Bungenstock View Member Profile	Feb 24 2014, 01:09 PM
Feb 24 2014, 01:09 PM	Instructor Posts: 631 Joined: 9-January 14 From: Hamburg/Germany	QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Feb 24 2014, 12:14 PM) I have to admit that I've gone away from lead guitar in it's shreddy/guitar hero idea for some time now, because I am in a different state of mind/soul and I am listening to and writing music in accord with it But, when I have to come up with lead lines, I usually put the guitar aside and sing over the backing track - then sort it out on the guitar and record it. I give it a listen and change a thing here and there, if I want to give it another flavor in respect to the note choice or so I often work this way too. ;-) QUOTE I am trying to keep it simple Me too! why making it difficult if the solution can be just simple. You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- FIND ME HERE AT: Guidorist.com

Cosmin Lupu View Member Profile	Feb 25 2014, 08:26 AM
Feb 25 2014, 08:26 AM	Instructor Posts: 22.808 Joined: 14-June 10 From: Bucharest	Aye, indeed Guido, but it took me A LONG time to figure this method. Before, I was just picking up the guitar and trying to play as flashy as possible - of course, nothing good came out of it and I was usually ending up thinking - man, I will NEVER be able to write some decent piece of music... You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons We can work on YOUR GUITAR and MUSIC development TOGETHER. Write me a private message if you wish to! Please subscribe to my Youtube Channel Days Of Confusion Facebook Page Mozart Rocks My facebook page

Storm Linnebjerg View Member Profile	Feb 25 2014, 08:32 AM
Feb 25 2014, 08:32 AM	Learning Rock Star Posts: 7.676 Joined: 14-June 08 From: Odense, Denmark	QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Feb 25 2014, 08:26 AM) Aye, indeed Guido, but it took me A LONG time to figure this method. Before, I was just picking up the guitar and trying to play as flashy as possible - of course, nothing good came out of it and I was usually ending up thinking - man, I will NEVER be able to write some decent piece of music... It's a fine balance between flashy skills, fast picking and melodic playing. If you're going to just use your 200 bpm 16th note picking to play a straight 16th note solo for 2 minutes in a song, then you've probably not found the balance, but if you can utilize your technique as a creative tool to link together melodic lines, then I guess you're on the right track. Much like Guido's Lukather lesson! You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- Check out my TikTok! - or check out my GMC video comments on YouTube

Cosmin Lupu View Member Profile	Feb 25 2014, 09:23 AM
Feb 25 2014, 09:23 AM	Instructor Posts: 22.808 Joined: 14-June 10 From: Bucharest	QUOTE (Caelumamittendum @ Feb 25 2014, 07:32 AM) It's a fine balance between flashy skills, fast picking and melodic playing. If you're going to just use your 200 bpm 16th note picking to play a straight 16th note solo for 2 minutes in a song, then you've probably not found the balance, but if you can utilize your technique as a creative tool to link together melodic lines, then I guess you're on the right track. Much like Guido's Lukather lesson! Good point here Ben I think I've stated this before, but I heard Richie Kotzen say this in an interview: 'I am using fast licks to get from one place to the other on the neck, stay there and play something melodic and then move on' You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- My lessons We can work on YOUR GUITAR and MUSIC development TOGETHER. Write me a private message if you wish to! Please subscribe to my Youtube Channel Days Of Confusion Facebook Page Mozart Rocks My facebook page

Guido Bungenstoc... Guido Bungenstock View Member Profile	Feb 25 2014, 10:57 AM
Feb 25 2014, 10:57 AM	Instructor Posts: 631 Joined: 9-January 14 From: Hamburg/Germany	QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Feb 25 2014, 09:23 AM) Good point here Ben I think I've stated this before, but I heard Richie Kotzen say this in an interview: 'I am using fast licks to get from one place to the other on the neck, stay there and play something melodic and then move on' Yeah guys! You're absolutely right. It's all about music and NOT just playing technique WITHOUT using your ears & soul!:-) You are at GuitarMasterClass.net Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content! -------------------- FIND ME HERE AT: Guidorist.com

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