Learn The Solo To Ilios Pt 1
Ben Higgins
Jul 8 2015, 02:30 PM
Instructor
Posts: 13.792
Joined: 11-March 10
From: England
Hi guys. The most requested TAB I've ever had has always been for the track Ilios, or the solo for it so I thought it was high time I sat my ass down in one place long enough to decipher the notes and put them them down into a readable format for y'all!

If you're a new GMCer and haven't heard it and maybe fancy learning something new you can hear it here - the solo begins at 2:25



I'm diving it up into 4 parts that will appear in the forum one after the other, giving you enough time to assimilate the information in between. Plus it would be an unbearably long post and nobody wants that rolleyes.gif

Let me give you a screenshot of the first part. Underneath you will find GPro, PDF as well as the backing track with and without the solo.

Attached Image

Attached File  Ilios_Solo_pt_1.gp5 ( 6.65K ) Number of downloads: 137


Attached File  Ilios_Solo_pt_1.pdf ( 89.85K ) Number of downloads: 273


Attached File  Ilios_Solo.mp3 ( 1.25MB ) Number of downloads: 231


Attached File  Ilios_Solo_Backing.mp3 ( 1.25MB ) Number of downloads: 224


The solo begins with a brief sweep beginning on the G string. Notice how the solo begins not at the start of a new bar but the end of the preceding bar? It's like taking a run up before a big jump. Beginning phrases just before a new bar is an effective way to tie licks together so they don't sound like exercises. If you always start and stop licks where they are expected then you run that risk of them sounding like a collection of... licks.

It goes straight into a semitone bend. Notice that it's using that Marty Friedman style outside bend technique. The C on the 20th fret would be outside of the key of F#m (it would be a diminished 5th - the blue note) so by bending it up to resolve itself we move back into the scale.

It then climbs down using 8th note triplets and then hits some quick hammer, pulls and slides. Mixing up note values this way makes it sound like something tumbling down rocks and then speeding up as it gains momentum. It's a good way of building tension so hopefully the listener gets swept along with it too.

The theme of mixing up note values continues next as it moves to an ascending sequence using the E Major Pentatonic. It's technically very simple to play but the speeding up / slowing down approach makes it sound more technical than it is and is very effective.

The E Pentatonic sequence reaches its zenith on the top E string and flows straight into a whole tone bend & release. Notice that it really squeals like a pinch harmonic. The key to getting a squeal on a high string is to use an upstroke instead

As an aside, I've been preaching the importance of mixing up note values in your solos ever since I've been teaching here and there's an old lesson (dare I say, classic?) that deals with this approach that's also worth a look.

Next: We will continue the next part from here as we tackle this Herculean solo!

pt 2: https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...showtopic=54647
pt3: https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...showtopic=54659
pt4: https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...showtopic=54683

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This post has been edited by Ben Higgins: Jul 24 2015, 07:24 PM
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Marek Rojewski
Jul 8 2015, 02:38 PM
Experienced Guitar Lord
Posts: 1.671
Joined: 26-May 08
From: Lodz, Poland
Holy ..... I will practice hard so that one day I can learn this thing, this I swear!

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Storm Linnebjerg
Jul 8 2015, 02:43 PM
Learning Rock Star
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Joined: 14-June 08
From: Odense, Denmark
This is awesome, Ben. Thanks for doing this. I had only heard the track once before, I think. Really good listen and good on you for sharing tabs for the solo smile.gif

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Ben Higgins
Jul 8 2015, 04:00 PM
Instructor
Posts: 13.792
Joined: 11-March 10
From: England
Cheers, guys - I hope you enjoy having a go at it!

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VilleFIN
Jul 8 2015, 05:57 PM
Tone Seeker
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From: Finland
Oh yes, one of your best songs !! cool.gif

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Ben Higgins
Jul 8 2015, 07:39 PM
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QUOTE (WeePee @ Jul 8 2015, 04:57 PM) *
Oh yes, one of your best songs !! cool.gif


The best of the best?? biggrin.gif

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