Whitestrat
New member
Hear a melody in your head that you think will suit the passage... play that melody on your guitar.
Solo completed...
Creating solos...
- Thread starter most_wanted
- Start date
Hear a melody in your head that you think will suit the passage... play that melody on your guitar.
Solo completed...
bluepowder
New member
+1000
the only solos you'll remember are those with a melody...play as many scales as u want...or play 3 notes....but make a melody out of it!!
most_wanted
New member
I will olso want to know whether u all create the rhythm first or the solo first???? Which on e did u all prefer to do first?
Radius_Vector
New member
That would depend on your inspiration ! You start a song because you hear a melody (start with guitar melody) or you hear a vocal melody (start with rhythm)
That is a gross generalisation of song-writing
, but you get the idea. Anything can come first
That is a gross generalisation of song-writing
, but you get the idea. Anything can come first
most_wanted
New member
Finally, I have created my solo!!! But the bottleneck is that i don't know how to put sounds on this forum...Pls help me and u can hear my solo!!!
Goto http://www.yousendit.com .
Create an account and upload your file. You will be given a URL. Copy and then paste that URL here, in your post. Use the preview and try the link before confirming your post.
As for solos, the best solos normally come from songwriters. It is a given that good solos have strong melodies - it's like saying good food has to be tasty. DUH!
Other than a good melody, you will also require structuring - your solos, the melodies. The best method to understanding structure comes from knowing how to write songs. GOing full blast is mostly senseless and hence useless. Of course there are genres that thrive on such playing. And one man's great solo is another's dead lick.
But for the most part, good melody that is memorable, original + a good structure will go down well with most people. A good melody without structure can be aimless and chances are that it will not be memorable or lead one into the depths of senseless-ness.
Learn to structure your solos and you'll be at least five time better - more appreciated. Tell a story. Have a beginning, a body and an ending. Most stories that are memorable require a wee bit of repetition of the main theme/hero etc.
With experience and maturity, you'll get better. With better technique, you'll also get better. Just be conscious of what you are doing and remember to communicate something that adds to the song. If you can't do this then it's best not to have a solo.
Rule # 1 - No solo is better than a poor solo. But a rock song without a solo also shows tha lack of depth with respect to the guitarist. With certain genres, you can get away without a solo. But with rock music, a good melodic song that doesn't have a solo shows poorly on the guitarist(s).
Cheers!
RoRK
Create an account and upload your file. You will be given a URL. Copy and then paste that URL here, in your post. Use the preview and try the link before confirming your post.
As for solos, the best solos normally come from songwriters. It is a given that good solos have strong melodies - it's like saying good food has to be tasty. DUH!
Other than a good melody, you will also require structuring - your solos, the melodies. The best method to understanding structure comes from knowing how to write songs. GOing full blast is mostly senseless and hence useless. Of course there are genres that thrive on such playing. And one man's great solo is another's dead lick.
But for the most part, good melody that is memorable, original + a good structure will go down well with most people. A good melody without structure can be aimless and chances are that it will not be memorable or lead one into the depths of senseless-ness.
Learn to structure your solos and you'll be at least five time better - more appreciated. Tell a story. Have a beginning, a body and an ending. Most stories that are memorable require a wee bit of repetition of the main theme/hero etc.
With experience and maturity, you'll get better. With better technique, you'll also get better. Just be conscious of what you are doing and remember to communicate something that adds to the song. If you can't do this then it's best not to have a solo.
Rule # 1 - No solo is better than a poor solo. But a rock song without a solo also shows tha lack of depth with respect to the guitarist. With certain genres, you can get away without a solo. But with rock music, a good melodic song that doesn't have a solo shows poorly on the guitarist(s).
Cheers!
RoRK
I think speed solos are overrated (but that's because I cannot play fast, haha). Still I think Eric Clapton said it best that he wanted to find that one note that would bring the audience to the verge of tears.
Solos need not be complicated as everyone has said. Look at U2's In God's Country. One note for most part, with four other secondary notes, simple but effective.
On the other hand, Eddie VH solo on Michael Jackson's Beat It is still one of the best (IMO) short bite solos.
Then there is the relatively pause-y Comfortably Numb solo. Or even SRV's "solo" at the end of David Bowie's Let's Dance. Effective.
Solos need not be complicated as everyone has said. Look at U2's In God's Country. One note for most part, with four other secondary notes, simple but effective.
On the other hand, Eddie VH solo on Michael Jackson's Beat It is still one of the best (IMO) short bite solos.
Then there is the relatively pause-y Comfortably Numb solo. Or even SRV's "solo" at the end of David Bowie's Let's Dance. Effective.
>>I think Eric Clapton said it best that he wanted to find that one note that would bring the audience to the verge of tears.>>
Ah! But that one note he was looking for was not a single note, per se, but that one note, within the entire structure of the song or even within a solo that would belt out, "I WANNA CRY ME A RIVER, NOWWWWWW!!!!
It has to be within context, of what Meister Clapton said and I hope it is obvious, thatn the note also has to be within the context of the song, the solo. Perhaps he was trying to tell folks to go for feel and not speed, and he did so in what he said, so, to speak.
There was a period of time where Meister Clapton was vauntered for his speed. Being a bluesman, I think he didn't take the compliment as well as his audience wanted him to.
But context always has to be seen within a larger structure for it to be understood and appreciated. One note can certainly say something but one note on its own cannot do what one note can do if it's played at the right point in time, within a structure, within the solo and within the song, at the right volume and tone.
Cheers!
RoRK
Ah! But that one note he was looking for was not a single note, per se, but that one note, within the entire structure of the song or even within a solo that would belt out, "I WANNA CRY ME A RIVER, NOWWWWWW!!!!
It has to be within context, of what Meister Clapton said and I hope it is obvious, thatn the note also has to be within the context of the song, the solo. Perhaps he was trying to tell folks to go for feel and not speed, and he did so in what he said, so, to speak.
There was a period of time where Meister Clapton was vauntered for his speed. Being a bluesman, I think he didn't take the compliment as well as his audience wanted him to.
But context always has to be seen within a larger structure for it to be understood and appreciated. One note can certainly say something but one note on its own cannot do what one note can do if it's played at the right point in time, within a structure, within the solo and within the song, at the right volume and tone.
Cheers!
RoRK
fgl
Well-known member
playing in various types of cover bands, I tend to cover many styles and genres from pop, retro, blues, rock, jazz and country etc.
Basically, I never do the solo note for note. I will try to play a little of the original solo from memory then will wing it according to how it would best suitthe song.
sAME THING WITH YOUR SOLO, TRY THE "MEE GORENG" METHOD AND SEE WHAT SUITS THE TUNE, YOUR STYLE ETC....
Basically, I never do the solo note for note. I will try to play a little of the original solo from memory then will wing it according to how it would best suitthe song.
sAME THING WITH YOUR SOLO, TRY THE "MEE GORENG" METHOD AND SEE WHAT SUITS THE TUNE, YOUR STYLE ETC....
stranger12
New member
Hmmm... I just listen and whack... whatever I feel like playing just comes out... But then again I've got a good imagination, so what I hear in my head may be completely different from what you do when you hear me play.. hahaha...
And someone did say here.. it really is in the fingers lah..
And someone did say here.. it really is in the fingers lah..
I don't think there is anything mystical, magical, mysterious about creating solos.
Its like riding a bicycle. If you don't know, all the explainations in the world would seem alien and mysterious to you. But when you do get on the bike and finally learn to cycle... all of that mumbo jumbo makes sense now.
People just have to get down to doing solos... the whole thing is playing out melodies in your head or going by feel or just playing scales/patterns. Just 3 different ways of doing solos.
Its like riding a bicycle. If you don't know, all the explainations in the world would seem alien and mysterious to you. But when you do get on the bike and finally learn to cycle... all of that mumbo jumbo makes sense now.
People just have to get down to doing solos... the whole thing is playing out melodies in your head or going by feel or just playing scales/patterns. Just 3 different ways of doing solos.
That's true ShredCOW, but folks must need to know that they also have to struture their solos. Being newBs, I tihnk most of them are really unclear about this aspect. Like I said earlier, to say that good melody is a strong requirement in creating solos is analogous to saying good food has to be tasty.
I'm sure that for folks like you, it already comes naturally without much thought. But for newBs, it's a whole new thang and I appreciate that there are those that just need some directions to get them going.
Once they do, like you said, it'll come naturally without much thought.
Cheers!
RoRK
I'm sure that for folks like you, it already comes naturally without much thought. But for newBs, it's a whole new thang and I appreciate that there are those that just need some directions to get them going.
Once they do, like you said, it'll come naturally without much thought.
Cheers!
RoRK
hmmm... no RoRk, it wasn't my intent to make the whole topic seem trivial.
I wanted help the new players realise that, end of the day, a good solo comes from 3 aspects... melody (note choice), feel (deciding which notes to play and how to play it) and technique (e.g. muscle memory).
I was trying to clarify things... clear things up a little...
Sometimes, the whole task of creating a 1st solo seems daunting - like riding a bicycle first time round.
And the more we describe how a solo should be "melodic", needs "structure", must be "expressive" and etc etc... its like telling a kid, "hey, on a bike, you have to keep your balance"...
Without getting into the works, if I were a newbie, I'd be baffled... keep "balance" on a bike? Like how?
Likewise, what's "melodic"? What's a "structure"? Expression? How do I come up with something expressive? I'm having trouble playing 3 notes and a bend in tune!
Its the whole explaination package that can make soloing seem like some... divine, mediate-for-hours-and-fast, then you'll come up with something ripping -- don't ask, just do it! -- kind of vibe.
For example - "just wack". A newbie asks, how to solo? I say, "I don't know, I just wack". That's magical. Newbie doesn't understand how "just wack" conjures beautiful solos. Magical.
Its all a good effort, yes, everyone chipping in... but are we overcomplicating things? E.g. Whitestrat's explaination - short and sweet... it makes sense if I were a newbie. Are we under-complicating things? E.g. "just wack". Are we not explaining enough? E.g. what's structure? what's melodic? what's etc etc.
Finally, for the newbie learner... it boils down to this. At the end of the day - really, its about getting down, playing and playing... then suddenly, the light seems brighter... things get clearer... some of the terms make more sense.
I believe the magic comes from a conscious effort to make a good solo... whether it means shredding indian scales or playing 3 notes @ 20bpm... and the way to be able to make that conscious effort? Is to understand what the terms used here, really mean.
I wanted help the new players realise that, end of the day, a good solo comes from 3 aspects... melody (note choice), feel (deciding which notes to play and how to play it) and technique (e.g. muscle memory).
I was trying to clarify things... clear things up a little...
Sometimes, the whole task of creating a 1st solo seems daunting - like riding a bicycle first time round.
And the more we describe how a solo should be "melodic", needs "structure", must be "expressive" and etc etc... its like telling a kid, "hey, on a bike, you have to keep your balance"...
Without getting into the works, if I were a newbie, I'd be baffled... keep "balance" on a bike? Like how?
Likewise, what's "melodic"? What's a "structure"? Expression? How do I come up with something expressive? I'm having trouble playing 3 notes and a bend in tune!
Its the whole explaination package that can make soloing seem like some... divine, mediate-for-hours-and-fast, then you'll come up with something ripping -- don't ask, just do it! -- kind of vibe.
For example - "just wack". A newbie asks, how to solo? I say, "I don't know, I just wack". That's magical. Newbie doesn't understand how "just wack" conjures beautiful solos. Magical.
Its all a good effort, yes, everyone chipping in... but are we overcomplicating things? E.g. Whitestrat's explaination - short and sweet... it makes sense if I were a newbie. Are we under-complicating things? E.g. "just wack". Are we not explaining enough? E.g. what's structure? what's melodic? what's etc etc.
Finally, for the newbie learner... it boils down to this. At the end of the day - really, its about getting down, playing and playing... then suddenly, the light seems brighter... things get clearer... some of the terms make more sense.
I believe the magic comes from a conscious effort to make a good solo... whether it means shredding indian scales or playing 3 notes @ 20bpm... and the way to be able to make that conscious effort? Is to understand what the terms used here, really mean.
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whiteboy
New member
huh ?? for exampe if the chord Am is played i use the A pentatonic scales, C pentatonic scales or E pentatonic scales??
sophronesis
New member
throughout the song i play in C pentatonic (minor/major) scales, but try to focus my phrasing around the notes A when chord Am is played, the note C when chord C is played.
whiteboy
New member
ohh ... so i can connect different scales together just that i have to make sure my root note is A if the key of the song is A right ?
sorry ar i very noob
sophronesis
New member
yeah. if your starting out stick to one scale.