Secrets to a good guitar solos

[Scream_ed]

Was jamming some chords progression using a software in my laptop (Band-in-a-box) in styles ranging from swing jazz to bossa nova (fast) to Level 42 funk. Found that while I was playing in key, and used scales that fit the songs, 75% of the time I sound unmelodic and uninspired. WOnder if you guys have any tips to share regarding how you go about building great solos, or any articles that talk about that. Please feel free to talk about any style/genre. Thanks

 

[ShredCow]

Well, for one thing, there's absolutely nothing wrong with using a specific scale to play a song. Many artistes do that and they usually pull if off well!

I believe that since you know how to solo using certain scales and whatnot, I think you would you also know that having some form of melody is a good place to start. If you got a good catchy melody, chances are, you'll have something that should sound rather good! But then, how do jazz musicians and even Steve Vai, go about doing an instrumental, with so much doodling around? Yet still sound so good?

Perhaps what you need is something all of us regard as a must-have for every musician, and that is feel.

Check it out... we all know if you have feel, you can play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and make it rock harder than any other tune out there. True? Well, okay, maybe not that song but you get the idea?

Feel comes about in various ways... vibrato is something that contributes a lot, note choices definately, phrasing is a seldom focused area and more. Sit back and think thru your technique, the way you hold your notes... do you find a lack of vibrato? Or you are just running up and down the scale mindlessly? Or how about your phrasing? How do you group your notes together?

Take some time to think about this then give a reply... I'll be ready to reply.

 

[Scream_ed]

Hi, there

I understand what you're saying, and I agree.

What I find more elusive is what goes on in the mind while we're playing music. I can be doing everything right theoritically (e.g right chords, right scales, etc) yet unable to pull off a melody that really sticks. Is it more of a trial and error thing, or is there some practical way I can develop a stronger sense of melody in my playing?

Thanks for sharing, btw

 

[thor666]

hmm... ok imo a song usually isn't just made up of the simple chords and progression alone. listen to the melody and bass that's going on while the chords are being played.

for example, in a song G Em C D (G Key), the singer won't be just singing the notes found in the G chord (G B D) for that specific bar. He'll use other notes in the scale but outside of the G chord. Say he uses the note F# as well.

This would give you a hint that you might want to solo in GMaj7 instead for that bar. Of course, there're also different ways to interpret this.. playing G B D alone can be as effective, or even using notes out of scale/in scale but not with melody. It does depend on the song a lot.

hope this helps.

 

[thor666]

Is it more of a trial and error thing, or is there some practical way I can develop a stronger sense of melody in my playing?

i think humming out what u think would be useful in this case, to let the mind correlate the physical and the mental aspects of playing the guitar together.

 

[ShredCow]

A stronger sense of melody?

Well, there's no shortcut to that... you gotta listen to a lots of stuff... and what thor's say is a very practical thing to apply to the guitar.

If you can sing out a nice melody, you've pretty much got it going for the guitar. BUT. note that when we sing, we usually sing what we are most comfortable with... ever heard any pop star sing in a harmonic minor scale? Not too often. Hence, that the limitation in singing.

Listening and doing it. Thats all you can do to improve. Ear training.... the like...

 

[lppier]

I would say pay attention to the rhythm as well. Try syncopation, playing on the offbeat.. you'll be surprised how cool you sound!

Pier.

 

[thor666]

Well, there's no shortcut to that... you gotta listen to a lots of stuff... and what thor's say is a very practical thing to apply to the guitar.

unfortunately, i always fail to practise what I preach. :| always undecided in making guitar solos complementary to the vocals, or completely contrasting to the vocals. I tend to like the latter but I suppose it has to depend on the song a lot.

 

[schred]

I try to meddle ard with the scales of the particular song i'd wanna get a solo for. Like listen to the song n work out the notes simaltaneously. Coz when u hit the right notes, it reli sounds gd with the song Then i know i'm getting closer. :lol:

 

[ChanMin]

i think guitarist tend to play safe licks... bits and pieces of licks from all over the place youve used over and over again in every key... i know im stuck in this.

but ive been trying to break out of this... playing to the progression... with a specific melody in mind.. it really helps and your solos dont just sound in tune anymore.. its really sounds like a proper solo when you do that...

ofcourse you gotta bring in the elusive "feel" thru your vibrato and other techniques... another thing is to plan your solos... e.g C,Am,F,G and plot a proper solo based on specific scales or even a melody in your head or both,before playing. after some time it becomes easier to do it on the spot.

 

[BlackMoo]

The secret is *drumroll* ...................





























All in the mind.

 

[kgwZ]

One of the replies mentioned trying out 'different' chords (e.g. Gmaj7 notes when there is a G chord). Some may want to be more adventurous and play, for instance, a C9 or D6 chord over a G, or even a Gm chord! But you have to know what you are doing, and i believe brushing up on your music theory really helps. I'm not sure where you are coming from in terms of theory, but I understand that 'uninspired' solos could come from mere repetition of previously learnt riffs and progressions without understanding what the guitarist or composer 'is trying to do'. It would be good therefore, through some theoretical knowledge, to analyse riffs, and to develop it and subsequently tie it in with your style.

 

[dario]

hmmmz. i'm not really good but i've been taking lessons and one thing my teacher told me that i'm lacking in is dynamics. According to him he says dynamics is wad makes the solo haf feel and totally rock. Hope this helps la. Basically he told me to vary the hardness of my picking, learn to switch pickups according to how aggressive I want the solo to be and incorporate tricks like bending, vibrato and double stops.

 

[Scream_ed]

Glad this is turning out to be a healthy discussion.

I am familiar with chanmin's idea of planning out the solos basedon progression. Sometimes it's a hit or miss for me. It's like sometime,a really cool melody just comes out, then at other times it just falls flat. What Moo said was what I have been thinking about too. Because when I listen to Ted Nugents solos on High Enough and Where You Goin' Now, they sounded really awesome! Melodious. I'm not simply talking about scales and theories here, but the more cerebral stuff like how to these melodies come to them. I reckon there must be something they are tapping into because a lot of songs out there, like the solo in Nelsons' Only Time Will Tell, are also very tasteful.

So the keyword, I think, someone mentioned here is to break out (hands up, the guy who said this ). I'll keep trying.

 

[ShredCow]

Well, experience plays a HUGE part in playing tastefully.

Stick to your guns man, keep doing it... you will get better. I believe we have listed a good deal for you to practice/checkout so yeah, keep at it...

 

[slim_rez1]

hey

normally for me...i will always use the blues scales to start a solo... 8O
n sumtymes keep wondering, how they do the steve vai style?? veri fast solo...i've try fast solo using blues scales...hmm can't get the sound as them..(i mean all the metal solos stuff) what scales do they use eh bro??

blues is similar with minor penta..same same ar eh..sumtymes i mix it with a little bit major..experiment sum..n try nt to over it..still stay in tune...

does metal solo uses chromatic scales?? anyone can giv me the chromatic scales?? thx!! :wink:

 

[Scream_ed]

Uh, for guys like Steve Vai, I downloaded one tab book that did an analysis of his playing. His is not only about scales and stuff but a combo of scales, modes and chord voicing usages at various parts of his songs. What interests me more about his playing is his use of voicings and intervals, mixed with his phrasings...hard to explain like that, but after trying a few licks, I found that he just employs traditional scaleboxes with a lot of creativity. Like Petrucci's use of chord voicings in Another Day (old song), also very creative. I'm slowly getting it...heh heh...but still needs lots of work la...they play 10 hrs a day, I play 2 hrs every otherday....

 

[DeathCubeK]

Timing, vibratos, bends, hammer ons and pull offs = good solo ... lol

 

[popeye]

Uh, for guys like Steve Vai, ....

Steve Vai, Petrucci, Malmsteen, Satch, etc no need to go to school, no need to go to office, they have nothing to do but playing guitar. So we will not reach their level unless we are willing to devote our time and energy like they do. :lol:

 

[hifi_killer]

theres no secret. its just pure hardwork. People like Steve Vai plays 10 hours a day.