Playing The Guitar Solo: 3 Tips

The art of the guitar solo is one that is difficult to master. Ask any seasoned guitarist worth his or her salt and they’ll tell you they didn’t just pick up a guitar for the first time and belt out Hendrix licks. It takes time and a lot of effort to learn to play solos that showcase your true talents, whether you’re aiming for a B.B. King-level blues extravaganza, or a Metallica-worthy metalfest. Here are 3 tips to help you get started:

1. Start with the pentatonic scale: The pentatonic scale is a great way to get started with guitar soloing. It’s easy to learn, and can be applied to any style of music. The great thing about it is that it’s only really necessary to know the home position; with that, you can transpose it to any key you want and can just focus on letting the notes come to you as they may. That sounds strange, but the great thing about the pentatonic scale is that it’s only five notes (penta = five), but from several octaves, so every note sounds good if it’s in the right key to begin with! The scale can be utilised in such a way to range from low, heavy riffs to high-pitched, squealing licks. If you haven’t yet learned the pentatonic scale, click here.

Hint: To play bluesy or metal-oriented riffs, play the minor pentatonic. For a more twangy, country feel, use the major scale.

2. Feel the rhythm: It’s impossible to play a guitar solo if you can’t get the rhythm of a song down. This may be because the song has a strange, off-beat rhythm, or it could simply be that it’s just too fast. Whatever the case, I recommend starting with a fairly straightforward beat with a moderate tempo for your first solo, such as those found in rock and blues. That’s why these musical styles are so popular for guitarists in the first place!

If you’re still having trouble getting the exact rhythm, try tapping your foot to the beat for at least a few measures before you begin your solo. That way, it will be easier to come in on the right count and stay with the rhythm.

3. Know when to end it:While long, Led Zeppelin-style solos may be cool, they can get on the nerves of your bandmates or the people you’re jamming with. A good solo (in most musical styles) should be like a good book: with a beginning, middle, and end. Nobody likes a run-on sentence, and the same can be said for guitar solos. It’s infinitely better to make something amazing in just a few measures than to keep a mediocre solo going forever.