Lead Technique - Soloing "rules" shred_till_death - Jan 23, 2004 - 07:15 PM Post subject: Soloing "rules"
Ok, well I know you guys will say that there are no "rules" to music. However, there are some principles to uphold in order for the music to sound good, right? Which is why I seriously need help with some soloing strategies. So I learned all the diatonic modes in all the keys and minor harmonic, and in the process of learning pentatonics. But I still feel like I can't make my solo sound like a cohesive piece of music. For example - how do I go from one lick to another? Which note do I start a lick after I end the previous one? If I'm doing a scale run, does it have to end with the same note I started with? If I am playing a solo in the key of G major, for example, do I have to start my solo with the note G? How do I go from an ascending or descending scale run into a fast, repetative lick?
I've been playing guitar for about 5 years, and I can shred really fast, but without ever having any formal lessons, things like that I struggle with. I really hope I'm not alone on this, and I'm almost positive that other self taught guitarists have had at one point these kinds of problems. So, if anyone can shed some light on these soloing "rules", I would greatly appreciate it.
bhuether - Jan 24, 2004 - 03:02 AM Post subject:
Everyone is different, but here is my take: When I write songs, I either come up with a melody first, and write backing tracks to go along with it, or I write backing tracks and then use them to inspire some sort of melody. Either way, at some point I will end up with backing tracks that inspire everything else. So during a solo section of a song, I will just press play, and wait for inspiration. Based on the backing music, I usually start hearing how I want the solo to be in my head, and then it is just a matter of getting it from my head to the fretboard. So basically, I think the best way to solo is to treat the solo like a vocal part. And then use neat little riffs to connect the various phrases. I tend to hear wide intervallic lines in my head, and so lots of the riffs I end up coming up with involve wide stetches, arpeggios, etc.
As far as ending a lick on one note, and breaking into another, it really depends on where the song is heading. I find that if I go in a music store, it is very hard for me to pick up the guitar and solo well. For me, it is always the backing music that propels me. And as far as the G Major thing, no you don't have to start and end on G. If you did that, it would always sound major. That is what the modes are all about, by starting at different points of the scale, you have different moods. I think it will come together for you better if you play along to some simple chord changes (do a search on google for backing tracks - you should atleast be able to find some MIDI stuff).
-brian
Mike_Philippov - Mar 31, 2006 - 10:01 PM Post subject:
I'd recommend taking some soloing/improv lessons from the best teacher you can find. It is very hard to talk about soloing in a forum environment, but here is some advice you can use:
Make sure you know EXACTLY what key the chords are in and what notes are in EVERY chord you're soloing over!
It is helpful if you understand the function of chords. I don't know your theory background but I would strongly suggest that you read up on how diatonic chords move within a key (if you don't know this stuff already)
As for soloing itself, there are a lot of guidelines but as you said, no rules per se. If you know what notes are in each chord you are playing you can emphasize these notes in your solo. (so over an Am chord you can emphasize notes A C and E because they are in the chord)
There is A LOT to this topic, but this should be enough to get you started.
If you have questions about anything I wrote above, let me know be glad to help.
Mike.
tanvircool - Aug 08, 2007 - 02:33 PM Post subject:
it will help me.