There are 3 ways of learning how to play guitar solos, and it all depends on how you learn best as to which one is suitable and will work best for you. Let’s take a look at these ways and see how they can impact your guitar playing.
1) Traditional Teaching – This is what most people think of when they think of ‘guitar lessons’ and is a great way to go if you like getting lessons in either a one to one format with a guitar teacher sitting in front of you, or in a small group lesson, still with a guitar teacher but a little less personal. There are advantages in this way depending on who you go to, and if you choose this way be sure to add improvisation to your practice as well – if you only play other peoples songs you stunt your own creativity. The advantages are:
- Picking Up Good habits – A good guitar teacher (i say that because there are the other kind out there as well) will point out your mistakes and bad habits before they take hold.
- Giving You Structured Practice – They will also be able to guide you through a structured practice routine that left to your own, you may not be as effective with.
- Having Access to Great Music – Some Tabs and music scores can be hard to find for the average guitarist, but for a teacher who knows his/ her stuff it is easier to come by, and you are the one that benefits from this
2) Learning through Video/ Tabs online – This is what a surprisingly large amount of not only guitarists do, but musicians in general, and can be a great way to get a whole load of different lessons in the comfort of your own home. With the introduction of sites like Youtube and and handfull of other video sites, and the massive amount of guitar tab sites online, there is no end to what you can learn. Best of all, you can also be the teacher yourself if you choose to! The advantages of this way are:
- Learning Any Style – You no longer have to find a separate teacher to teach you different styles. If you want to play Rock one day and suddenly feel like learning Jazz or a Bossa Nova (you never know) then you can do it as fast as your computer will let you. There are also dedicated sites out there to teach you different styles online, so it’s like still having a one on one teacher but online.
- Learning At Any Time – This speaks for itself, but if you chose to learn a song at 4am it’s possible, and with headphones there’s no reason for not rocking out at the wee hours of the morning!
- Learning Wherever and Whenever Suits You – You can be on any computer, anywhere in the world and get a guitar lesson. I doubt your guitar teacher would travel with you:)
3) Learning by Ear – This is a great way to train your ear to hear certain notes, and can be a real advantage when improvising. Simply put on a CD or some form of music (put your ipod on and play along), and follow as closely as you can. If you’re feeling adventurous put on an instrumental piece and try and play harmonies – this will make you a better player in no time! The advantages are:
- Ear Training – This is one of the best ways to train your ears, and it makes sense – train your ears by using them. If you don’t just rely on tabs and use this skill aswell, you’ll find yourself being less restricted and being able to learn most pieces.
- Improvisational Skills – Learning by ear is a great way to learn how to play guitar solos, and any music for that matter. One thing it teaches is improvisation, and it will force you to know the guitar neck and memorise notes (even just by sounds) which will open you up to great improvisation when you need it.
- Creativity Boost – Adding to the first two, creativity is an added benefit when learning by ear and can be a great way to start writing your own music. I know personally the times when i would spend days on end playing along with my favourite CD’s were the most productive in terms of writing my own songs.
So there you have it. I have done all three for different reasons and at different times, and would suggest you do the same to get and overall perspective on the guitar. Remember, you need flawless technique, timing, and to be your creative self if you want to master the guitar, and when learning how to play guitar solos especially.
