Sounding Pro with a Simple Practice Plan

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Brian May shows How to Play Guitar SolosHave you ever been disheartened when you see a great guitar player pulling off a massive solo and thinking ‘I could never do that’? This so often happens to less experienced players when they are practicing how to play guitar solos and a lot of the time, they end up giving up because of it which is a tragedy.

The truth is the majority of people who listen to music want something they can connect with, so if you are in the above category and feel like giving up this may put your mind at ease.

Instead of looking at what you can’t play, focus on what you can and do it well!

When learning how to play guitar solos the most important thing is playing every note well, with great technique and emotion. If you can’t play the flashiest solos yet don’t worry about it – it will happen in time with the right practice. There are certain things to concentrate on when practicing that will make you sound like a better player while playing very few notes, so try these out and forget what everyone else is doing – this is about you.

Practicing with single notes:

If every note has to be spot on it makes sense to practice notes on their own as well as in scale runs. Try practicing notes like this and see how it feels:

  • Pick a scale, let’s use the C major scale (C Ionian) as a starting position
  • Play through all the notes in the scale slowly with a metronome, and with the most important thing, total control of every note. Make sure you watch your fingering as well, and move your hand as little as possible by placing a different finger on each fret (1st finger – 3rd fret/ 2nd finger – 5th fret/ 4th finger – 7th fret etc).
  • When you can play it through with each note sounding smooth and it feels easy, put the metronome to half the time of what it is now.
  • Play each note again in half time and practice a steady vibrato on each note, and make sure the vibrato is in time with the metronome as well (it’s not enough that the note is played on the beat, the vibrato should be practiced in time as well).
  • When this feels easy, practice sliding up from the previous note in the scale, so in this case slide up from the B note before the root note of the scale. The aim is to pick the note in the same scale previous to the one you’re playing and slide from it.
  • Combine the two by sliding up to the note and then adding vibrato.
  • When this all feels comfortable, try adding a downward slide as your coming down the scale to add a new element.
  • When this is done and you feel good about it, turn the metronome back to the speed it originally was and play through the scale again normally, and you should find it a little easier and you’ll have more control over the notes. Keep speeding it up as you start feeling comfortable with it, and when you get to the stage when you start making mistakes, start over with the next scale up the neck (try playing all the scales of the notes in the C major scale, C D E F G A B C – so the next one here is the standard D scale).
  • Repeat for all scales until you get back to C further up the neck.

It sounds a little basic but you may be surprised how challenging it can be, and this way of practicing alone can give a huge control over the notes you play and at the same time, set you up for both knowing the fret board and learning modes (both will really help you with composition).

Good luck with it and remember to take it slow and get that control over the notes before you move on to other techniques or speed, and your playing will improve tenfold!

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Mastering Artificial Harmonics

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Picking PositionLearning how to play guitar solos is easy when you know how, but becoming a master at any specific technique is another level. There are a few techniques that are considered more advanced because of their level of difficulty, and Artificial Harmonics for a lot of guitarists fall into this category.

Natural Harmonics are produced by lightly tapping a string in set places along the neck, resulting in a bell like sound. These can be sounded at multiple positions, such as 5th, 7th and 12th frets, and can be played with very little effort.

Artificial Harmonics on the other hand require a specific technique, and although are a little harder to play, they can be played on any note or position on the neck. There are a few ways to play these Artificial Harmonics such as playing a note first and then lightly touching the same string at an interval equivalent to a natural harmonic i.e. if you play a note on the second fret, you can move the natural harmonics that are usually in 5th, 7th and 12th fret positions up two frets to result in the same harmonic but two semi tones higher. This is very similar to a natural harmonic and is self explanatory once you know what a natural harmonic is, only moved up by the note you choose to play beforehand.

The main way I choose to use artificial harmonics when learning how to play guitar solos is through the use of Pinch Harmonics.

Pinch Harmonics are simply ‘pinching’ the string with your playing hand as opposed to your fretting hand resulting in a harmonic squealing sound. To do this, all I do is rest my thumb and the edge of the pick on the string at the same time. When I strike the note with both the thumb and pick it results in a Pinch harmonic and you should be able to hear the difference straight away, however mastering this can take a little time so be patient and keep working on it.

The reason I prefer this in general (and this is only a personal preference) is because it frees my left hand to continue with whatever other technique I want to use with the harmonic. You can use this while simply bending a note, adding it as an accent in a fast scale run, or any other variation including with dives and other more savage techniques.

If you have trouble getting the sound smooth, try moving your picking hand position to get either more pick than thumb or vice versa, or even to cut more through the strings in a downward motion. Play around and use what feels comfortable to you.

Here’s a great video for getting a pinch harmonic sound, regardless of your level of expertise – enjoy!

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Killer Tremolo Bar Tricks! – How to play guitar solos

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If you’ve ever want to learn how to play guitar solos with a level of intensity that makes others stop and take notice, then mastering the tremolo or whammy bar is a must. Because the variation that you can achieve with this is so great, it can go either way between creating or playing a killer solo, or just sounding sloppy.

Here are my top 5 tips on how to tame that tremolo and make it work the way you need it to!

  1. Practice it slowly with all the control you would use for practicing anything else. It can very easily turn into a mess when you don’t know what you’re doing, so fluid movements and control over the bar are a must.
  2. Practice to a metronome. It needs to be said that if you want to improve any notes you need to play to a backing of some kind, and the easiest and cheapest is a metronome.
  3. Aim for a Specific note. Things like dives and the more intense moves sound so random that they’re often mistaken as being a ‘hope for the best’ technique, but as with all other techniques if you have a sound or note in mind before going for it then you will give yourself a greater level of control. After all, you can’t hit a target you can’t see.
  4. Mix it with other Techniques. When learning how to play guitar solos it helps to combine a few different sounds and apply a range of techniques to the overall section. Try combining slides, hammer ons, scale runs with some tremolo technique and see the difference it makes.
  5. Experiment. These are all general guidelines and with everything that is considered an ‘art’, there are no real rules, only ways of doing things that get a result. Play around with different effects while learning these, and get different moods and tones, all of which can add to the fun of practicing and make you a better overall player.

Here’s a video of Dimebag Darrel showing you how to pull off those trademark screams and other tremolo tricks, have fun with it and I’ll speak to you soon!

Glenn.

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Getting that Blues Feel…

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Today we’ll be looking at the style of Blues and learning how to play guitar solos around the blues pentatonic scale shapes. Blues is one of those styles that sounds so simple when you listen to it because of the natural flow, but can be challenging to say the least because you have to put so much of yourself into it to pull it off…

There are a few basic tricks that can really help you do it well, and bring out that creative juice, one of them being this particular phrase based solely on the pentatonic shape. Listen to Marty as he shows you how to not only play the technique, but also gives you tips on how to join your own ideas and musical thoughts together.

These phrases should be practiced with some form of backing track if possible, just to give you the right feel for your playing. If you don’t have any way to do this then playing to a metronome or drum machine is fine.

You can also use this technique for other styles of playing as well. For example, if you were learning how to play guitar solos in Rock or Jazz, this would be a great addition to your playing and really add a bluesy feel while playing another style.

One thing to remember, this is not limited to this shape or phrase. How could you use this pattern for other scales and shapes?

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Pentatonic Scale Shapes – The Must Know Basic!

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Today we’ll be looking at the 5 Pentatonic Scale Shapes that give you a great framework to solo around, and ones that if you know them will give you the advantage if you ever need to learn how to play guitar solos. In the this video example from Joe Musella at Berklee music, he shows you clearly how to play the 5 shapes and the fingering involved.

This example starts with A as the root note, but these shapes can be used all over the neck for any notes you choose. Key points to remember are:

  • Work out the chord progression that you wish to play over
  • Find the chord root notes in the shapes
  • Choose which shape fits for soloing either up or down from the root note.

Pentatonic Scale Shapes
Here are the 5 shapes as they are on the neck, note they do not start on any specific frets – refer to video for placement (Please right click and either View or Save image).

Good luck with these, and if you need any more training remember us at How to Play Guitar Solos!

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How to Play Guitar Solos – Understanding Guitar Tab

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It’s always a challenge learning something new, especially when it comes to things like foreign languages. Music is no different, especially if you’re planning to learn to read sheet music. This can be a daunting task for even the most keen students among us, but you don’t have to learn to sight read to be able to know how to play guitar solos or anything else!

There is a form of written music known as guitar tablature (usually referred to as just ‘Tab’), and this can be so much easier to read as it Is literally written as it is on the guitar, so you can see it and play it. Even with the most basic forms of anything though, it still requires explanation to know how to read and understand it, especially when everyone is suddenly an expert on it, so let’s cover the basics so you can actually learn something whenever you want to.

Just as sheet music has 5 lines on the page where the notes fit into, guitar tab also has lines. The difference being it has one line for each string on the guitar, and instead of notes being drawn in a separate place for every note, they are simply written on the line (string) with the number of the fret they are played on. Simple. You’ll quite often see this tab as a basic form done in a program like notepad, with broken lines made into a music line. If you want to write your own you can use quite a few programs to draw lines such as Microsoft word, or any free word processing program. 

  Badd11                                    E7Madd13
--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
-----------5--------|-----------5--------|-----------4--------|
--------8-----8-----|--------8-----8-----|--------6-----6-----|
-----9-----------9--|-----9-----------9--|-----6-----------6--|
--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
--7-----------------|--7-----------------|--0-----------------|

This is what the tab looks like, and you’ll see it has six lines for the six strings, going from the bottom line being the low E string all the way through to the high E string as the top line. The bars are separated the same as any other sheet music, and the chords that the notes are based on are at the top (in this case it’s Badd11 & E7Madd13). The notes are written as the number of the fret played on the string, so it starts with 7th fret on the low E string, then 9th fret on the D string and so on. Easy huh? This combined with a couple of videos to get the feel and sound of the track you’re learning and you’re well on your way.

When the notes call for a specific technique such as a hammer on, vibrato etc it will tell you, and this is what to look out for:

Slide – ( / ) up or ( \ ) down – means to slide, usually from one note to the next.

Vibrato – ( ~ ) means to add vibrato, usually after the note. 

------------------|--------------|-------------------|
--4----5----------|--------------|-------------------|
----------4/6~----|--------------|--6/4---6--6/8-----|
------------------|--------------|-------------------|
------------------|--------------|-------------------|
------------------|--------------|-------------------|

Hammer on – ( h ) means to hammer the note after the ( h ) instead of picking it.

Pull off – ( p ) means to pull off the note before so it sounds the note after the ( p ).

------------------------------|------------------------------|
--5-12p0h7-12p0h9-12p0h7-12p0h|--5-12p0h7-12p0h7-12p0h7-12p0h|
------------------------------|------------------------------|
------------------------------|------------------------------|
------------------------------|------------------------------|
------------------------------|------------------------------|

Other symbols to look out for are ( t ) – Tap ( x ) – dampen the note or palm mute it.

You won’t have too much else in most songs and if you do there will usually be an explanation with it. Just remember, when learning how to play guitar solos it pays to get all the different forms of the song you can to learn from, video/ tab/ live audio etc. This will give you the best chance of getting the overall feel and notes of the song.

If you want more guitar solo advice and lessons, feel free to check out my site How to Play Guitar Solos

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How to Play Guitar Solos – Learning Guitar Online

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As iv’e talked about in other articles, there are three ways to learn guitar solos, and for the purposes of this article we’ll take a look at the learning how to play guitar solos online method. Most people just browse when it comes to looking up things online, and that is no different when it comes to learning guitar. What i’m going to suggest here is a system to give you the greatest advantage of really getting ahead by using this method, regardless of what style you play or who the lessons come from. Interested?

There are four parts to this, and most people will do just one of the first three. If you do all four you’re guaranteed to see improvements in a very short space of time, and the great thing about doing it online is you can change the lessons or even styles to suit you at any stage. First of all, set up a folder in your computer for each song and categorise it in the style as well – this will make it so much easier for you later down the track. Let’s take a look at the four parts:

1) Get the original song – There are so many sites online that you can download audio or video from, and in this case i’m going to suggest video so you can see what is actually being played. The biggest site for videos is, you guessed it, youtube. There are ways to download youtube videos or videos from any other site, and you can either choose the original clip or a live version, sometimes you don’t have a choice so just grab what looks good and has a clear enough sound.

2) Get the Tab – Like video sites, guitar tab sites are too many to mention, but if you search for specific tabs you will eventually find what you want somewhere. Just for clarification, this doesn’t have to be original tab, because you’ll soon work out what’s right and what’s not from the other steps.

3) Get a fan video lesson – If there is one available, grab a video lesson from a fan who is playing the song you want. There are countless videos of people trying to play their favourite song, so chances are you’ll get something in this area. This is just another interpretation that may give you an idea of how it’s played, as sometimes you may miss things in the other steps.

4) Get software to help – The best software i have found while learning how to play guitar solos is software that slows down the original music. This is more in the category of playing by ear, but if you add it to the songs you’re learning from these other three ways you’ll master it in no time. Imagine being able to slow down the solo and still keep the same pitch so you could replicate it note for note?

Well there you have it. If you do these four steps together there should be nothing you can’t play, and without paying money for one on one tuition this is one of the best ways to learn any song or solo!
If you want more guitar tips and advice, check out my site here – How to Play Guitar Solos

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How to Play Guitar Solos – What’s your learning style?

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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.

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How to Play Guitar Solos, first – what are they?

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How to Play Guitar Solos

Broken down to basics, guitar solos are sections or passages of music that are inserted into a song to take it to the next level. These are usually melodic in nature, and can be written for any style of guitar, whether acoustic, electric, or even bass guitar for that matter.

The style of solo varies depending on the desired effect, and of course the music genre being played, but it can be used in any style of music including Jazz, Blues, Rock, Metal, and Classical (yes, even classical has certain pieces for solo guitar). While it is considered a must to have some form of chord progression flowing underneath, the solo itself is somewhat free and flowing with an emphasis on tone and feeling.

Solos can be either insanely structured to the point of losing all sense of flow, or on the other end of the scale be completely improvised and played as a response to the underlying groove or rhythm. Either way, it is an art that is interpreted differently for every player, and both ways can be used effectively in the right context of the song.

The key point here is when learning how to play guitar solos, practice the technique of the notes so it becomes second nature, and then open up the feeling floodgates and let it flow.

Guitar solos can be either written for a single guitar (as is seen in many acoustic pieces), or for a multiple instrument scenario (such as a rock band) with a few instruments accompanying each other. In the second scenario this can be anything from a small Jazz Quartet or a 3 piece Grunge band, to a much larger set up such as an Orchestra. While solo guitar music itself dates back to when the instrument was first created, and made a big impact in the Baroque period especially, the guitar solo as we know it was only popularised with the introduction of the electric guitar.

A little bit of trivia – The first electric guitar solo in a hit song was “Walking the Floor Over You” by Ernest Tubb way back in 1940, which went on to inspire musicians such as Chuck Berry, who ultimately changed how to play guitar solos…

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