Useful tips on How to play guitar solos and make them stand out, just as the way pros do.
The most popular guitarists have their own solos; something that is beautiful, melodic, and seems to be flawless.
Almost every wannabe guitarist wants to play them, and there are many who would love to create their own.
Here, we will go through some of the greatest guitar solos of all time, and analyze them to see what techniques you can start using right away.
Don’t Ignore the Tempo
It is commonly observed that most beginners play fast; actually much faster than what the music says.
In fact, there are many who like to boast that they can play a song at a much higher tempo. But the truth is that, it doesn’t really make you great.
It only means that you can play fast.
So when playing your solo, remember that in mind and have adequate rests in between.
Focus on the Hooks
A good habit is to always learn the melodies first. You can then use your tricks and licks to expand on the melody, but it’ll give you a base to solo around.
Most guitarists usually want to know just the “key” of the song, and then they use their usual recycled licks. But by sticking with the melody and creating hooks, you ensure that people remember you.
And the bigger the audience that likes you, the bigger the musician you become.
That’s why it’s so important to learn the melody of every song you play.
Clean Tone Rocks
Though you may like the sound of distortion, the listeners may not like a heavy dose of it.
In fact, a clean tone is what lasts longer with the listeners, and distortion can actually spoil the mood. That’s why it’s important to spend time crafting your tone.
If you listen carefully to the best solos of all time, they all had relatively clean tones.
However, there are many who misinterpret the intensity of their music as just distortion. The fact is that they just played with pure passion, raw intensity, and power, and that’s why they are considered to be the greatest of all time.
Amazing Acoustic Guitar Solo By Russian Street Performer & Guitarist Estas Tonne
The Buskers Festival Stadtspektakel held in Landshut, Germany in 2012, saw some great performances by various players, but there’s one performance which stood out from the rest.
Watch Russian street performer and guitarist Estas Tonne literally steals the show by playing ‘The Song Of The Golden Dragon’. Its just too good!
What he’s doing on the guitar looks much harder than the traditional guitar playing, which is common seen in the states.
Did you see those fingernails on his right hand? Seems like he has built in guitar picks 😉
To Conclude
Always remember that even if you are creating a solo, you are still making music, so use all that you have at your disposal such as hooks, melodies, and even Rests to craft your solo, and I am sure it will turn out great.
What are your favorite guitar solos? Please let us know, and add any personal tips and tricks in the comments below!
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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