Do you ever get bored playing your guitar to an electronic beep? Although playing to a metronome is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your playing (in more ways than you can imagine) it can sometimes feel a little unreal and more often than not, uninspiring. When learning how to play guitar solos you usually have something to play to, maybe playing over a CD or jamming your favorite song with a friend, but what happens if you're just practicing techniques, improvisation or composing something new? There is a solution that I have used for years and it has helped me in so many ways, creatively as well as with timing and technique. It is the use of backing tracks and real instruments to play along to.
Backing Tracks are just what Karaoke is to the singing world; a real band track with one instrument taken out so you can play along as if playing with a full band. You can approach these in two ways - buy pre existing backing tracks or what I did, make your own. It's easy to make your own but I will warn you now, it can cost a little to set yourself up to be able to record these. Here are some things to consider when choosing either way:
Buying Existing Tracks
Does the music inspire you? There are so many tracks available and not all are created equal. Choose ones that are in your genre and that make you want to pick up the guitar and play along!
Can they be used in multiple ways? Some songs are easier to solo to than others and you want to make your money stretch as far as possible. Try to choose tracks that give you multiple ideas and that allow you to open up notes all over the neck.
How's the quality of the sound? It's no use playing to something that sounds like it was recorded in a cave during a hail storm! Choose something that sounds well produced and professional after all, the better it sounds the better you will play to it.
Making your own Backing Tracks
What do you really need in order to do this? Drum Machine and some form of recording device - that's it! You can always get a lot more stuff than this to make professional recordings but that all depends on your budget, so work out what you really need before going to the guitar shop and you won't get swept up in the moment (speaking from experience here, going in for picks and coming out with a new guitar!).
Drum Machine - There are some free ones online that will give you a decent sound to play along with and depending on what you want to achieve these may be good enough for you. Next step up is the cheap paid versions such as Quickbeats, these are a good alternative and certainly cheap enough. I personally use a program called Fruityloops and add my own sampled drum sounds in which gives the result I'm after, and that's what it's about.
Guitar Recording - There are also a lot of ways to record guitar, starting from cheap programs you can download to physical recording devices, but it all depends on what you want to spend. There are programs that you can buy that have a basic plug-and-play guitar recording unit, and that come with a built in drum machine, which are great for the guitarist wanting it easy, and you can get some great sounds that will inspire you for years to come.
At the end of the day you can spend unlimited amounts on recording equipment that you don't necessarily need, but choose what suits your needs. And if you're just learning how to play guitar solos from your favourite band and you don't want to pay anything, find a free drum program (even a trial version) and create a few beats you can play along with and this will enhance your creativity which in turn will improve all aspects of your playing.
Have you ever wondered how to play guitar solos with the 'slipperiness' and ease that a lot of the pro guitarists do? There are a couple of tricks that don't get talked about that much and are things that you can do immediately to enhance your speed and playing ability on any guitar neck.
First of all, let's look at the natural things on a guitar that can make it a faster neck to play on, so if you're in the market for a new one you can make the best choice for what you need at the time. The things to consider on a guitar neck when you're looking for ease of use and speed for solos and fast riffs in general are neck width, coating, wood choice on both fret board and the neck back, and action (These are just the main neck considerations apart from other things to look for, but that for another time).
Neck Width - There are a few different choices when it comes to the width of the neck, from fatter necks that apparently give you more control over the notes but for some can hinder their speed, and the thin wide necks that are more aimed at speed and free movement. Regardless of which one feels comfortable to you, they are both personal choices as with the rest of these points and should both be played to get a feel for what's out there and how it plays. I personally find a thin neck much easier to play, but that's just the choice I have made.
Coating - This is quite often overlooked and can be a key factor in what you can do at high speed. Coating refers to the finish on the wood, so whether it's a high gloss or more of a matt finish it can affect the way your hand slides across the neck. Some people stick to a gloss finish and find it hard to slide effectively, while others love the feel of it...once again, personal preference.
Wood Choice - You may not feel or hear the difference in the wood choice in the neck and that's ok, but when learning how to play guitar solos the choice of woods on the fret board you'll want to pay attention to. There are a few different choices available here from Rosewood, Ebony, and Maple etc...I have played most and found Rosewood was the one for me in terms of having the control over the notes I chose as well as being able to effortlessly slide across the neck, but I know guys that swear by Ebony fret boards. Try a few and look for the one that suits.
Action - This is where it gets fun and this is also the stage you have the most control over. The Action on a guitar simply refers to the height of the strings off the neck and the playability caused as a result. If a guitar has a fast action it means the strings are low to the neck and overall it's a smooth easy play. Regardless of the previous 3 points, whatever guitar you own you should be able to do something with to improve the action, whether that's filing down the bridge or nut, to lowering your tremolo system. To get detailed explanation of how to lower your action click here.
There is another trick you can do to make your guitar slippery to play, and that is oiling the fret board. It sounds a little weird and to be honest when I first heard about this I was sceptical, but it works! I'm not talking throwing engine oil over it, but what's known in Australia as WD-40. Any form of spray lubricant from the hardware store will do nicely (you can also buy a specialized guitar spray from the guitar shop but it costs a bit more and does exactly the same thing). I've also heard of people using lemon oil, but I haven't personally tried that so there's not much I can say on it.
Just be warned, your fingers will get a bit oily and feel weird at first, but as it soaks into the neck you won't notice it. I also get a dusting cloth or any smooth cloth and wipe the excess spray into the fret board, just to get an even coverage and less oil on my fingers.
If you oil the neck and make the string action as low as you can without causing any fret buzz, you'll notice an almost instant improvement in your playing ability!
Are you one of those people that likes to just pick up a guitar and get straight into it? Do you wonder why you can't always play everything you normally play until a few minutes into it? The reason is simple and it's all because of something that the majority of guitarists don't do (I've been guilty of it myself) - finger stretches and warm ups.
Think about it like this, if you go to the gym and get straight into the heavy weights without a proper warm up you run the risk of injury, so why is guitar any different? When you look at the amount of stress that is being placed on your fingers and hands it's not surprising that things like R.S.I. (repetitive strain injury) are so common amongst guitarists. It doesn't need to be this way, and you can confront this head by learning how to play guitar solos with the least amount of pain and stress...let's take a look at 3 ways we can do this:
Stretching/ Workouts/ Exercises
Stretching
What stretching does in its basic form is elongate the muscle and keep elasticity, with the result of more control, flexibility and range of motion, which is great for guitarists to remember. Focus on both the hands and the fingers as they both work in guitar playing, and you can do a variety of exercises. The aim is to loosen and warm up both the hands and fingers before playing to prevent injury, and to give you more control over what you do on the fret board. For a few examples check out these Hand Stretching Exercises.
Workouts
It may sound funny to some to do hand workouts, but you know how important finger strength is for holding barre chords, bending notes, and the list goes on and on, you'll know what I'm on about...so why do so few people work on strengthening their hands and fingers? Whether or not you do any form of exercise for the rest of your body is a topic for another site, but here the importance of strengthening your hands is all we're concerned about. Have I mentioned that hand strength is important yet? J Well...it is. If you work out already then you'll know that just doing weights for the rest of your body strengthens your hands as well, but if you don't then try this little tip - Gripmaster. This is a great tool for guitarists and can work on individual finger strength, but you can also use an alternative that I used when starting out and that is standard Hand Grips from a sports/ gym store. Keep it in your car, bag, locker at work and use it when you get a free moment, it'll really pay off in a short space of time!
Exercises
I'm not talking about hand strength now, but a series of patterns on the guitar that challenge right from the start. There a lot of different ways to do this from odd shaped chords to massive stretches all over the neck, but my favourite even though it sounds a bit dull (but this is all about finger warm up here and not sound) is chromatics. Practice playing them up and down like scales, try alternating the fingering and challenging yourself as you go and then get into you're playing. A great way to do it is to start with all fingers together in the natural chromatic progression, and then gradually increase the spacing. If you play on frets 12,13,14,15 with fingers 1,2,3,4 then simply play frets 12,13,14,16 with the same fingers to get a stretch. The next time around you might play 12,13,15,16 and move the 3rd finger up one and continue in this pattern and then back down until you're back at the starting position. This is just one example but a good starting place. If you want an extreme warm up tab exercise click here. Also, here is a video with a great demonstration warm up to stretch you out...enjoy!
If you take the time to do this for even a few minutes a day, it will make your practice time more efficient and as a result your playing will improve at a faster rate than it would have before - well worth it if you ask me!
If you wish to not only learn how to play guitar solos, but master your own compositions then you'll need a plan. There's an old saying that is as useful here as it is in any area of life 'If you Fail to Plan you Plan to Fail'. If you want to create a guitar solo that is able to move everyone who hears it, then putting yourself in the right mindset and environment when in the writing stage can really pay off. Now, from playing guitar myself for 20 years I know that music just flows, and you can't really explain where it comes from but it's just in you - this is true. What I'm talking about is outside of that and works in conjunction with your existing talents, the technique with the inspiration if you will.
I will share 7 ideas here that will help to put you in the right frame of mind, and give you the best chance at getting inspired and capturing the moment when it arises, and believe me the more you do this the more you will want to do...
Environment - If you're learning how to play guitar solos it doesn't matter too much where you are because you're just replicating someone else's work. When creating your own on the other hand, it matters a lot. To create you need to feel creative, so find an atmosphere that enhances that side of you.
Improvise - You need to practice techniques regularly and master the fret board by knowing the notes it consists of, but in the creation phase it's time to be free flowing. There are a few ways to achieve this such as starting with a start & end note and let it flow, but to start I would suggest knowing the progression that you're playing over and picking common notes and root notes in the chords and incorporating them somewhere, until you get an idea of where you want to take it.
Chunk Down - Break your ideas down into small sections that you can practice individually. This helps you to create common themes and eliminate and change anything you don't like at a very focused level.
Record Your Ideas - When practicing this step is not necessary but when writing you'll find that you come up with so many ideas that you haven't got a hope of remembering it all. Record it all and you can go back over it after.
Create Themes - I mentioned this earlier, but creating a small section that repeats and hooks the listener back into something they recognize is a great way to sound professional while creating a memorable piece. Cover bands are popular because they play what people know, and a theme that repeats and flows through not just the solo but the song, can have the same affect.
Try Alternate scales and Modes - When you have found something that you think sounds good but could be better, try the same pattern in a different scale or mode. Sometimes just one note change from doing this can make all the difference to the mood and feel.
Stay in Touch - With the music that is. Get inspiration from wherever you can on a consistent basis whether that means going to gigs, subscribing to band websites and newsletters, videos, magazines, guitar workshops etc... The important thing is to know what is out there and take an active role in your scene.
Be yourself, play what is in you and not just want others want you to play and you'll do well. Add these 7 steps and learn how to market yourself and you'll be unstoppable!
When learning how to play guitar solos there are quite a few flashy techniques that can make you stand out from the crowd, and all have varying levels of difficulty. There is however one technique that is feared by the masses, and if you can tame it, will make you stand out in any crowd as being an expert on your chosen instrument!
That of course, is Sweep Picking.
Sweep Picking is simply the technique of playing the individual notes of an arpeggio in a 'sweeping' motion, and is one of the quickest ways around the neck while playing individual notes. An Arpeggio literally means 'broken chord' and can be used with any chord shape. In essence, you sweep (technique) over the arpeggio (notes) to create a devastating assault on the listener...
Let's take a look at some examples and then we'll get into the nuts and bolts of it and get you on your way!
Here's an example from one of the best solo artists around today - Jeff Loomis, and if you want to master arpeggios then this is a must see!
Here's the Tab to play along with, good luck!

Key points to note when learning to sweep:
Have 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.
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!
Learning 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!
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?
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: