Sucky Soloing Yeah You

Among "average Joe" musicians, the ability to solo is the most sought after part of rock and roll. (that, and post-performance hookups, well deserved hangovers, and money)

In all seriousness, if one were to test the soloing ability of all of the proficient guitar players of the world, the absence of skill in this area would be shocking. There would be the occasional diamond in the ruff, but outside that very little would be impressive to the trained eye and ear. Take a sniff around YouTube with the word "solo." More than half are young, naive, often arrogant pseudo-musicians who attempt to showcase skills they just do not have. In the immortal letters of my bass player, (while watching one of the several millions Sweet Child of Mine solo cover videos) "W.T.F.?"

Frusturated and suffering from slight nausea, I set out to discover exactly why my ears have to bleed. If you are a sub par soloist or even general player, at least one of these will most likely explain your situation. If not, then read it anyway and you might be able to help another starving artist.

Only Playing Other People's Music

Who doesn't want to put on a black "R.I.P. DIME" cap and bust out the "Walk" solo perfectly note for note while in front of their metalhead pals? A conservative, classical player, that's who. Trying to emulate their favorite artists restricts too many players from being able to explore themselves musically. The vast majority also don't understand the theory behind the solo, so if they were to perform it live they'd crash and burn if one note were to be missed.

Before picking up electric guitar and the whole rock and roll deal, I was a Jazz trumpet player. I got better at improvisation simply by playing a back track and attempting to solo over it. After warming up, that would be the largest part of my Jazz practicing... the same can be applied to guitar. Find a backing track and figure out what scales are appropriate for it. A huge part of getting better at soloing is learning first hand how to pull parts out of your lower cavity. It takes a little bit of patience and a whole lot of messing up to become "good."

Inability To Play Rhythm Guitar

Out of the garage band set-up, even moreso than bass, Rhythm guitar is the most misunderstood. Playing a few chords, that's it right? Naive players never gain the ability to learn the most important part of having a position like rhythm guitarist- rhythm. You can't randomly hit notes at varrying speeds and make it sound pleasing to the ear. Even Yngwie lands on the downbeat kiddies. If you can't play rhythm, you can not play guitar at all. The complex strumming patterns that an accomplished player knows are the basis for picking patterns and phrasing of solos.

Lacking Knowledge Of Theory

Theory is all the components that go into making music. It takes two lifetimes to master theory, but understanding a good amount of it is beneficial for even knowing which notes would sound in place and what play next. There's a heated debate between theorists and others that refuse to learn simply because they believe theory will ruin their free spirit. Individuals like Jimi Hendrix have natural ability that enables them to solo without the help of theory, but it's ironic that those who don't learn theory are the ones who don't have that natural ability. What are they gaining by trying to be successful with skills they don't possess?

Not Able To Apply Theory To Soloing

You know the modes, mindlessly practice scales until your fingers bleed and you've memorized your $40.00 theory book cover to cover, but when it comes down to it you can't even jam to a simple A-family Chord progression. When you try, all you can do is run up and down a scale and make a sad face at the audience. You're trapped inside the pentatonic box going "Help me!" Enough with the analogies and metaphors... a big thing musicians don't understand about theory is that it is meant to be a basis for music. Scales and boxes are meant to be extended upon. You should use the scales as tools, they shouldn't use you. When you switch your mentality up, you'll feel more free on the fretboard and less contained in terms of notes you are "allowed to play."

Shredding Distraction

Most players want to be able to shred. Shawn Lane, Steve Vai, MAB, etc. are viewed as guitar deities as a result of their speed. When watching a video of such a player for the first time, a lot of guitarists tend to get excited and get in way over their head. All that comes from trying to instantly play 21nps is frusturation and wasted practice time. Like any other style of playing, shredding takes a long time to get good at and a lot of dedication. In my eyes however, shredding produces the greatest amount of worst musicians. They gain a good amount of speed but that's been their only focus for who knows how long. On top of that, they end up cocky since they are able to play faster than the person that's been playing for 2 months. Guitarists that are just beginning to solo should not be aiming as high as material written by guitarists that have sold their souls to their instrument.

No Emotion

In all the theory mumbo-jumbo and the polictics involved in not sounding like someone else, soloists fail to place themselves emotionally into every note they play. In an unexplainable phenomenon, even the average non-musical person can tell whether there is a machine or human behind the guitar. How do you put emotion in your music? If you have to ask a question like that, you just don't get it. Heh.

The Whammy Bar

Sweet, you just shelled out enough to feed a small family to buy an axe with a Floyd Rose bridge so now you're ready to dive and squeal! This is what I call the "new toy" effect. When players get a guitar with a whammy bar for the first time it just seems to take them over. Much like guitar effects, a whammy bar should be something that is layered over your solo to give it a different sound and excentuate portions of your solo. A lot of guitarists take it so far that their solos are based solely around that pretty rod. My general rule is that you should be able to play your solos dry on an acoustic.

Failure To Return To The Basics

The basics! Nobody is beyond the basics of guitar. When young players start learning "advanced" techniques they tend to instantly jump into those during practice. In my opinion, the reason advanced techniques such as inner string sweeping are so difficult for players is because they never took time to fine tune and master their basics. Posture, muting, and proper fretting technique are the three most common reasons for this. When a technique is not learned properly, it can't be applied to soloing or even normal playing without it sounding bad. Vibrato and bending technique are a pair of the most misused basic guitar techniques. A tree can't grow unless its roots are planted firmly into the ground.

Having The Title "Lead Guitarist" Before Being Able To Solo

Uhg, personally this is the one I hate seeing the most. In bands with two guitar players, the better one or the one that thinks he's/she's better takes the title of lead. Usually bands that put so much emphasis on titles suck. Plain and simple. Their guitar players suck and they take the term "lead" in vain. They can solo since the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" solo is within their reach.

...

Yeah.

Little Exposure To Better Musicians

In a world with so many varrying music styles and players, there is so much that can be learned from other players. I highly recommend sitting in on some Jazz jam sessions, even if it's not your style. Some of the most accomplished, underappreciated guitarists aren't out selling DVDs. They're in a coffee house in lower east side of New York playing their hearts out. Actively jamming with people who are better or even close to your level with teach you so many things, including how to think on your feet for soloing. Don't be full of yourself to learn from others. Improv solos take balls and experience playing "live" to be above average at.

Soloing is what gets players high on stage. It's an almost orgasmic state that real musicians die for. A creative existance is more than most can hope to live. Don't limit yourself by being stupid. Soloing is the golden bullet in you music arsenal. I'm overdramatizing. Just have fun with it.

-NotAJock2Day

Comments

[Zach Strife]

Good. Long, but good.

[Stratocaster93]

Yay second! Yes, I know its annoying when people say that...


Good article. Forunately I've already overcome most of those obstacles, but this would've helped sooooo much when I was a victim of them...

[bonzo_lives]

I agree with most of these points especially the returning to the basics. i can tap or used pinched harmonics but half the time they just dont work in certain songs so if the dont fit dont use them!!!

[Atreideslegend]

did u never stop to think, hang on, yes these kids are shit at guitar, but they really do seem to be enjoying themselves!

You seem like the kind of person who hates anyone better than you and play guitar just to seem better than everyone else, jesus christ if ure pissed off with all the kids on Youtube DONT GO LOOKING FOR THEM. Yes i get irritated with wannabe guitarists occasionally but i also remember that that is the place that everyone starts. The instant you lose that naive hope of becoming a guitar hero, the instant your dreams are shattered and you will never really achieve. Joe satriani started playing the guitar because he watched his sister perform when he was a youngster and thought "wow i wana do that", now look at him.

Learn some ****ing tolerance, before soiling our ears with your bullshit.

[carsonh76]

this guy knows what hes talkin about

[Rock God #1]

I am a budding guitarist, and although i have years of experience, I can honestly say that I am not the greatest at soloing. True, I amgood at it...but that's it. I can rip a good Sweet Child O Mine or Canon Rock...but there will also be a bum note everyso often.

Yet, unlike so many others, I don'tkid myself. My real passion is rhythm. If you can play rhythm, you can near enough play anything. You see all these kids out there that are solely interested in soloing, either to impress someone or to be famous. Yet, when they come to it, they hate playing rhythm. WHY????

Rhythm is great, and will help you in your soloing. Please wake up and see the reality. You've got to work your ass-off to become good...let alone great.

However, I did see this guy play Canon Rock on Youtube (funtwo or something). Now thatwas some wicked shredding! Now you can't say that that kid doesn't have soloing skills!

Unlike my mates, I do not look down my nose at guitarists of any caliber. True, guitarists that are only in it for money or to get laid get right on my nerves. Yet, I (thankfully) am able to watch a good guitarist and appreciate them for what they are.

And not for what they are not.

[cds+stereo=life]

^ dude, this guy is trying to help the people who aren't happy with their soloing, not unlike me. I found this very helpful and informative. It had nothing to do with prejudice or a "hatred of everyone better than him", he just used that as an example of why he felt this article needed to be written. This article was a phenomenal help, thanks a lot!

[Inf1n1tY.]

well ...
ignore this "book of wisdom" and go for your goals. An open ear and experience is all you need.

[Atreideslegend]

cds+stereo=life wrote:

^ dude, this guy is trying to help the people who aren't happy with their soloing, not unlike me. I found this very helpful and informative. It had nothing to do with prejudice or a "hatred of everyone better than him", he just used that as an example of why he felt this article needed to be written. This article was a phenomenal help, thanks a lot!

i understand your point but i believe that he could have easily put his point accross, without the sarcasm amd bitching. I understand where he's coming and that some of these things might be of use, bit to me this article is just bitterness and frustration with a clothing of sagely advice and UG is not a forum in which to air your insecurities at the expense of the readers. I just hope people like this never qwell your enthusiasm stereo=life.

[TheAbacus]

Canon Rock?? Sounds like the jingle for a new camera... Who's it by?

I'm someone who's just entered this phase of playing around with pentatonic scales... and I do feel sort of stifled by the whole concept. The only variation I try is adding an extra note from the corresponding major or minor (whichever seems appropriate). I try to make up for my lack of theoretical knowledge by going with something which 'just sounds better'.

I'm still not good at soloing... I can play a sort of blurry sounding intro to Sweet Child of Mine... but the solo towards the end of the song on Em is too complex for me to bother. And as far as ego is concerned, I feel its dumb to learn a solo by memorizing it off the tabs. So more often than not... I try it... I suck at it / fail completely and quit.

Nice article... something I could painfully relate to.

Do you have some solutions for these problems as well? Except for listening to jazz musicians playing... (the only jazz I've heard in my country is on TV -- I've seen the The Terminal (the box of Planters) and tried watching Ray)

We don't have musicians playing at local coffee shops... and the lack of proper musicians makes my mediocre state look quite good actually! But again, I'm not learning much now am I!?! Any advice/comments?

[GuitarDesperado]

Rock God #1 wrote:
However, I did see this guy play Canon Rock on Youtube (funtwo or something). Now thatwas some wicked shredding! Now you can't say that that kid doesn't have soloing skills!

I would say the person would have good technical skills to recapture the solo, but anyone could do that if they tried hard enough, but could they take that same progression and make a solo of the same calibre?

[backtothe70s]

very good, finally someone explains the true about shredding^^

[S0ulja23]

Wow very good article! Really helps

[myvaliantleap]

I didn't really find it helpful. You basically just said, everyone sucks. Go practice before you play for other people. While it is true that they should probably become somewhat proficient at their instruments before putting a clip on the web it is also true that you don't have to watch or listen. You didn't tell anyone how to practice or what excersises to do. You didn't give songs that would help to play along with. You basically just said, go practice because I am better than you. News Flash, you sucked at one time too and it's an opinion that is debatable if you are any good now.

[Punk_Ninja]

There are a few odd comments but great otherwise, i've just been using tabs but i'm starting to try with theory, the guy who said this is bulls**t is screwed in the head, if you think theory is useless then you obviously base your music around busted and mcfly, the best guitarists use scales in their solos i play a lot of black sabbath and ozzy stuff, i'm not to good at some of the solos, thats why i need to get better at scales as thats what most of the sabbath solos are based around

[sherwin]

neat article....very true comments...made me feel guilty a couple of times but yeah...i'll take that as a challenge to improve...although i'm way down in india....which does have loads of (Rock) talent btw....good stuff though

[DString]

What is it with all this shredding?? Some of us who are guitarists, put way too much weight on "shredding".
Soloing, largely depends on the audience to who you are performing. I had the pleasure of speaking to a world renown guitarist who put it simply, "just be yourself, you don't have to put everything you know into one or two songs...90% of the audience probably can't play as good as you, so keep it simple."
And to think of it he's right. No one truly wants to hear a 45 minute solo. a 10 - 20 second solo, if phrased correctly will do the job, a majority of the time. For the newbies who want to shed at 21nps God Bless ya, if thats what you want to do then do it. You don't have to take this article to heart as a few disgruntled reviewers have done(chill son, slow your roll). The author is only passing along very helpful information that may help someone play better. It may be alittle discouraging to a beginner with his/her first axe, even then we must remind them to have fun especially while practicing. In the beginning it's always rough, but remember, NO ONE came straight from their mother's womb with guitar in hand and a 1 to 2 hour set. Not even James Marshall Hendrix.

[AJGgtrst]

Good article, seems some parts could be flame-worthy...I've been playing for a decade now, and I know I'm not the best soloist there is out there. There's always room to get better I say. Right now I feel I've gone as far as I can get (self taught know a bit of theory, played trumpet in junior high and high school so theory was a must for me) with my soloing techniques, so now I've gotten to learning shred style. And I love it, it's another challenge to me. I just don't think you should put down a certain solo style w/o putting yourself into it or giving it a chance. To me I'm just progressing and speed (though I'm not lacking in that area) is not really an issue the shred techniques (e.g. speed techniques/appregios) adds more flair to my solo style. I'm into all kinds of music, mostly metal but I love blues and jazz. The Flamenco style to classical. Just as long as there's a guitar I love it. I started learning songs through tab, then I moved on to ear training and learn songs and solos just by listening to it, there's just so many ways we can progress, just let those guys (who suck at solos) learn and maybe who knows they'll master Dimebag's style (R.I.P.) Give em a chance...let them screw up and learn is all. That's how I got better at guitar.

[kahn183]

Very good. Having been heavily influenced by classical instruments and musical scores, fully being able to appreciate music, I've learned a thing or two about this "music" thing everyone keeps talking about.
A)Don't go about it as though you're the best. If needed, pay someone to lower your self esteem. Why? So you don't try to pull off the now-overused "Stairway to Heaven" solo, fall on your ass and end up crying in front of people.
B)Practice.
C)Practice.
D)Practice.
E)Absolutely do not rely on effects for solos or even basic licks. Nor the whammy bar. A true musician needs only an instrument, not a plethora of sound altering machines.
F)Theory.
G)Theory.
H)Theory.
I)Know your place; don't get yourself into a nasty "rock battle" and get yourself beaten like a baby.
J)Love music, don't play it just for money, or you won't earn money. You won't devote yourself to it, and nothing will come of it.
K)Make music your own, don't copy someone else's style. Learn from it, but mold music to your own style.
Remember, if you're not having fun, you're probably not making music, you're just messing with an instrument whose existence would be better spent elsewhere.

[Rock God #1]

GuitarDesperado :

Rock God #1 wrote:
However, I did see this guy play Canon Rock on Youtube (funtwo or something). Now thatwas some wicked shredding! Now you can't say that that kid doesn't have soloing skills!



I would say the person would have good technical skills to recapture the solo, but anyone could do that if they tried hard enough, but could they take that same progression and make a solo of the same calibre?

Good point. But still, you can't say he's a bad player can you? Even if he can't write a solo as good as that (If I remember correctly, the guy i saw playing it on youtube did actually write it.)

nuff said.

[TimmyPage06]

Good, if slightly obvious article.

Im still a rhythm player though, I love being one (except slow blues, im all about lead, seeing as I generally kick my other guitarist's butt in hitting the single, but powerful notes).

Id suggest to anyone who didn't get this article to check out, or learn some Paul Gilbert. Not only is he fast, but very rhythmic, melodic and soulful.

[that1l)ude]

Well al this does is tell you what your doing wrong which i already know and dont want to hear. all this does piss me off because it doesnt tell you how to get better. it sounds like some old dude whose played for years just complaining about people who arent as good

[Scrate]

Good article, you got a few decent points and advise there, but my personal feelings are that when u write a good solo and more importantly perform a good solo (be it you're own or someone elses) you get that feeling and those goosebumps and its like f**k me... real freedom through music, kinda makes you forget about all lifes shit (without being intoxicated...). So yer just emphasising the idea of a musical orgasm.

[~AdNy]

true that, yo

the heart of a good solo is not constructed note for note. a legendary solo flows from the heart, and individual notes are nothing, licks are nothing, the solo if nothing, its just a magical sound that comes from the soul

[n0e]

^^ you can get better by fixing the things that he pointed out (duh)

[n0e]

that post was to "that1l)ude" btw

[cashewchaching]

I think that all guitarists should at least start with Jazz or Blues. (i started on Jazz trumpet myself) it really gives you a much better understanding of what you're doing. Also, the ability to read music is a must. Not just tabs, but straight up music. Otherwise, you really can't lock up with the band. Otherwise, NotaJock has got it all down.

[tasty licks]

that1l)ude wrote:

Well al this does is tell you what your doing wrong which i already know and dont want to hear. all this does piss me off because it doesnt tell you how to get better. it sounds like some old dude whose played for years just complaining about people who arent as good

I agree. This thing is all common sense and generally not very useful. People need to stop being so cocky, but this doesnt address any specific ways to improve. The advice is all too broad and already been said a thousand times.

[Oblivious16037]

Rock God #1 wrote:

GuitarDesperado :

Rock God #1 wrote:
However, I did see this guy play Canon Rock on Youtube (funtwo or something). Now thatwas some wicked shredding! Now you can't say that that kid doesn't have soloing skills!



I would say the person would have good technical skills to recapture the solo, but anyone could do that if they tried hard enough, but could they take that same progression and make a solo of the same calibre?

Good point. But still, you can't say he's a bad player can you? Even if he can't write a solo as good as that (If I remember correctly, the guy i saw playing it on youtube did actually write it.)

nuff said.

That would be Jerry C your thinking of and that guy is incredibal but I'd like to see him improve before I can really judge him.

[Rock God #1]

ah yes...Jerry C, that's the one

quid pro quo

[rockergurl09]

all too true. But question is, which is better, being able to "talk" with my guitar like Jimi Hendrix/John Frusciante, or blow people's minds with technical speed to blow your mind?

[Thin Ears]

You all seem to pissed off at this person. This comment is coming from somone who knows absolutely nothing about guitar(me), but I can understand where he's coming from. All you people that say he is a stuck up bastard just seem to be idiots. This might not actualy help someone, I don't know, but it does explain the problem, and a way to fix it. And this isn't just on guitar. I play the alto saxophone and I see crap like this all the time. Fortunately, I'm in band, so no solos, so people actually learn to play, things like vibrato, scales, etc. can really help playing on ANY instrument, and for someone reason most people on guitar don't understand that, and try to play the hardest stuff they can find right away, get a few notes and think they're the shit (I don't play but I know a lot of guitarists). This article is very helpful to the people who would actually listen.

[Coolvortex]

Personally, I think theory, scales, modes and such don't count a damn thing in soloing... I'm not a master or anything special at all but I can say that I can solo decently, that's for sure, and I don't know anything about theory, or, at least I didn't when I started and I learned just something about scales when I could already do something good. I actually think that the key to soloing is just playing what you have in mind, like you were humming or whistling, but instead of doing that, you have to concentrate your energy on your fingers... and that doesn't come easily, that's for sure, so here comes the practice, but that's got to be just for fun, not because you WANT to improve. It's gotta be fun, otherwise nothing will ever come out of it. I find myself so many times, sometimes without even realizing, playing notes that vocals should do but on the guitar, of famous songs, sometimes not even rock songs, and I'm doing that just cos they were in my mind. That's the key, the starting point. When you can do that, then you can create your solos, study theory, scales, modes, whatever you want that can expand your knowledge. But you need that first

[Maj_Tom]

I liked it, but you really would turn people off by saying stuff like, "Even Yngwie lands on the downbeat kiddies," makes people kind of feel ... well attacked in some way i guess. It seems like you would be an ass in real life.

[vanceboy]

rockergurl09 wrote:

all too true. But question is, which is better, being able to "talk" with my guitar like Jimi Hendrix/John Frusciante, or blow people's minds with technical speed to blow your mind?

honestly, the "talkers" are highly respected by the public, while the shredders are more appreciated by guitarists. it's your choice.

[catempire]

^ I think most people would rather do something that is meaningful to the majority than wanky enough to impress a group of arrogant guitarists.

[h2daenick]

You have truly inspired me...a lil harsh...but u sure got ur point across

[kennethdave]

Hey man, u juz made my day, esp the part about the better guy in the band playin lead who thinks he's better, well tat guy can burn in hell, i'm fformin my own band.....

[ScreaminBlues25]

obviously this stuff isnt common sense if half the people who play guitar are doing exactly what this guys advising against. im thinkin all u people who are gettin pissed off about this are either the dickhead shredders who think theyre gods, or the arrogant *******s who think they know everything in the world about guitar. this guys simply trying to give some advice to people who want to learn how to play guitar the right way... being a great guitarist isnt just about exercises and shredding the fastest and memorizing every inch or theory known to man, its about mixing basic and advanced techniques to form your own style of playing. Being able to solo at 100 mph isnt anything special if you sound like every other Steve Vai wannabe who picks up a guitar. I think anyone who is serious about playing the guitar the right would benefit by keeping these ideas in mind when practicing. more power to ya man.. or woman.. dont wanna be sexist here

[pheno]

Impressive, I agree with everything you've said. And I've spread the word about the article.

[MatzRokz]

Good solid advice! Best advice of the article: Learn Rhythm! The comment about landing on downbeats was choice. I have seen and played with many, many players who have no sense of rhythm, rhythm cannot be bought or memorized and cannot be read from a page, it must be felt. Mindless repetitions during practice will get you no closer to it, only faster at mindless repetitions. Emulating the styles of the masters will work wonders for both rhythm and applying theory. Again, good advice.

[hepzibahbaptist]

trans-siberian orchestra does canon rock for whoever asked

[ZoSo_guy]

am i the only one that didnt see any of this as "harsh" or him being an "ass"?

[Blankamc]

Is he trying to say blah blah blah... you suck, restart... have fun? Thats what it seemed like to me. Anyway, I cant say Im to good at soloing, but I do like to try. I like A7X solos. Metallica had some good solos also. Im just too far from these solos, but I still try. Anyone should have the right to play what they want, rhythm or lead. People need to just learn to share the roles in the band. I have been playing since christmas, I still dont know what the hell theory is all about. Should I take the time to learn it? Rock on, suck or not!

[Dix_Fix]

I'd have 2 agree with the 'back 2 basics' approach, soloing feels great, however the times u think uve put down a perfect solo is almost ZERO, u always find some fault with your own performance, or u get so ingrosed that u misstime your sloting back into rythm for a bar. Rythm is the go, when u get in that groove completly, the sence of "ART" u feel ,at these times i think world harmony is within my grasp, to totally have your guitar blend with the other instruments so as to dissapear into the music, what can i say, there is no better HIGH & ive made it a life's work checking each & every other HIGH just to make sure. Im 50 now. To put it in a few words so long as your having fun, it doesnt matter how, what, when, where or how good u play. If your not having fun, chuck it & find something that makes you feel total

[LightningHands]

personally i thought this was a fantastic article.

i'm just now starting to create my own style of playing and need all the help i can get, and this guy really does know what he's talking about. there are so many cocky guitar players out there who are just terrible! i'm glad to see that someone was willing to lend a helping hand to us 'normies'.

[Miek]

Really good article
I do pretty much all the bad things listed here, too lazy to learn theory etc.
( post-performance hookups, well deserved hangovers, and money)
Who doesn't want to put on a black "R.I.P. DIME" cap and bust out the "Walk" solo perfectly note for note while in front of their metalhead pals?

Nice examples lol

[Steph Bets]

harsh? you want harsh you go to the Eg forum and watch the noobs get pwned about mgs.
that was good advice, and awesome articel.

[Atreideslegend]

rockergurl09 wrote:

all too true. But question is, which is better, being able to "talk" with my guitar like Jimi Hendrix/John Frusciante, or blow people's minds with technical speed to blow your mind?

both?

[Dan Steinman]

Best article ever. An especially good point was about rhythm--you cannot be a lead guitarist until you've been a damn good rhythm guitarist. what the hell kind of rhythmic framework are you soloing in if you don't even know how to emphasize downbeats?

[ArcherTheVMan]

ZoSo_guy wrote:

am i the only one that didnt see any of this as "harsh" or him being an "ass"?

no, some of us also have managed to take this as it was intended. people just like to argue i think.

[The Powerslave]

Much as I would like top disagree wiht him and say that shredding rules all I do have to say that most of what hes saying makes sense. Great article, even if you dont really actively learn much

[MattyPretends]

"Individuals like Jimi Hendrix have natural ability that enables them to solo without the help of theory"

Any guitarist worth his salt will tell you this is bs. Was Jimmy extraordinarily creative? Absolutely. Did he have good ears? Sure. Did he PRACTICE his ass off?? Oh yeah

[360ollie]

I agree with the 2 guitariust arguing over the lead and rhythm titles. In my band we don`t really know who is the lead guitarist sonetimes I am playing something and (alex) solos over it. And sometimes its the other way around. We don`t really care we just PLAY and a lot of little kids need to learn that. ( i can`t really say little kids because i am only 13)

[SteveHouse]

Atreideslegend wrote:
i understand your point but i believe that he could have easily put his point accross, without the sarcasm amd bitching. I understand where he's coming and that some of these things might be of use, bit to me this article is just bitterness and frustration with a clothing of sagely advice and UG is not a forum in which to air your insecurities at the expense of the readers. I just hope people like this never qwell your enthusiasm stereo=life.

I half agree with you, and also half don't... I think he is trying to tell people who honestly think they're good but aren't that they really aren't. The point came across to me. However it was rather sarcastic and condescending.

h2daenick wrote:
...a lil harsh...but u sure got ur point across

Concurred.

[ScreaminBlues25]

i think the overall point is that you can be a good lead guitarist without being a completely arrogant dickhead and thinking youre the best guitarist in the world.. thats what i got out of it anyway :P

[ekune26]

You're absolutely wright man...Improvising is the only thing that helps you to be a better guitar player...

[Skid61490]

Yeah all of that is so true. With my last band they met this guy whom they thught was better than me so they kicked me down to "rhythm" if thats wut you call it. I left tho. I couldnt stand it plus they were startin to get emo/scremo on me and if you like rock and roll, or heavy metal, or any GOOD rock, then you agree with me when i say **** that.

[ANGUS/JIMI_ROCK]

wut also helps is if u buy a cheap cassete recorder and records yourself playing

[razordimeback]

About your speed part, I personnally agree, there is a guy at my school who pretends to be better than me, and shows off all the time, he says he's better because he can play a little faster than me with half my playing time, but he can difficultly hit a note correctly and does discusting moves on stage(I think he tries to do like maiden or something, but it looks like he's dropping his guitar. He just focuses on speed, and always plays the two or three same things.
finally good article, maybe a little too hard on the kids starting guitar, but still good.

[Bubonic Chronic]

I record over 200 takes of every solo I write. F*ck off.

[Mad Skillz]

ok... first of all this is a good article
2nd.. ppl need to stop hatin, this guy is right

im sick of all these posers shredding non stop.. play some music, no one cares about that dumb sh*t, we already heard other ppl do it b4 so stop, make some of ur own sh*t up

[Mad Skillz]

this article is right... people play way too fast these days that you cant even understand it. I think that it sounds cool, but more people need to put emotion into what they play, like that one dude said in this article

[Wilstysabsinthe]

Hah! Sounds like half of the replies for this article are by people who should have gotten it or they are these people and deny it.

[Damage Plan]

ok so first whats with the Title its like saying hey u the sucky one, but theory can be important but in the words of the Great DimeBag Darrel " Theres no F***ing Rules any thing goes so play ur f***ing heart out" theory can be use full but Dime knew like 5 scales he just jams from his heart also not all shredding is bad it sounds good even great when it fits listen to the solo in songs like Master of Puppets or a lot of Bodom songs i personally foud this useless

[RUIN717]

i dont see why everyone is so worked up about this, its jsut some guys opinion that he posted, i am in no way saying i agree with him becasue i dont but, he posted it and i mean no matter how much you bad mouth it its not gonna go away, and you are not going to get better.

[Mad Skillz]

regg wrote:

Dont be so mad at the world man... I think you need to get laid or something

yea im not mad im just saying people should play solos so they sound good, i dont care how fast you play it should just sound good

Checked.

[ricknbacker325]

how do you get good ive been practicing for a year by myself like no lessons should i get lessons or what will they help

[pigglesworth]

AHAHAHAHAHA The guy who wrote this article is 15 years old! I was reading and I thought it was odd that he would know everything about what budding try-hard guitarists are doing wrong but offer no advice on how to become the super-awesome solo master that yous assume he is. Simply "NotAJock2Day" has described himself as of, probably say, a year ago, as a result of the fact that he is just now skilled enough to see how naive he was all those months ago when he was just a ignorant young guitar wannabe. You've really got to respect this guy, he's been a seasoned musician in his band for almost a year now!

[weer]

Each guitarist is an individual being, some dnt get or like theory, some eat it up and love it, some cnt apply it, some can take it to new level, Jimmi Hendrix didnt need theory, you cnt blatanly state there wnt be another Hendrix, true people should learn it, but its true that some people dnt need it, anyway nice job in opening narrow-minded shred obsessed guitarists to newer things and allowing to enter different genres of music.

And bt them jazz musicians, tue dat! Most of them dnt reach fame till theyre about to die..

Sigh..

[ohmerrymayhem]

DString wrote:

What is it with all this shredding?? Some of us who are guitarists, put way too much weight on "shredding".
Soloing, largely depends on the audience to who you are performing. I had the pleasure of speaking to a world renown guitarist who put it simply, "just be yourself, you don't have to put everything you know into one or two songs...90% of the audience probably can't play as good as you, so keep it simple."
And to think of it he's right. No one truly wants to hear a 45 minute solo. a 10 - 20 second solo, if phrased correctly will do the job, a majority of the time. For the newbies who want to shed at 21nps God Bless ya, if thats what you want to do then do it. You don't have to take this article to heart as a few disgruntled reviewers have done(chill son, slow your roll). The author is only passing along very helpful information that may help someone play better. It may be alittle discouraging to a beginner with his/her first axe, even then we must remind them to have fun especially while practicing. In the beginning it's always rough, but remember, NO ONE came straight from their mother's womb with guitar in hand and a 1 to 2 hour set. Not even James Marshall Hendrix.

I have to say it's about time. Thank you, DString. Music is to be enjoyed and be expressed. If NotAJock2Day doesn't dig the shredding or the blues or whatever it is (the kids who solo in simple ways (nirvana, etc) then don't listen to them. But to get on a site here and berate everyone who tries hard to get that experience that he talked about is common. How does he think they're gonna get that experience? By sitting in their rooms playing through headphones where no one can hear them? NotAJock2Day had some really good points, as well as some really good advice, but the ball busting on the kids who are trying to learn what he suggested was just insecure.

[handlerb]

I agree with 3 HUGE points:

1) Learn Theory

2) Learn Theory

3) Back to basics, if Hendrix and Clapton aren't too good for pentatonics and the 12 bar blues, neither are you.

[spaztic125]

Well, it was a good article but then it kinda turned into a rant like what you like and don't (mostly what you don't). OK article.

[monkey_dancer]

Good points and bad points in that... It was quite good until the last two sections, which were just rants. There's nothing wrong with doing any of those things just because you don't like them Notajock2day....People can do what they like to enjoy themselves. But personally, I think that soloing is overrated, if you don't get 'basic' things right, why try to solo? I played a gig last night with my band and didn't play any solos, but after I still got people saying I was better than the guitarist who did play solos...Not sure if they can be believed, but the point is that if you play something that fits, thats all that matters...This could have been an irrelevant waste of time. Sorry.

[BrianApocalypse]

Holy crap! I don't have any of those problems.

And that's a good thing because I don't have to alter my philosophy of lead guitar, I can just get on with what I do now.

[There There]

being able to play fast can help you do some cool things, but playing fast on its own aint cool.

[SlayerSYD]

i usually dont comment on articles but i have to say this:
i guess i do fall into a few of this catagories..
im happy to say shredding is not something i really goin after.. most of my problams comes because i dont have a teacher.. and thats because i dont have the money for it :\
so i learn alone, and in time im getting better at the "soloing" thing..
i thing that taking a backing track and improvising on it is one of the funnest things that can be done with a guitar, although i also enjoy learning and memorizing songs that i like.. its fun for me to do, and hey - its my guitar, and ill do what i like with it
when ill be ready for being on stage, whether leading of rhythem'ing, im sure ill know that im ready for it

[ScreaminBlues25]

Hah! Sounds like half of the replies for this article are by people who should have gotten it or they are these people and deny it.

exactly how i felt

[Confined Rage]

this is possibly my favoirte article ive ever read on this site...A+!

[Shadow Clad]

I think he had some good points in his article. But I am a beginning guitarist, I only picked up my axe at the beginning of the year, and have only just started lessons. I felt that this was very dicouraging. I'm only 13, I hate guitarists who forget what it's like to be a noob.

[kerrang]

I liked it. Thats all that matters. Nah man that was good ill give it 8 or maybe 9. ill have decided by the time i click post and scroll back up

[Archaon]

Very well said, Mr. Author. I rate this a perfect.
I especially loved the "Having The Title "Lead Guitarist" Before Being Able To Solo" bit. I see it all too often. Kids need to learn how to solo properly and learn that theory is a valuable asset and not a restriction on their playing.

[Autumn Shadows]

AWESOME MOTHERFCUKING ARTICLE BRO. So many people think they're hot sh!t, but really suck. You exposed the truth like no other.

[5:15_Whofan]

you made some awesome points, but as with most aricles on this site it just seems to be a laundry list of problems with no solutions. tell those who need it how to get outside the "scale box" and what exactly proper fretting technique is.

[regg]

Oh yes thank you captian O you are so helpful! Now I know to never be inspired by my favorite musicians, only think inside the box and never shred for fun. Way to be insecure about your own playing and critique the playing of others. You are my hero, this is exacly what i have been needing someone to tell me! I think im at least twice as good as before I read this article.

[havocrus]

Who says one has to be a shredder to be lead? Nailing others solos has to do with the heart the original artist felt. And all this talk of "proper" technique? There are some who don't know what a scale is by name, but can play Judas Priest solos flawlessly, I know one in particular. Jimi Hendrix sure muffed a few notes, it was the feel and mood. Personally I'm no Zakk, but I'm not intimidated by anyone, and love my ability to play with emotion, as I've been told many times. Musicians should not feel confined to rules!

[beadhangingOne]

to all the people who think shredding is ALWAYS meaningless fast crap. wait a second have u ever heard of cacophony? marty friedman? Randy Rhoads? shredding is anywhere BUT meaningless fast crap in the stuff i just named, cacophony has insanely beautiful melodies!!! marty is a god, he doesn't just cram a billion notes into one line he shreds and then brings out the melody at the same time, same with rhoads. Randy is to me, one of the greatest shredders because of his ability to focus on melody. So how can u say "shredding is fast BS" or "Shredding is unmelodic" its ****in unmelodic because u r listening to shitty shredding, pick up some megadeth, cacophony, or the first 2 ozzy albums and tribute...

[beadhangingOne]

o BTW!! music theory will help u if u utilize it... if u want to know what chord comes next, what arpeggio to use over a particular chord, what to harmonize with, what note should follow without having to guess or having to intuitively know. It makes things go by a LOT quicker, but whatever if u can do without...

[Cal UK]

myvaliantleap wrote:

I didn't really find it helpful. You basically just said, everyone sucks. Go practice before you play for other people. While it is true that they should probably become somewhat proficient at their instruments before putting a clip on the web it is also true that you don't have to watch or listen. You didn't tell anyone how to practice or what excersises to do. You didn't give songs that would help to play along with. You basically just said, go practice because I am better than you. News Flash, you sucked at one time too and it's an opinion that is debatable if you are any good now.

Amen to that.

[guitar2slash]

this article ruled, hes right about practice ive only been playing 6 months and i can play the shit out of sweet child o mine
so put some effort into it, might get you somewhere

[guitar2slash]

thats the whole song btw

[guitar2slash]

also, it takes more than playing around on scales after years of studying theory to solo, you need creativity, and if you dont have much creativity, start playing rhythm

[that_weird_dude]

I've been playing guitar 4 a year and a half and i thught i was ready to solo. After readying your article i realised that im not. I was about to become one of the guys i make fun of when igo to amature shows. Thanx!

[Sound0fDentage]

I didnt read all of the comments, buuut...

I haven't been playing very long, but I have progeressed pretty fast... fast enough that I'm writing my own songs and find printing out tabs and forcing yourself to learn someone elses musical product pretty silly after you've gotten most of your marbles together... Yeah, you could learn how to play every Slash lick... but chances are you're not ever going to just pick up a guitar and play something crazy nobody's ever heard before based just on that.

maybe its just because I dont really like playing things I know everyones heard before...

[Sound0fDentage]

And yeah, I found some of the article helpful, but almost half of the things my mother (professional jazz pianist) already told me.

Good advice

[Cvol33]

Great advice....little to much bitchin....but its still good advice thx

[Nolan Whyte]

It's nice to see some well-written material on the site. It makes me worry that there are some ultimate-guitarists who really know what they're talking about and who could possibly expose me for the fraud that I am...

[DString]

Look guys, the point is if you want to be a guitar player, then play. If you want to be a well-rounded and good guitar player, learn some theory - it wouldn't hurt. Man/woman cannot live by theory alone. The point to learning the scales to to hear the tonal range, and develope unique phrasings. Speed is not the constant that drives a killer solo. Exceptional phrasing, and a good ear will, slow walk down speed anyday. Remember the Aesop fable "the tortise and the hare" - there is a little truth to that. But regardless of your playing skill you must have desire and fun in playing. Take away the fun and you have a meter ticking while playing Cannon in D, which gets boring after a while.

[RS-GUITARIST]

DString wrote:

Look guys, the point is if you want to be a guitar player, then play. If you want to be a well-rounded and good guitar player, learn some theory - it wouldn't hurt. Man/woman cannot live by theory alone. The point to learning the scales to to hear the tonal range, and develope unique phrasings. Speed is not the constant that drives a killer solo. Exceptional phrasing, and a good ear will, slow walk down speed anyday. Remember the Aesop fable "the tortise and the hare" - there is a little truth to that. But regardless of your playing skill you must have desire and fun in playing. Take away the fun and you have a meter ticking while playing Cannon in D, which gets boring after a while.

Well said

Rufus115 don't spam, don't do that again.

Checked + Deleted

[penicillin]

"Individuals like Jimi Hendrix have natural ability that enables them to solo without the help of theory"

What a bunch of shit.


This article is vague.

[ScreaminBlues25]

also, it takes more than playing around on scales after years of studying theory to solo, you need creativity, and if you dont have much creativity, start playing rhythm

i wouldnt say that rythm requires no creativity

[beefyboy232]

excellent article. i thank you kindly, as you have lead me into the right direction in songwriting with this literature. I have been forgetting the basics, and to have a meaning and soul in what i write. again, i thank you.

[GuitarDudeHosef]

if there was a nobel prize for general awsomeness u would be the winner, this whole damn thing is true, great article

[Guitarhero180]

thats all true. I really needed that a while back. Thanks though

[Cosmic Acid]

i dont like it ;/

[Rayo]

Great article.

[Mad Skillz]

heres my theory... playing guitar is like getting laid, dont do it too fast or too slow

[WhiteFireHawk9]

if that theory is correct, then how come the fasted guitarists get paid the most?

[g-unitie]

Atreideslegend :
did u never stop to think, hang on, yes these kids are shit at guitar, but they really do seem to be enjoying themselves!

You seem like the kind of person who hates anyone better than you and play guitar just to seem better than everyone else, jesus christ if ure pissed off with all the kids on Youtube DONT GO LOOKING FOR THEM. Yes i get irritated with wannabe guitarists occasionally but i also remember that that is the place that everyone starts. The instant you lose that naive hope of becoming a guitar hero, the instant your dreams are shattered and you will never really achieve. Joe satriani started playing the guitar because he watched his sister perform when he was a youngster and thought "wow i wana do that", now look at him.

Learn some ****ing tolerance, before soiling our ears with your bullshit.

[g-unitie]

get a life man it does take practice, so if you dont u will be crapy.....so forget about it

[playfielder]

Its good and written well. You have good structured points. But not really any lessons.

[ScottishAngus]

"Shawn Lane, Steve Vai, MAB, etc. are viewed as guitar deities as a result of their speed"

how can you class steve vai and shawn lane who are actually known more for there musicality in the same class as MAB

[david_highland]

Take this article to heart. when I started playing I felt the need to start at the top and work my way down. I finaly hit the bottom and started working my way back up. I'm just now starting to reach any sort of respectable tallent. Don't make my mistakes

[phoenix05]

amen.

[spunkeymonkey36]

This person is not famous. Therefore we should not listen to him/her. Idiot.

[slashnduff4eva]

wow, this article really sums up pretty much every youtube show thingy and all those videos with people doing ten seconds of their favourite song. it's sad that i pretty much am all of the things you explained.....but it's true, everyone needs to start somewhere

[rock_guitargod]

as Ozzy Osbourne quoted about Randy Rhoads....."he'd play all this fast tapping stuff then he'd stop and play with feeling"

half my mates get 'noticed' for bein able to shred and play fast but the other half of my guitar playin friends get more recognition and respect because they are hardcore jazz and blues players!

[shpits]

Well i play for 2 years and my skills are very good because:
1) I practice a lot, because i dont have music genes in my dna
2) I learn from other people in order to improve skills.
Soloing is good and for sure it requires theory knowledge and btw i ensure u Hendrix knew theory nothing comes naturally u have to work on it as he did!

[Imp]

Not helpful. Sure, enlightening, telling us what we are doing wrong is a great first step, but the article is not helpful because it doesnt provide direction into how to fix it. Should we learn music theory? Mention a useful article (or link it) that may cover that step. The basics are important? Mention a place that comprehensively covers them in your opinion. Practice rythym guitar? A link to an article defining and giving good groundwork to practice on would be nice. Follow up; you cant ask a 4 year old what's the capital of Cuba and then say 'guess again' when they get it wrong. You tell them the answer or give them a geography book.

[Kain_Doom01]

.....It's been said 1,000,000 times, TELL US HOW TO IMPROVE x.x god, can't you update it? It's killing me that now I know what's wrong, but don't know how to fix it, throw me a f*cking bone here, I wanna be good too ya know x.x

[Jondy]

This article sucks. First of all, well, let me put this in list form.
1. Destructive criticism-it's just a rant, and it provides no way for anyone to improve upon what he considers inferior playing
2. It's arrogant- He is not the freakin lord and master of guitar deciding who gets to play what when and why. You know most people play guitar for the sheer fun of it, and whatever they choose to do to have fun is their business. Unless they're publishing someone else's crap as their own you have no right to tell them what they may and may not do with their own friggin guitar.
3. The section on Rhythm-"If you can't play rhythm, you can not play guitar at all. The complex strumming patterns that an accomplished player knows are the basis for picking patterns and phrasing of solos." This statement is not always true. Especially that second sentence. It is NOT the basis for ALL soloing forms. There are formats, for example I have a bluesy/bluegrassy soloing format that involves playing in the D-position that not only doesn't require any experience in rhythm, but is hindered by it. There are many many different styles... it's not good to generalize.
4. NO ACTUAL INFORMATION- He complains about people not knowing the theory behind soloing. Well ok then, why not TELL us the theory behind soloing rather than whine about it for 16 freakin paragraphs?
5. The tone of the entire thing is annoying and arrogant.

Hurm, Checked.

And Calm it down.

[spaztic125]

Jondy :
This article sucks. First of all, well, let me put this in list form.
1. Destructive criticism-it's just a rant, and it provides no way for anyone to improve upon what he considers inferior playing
2. It's arrogant- He is not the freakin lord and master of guitar deciding who gets to play what when and why. You know most people play guitar for the sheer fun of it, and whatever they choose to do to have fun is their business. Unless they're publishing someone else's crap as their own you have no right to tell them what they may and may not do with their own friggin guitar.
3. The section on Rhythm-"If you can't play rhythm, you can not play guitar at all. The complex strumming patterns that an accomplished player knows are the basis for picking patterns and phrasing of solos." This statement is not always true. Especially that second sentence. It is NOT the basis for ALL soloing forms. There are formats, for example I have a bluesy/bluegrassy soloing format that involves playing in the D-position that not only doesn't require any experience in rhythm, but is hindered by it. There are many many different styles... it's not good to generalize.
4. NO ACTUAL INFORMATION- He complains about people not knowing the theory behind soloing. Well ok then, why not TELL us the theory behind soloing rather than whine about it for 16 freakin paragraphs?
5. The tone of the entire thing is annoying and arrogant.

thank you.

[Lydian_Mode]

I totally agree w/ this article. Knowing why is just as important as knowing what. True, you can solo without any knowledge of theory, but if you know it, it will be easier to get the solo to sound "right". Lastly, dont play stuff that is over your head just to show off. Easy can sound good.

[LP Junior]

Really good. I agree with everything actually.

[shpits]

just learn theory and pratice to solo good

[4-string-4-eva]

experience is all you need to solo well. after playing for a few years you will gain a knowledge of which notes are going to sound good after the note youre currently playing. like the article a lot =)

[clockworkorange]

Atreideslegend wrote:

did u never stop to think, hang on, yes these kids are shit at guitar, but they really do seem to be enjoying themselves!

You seem like the kind of person who hates anyone better than you and play guitar just to seem better than everyone else, jesus christ if ure pissed off with all the kids on Youtube DONT GO LOOKING FOR THEM. Yes i get irritated with wannabe guitarists occasionally but i also remember that that is the place that everyone starts. The instant you lose that naive hope of becoming a guitar hero, the instant your dreams are shattered and you will never really achieve. Joe satriani started playing the guitar because he watched his sister perform when he was a youngster and thought "wow i wana do that", now look at him.

Learn some ****ing tolerance, before soiling our ears with your bullshit.

first of all, you read with your eyes, not your ears. and by your own reasoning, you didn't have to read this.

[metal Lover]

This is a great article and if you're offended by it than you're lying to yourself that youre a great guitarist

[Garrett52789]

Atreideslegend :
did u never stop to think, hang on, yes these kids are shit at guitar, but they really do seem to be enjoying themselves!

You seem like the kind of person who hates anyone better than you and play guitar just to seem better than everyone else, jesus christ if ure pissed off with all the kids on Youtube DONT GO LOOKING FOR THEM. Yes i get irritated with wannabe guitarists occasionally but i also remember that that is the place that everyone starts. The instant you lose that naive hope of becoming a guitar hero, the instant your dreams are shattered and you will never really achieve. Joe satriani started playing the guitar because he watched his sister perform when he was a youngster and thought "wow i wana do that", now look at him.

Learn some ****ing tolerance, before soiling our ears with your bullshit.

Dude, wtf are you talking about. Did you just triple your zoloft or something? No one really cares if your having fun. If people act like they are the best thing ever and they aren't ,its annoying, and wrong. You need to be humble about your musicianship. And IF one of these crappy guitarists have a nice friend that says, "Hey, your pretty good" they should say "thanks" and leave it at that. But instead, they put their crap on the internet to show it off! We SHOULD go looking for it, and make sure they know that it's terrible, and knock their ego down a few notches. These people that you call "wannabe" guitarists deserve EVERYTHING that NotAJock2Day said. Dont talk about tolerance you pacafist hippy, you need to get back handed for typing this nonsense.

[Kunzinator]

lol, good point. When my friends complement me I tell 'em "Thanks man, but you know damn well as I do that I am playing like shit because I never remember to practice..." No way I put myself on the net, they'll have me on that tv show with shitty internet videos within a week!

[Discouraged]

Thanks dude, this article will be my checklist for the next 10 years. =/
Much appreciated. =)

Checked/Deleted.

I won't stand for any spam or pointless flames.

So don't do it.

[nxtvanhalen]