Well, yesterday’s post certainly “struck a chord” it seemed 🙂
And that was the intent… to get you thinking a little and maybe wondering where to go from here… and I’m going to borrow someone’s comment from the BGU Member Forum because he’s got it right:
I play a solo over the song over & over, building it from various licks, adding fill notes & space, tension & release, etc. Then I use that solo on stage. When jamming I typically will improvise on the fly, take some risks, etc because I want to improve this area of my playing. I also do this with jam tracks.
Bingo!
Now granted, he may be a little further through the cycle than you are right now… so let me take it from the top…
Step 1: Learn Your Universe – if you don’t have some notes to draw from, you have nothing. We mostly use the blues scale playing the blues, so this is actually fairly easy for us. We have the boxes to help us find the notes, or there’s always the good old “4 note solo” pattern or the “house” pattern if you’re familiar with that. If you want to call this learning scales, that’s fine, but they don’t have to be the same thing all the time.
All of the notes in your universe won’t sound good all the time – but none of them will ever sound wrong.
Step 2: Start Small – There is a reason the first solo in Blues Guitar Unleashed is only 12 bars long while the rest are 24 bars long (except 4 which is 36!)  Start with some simple solos that aren’t too hard to play, or some simple licks that aren’t too hard to play. But if you start with licks, make sure they get put into a solo by someone who knows how… and not by you in some random order 🙂
Step 3: Repeat – Don’t just learn 1 solo, you’ll need a lot. Learning simple solos (and as your technique builds, more complex ones) that are well thought out and put together will have a lasting impact on how you sound at the end of your journey. I would not sound like I do now had I not played along with SRV’s “Texas Flood” over and over again (the whole album… not just the 1 song.) I also would not sound the same had I not played AC/DC’s “Back In Black” over and over again (my rock roots are showing…)
Whatever you listen to and whatever you play along with will affect the end result. Don’t let that dictate what you listen to, but be aware of it when you have the choice to choose your listening.
Step 4: Pull It All Apart – This is where my quote from earlier comes in to play. When you can play some solos and you feel like you have a good idea of where things are supposed to go, start pulling them apart and putting them back together again in different ways. Sometimes it will work and sometimes it won’t. Repetition is the key and listening to what you have made to see if you like it or not.
That process will pay off in spades for years to come.
There were a couple of questions in yesterday’s post that may be answered now but I want to point out the big one just to be clear:
If you aren't sure what you're doing and where to go - copying someone who does know what they are doing is your best bet!
In other words, if you have one of my courses and you feel a little lost about what to do, just put the DVD in and do the next lesson. Don’t worry if it hasn’t all come together yet, it will. Have faith in the process because the journey, in this case more than in most, is what creates the destination.
So if you feel like you get lost soloing – open up the book and start on the next solo and don’t stop until you have it memorized and can play it along with the recording. When you’ve got that one down, do another.
If you were to do a solo a month, you would be amazed at your playing 1 year from now, I guarantee it!
31 replies to "The Soloing Cycle"
Ha ha… I was emphatically browsing around and took a glimpse next to these feedback. I can’t deem that there’s immobile this much thought. Gratitude for writing about this.
Red it again
Circleing around solos
Thanks
As a newer player, I have been wondering how to effectively bring licks together. As mentioned, its my solo or my version of someone else’s solo. I think the key point in learning a solo is how to start and end over specific chord and learning the sweet notes to transition to the next chord. When I do thay … hopefully on purpose….I can hear the flow. When dont start/end/transition….its painfully obvious.
Thanks Griff and thanks BGU community for excellent insight and suggestion in your comments.
Drew
Due to a chronic neuro-immune disease, cognitive function, especially concentration, makes it difficult to work through the many DVD courses I have . Though I know I will work with pick up where I left off on Blues Guitar Unleashed. I am something of an amateur scholar and used to read several hours a day, now about 30 min. I keep a major work going and switch to other books when I need a break. I am taking in all that you say and I am trying at this point to experiment with building solos that use varying patterns or boxes that match the chord being played. Since much of my practice is on my back in bed, I must progress slowly through the course. I have not been so good when it comes to creating licks. I tend to improvise with backing track or CD utilizing the various scale forms of the dominant chord of the key signature. Moving from box 1 to box 2 one does hit some of the notes of the iv chord scale in a i-iv-v progression. I also mix minor and major scales in the blues pattern. This has given me confidence to know I can play solos. Now, it is time for the hard work of learning licks and patterns from some of your courses and others like Robin Ford. The third phase of bringing it all together as my own will come in time. Thanks for these tips and mini courses.
I see where you are coming from…i work in a wounded body also…its so rewarding to make a cool sound in a flow thats coherent…in blues the major minor shift goes with the primal cry out of a tortured soul…theres alot of things like this in music….i found if i could sing it i could play it… not many instruments can sing like a guitar.
I’d like to make the suggestion to listen to the bass player. If the bass line comes from mostly the pentatonic major notes (1,2,3,5,6 or 1,2,4,5,6), the pentatonic major scale will sound real good to solo with. Likewise, a pentatonic minor bass line suggests a pentatonic minor/blues scale approach will sound good in that particular situation.
Griff wrote: “Well, yesterday’s post certainly “struck a chord” it seemed.”
One of my favorite guitar jokes has always been when you are all tuning up and someone asks you to give him/her an “A” then stick your thumbs up in the air like Fonzie from the 70s TV show “Happy Days” and say “AAAAAAAA.”
Okay Griff:
I cut and pasted the following – “In other words, if you have one of my courses and you feel a little lost about what to do, just put the DVD in and do the next lesson. Don’t worry if it hasn’t all come together yet, it will. Have faith in the process because the journey, in this case more than in most, is what creates the destination. So if you feel like you get lost soloing – open up the book and start on the next solo and don’t stop until you have it memorized and can play it along with the recording”.
It now hangs next to my computer as I journey forward. I struggle ever day to understand how to utilize what I learn and incorporate it as I play or jam to Spotify or Pandora or a CD and when I realize I just used something from your teachings it is like I just heard an angel sing 🙂 Keep the inspiration coming and thanks to you and all those who have commented before me that I’m not alone.
Great comment Griff,
Keep them coming.
Michael-Sydney Australia
In the background I noticed 3 aps, Fender DeLux, Bad Cat & Orange 40watt. Which of those 3 you use for the public instructions? I also noted you get much better sound from your Gibson ES-335 rather than from Fender Strat, which sounds thinly. But the soul of guitar is in the strings, which you are able to bend so easily. What gauge of strings you have on your Gibson? In blues, string bending is essential, as Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac stated. I personally tend towards blues/jazz tone to achieve the ‘groove’ sound. Yet, the learning material w/tab is very limited. Bought your latest set of DVD that includes instrc./w/tab. I’ve been watching your previous instructions, but theese are the best you’ve put out. In the future, I hope you’ll put some ‘groove’ lines. That I’ll buy it, just for the sound. Nice work Griff. SL
I like the comment by 601 blues i dont think it can be told any better, and thats my 2 cents worth.
Really good comoments. After I read griffs message I read over the comments and get lots of info that way. Thanks griff and thanks everyone else
great point. even though i live close to the beach, it get really hot in my bedroom. it’s 86 degrees here in Redondo and my bedroom is 90. all my music equipment is in my bedroom. it’s been impossible to practice in this heat. I’m 62 and have viral diease’s in my brain. the heat really throws me off. all i can do is sit in my living room in front of the fan with my acoustic. been doing a lot of strumming old 70’s tunes from a song book. practice my scales’ when it cools off in the next 2 months from now i will be able to use my pc and my dvd tv to get back in the groove. heat stroke is not fun. old man!!lol. 🙂
Griff,
I just received a copy of your B.G.U. and What a help!! I have been playing guitar from 12 years of age to my now, 75th birthday. You have explained to me what I had been doing, but wasn’t sure if it was correct and what the reasoning behind these moves were.
I do have to change a little on my timing and the four string cording. But, that of course is what I needed. I have been a backroom player most of my life and self taught for the most part. One is never too old to learn.
This is why Griff’s courses are invaluable. He gives you everything you need to be a successful guitar player, if you only follow his lead and actually pay attention. You can be a person that emphasizes learning “licks” all you want, but you have to have the correct understanding to put them together. I’ve never understood anyone that doesn’t see the value of learning solos. As Griff states in this blog article today –
“Start with some simple solos that aren’t too hard to play, or some simple licks that aren’t too hard to play. But if you start with licks, make sure they get put into a solo by someone who knows how… and not by you in some random order.”
If you were to do this and then hit an open mic or a jam and “just” played those 4 or 5 solos you have learned from Griff – you will be golden, and sound fantastic.
At some point and with some serious study you can venture out on your own and “make up” your improv solo – but if you think that Clapton or SRV or any of the Kings went into the studio and recorded improv’s for their records then you really don’t understand how it works.
I like Marv’s idea of bringing back the October Challenge. It’s something that new players should know and understand and more experienced players should re-visit.
Awesome info as awesome my friend!!! I miss playing with you and the guys in BGU! I’m hopeing to get that scheduled next year. Your sound advice is always grounded and not way over our heads. Thanks again Griff.
Hi Griff,Thanks so very much,I must admit that I find it difficult to remember the notes,I find it easier playing a song by ear,but your comments are appreciated,Len.
Out of the literally hundreds of instructors online, you are the only one I have made a purchase from. (little wing, killer blues solo, and intro to slide.
As someone mentioned, you should be proud as you have created something very special here. You are an amazing teacher and have developed a method that really speaks to many types of players, including new terrified ones like myself.
The way you break things down has enabled me to learn more and improved more by your free lessons than friends have by other methods they have paid for.
Thanks Griff!
P.S. I wish I was out in LA so i could see you gig. Maybe the next time I head out that way.
Great comment! Thanks!
Hi Griff. I’m a bass player, sneaking in all the time, picking up and using your methods tips and soloing advice. Thank you!
Also, It is because of you and your sharing that I’ve expanded my (very basic)guitar playing skills……It all started with your Stormy Monday video. Learning more guitar has greatly improved my ability to improvise on jazz tunes and learn new songs. Music is amazing. Thank you!
When you play in a band it is more likely
you’re playing other artists songs so if that is the case, I believe in it being as close to the original as possible. People are not sitting at the edge of their seats waiting for this blistering lead that is going to outshine the original version. If the band decides they want to originalize a song with their own version that is a different story, and I get as much thrill having gotten a song down note for note, as the originals I do that are very good in both the body and the solo leads.
Hi Griff,
Many thanks for your last guitar licks emails and also for practical playing
guitar advices. Sorry that I didn’t reply for your last emails because I had
been in Hiking Pilgrimage to Black Madonna in Poland 140 km per one week with
my acoustic guitar playing and singing all that week my religious songs created by me. That was fantastic time. People love my songs: two of them I
translated to English language. If you would be interested religious music I can send you if I record them. One more time thanks for your best lessons and
your emails. God bless you and your work…
Best regards:
Krzysztof Chmiel
Hi griff long time no comment from me liked your lesson the other day when you mad me realise if your soloing on the145 format say in a you start solo from a anot 4dnote start on a d or run onto it then the e you can find these notes alls roun the a chord I used to travel up the neck to get the 1 4 5 you never stop learning griff getting back to music theory could you explain the circl of goths and it’s use if I may be so bold please Jonny g string thanks for all your help
I’ve loaded Solo1 into Riffmaster and have the notes down. Now I’m working on the tempo and “feel”. Some days it’s painful, but like you say; it’s a journey.
There a lot of guitar instructors online. There are a lot that are less than high quality!
You should feel proud of your products as well as your skill and methods as an instructor!
Not to blow smoke up your wazoo Griff but your teaching methods are pretty darn good. So good in fact, that I introduced my guitar instructor of the last 16 years to your e-mails during my lessons. He has made comments on multple occasions on how much he admires your skills as a player and instructor.
good steps and keeping the process simple…always liked the KISS principle…thanks…later.
cowboy
Griff. Could you demonstrate the basic anchor notes and how the 1 the 4 and the 5 note can be a solo in their own right..its the basis for everything and the hardest thing to self discover…its one step below your four note solo. Its the canvas we paint our individual picture on.
Hi
I hear you
What you play is beaut
Im looking for older your not so timid stuff thump bass & slide
Thanks wistler
I have quite a few of your courses, Griff, and I enjoy them greatly. I don’t really have any aspirations to play in a band, I just enjoy playing for myself, adn I can eventually learn the solos. The trouble is, I only seem to have room in my head for one at a time,and that one only stays for as long as I’m practising it every day. Any tips for increasing the storage?
Its great to have understanding of words “Music Notes” to be able to create interesting sentences to get the most attention for your story,and adding color to the story being told, music is a language of it own,being able to grab a word or note without stuttering,is the goal, However its your story and will be told in your way, why tell someones story? subject may be interesting, so tell it in a new perspective,adding new twist to it,keeping everyone on the edge of their seats!
If spending time memorizing a story that has already been told,”cover tunes” this can not only be a struggle for you but a boring story for everyone, It is productive to like the flow and style of the author,But tell your side of the story,and everyone will enjoy the new version. Just because you can’t tell the story like you heard it,does not make you a bad author.Just my 2 dollars! LOL!
Great comment! Thanks 601blues!