How to write a Guitar solo?

[TAlderson]

While my kind of music is vastly different, to figure out solos I just play the chords over and over again and just screw around. You'll find what works, what doesn't, and eventually you can work it into a pattern. I also would advise against writing "hammer-on here, bend here, slide here," and let it come naturally while the guitarist is playing. That way, it sounds less mechanical on guitar, and live you'll be able to mess with it.

-Tyler

[voodootrips]

Originally Posted by TAlderson

I also would advise against writing "hammer-on here, bend here, slide here," and let it come naturally while the guitarist is playing.

-Tyler

i wasnt saying to to write this stuff in there. i was saying to add those little techniques in there, while quoting the vox melody if there was one, to give it some life. i agree, dont say "i'll put a hammer on here, a bend there". playing like that never got me a gig, or got me paid.

[DT Chris]

Just play the damn thing. Who the hell thinks "A hammer here, a bend there, a mute here, a harmonic there". LOL. Just play.

[voodootrips]

i agree this is silly...

however, the guy did ask how to WRITE a solo. not IMPROVISE a solo (which cant be taught anyway). if he cant improvise, then he has to write one. which requires adding in bends, hammer-ons to a basic melody to make it sparkle a little bit; crafting something (which requires thinking it through, making changes. i agree not too spontaneous), but necessary if he really wants to put something together thats gonna work - if he cant improvise one.

now, if he is gonna improvise, if hes got some basic scales down, then he should let it rip... if not, get to writin.

ok i'm done... LOL!

[DT Chris]

Ok, I'm going to be blunt then.

The guitarist hasn't developed enough skill to improvise. He needs to practice his technique before he can expect to 'write' a solo. Writing and improvising are connected. You can't write a solo you can't play, and you're certainly not going to be able to improvise anything until you can actually move your fingers properly. You can't move your fingers the way you want unless you practice...

Creativity will take you so far. I can come up with the best guitar solos in my head, but I still can't play them. I can play simpler, slower ones though. I improvise all the time on the guitar, I also write tunes with it. I didn't get there without practice and time, and neither will anyone else.

[brandondrury]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The way I see it, if you're inspired by the song, there will be no problem coming up with a part - for guitar, for bass, for drums, for keyboard or whatever instrument you play. It doesn't mean the song is bad, it's just that the person may just not be feeling it at one point, and needs some time to figure stuff out.

HOME RUN!!! DT_Chris knocked one out of the park. I have nothing to add except that it just may be the wrong day. Tomorrow he may sit down and blow your mind.

Brandon

[MikeJ]

Here's how I do it-the hard way. Get the song down first and PRACTICE the shit out of the solo till something starts to evolve, and try out as many ideas as possible. If the guitarist perserveres he will feel things start to fall in place.
I'm a pretty crappy guitarist but its the same shit my Mum gave me when she made me learn piano-PRACTICE, PRACTICE and more PRACTICE. I'm pretty sure good guitarists need to go through some of this as well. I spend hours and hours going over solos. If nothing is working I will ditch the solo because the song comes first.
Mike.

[brandondrury]

I don't know if you need practice playing a solo to write it. I think the writing part often comes from not overthinking the process and just going for it. A lot of times a person's first instinct is the best choice.

I agree that you should definitely practice the living crap out of the solo before game time, however. Of course, this assumes that you are not writing it while recording it. I've had some great results by comping together a bunch of takes that were just a bunch of messing around.

Brandon

[thesilentdrummer]

Thanks again for the info. I by no means was looking for a set way of making a guitar solo: just looking for things that have worked in the past. Please to fight on account of me. I must admit though that he hasn't really been practicing recently and has never really loved his instrument. I had jam session with him awhile ago and I think is is starting to get back into it. Regardless, you guys have been a great help. I'll pass the rest of this along.

[brandondrury]

One other thing. Just tell the dude to make some cool sounding noise. There is no "standard" to adhere to. A lot of people feel like they must adhere to the standards of other guitar players. That's a bunch of junk. You just need to make something that sounds cool. That's all the entire recording process is.

Brandon