THE VALUE IN VISUALISATION

NEED TO COME UP WITH A SOLO? PUT DOWN THE GUITAR! SOMETIMES THE KEY TO SWINGING OUT THE SEXIEST, MOST SEARING GUITAR SOLO LIES WITHIN – RATHER THAN WORRY ABOUT THE STRINGS THEMSELVES, STEP BACK AND FOCUS ON THE MENTAL SIDE OF IT. BANGERS START IN THE BRAIN!

Some sessions require me to be a mind reader. I am often asked to improvise a solo or fills in a song. Various types of directions are usually given: “Play like Joe Walsh or Brent Mason,” or, “Make it melodic.” Sometimes the directions are more vague: “Make it sound orange,” or, ”Keep it organic.”

I’m not a mind reader, so it’s important for me to be able to not only be flexible but to have an endless amount of creativity. It’s not unusual for me to give clients several solos from which to choose. I know we all have our stock licks in our vocabulary, and I like to believe these make up our style. However, I don’t want to be a one-trick pony, so I have a cool way to tap into an endless source of ideas.

Put down the guitar and use your brain. In other words, take the tool out of the equation! Many of us are guilty of playing the same pentatonic licks all the time. They might have a certain amount of emotion but very little in terms of creativity.

Hear me out! When we just play, we are able to put a ton of feeling in that typical whole-step bend from a G to an A on the B string, but how much thought goes into it? None. You are simply letting your fingers do the playing from muscle memory. Repetition. The last time I checked, there wasn’t one iota of brain matter in our fingers! Our brain tells our fingers what to play. So let’s allow that to happen.

The next time you’re trying to figure out a solo, or are asked to take a solo, put the guitar down and do this: Sing a solo. Even if you can’t sing. Picture the solo you really want to take. Then, and only then, figure out how to play it! Maybe you will find yourself imagining yourself playing a variation in rhythms or syncopation that you wouldn’t have tried. Perhaps a sweep arpeggio is pictured into a slide. Maybe just a series of long, simple perfect notes creating a new melody. But I can guarantee you one thing: It will not be what you would have played by just “going for it.” And you will keep these licks as part of your new arsenal.

Here’s another way to look at it. Most of us have seen School Of Rock. Think Jack Black! WWJBD: What Would Jack Black Do? Pretty funny image, right? Well, it’s supposed to be.

You also can imagine yourself adding a completely different emotion into the solo that may just add something cohesive to the song! Is it a love song? Play with a deep-felt emotion and long notes. A sad song? Make that solo cry like a baby. A funny song? Be ridiculous! Notes that have emotion behind them are always going to touch the listener more than a stock, pentatonic-based “fingers doing the thinking” solo! Always!

And don’t stop here. Use your brain and the power of imagination for your rhythm parts and chord voicings and counter lines and your tone and overdrive and effects and… Okay, I think you get the point.

FIVE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR GUITAR SOLOS STAND OUT

We all want our guitar solos to stand out, to capture the attention of the listener, to bring the song to a new level. However, most solos disappoint and merely make a song seem longer. The problem is not the notes you play, it’s what you are soloing over. How many times have you taken a solo over a verse or a chorus? This is a common practice – and it needs to stop now.

The basic problem is compositional. You’re playing a bunch of notes over a part that has already been repeated. Where’s the excitement?

It’s time to add some ear candy. Use the following steps and write a new part to solo over. If you do, your next solo will enhance the song, your playing and, quite possibly, your career. I’ve given this same advice to many of my students and bands that have come to me for production advice. Every one of them suggested I share them.

These tips work in every style. They work individually or all at once. But remember: no matter what you play, it must be appropriate. You want to lift, you want to wake up, you want to compliment and transcend – but you don’t want to alienate.

1. CHANGE KEYS

This is the Number One tip – the big one. Nothing will make a solo stand out like changing to a higher key. Even if you play the same chords from the verse, it will sound like a new part in a new key and make a solo jump out. Interval of choice? A minor third. That’s three frets higher. If you’re in E, go to G. Try it.

2. CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE

Most of today’s pop, rock, blues or prog songs are heavily produced. It’s time to add some space, some room. Lose the rhythm guitars. The heavy ones. Play over a keyboard, an acoustic guitar or just drums and bass. We’re talking about giving your solo some room to be heard.

3. CHANGE THE FEEL

Break it down to half time. Or move to a funk groove from a straight rock groove. It’ll still be in time at the same tempo. Of course, you can dramatically shift to a new tempo and a new groove like 6/8 from 4/4. But this might hurt the song’s commercial appeal – proceed with caution.

4. CHANGE MODES

Major to minor or vice versa is common. How about taking your song from a minor rock to a major Lydian? Sharp that fourth note – instant Steve Vai! Or go to a harmonic minor – instant Yngwie!

5. CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF NOTES

Fast song? Play long, slow emotional notes. Slow song? Play short, fast bursts of notes. Think bluesy. It works quite well when executed with taste and emotion.