How can I solo better?

Question

I've been playing guitar for 4 years, and I am sick of the pentatonic box, and the major scale. Please let me know of some better scales I can use, and whatever else I can do to make my soloing better. Thanks.

Answer 1

You can contact a recording artist!

Answer 2

The guy talking about melody and the guy talking about learning songs are both right on. Find songs with melodies that are different from the standard rock and blues chord progressions. It's about putting the right notes in the right places, but also about expressing feeling, not just the notes but how you play them.

But as far as the pentatonic "box" -- there isn't just one, there are 5 different boxes, you should be able to play, say G in several different positions, start at the 3rd fret, then at the 6th. then 8th, 10th, 13th, 15th. (if you already do this, never mind). Starting on a note other than the root can kind of "open up" the box. Listen to what Albert King does with the pentatonic scale to hear great soloing - expression! Definitely not boring!

Answer 3

Honestly dude, the best solos are the ones that you can walk away humming. In other words, speed solo's are the least memorable and what you need is a melody to the solos.

I find the best way to get a decent melodic solo is to come to the song fresh and record your first few attempts. Listen back to the best bits and construct a melody from it, throw in a few tricks, and voila -- a virtuoso and memorable solo.

Answer 4

learn the other scales man. Ionian, mixolydian. Jazz it up with some cool chord phrases. Dude there's all kinds of stuff you can do. I grew up with the pentatonic box and yeah, its boring as hell.

Answer 5

well u could always learn acctual songs... or just start using ur creativity and make ur own song and throw in ur own solo's.. its really not as hard as u think