Writing Solos

[Zeucus]

Hey guys, (im hoping i've put this in the right forum) I just wanted to say first off, i'm new to writing any solos. I only know the 'A' Pentonatic Scale and a bunch of notes that seem to work well with 'G's. But still i'm not sure what i'm doing when it comes to writing a solo. I'm fine with slapping some power chords together etc it's just writing a Bridge & Solo that's got me stumped. I've tried a few things but they never seem to be well... good. Any advice and Help sent my way is well appreciated, oh and if anyone knows some good tabs/tutorials to show me some scales, i'd be very grateful!!

Thanks!! :)

[Eclectifish]

Well, you've got a good start. Continue to learn your scales and your ear will become more acclimated to what works, musically. It's also a good idea to study and learn other people's licks and solos.

It's not always necessary to 'write' a solo. Many solos are improvised on the spot. That said, a lot of them are pre-composed, particularly some of the classic ones we hear a lot from studio cuts. There are a few ways to go about crafting a good solo. Of course, you always want to create a good melody. You want the melody to have some strong compositional elements if possible. You want the solo to build tension then (usually) release it in some way.

Many people will fashion their solos after the melody of the song itself in some way. Another technique is just to play around with different ideas until you get one you like. David Gilmour is known for making several cuts of his solo in the studio and literally splicing all the good parts of different solos together for the album. Then he takes the album and 'learns' his own solo for live performance.

There's more than one way to skin this cat, though.

[Tarshy]

I improv the solos when I'm just jamming.

But I always sit down and write out or memorize a solo when I'm going to record something.

[AcousticShred]

Its important to be melodic when writing a solo. A good idea may be singing a melody or a lick then try playing it on guitar. That way, you won't fall into the rut of relying on your same old licks.

[Scorpaeon]

http://jsguitarforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68479
Check out the articles linked in that thread. Its a good read and it breaks down in detail pretty much what people are trying to tell you here allready.

[CDguitar]

One idea for a song specific solo.

have the solo compliment the melody that is sung.

Too often I hear solos that have no connection to the tune that is the song.

Now if your tune has scream vocals, my point won't work. bop your head alot.

[JonR]

Rock solos often are pre-written. In the studio, players like to lay down the best they can come up with and - if not pre-written - they will be jammed over and over until they get a good take. And of course, fans will want to hear great solos repeated live, so the player needs be able to do that.
In jazz, it's quite different. If a jazz player was to "write" a solo, or even play the same solo twice, he would be excommunicated :mad: :cool: (musicians and audience will shake their heads in despair). The whole point of the genre is to improvise from scratch every time. You might use "licks" (short phrase "modules", pre-prepared) which you can slot in, but the idea is to be inventive as far as possible, discover new ways of playing an old tune. No such thing as a "perfect" version in jazz. That's always the next one...

However, I'm guessing you're not playing jazz.... ;)

As CDguitar says, the best strategy (whatever kind of music you play) is to work from the vocal melody. Not only does this make the solo fit the song (rather than sound like just the same old widdly-widdly as the last song), but it gives you ideas you can use, a foundation to build on.
So - if you can - learn to play the vocal melody, in its entirety. There are bound to be catchy little phrases in it here and there, which you can play around with in your solo.
There could also be ideas in the rhythm, in what the drums or bass do. Treat the entire song as raw material that can inspire you.

The melody also gives you an insight into the chord sequence. Chords and melody work in tandem: chords harmonise melody, and melody rides on the chords, expressing some of their moves. So you can ask yourself - is there some way I can develop a different melody out of those chord moves? Say, by following different chord tones from the melody?

Remember very effective solos can be made from very few notes, often played long or slow - at least in part. Think about contrast: fast vs slow / high vs low / legato vs staccato / loud vs soft / etc. And think about building a shape to a solo, so it sounds like it tells a story as it goes. (Eg starting low, soft or slow, building to an intense peak towards the end. I presume you dont need me to point out the obvious metaphor... :rolleye: )

As for writing bridges - this comes down to studying song structures, looking at how other composers do it. A bridge is always a different chord sequence and melody from verse or chorus, and may be in a different key - but it should still sound like it belongs to the same song. So one tip is to use material from the rest of the song, but flip it around in some way.

[CDguitar]

I love writing out solos
All these little lines I write out on these threads are off the top
of my head. I noticed the last line I posted I hadn't even listened to
before I posted it. I usually write it out , play it, then post.Just to be sure
But that timeI just wrote and posted.

Remember, we don't write lines with our guitars,
We write lines with our mind.

That is the true musical instrument.

[crusty]

<<<<<<<< T I M E W A R P <<<<<<<<<

...back, back to when all I knew was power chords, an A pentatonic, and a bunch of notes that sound good with a G chord.

(I'm guessing the 'bunch of notes' is probably all or part of the G or C major scale, but I'm just guessing)

At that point I would have decided that I didn't know enough music and I'd learn as many songs as I could, lead solos included. Then I'd have sone soloing 'lego blocks' I could tear apart and put together how I want to make my own solos. The only real theory you need to write a solo is, if it sounds good do it!

[CDguitar]

<<<<<<<< T I M E W A R P <<<<<<<<<

...back, back to when all I knew was power chords, an A pentatonic, and a bunch of notes that sound good with a G chord.

(I'm guessing the 'bunch of notes' is probably all or part of the G or C major scale, but I'm just guessing)

At that point I would have decided that I didn't know enough music and I'd learn as many songs as I could, lead solos included. Then I'd have sone soloing 'lego blocks' I could tear apart and put together how I want to make my own solos. The only real theory you need to write a solo is, if it sounds good do it!
Very True

Building blocks + listening experience

Listening experience is essential for intuition.

Intuition is the best (only) place to be creative from.

By the way Crusty, waz that you in Rocky Horror? lol

[stratmanstl]

Try recording yourself improvising over the chords for a while then go back and listen. If you hear something you like, learn it and figure out what you did. Look at the notes and relate them to the chords. It's a strange thing because you want to get to the point where you're not thinking as you improvise, but then afterwards when you hear it, you want to analyse what you liked as much as possible so you can then use those ideas to 'write' a solo or to have them somewhere in your mind so when you next improvise they come out in a natural way.

[CDguitar]

Try recording yourself improvising over the chords for a while then go back and listen. If you hear something you like, learn it and figure out what you did. Look at the notes and relate them to the chords. It's a strange thing because you want to get to the point where you're not thinking as you improvise, but then afterwards when you hear it, you want to analyse what you liked as much as possible so you can then use those ideas to 'write' a solo or to have them somewhere in your mind so when you next improvise they come out in a natural way.
That's a great suggestion.

Recording.

At first I cringed at the sound of "me", I swear.

But I did it enough and am much more comfortable.

I have a Korg MkII. Pretty cool home studio.

[crusty]

...By the way Crusty, waz that you in Rocky Horror? lol

Naw, that was my twin brother, Crusto. (He get's all the paying gigs :rolleye: )

[CDguitar]

I could only imagine what that's like, being in the shadows.

Wait, I am in the shadows.:R


Correction, the internet, the great equalizer y/n