i play in a band and we make our own songs.How do u make solos? The ones i`ve made really suck!

I have the same question!

Okay i`m no expert, only been playing about 2 years, but i do write songs in my band, and write pretty cool solos (how modest am i?)

But anyway...there are tonnes of ways to make a solo, these inclue:

-Just writing one by ear
-Using Pentatonics
-Using Hexatonics (more Bluesy so i hate them...well...not hate...but i play Rock)
-Using Modes

Okay errm, Pents, Hexatonics and Modes are patturns of notes that sound great on GUitar...they`re all based on a particular theme like...i dunno...you could say one o fht modes sounds kinda egyption due to the high sharpend notes....but anyway.

To write solos with Pents, Hexatonics and Modes you`ll have to learn the pattunrs (Duh), so instead of listing how here...i`ll just link you to some pages that can teach you..


Pentatonics Scales - http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/scales/major_pentatonics_major_fun.html

Hexatonic Scales - http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/music_theory/advanced_pentatonics.html (ignore the title advanced Pentatonics, the dumbass author of the article doesn`t know they`re called Hexatonics)

Modes - http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/guitar_techniques/modes.html

In closing..let me just say 2 things:

1) Not all songs you write need a solo

2) Not all solos have to be super fast shredding...long as its meaningfull and you really get into it....it can just be a few notes.....hope this helped....i just stumbled across this site....i wonder if anyones gonna read this article...

Bye...

Hey man.....I read it!

Anyhoos....some musical theory is needed to make solos.

Basicly (I know jack don`t listen to me), it depends on the key (the chord progression). You can use lots of scales...pentatonic being most common. Let say you are playing a nice blues in the key of E (the chords being E - A - and B). Now you want to try to solo
around" those notes while staying within the scale of that key. Ok Ok I`m not a teacher.

Trying again: Use your ear. Land on the respective note just as the chord changes to it. In between chord changes go crazy, but stay within the scale, and for the most part....keep the notes in order in the scale. Pentatonic scales span 8 notes (doh re me, blah blah) starting and ending with the same note diferent octave. We`re in the key of E right (E-A-B)....so while your rhythm is strumming that E....try playing the whole scale....from E to E. Then as it switches to A...hammer on to the A note and play the A pentatonic, right before jumping back to that E scale......

Christ who am kidding. I can`t teach you....you gotta feel the mojo thats all. Spend a couple monthes memorizing the names of all the notes on the fretboard, and the scale positions. Then go learn hammer-ons, and pull-off, slides, and all those groovy techniques.....then report back to me. Chances are you`ll be too busy jammin to give a crap about what I have to say

Peace!

Awesome charts.....

http://www.12bar.de/scales.htm

I can write solos but they all sound bluesy, any tips on rock technique?

Read my book-The Grounded Guitar, which can be found on www.spiderwebsites.com/guitarteacher.html

my band plays really fast punk rock, and they want me to write a few solos, they dont have to be fast, but what would a punk rock solo sound like and what would i play, i need tips really quick please.

Thax

The pentatonic scale is indeed a good scale to begin with (and a lot of pop, rock and blues guitar players never use anything but this scale).

The pentatonic scale is a minor scale and spans 5 notes (not 8).
If you`re playing a blues in E you can use the E pentatonic scale on all the chords (on E,A and B). It sounds unnatural if you change to A pentatonic.

Search for a pentatonic scale chart on the internet and get it in your fingers. Then start improvising and use your ears. Never memorize a solo, solo`s are improvisation.

Greetz,

Dirk
http://www.jazzguitar.be

Personally, I cut my solos out of either petrified mastodon tusk or 1/2" plasticite with a RotoZip (www.rotozip.com). Always wear a filter mask and goggles! They look great and taste even better!

ok i play metal and i need some suggestions on the right scale or whatever for solos my band needs em....plus i need to get a scale that can go good with tapping solos......................but ive had my7 share of trying to write Lamb of god-type solos and its hard so could someone help me out??

Ummm yeah. Do you people actually know anything about music? the scale you want depends on your key (or mode). eg if you are in C sharp minor, you have to use the C sharp minor scale. if you are in E Phrygian, you have to use the Phrygian mode and so on. You can use diminished arpeggios and scales over certain chords, but that would be a little too complex for you. Go and learn something about music, either that or stop inflicting the crap you call music on the rest of the world.

PS Tapping is possible in every scale

screw you sneering, you don`t need to know anything about music to become great at guitar. take for example, Dave Mustaine. he doesn`t know any chords never mind scales and techniques, he plays from his heart and feelings. if thats not real music i dont know what is. thats where music is supposed to come from and why people love it!

you do need knowledge of music and scales etc, look at Satch and Paul Gilbert both have brilliant knowledge of the guitar and music and listen to the solos/ songs they produce!

You guys are funny. If you want to learn how to make Solos, learn how to play a guitar. You can`t teach someone how to play solos, it comes from practise and experience. By saying Solo, i dont mean some little short piece of high pitched crap that makes a guitarist look like the flash, I mean something that A)Sounds good B)Works in well with key and C) Uses well performed methods that relate to the piece and actually gives meaning to the music.