i’m learning lead guitar. i’m alright at it. but i want to be great at it. is there any tips for me that i could be great at lead guitar? anything will be appreciated.
Tagged with: lead guitar
Filed under: lead guitar lessons
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practice. it sounds cliche but it’s the only way…..hey that rhymes!
Listen to a lot of CD’s. That’s all you need to do. Your style will become an original one, with bits and pieces of everyone you like mixed in there. Remember…..everything you hear will come out in your playing. As for being great, just play it like you mean it and you will be great.
I agree with the pentatonics answer. This is a great starting point for all solo lead guitar work. Plus, it’s movable up and down the neck, so you can adjust it for different keys.
Here’s a quick little example:
Play the 4th string at the 5th fret, then the 7th fret.
Next play the 3rd string at the 5th and then 7th frets.
Now lower all this 3 frets….
Play the 4th string at the 2nd fret, then the 4th fret.
And play the 3rd string at the 2nd fret, then the 4th fret.
( You should use your first and third fingers for this)
In both examples, you’re are playing in the key of A, but the first example sounds more rock and roll, while the 2nd example sounds mellowier, or country-ish.
Your playing the same lick in both examples, but they sound completely different, yet, again, both are in the key of A.
This is pentatonics…learn this scale and your solos will improve…plus, I recommend some instrumental rock, like the Ventures…a great starting point for all lead guitar work.
Lastly, remember! You have to be a good rhythm player before you can ever be a good lead player. Most youngsters neglect rhythm guitar because they want to get their rocks off and be the next Clapton or VanHalen or Satriani..or whatever.
Good solid rhtyhm guitar work is the basis for great solos.
Practice dude. I am lead guitar for my band…Vitiate and Merlins Beard. I alos agrre with the penatonic scales. But more practice.
Lots and lots of practice. Learn your pentatonic scales backwards and forwards and learn how they all connect in multiple positions on the neck so that you’re not playing in a "box" all of the time. And most importantly, learn licks and songs. This will help you to start seeing how everything is strung together to construct music. It just takes time and a lot of practice and dedication above all else.