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How to Approach Guitar Soloing on a Single String
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Learn a Scale Immediately
Learning to play a scale on a single string is the most visual way of seeing the interval makeup of a scale plus it is an effective way to improvise.
For example take the intervals of a Dorian minor scale:
whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half-whole
If you wanted to play in A Dorian minor on the E string you would start at the 5th fret and play
5-7-8-10-12-14-15-17 (A B C D E F# G A)
This is a one octave scale. If you want to keep going higher repeat the interval pattern. If you go lower play the pattern in reverse:
whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half-whole
This is useful on the B string since the A is at the 10th fret.
That would be:
10-8-7-5-3-1-0 descending and 10-12-13-15-17-19-20 ascending
The starting note A on all of the strings:
- E-5th
- B-10th
- G-2nd
- D-7th
- A-open
- E-5th
Single String Solo in A Dorian Minor
2 Measure Phrasing is the Secret
- The Secret To Lead Guitar Phrasing or How Not to Noodle Aimlessly
Most guitarists when they get to the point of knowing a few licks and scales find themselves rambling when they improvise. This article demonstrates how to create cohesive articulate solos.
Improvise Right Away
Start with the basic idea of different rhythms and pauses on one or two notes and work your way up and down the neck.
Apply these techniques
- slides
- intervals
- hammer-on (HO)
- pull-off (PO)
- HO PO combinations
- trills
- sequential patterns
- bends
- vibrato
- tapping
- octaves
Slides on A Dorian
Slides
Sliding from one note to the next is a natural sound on fretted instruments. Not only should you slide from adjacent scale tones (2nd intervals) but also practice skipping notes. See intervals.
Intervals
Sliding, Hammer-On, Pull-Off, Bending and just going there are ways to get from note to note. Regardless, going from one note to another is some kind of interval.
- 2nd - adjacent fret
- 3rd - skip 1 fret
- 4th - skip 2 frets
- 5th - skip 3 frets
- 6th - skip 4 frets
- 7th - skip 5 frets
- 8th - skip 6 frets (octave)
Hammer on/Pull/off
- Single String Guitar Solo: A Dorian, Hammer On and Pull Off: Beginner Lead Guitar Soloing Concepts -
Using hammer on and pull off in single string soloing. This is one of the most popular ways to move horizontally on one string and is fabulous way to get from different positions
Hammer-On/Pull-Off
Hammer-on or pull-off to adjacent notes as you move horizonatally across the finger board. Also try skipping a note (3rds) or, if you can reach skip 2 notes (4ths).
Try combinations like a hammer-on then pull-off in one pick. (5 hammer to 7 pull to 5)
A trill is when you hammer/pull many times in a row.
Sequential Patterns
Playing notes in groups, for example 3 in a row, then moving horizontally is very easy when jamming on one string.
Frets 5 - 7 - 8, followed by 7 - 8 - 10 then 8 -10 - 12 etc.
Variation:
Fret 5-7 slide to 8, then 7-8 slide to 10 etc
Reverse:
Fret 12-10-8, followed by 10-8-7, 8-7-5 etc
Adding in hammer ons, pull offs slides and vibrato as well as rhythmic variations makes this an easy way to sound good.
Bends
- Bending the Strings in Blues Guitar
About the nuances of bending strings on the guitar
Bends
Playing on one string you can see whether you have to bend a whole step or 1/2 step to get the right pitch.
If you are on fret 5 and the next note is fret 7 then you bend a whole step.
If you are on fret 7 and the next note is fret 8, then you bend a 1/2 step.
Resources
- Phrasing in Improvisation
An overview on concepts applied to improvisation and composition. - Learn The 5 Positions of the E Minor Pentatonic Scal...
The minor pentatonic scale on the guitar, and particularily the E minor pentatonic scale is a blues and rock guitar staple. There have been so many guitar driven songs in this key that one could easily make a case for E being the starting place to le - Common Scale Formulas
The intervallic formulas for some very useful scales jazz rock blues composition and improvisation - How to Memorize the Notes on the Guitar Neck
how to quickly and efficiently learn and memorize the notes on a guitar neck - Blues Turnarounds For Guitarists
Details on how to play blues turanarounds on the guitar featuring 9 classic blues turnaround examples in tablature - The Simplified Basics of Starting to Learn to Play t...
This is the absolute bottom line of how to start playing guitar. The information given here is in small chunks, easy to digest and will give the student a solid foundation to pursue guitar mastery. - Learning To Play Jazz Guitar From The Beginning
How to approach learning beginning jazz guitar - Pro Band - Jamming Tracks App Review
Pro Band. iPhone iPad iTouch Android rhythm tracks blues rock backing tracks review - The Basics of Playing Together in a Band
About how play in a band and not kill each other. Practice and rehearsal tips. - Becoming a Competent Musician
An overview of how to become a good musician. lessons, practice - Blues: An Original American Music
An overview history of how the blues started and progressed in America.
Related
Learn To Play All 5 Positions of the E Major Pentatonic Scale on the Guitar and Connect to the CAGED Chords
How To Play The Pentatonic Scale On Guitar • Five Patterns, Solos, Melodies, Video Guitar Lessons
Learning To Play Jazz Guitar From The Beginning
How to Play Smoking Hot Blues Guitar Licks In Any Key, All Over The Fretboard, In One Easy Lesson
Comments
Very helpful, I will let my beginners try this out. I like to find new things to keep them interested. Thanks
- Author
Can't wait to hear you mubashirt005
Thankzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz dude
- Author
Thanks. Goodrick's lessons are always outside the box and great.
Good information, and the video adds a lot. I remember a Mick Goodrick book that was based on this linear approach to soloing as opposed to going across the strings and fretboard.
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