How to Structure a Guitar Solo

Written on December 10, 2009 by in Improvising
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A good lead guitar player must, and I’ll repeat that – MUST – pay attention to the rhythm.
That means knowing the rhythm part intimately yourself, even if you’re not the one playing it. Know the guitar chords and the various changes, because ideally, you should be working off of those changes in your solo.

As you’ll see in the video, a safe place to end each phrase is to end up on the root note for the chord that is being played… So it becomes important to know your notes, or a least a quick way of finding them. If you need a brush up on your notes, checkout one of my lessons on guitar scales.

If you’re really struggling with how to structure a guitar solo, this video should give you a few tips that will help point you on the right path. Another great way of improving your guitar solos is to find some backing tracks that you can practice with. These will really help you improve your solo rhythm, letting you really practice “feeling” the rhythm of the band.

Anyways, let’s get down to business – go on and hit play!

How To Structure A Guitar Solo: Some Tips

Watch the lesson on Youtube

12 Comments - Leave a comment!
  • Philadelphia Jones

    Hi J,
    Thanks. All the theory helps immensely, am getting there but it takes time, someday….

  • Tom Furer

    That was helpful, and spurred some thought. Another question, do you have a series of commom or popular riffs heard in rock songs ? or can you point me to an available DVD where they break down riffs and show how they’re done ? Thanks.

  • Jonathan

    Hi Tom, I’ve done a number of lessons on riffs & licks, which you can find on this site (click on Licks & Riffs in the Guitar Tips Categories section on the right sidebar). Beyond that I don’t have anything further at this point, and unfortunately I’m not aware of any that I can recommend currently…

  • Rand

    Thanks Jonathan, It makes sense to me. Ive always wondered where to stop and start.

  • Chris

    Jonathan, Is there anything I can do to speed up the download of your videos, they keep stoping and starting. Thanks Chris!

  • Jonathan

    Hi Chris, the videos are hosted on Youtube – you could try watching them directly on there (double click on the video while its playing and it should take you through) but my guess is the delay is somehow due to your internet connection. I’d recommend starting the video, then pausing it after a second or so, then let it buffer completely before watching it through. It’s a bit of a pain, but really the only way we can get around the slower connections.

  • Skip Kanosky

    Thank you I am continuing to learn!

  • Ellee

    Hi ,Jonathan

    Your such a good teacher,
    please please please get a new
    video camera!!!
    I hope I’m not the first person
    to say so,
    but the stop-start stop-start
    1. takes to long
    2. takes to much focus off the lesson
    3. is annoying

    If none of it’s your fault, I totally apologise!

  • Jonathan

    Hi Ellee,

    The stopping and starting would be due to your internet connection not receiving the video fast enough, for whatever reason. I recommend starting the video, then pausing it right away, and allow the video to buffer completely (the faint red/grey line along the bottom). Once it is fully buffered you should be able to watch through with no problem.

  • James Britt

    Johnathon,

    I love what you teach, but sometimes you “fly” through explanations, which can be difficult for slow learners like me. In this last lesson you mentioned we should first find the scale in which we want to solo. My question is if the band is playing in C…should I be soloing in Am? Or if the band is playing in E. . . should I be soloing in C#?

    Thanks,
    James

  • http://www.GuitarTipsWeekly.com Jonathan

    Hi James, yes, you’re bang on. Use the relative minor scales – exactly as you described.

  • Jim

    Hi Jonathan It would be nice to see you playing an Electric Guitar a bit more