"Hold the Line" Guitar Solo Lesson - Toto Lukather

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Hi fam,
Do you ever have trouble keeping your guitar chops sharp? Well, I’d like to share my #1 guitar solo for keeping my guitar chops up. It’s the solo from the Toto song “Hold the Line”.
It can be helpful to have one go-to solo that you learn and maintain to help keep your chops up in busy seasons. As they say, if you don’t use it, you lose it.
The jam track and TAB are available for you on the Guitar Fam site.
www.guitarfam.com/songs/%22ho...
Thanks for watching,
Nate
P.S. Today is the deadline for all Guitar Fam Christmas Collaboration video submissions, so you still have time to record yourself and send it in. :D
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[@ezzystarr]

One of the greatest solos of all time

[@31cats]

The average listener has no clue how phenomenal lukather’s playing is. ie people more excited about guitarist like Clapton or some other boring rocker.lukather had to have insane skill and a strong understanding of scales modes and chords to come up with this complex solo

[@seanupton709]

I hate this way of thinking. Why do you have to diss Clapton, who at the time was an innovative genius, to praise someone else? Watch Claptons 'I shot the sheriff' cover, to name one of many songs, and youll see he is a total master of his field, and better than 99 percent at it. Most prog and metal guys are standing on the shoulders of Clapton/ Hendriz etc. Lastly, this band and song are hugely popular, so your comment makes no sense in the first place . Merry Christmas

[@beerhappe5006]

@@seanupton709 completly agree.

[@domenicopalmulli7135]

How did you dictate the delays on pach helix? Thank you

[@Predator27007]

And at age 19

[@velocticz1382]

This video is a game changer, I appreciate how you put what scales are being used in the beginning I was always wondering what Steve was doing in the shred run part❤❤

[@agroagro59]

I rarely comment on YT but this is such a fabulous lesson. This awesome solo is way above my skills at moment but your lesson has inspired me to slowly learn it. You're a great guitarist & teacher. Tone is spot on too! Thanks so much .

[@TheGuitarFam]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I spent more time dialling in that tone than I'd care to admit. ;D It's worth learning this solo as a "hill to die on". It just hits so many important areas of playing.

[@fredericklangbein635]

Way better breakdown on the "crazy part" of the solo then anyone else. Nice!

[@FranMonajGuitar]

Best hold the line Toto tutorial on KZbin Plus his tone is spot on

[@BOOREK100]

Excellent video, one of the best solo breakdowns i have seen hands down!

[@dlee6266]

Wow!! Thank you for learning this and taking the time to share it in your video!! I have always favored this solo since I was a kid and looked at it like I could never learn it but....thanks to you, I'm able to learn this at a comfortable pace. Playing it up to speed is a totally different story, lol!! Hopefully with practice I will get there. I like how you name the scales in the different sections. I too, am not a fast alternate picker and usually default to economy picking myself. Some licks are just too fast for me. Thanks again and Aloha from Hawaii!!

[@TheGuitarFam]

Thanks for watching and commenting about the eco picking. Makes me feel better. ;)kzbin.info/www/bejne/imaTmGl7nZKbbMU

[@Kenji-ds9rf]

A big thanks for doing this lesson.

[@gaaccount7466]

So helpful and best lesson. Thanks!!!

[@IshredGuitar]

The fact you're playing a Yamaha Pacifica is totally cool! I have 3 vintage models. Great lesson by the way!

[@TheGuitarFam]

I picked that up for around $150 on craigs list. It's great. Thanks for watching.

[@gregweber3387]

I think that's too advanced for my skill level, but I enjoyed watching it. Really nice to see how capably you played that on your Yamaha Pacifica since I just recently acquired one of those guitars myself. Gives me something to aspire to. Great job Nate! 🎸

[@daniels247]

if you just go for it youll get it even if it takes months

[@gabrielpalmeiras]

​@@daniels247I've been trying the fast part (with economy picking) for months, but I can't progress, it's too fast! I'm already frustrated with this

[@charlestresnicky1144]

@@daniels247 I second this comment Im on my second month about to start the economy picking part. It;s challenging at the same time rewarding. Give it a go

[@daniels247]

@@charlestresnicky1144ive been practicing this solo for a few months now and ive only really just started playig solos so i dived into it on the deep end but i will persist and i will get it no matter how long it takes

[@RittervonNord]

@@gabrielpalmeiras Steve Luthaker is known for his technical skill and this solo is a real showcase of that. During the fast part he really makes use of a distinct style of alternate picking. That alone could be many weeks of isolated practice. You'll eventually get it :)

[@mikegordomusic]

Thank you so much, excellent video!

[@kajeto1]

Slaying it!

[@jbellflower83]

This might be my all time favorite solo. Its definitely in my personal top 3.

[@Liesjepiesje]

I sure think it's one of the best out there!

[@marcelo_strato]

Excellent, thnks for sharing!

[@lumutbata]

I will learn it, so cool, thanks for the tutorial

[@trucksguns6898]

thanks for this video, super good explanation and good pace. I'm finally learning this awesome solo!!! woohoooo!!!

[@TheGuitarFam]

You are welcome Trucks & Guns. Excited for you to learn it. It was really good for my personal playing.

[@PaulinoGuerreroPersonalPage]

Thank you so much !!! such a good video and explanation.

[@TheGuitarFam]

Sure, thanks for watching.

[@honchoiwong8327]

More, please , excellent .

[@jimmrvos2930]

That’s a tough one! Great playing and nice explanation of what you’re doing. I’ve been working on my bends using the middle and outro solos for Wish You Were Here. That might be a good lesson for you to do. It would be a nice complement to the intro solo you’ve already done.

[@bobloblawlablabla]

This is such an insane solo, but I never knew it was that technical till I saw David Escobar's playthrough, good god it blew my mind, point being, the original mix doesn't do the solo justice, it makes it sound muffled almost. Badass playing though man, for real 😁👍

[@TheGuitarFam]

Yeah, David Escobar slays it in that video. You are right. It's super-buried in that mix. It's so great... and in 1979 or something like that.

[@jkeating7906]

Absolutely, been listening to this song for years and I never realised how complex it was until I saw people playing it on KZbin.

[@Tonsvtunes]

⁠FYI...saw Luke on a video somewhere and commented on how a lot of his early guitar solos ended up so buried in the mixes. He said at the time he was still somewhat of the kid in the band with all of these very experienced musicians (paraphrasing). He said that Paich wrote the song and had his awesome vision of it, but that at the time that vision wasn't really a guitar rockin' sort of vision. He said the guitar solo volume was killer when he tracked it and during playback and then in the early days the first couple of records he would end up with his solos pretty low in the mix. He may have also mentioned the actual producer as well as Paich's influence on the mix. He said as time went on and he felt more comfortable voicing his opinions and that his solos got pushed up in the mix. Also, the band was trying to foster their image as being more of a legit rock band so pushing the guitar up in the mix fit into that as well. But he was disappointed at being deep in the mix early on. Side note, the critics of the day were always dissing them as not being a legit 'rock band' which they weren't very happy about. Amazing Luke was only 17 or 18 when he tracked this in one or two takes... or one take with perhaps one little punch in, I don't recall the specifics. Check out his book for all kinds of awesome stories behind the scenes. It's worth a read if you are a Luke/Toto fan. Fantastic lesson!

[@adarshvenugopal8981]

Thanks man …nobody did this and I so wanted to learn this …awesome playin

[@TheGuitarFam]

Sure, thanks for watching.

[@ley98]

It's a killer solo

[@MrBecker666]

Perfect man👍 I'm a by ear player e.g. monkey listens monkey plays, of course know the basics, your breakdown showed a couple of things i was missing

[@TheGuitarFam]

Glad it helped a bit. Thanks for watching.

[@Longhorn.Rock_Roll61]

Such an epic solo I couldn't tell if you were using those humbucker s in the back Alex Lifeson used to use one in his Strat to get that full sound I've seen Steve play that solo on a Les Paul a lot

[@satriagani29]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@eddiejr5048]

Muito bom.

[@chijimuimui404]

This solo is one of the "look easy but difficult when you play "

[@jayboy6895]

Great playing maestro. Can you please do Combustion Dann Huff Giant 3 album. Cheers

[@borgan1964]

Awsome tutorial,,the best,,just wonder about the last double solo,,whats the note on the second one

[@juantafakya]

gracias

[@TheGuitarFam]

De Nada.

[@danijelpavlek]

Do a Rainmaker solo (Iron Maiden)!

[@sirtogii5216]

I picked this tune as my goal picking up the guitar 8 months ago. I reckon if you can play this you can play pretty much anything rock or blues related.

[@NFG3rdeye-su7rl]

Nailed it!!!!

[@MrFboccia]

Great. Thanks

[@andrewjeff]

Nice lesson e good tone/playing. What pick ups on your Pacifica? 🎉

[@TheGuitarFam]

Thornbucker in the bridge and Satch Track in the neck.

[@andrewjeff]

@@TheGuitarFam thank you so much!

[@JH-qy8no]

Any advice on how to breakdown by ear that ridiculously fast ascending lick. I know you said to listen to it over and over but that part is insanely fast.

[@TheGuitarFam]

Yes, I like to use Garage Band or Logic (or any other recording software) to slow the track down so I can hear exactly what is going on. Another tactic is to just listen to it A LOT over and over and over again.

[@lazdarla]

Loved your tutorial! However, What about the harmony part at end? You only played the main part?

[@TheGuitarFam]

Hi. Thanks for watching. It didn't really cross my mind to do the harmony part.

[@federicoquattrociocchi]

0:07

[@microsmart714]

hey, great lesson! is that pacifica 11v with modified pickups?

[@TheGuitarFam]

It's a Pacifica 312 with a Thornbucker in the bridge and a Satch Track in the neck.

[@microsmart714]

Thanks for replying! The color looks so good! Loved the pickguard and Killer playing obviously!

[@rayfabris2512]

this is one of those solos I remember growing up and now I play guitar but I was 13? when it came out thanks looking forward to your lesson 'you can never stop learning' but what a great solo Luc is bad ass on the guitar I've just got to know his work and I was a SCORPIONS, VH and Y&T Rocker style of playing btw love his stories of hanging out with EVH there's a story he told of hanging with EVH,Neal Shon and himself we are lucky 2 out those 3 are still with us

[@TheGuitarFam]

Funny that you mentioned that. I ended up putting the sane pickups in the Ibanez that the epi had.

[@MercutioUK2006]

The Live In Paris version from '92 is stellar......massively overplayed.....but awesome regardless. Good choice :)

[@luisguill7283]

What tuning did you use for the solo?

[@TheGuitarFam]

Hi Luis. It was just standard tuning.

[@fredyboldt]

Im trying those bendings with 10-46 gauge strings and it hurts like hell...are you using 009??

[@TheGuitarFam]

I believe I'm using 9.5 or 10s in that video.

[@Dylan-jq1nl]

Jup I need to fix the intonation on my guitar lol

[@peterlaing2537]

19:47 Leaving this here for obvious reasons 😭

[@Pulpaficcional]

Nice stuff🎸

[@markr8326]

Hi Nate, was wondering is it possible you could take a look at Alvin Lee's solo in the middle of the Woodstock performance, there is a specific fast run alway's tripped me up @ approx 2" 38 (to 2"47): kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5KumIR3icl1bKs I have a rough sketch made of the Intro , it's not exact, but that part of the solo (@2" 38) seem's a great lick to learn for playing in other Blues tunes also(?) Just wondered if you thought it might be possible to take a look at it ,or even do a "sponsored" lesson on it ? thanks for any help.

[@JH-qy8no]

Imagine if the time spent on video games in generation z was replaced with practicing guitar.Music would be back in style.

[@TheGuitarFam]

No Joke. I'm about to play a round of PUBG and you made me feel like I should be practicing instead. ;D

[@GeorgyPorgyPuddingPie]

Fun fact: Lukather was only 19 when he played this.

[@TheGuitarFam]

That’s just nuts.

[@Guitar387]

😂😂😂

[@mikegordomusic]

Playing this at 19 is wild. Composing it at 19 is INSANE.

[@adarshvenugopal8981]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4fJo62sfrOIo6c Thank you man …I couldn’t have done it without u

[@TheGuitarFam]

I just watched it. Thanks so much for posting the link. You did such a great job with this solo!

[@adarshvenugopal8981]

Your video helped me a lottttttttt….pls keep posting …it’s hard to come across teachers who can convey things across so well through KZbin

[@christophermatthews8852]

Contrary to what a bar full of last call drunks believes, 'Hold the Line' is a better song than 'Africa'.

[@maurizioberardi7341]

Hi I'm trying to learn this solo from you but in my opinion there is something that doesn't match this Luke performance Do you agree? To me it is using other positions for the scales, and the "fast" part follows a different pattern. In any case thanks for your job, it is clear and very usefull to understant it kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqXKo2amq6elY6s

[@reygalindo]

Thanks for sharing it just wish would be less explicit and one or two examples for each section. I think anyone capable of learning this from you is beyond too many explanations. Just my personal opinion don't mean not appreciating your amazing job bro

[@ericguy7870]

C'est très bien joué, c'est très bien expliqué, mais comme beaucoup de vidéos, beaucoup trop détaillé, beaucoup trop de discours, ce qui fait que l'on oublie le principal, c'est dire le solo, ça fait qu'on ne sait plus où on en est... Ce n'est bien sûr que mon avis... Je trouve qu'il faut parler moins, et montrer plus 🙂

[@darrelwessel2453]

Way to advanced

[@JH-qy8no]

Practice it slowly and comfortably with a metronome 15 minutes at a time. Your brain will process it each time you break. And you will be amazed at how fast you be able to play it within a week. I promise it works you just have to trust the process and be patient. It will work.