How The Pros Solo on Acoustic Guitar

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My friend ‪@samuraiguitarist‬ came down to the studio to teach me how to play beautiful solos on Acoustic guitar. With a few simple tricks he totally changed my perspective on how to play solos that fit the acoustic guitar.
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[@samuraiguitarist]

Thanks for the hang, good luck to all those looking to learn how to not hate soloing on acoustic!

[@jeremythornton433]

Great to see you here and equally great to actually see a Canadian made Larivee guitar in a video! Cool and thank from an Ontarioan who has 2 Normans and a Simon and Patrick.

[@HarryNicNicholas]

backhanded compliment, i'm not the biggest fan of your channel, but this was a great little video and i'm clearly mistaken.

[@williamharris683]

@samuraiguitarist I think you may just be becoming a bluegrass nerd! I recognize that Big Sciotia in the intermission breaks 😃

[@michaelstorms47]

Good job Steve! LoL

[@UncleDanBand64]

Great tips

[@PlumbingArkansas]

A solo done right on an acoustic is the most beautiful thing ever. So unforgiving.

[@StacheBigote]

Wish You Were Here comes to mind

[@Thomas-xs2kq]

Django Reinhardt comes to my mind. And Paco de Lucia

[@prefix253]

Nutshell AiC MTV Unplugged

[@nachyomoney3598]

​@@Thomas-xs2kqJerry Reed!

[@fugitive6549]

Not really. lectric guitar solos would still destroy that and knock it off the park. Acoustic guitar is a much inferior instrument to electric guitar.

[@BillNelson-OU812]

David Rawlings is the master of acoustic soloing. Electric soloing technique doesn’t translate very well to acoustic but conversely acoustic soloing techniques work extremely well when applied to electric and are a great way to get out of your personal box and offer more to the listener.

[@Oberkobold]

Absolutely. He's one of my favourite guitarists, period. I love how he weaves notes in his solos. So tasteful!

[@jellofarce]

Also... Kenneth Pattongale!

[@BillNelson-OU812]

@@jellofarce yes!

[@arlisskowski]

Django is screaming from his grave

[@JeiShian]

Aiee😂

[@DoctorMandible]

Right? This was Rhett's worst video. Really highlighting that he only knows electric. "I almost never bend on acoustic" 😢😱

[@arlisskowski]

@@DoctorMandible I read an interview with Jimmy Page who said that he practices only on acoustic.

[@lucasgoncalvesdefaria7121]

I mean, for an american perspective it makes sense. He's basically talking about country-folk-bluegrass guitar, and in that context these principles are true.

[@hollowbodymusic5673]

Lmao

[@abrahamtomahawk]

Celtic guitar also utilises a lot of open strings when playing and soloing, it works really well for the instrument. It also suits more melodic solos in my opinion. Prime example being Lindsay Buckingham's live solo s on the Fleetwood Mac song Landslide.

[@redbirdjazzz]

Also check out some of the traditional Irish fiddle tunes John Doyle plays on guitar.

[@kevinbecker1438]

It’s bluegrass music. Dem boys been doing this for years. Thanks for bringing it up guys.

[@partsmanba]

Exactly!

[@WillyPDX94]

Thank you. I love these guys but this video is embarrassingly naive. They obviously have little familiarity with bluegrass guitar. They should put Tony Rice in their playlist.

[@NickJardine]

That’s what I was thinking.

[@zevolta88]

@@WillyPDX94 i've recently dived into the bluegrass rabbithole after recently buying an acoustic guitar. I hadn't heard of a lot of the artists in the bluegrass genre. It's unfortunately not a widely known genre. It's a shame because a lot of what i've seen so far has been amazing.

[@stephenweade7487]

Brian Sutton!!!

[@beepoz]

Anyone here heard Clapton’s Unplugged? It’s the perfect counter-example of the video’s title. (edit: or Al di Meola / Paco de Lucia / John Mclaughlin's Guitar Trio album... and so many others...)

[@MashaT22]

That could make a great follow up video. What did Clapton do that made that performance one of the best acoustic sets ever? How did he translate his electric playing to acoustic?

[@matwhite57]

I think you are absolutely bang on. The unplugged album encouraged me to play solos and riffs more. Not that I would in any way compare my playing to these guys but anyone that says they hate acoustic solos is just talking nonsense.

[@alexlubinski7795]

I recently saw Al di Meola live. Worst show I have endured in my life, the piezo sound of an acoustic guitar doesn't really suit his music, in my opinion. Enduring it for almost two hours straight gave me a massive headache. Don't get me wrong, he's a musical prodigy and a genius, but the sound of an acoustic guitar, with all those transients jumping for your attention, I found listening to it for a prolonged period of time very unpleasant.

[@pieteytrenton2747]

​@@MashaT22I first listened to that album before I turned 10, the old love solo still blows me away. Personally? You want a solo to sound good on accoustic? Get rid of the pick, dig your fingers in, and pluck them outwardly... There's countless examples of ppl sounding good without doing that, but it sure as hell works for me

[@russellcameronthomas2116]

the di Meola / de Lucia /McLaughlin trio album was, and is, magic and majesty ! Highest level of artistry and skill on acoustic guitar.

[@Fastlane05]

One of the biggest takeaways from this video for me is about not resting your forearm on the guitar and holding the body of the guitar away from your body to allow it to resonate. Wow, that is a huge tip. Been playing acoustic since I was 8 and I am 54 this year and it never dawned on me. I've always been looking to get better acoustic tone. Wow, thank you Rhrett & Steve. Great video!

[@RhettShull]

It blew my mind when I learned it too

[@goswo]

Other, really amazing, acoustic players, will argue that its all about getting a good rest 😀😀

[@icoz7]

​@goswo I think for the average player the answer is somewhere in the middle, finding the sweet spot between having firm control of the guitar and getting maximum resonance. Occasionally when I want to practice nylon guitar in a more classical manner, I'll have the guitar tilted fairly high and rest the guitar body on my sternum, but otherwise putting only enough forearm pressure to feel comfortable. It's crazy what kind of feedback you can get from the resonance like this.

[@lebe220]

How can it work with a dread and playing while standing?

[@timothymarkonis3630]

​@@icoz7Shallower body depth guitars that still project a comparatively big acoustic sound CAN be found, and mitigate this physical comfort issue a great deal.

[@jeffhatcher6778]

Tony Rice: Backwaters...the entire album. You can definitely solo with authority on an acoustic guitar.,

[@garywhitt98]

Thank you. Tony Rice. Bryan Sutton. Tommy Emmanuel, Glen Campbell, Paco de Lucia, John McGlothlin, Jerry Reed and on and on and on. But Tony Rice. Yes.

[@jeffhatcher6778]

@@garywhitt98 The list can go on quite a ways...

[@djonakachopper]

Yes. And of course Clarence White’s work

[@marcflickinger7476]

Clapton Unplugged is a master class in acoustic soloing (slide/nylon/steel). It’s all there, melodic, soulful and serves the song/performance. Tim Reynolds work on Dave Matthews Live at Luther College is also incredible.

[@ultrahighgain412]

I was like, "Wow, is that samuraiguitarist?" It is!

[@steelhead197]

Me too! I was like the Samurai and Rhett, seems like a super team to me! Well done gentlemen!

[@Durmomo0]

"What is this, a crossover episode?" Cool to see 2 channels I like collaborating

[@jrpipik]

One thing that I find key to soloing on an acoustic is landing phrases on the beat. You can noodle around more freely on an electric, but for an acoustic where you don't have that kind of volume and sustain, it helps to have the support of the rhythm section especially when you hit a first or last note of a phrase. (It's pretty good on electric solos, too.)

[@dalejones4322]

To call me a novice would be giving me far more credit then I deserve. Two profound things I learned from this video were how much more the open strings ring out than the fretted strings. The other was when Sam played and pressed his finger against the guitar and let off. I never would have thought I would be able to hear a difference. I'm sure most real guitarist know these things but I found it fascinating. Thanks Rhett for a great video

[@travisshaw3866]

This was fun to watch. Well done you guys!

[@bauerma4]

For having to fall to a backup plan, your basement studio looks great in these shots.

[@MichaTulik]

0:28 main reason for the "plinky" sound is the right hand technique. If you want more "body" and attack it's worth to practice "rest stroke" technique, very often used in gypsy jazz. A friend of mine showed me the difference it makes in sound, and it was almost like he was playing a different instrument. Joscho Stephan is one of the greatest in that realm.

[@richardking7137]

I agree 100 per cent….rest strokes help a lot to get a full sound.

[@Guitarplayer724]

Thanks for the info! 🙏

[@pdxsaintjohn]

Check out Duved Dunayevsky for one of the most authentic "early Django" style players of today.

[@stewartaubel3842]

That was so informative! I had never seen that technique demonstrated before. Really helpful.

[@kingbryn1692]

Epic stuff fellas! Thanks!! As someone who enjoys both the electric and acoustic side this was great info to think about and focus on doing in each soloing

[@stonemedicine]

Excellent content. Thank you both.🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@nicholasdecaluwe706]

Great work guys!

[@thetruevineproductions]

Lovely stuff, guys. Getting big Dave Rawlings vibes. Rhett: do a feature on Dave Rawlings! One of the only guitarists I've seen live who gets gasps during solos and rapturous applause every time he finishes one! That concept of creating a story out of your solo is huge, and, Dave is a master of it. Keep up the great work: big fan of you both. Awesome collab!

[@rick49]

Wow, this is great.

[@georgedavis5003]

It's so good to see Sammy G on the channel! Awesome seeing a collaboration with you both, as you guys have helped my musical journey in a huge way the past couple years. Much love and support!

[@JudsonBylerMusic]

Great video!

[@mikewolfe4222]

Great playing, great content. This becoming my go to guitar channel.

[@michaelschmidt6548]

Good stuff!

[@seanbaines]

Two of my faves in the same spot. Perfect! Good video gents.

[@albikes8484]

Thanks For Having SamG on. Love your channel and Samuris channel. Its great to see you together.

[@RhettShull]

He’s the best

[@bestpoker]

Great collab Rhett! Thx Sam too! Learned a ton.Thanks for posting!

[@RRW276]

The tone on that slope shoulder is throaty and rich! I love it, very nice.

[@yeknommonkey]

Matthew Scott ‘where you been’ has got an awesome acoustic solo in the middle of a mostly electric guitar song. Second only to Turin brakes Underdog. Oh and maybe the goat more than words with the longer outro. Nuno always the man.

[@ukestudio3002]

Great sounding Eastman guitar..pretty, too. Thanks for upload. Some good ideas here . 👍🏽

[@jimwaller5465]

Great video and info. This is where I am trying to improve and the journey continues.

[@investingingeorgia8853]

Just to be the next to be with you was pretty epic. Especially that low e pop!

[@JeremyAndersonBoise]

@samuraiguitarist is among the realest, glad to see Steve here. Great tones, brothers

[@jcwear89]

Found this really useful - thanks!

[@actionjacksondan]

Great topic👍

[@MeeshGuitar]

Great video Guys!

[@paulsummerside]

Great jam session with soloing, clearly a lot of influences from Bluegrass and also Trad Irish and Scottish Folk tunes. As a Brit who loves Traditional Folk from various parts of the UK I can find a lot of inspiration from this. Cheers 🍻 chaps.

[@natedanaste]

Hey that was great man, thanks!

[@MrXyzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

Great advice here. It brings out the music in the acoustic guitar.

[@jasonperry2385]

Mad respect for these two guys.

[@kirk8429]

This was incredibly helpful and practical. Have been trying to improve my acoustic solo without it becoming a bluegrass exercise.

[@jeriboxx4331]

Brilliant needed this…been struggling with acoustic solos and chasing electric sounds…

[@shun146]

Honestly I love the combination of SammyG and Rhett haha

[@masterbuilder3166]

Great video. Subbed to both 👍 really enjoyed this

[@jameslifetimelearner]

Loved the sound quality on this segment! Would be interested in a Rig rundown,all the finest and most expensive.

[@jspanos500]

Man, this is a great collaboration.

[@offdutyjie]

I Love Sammy G! So glad he was coming through and you guys got a good video together lol! Would love to see more collabs of you all! He should of came down for that Bike Festival to jam with Josh Scott lol!!

[@me734]

Great stuff there Axemen

[@arthurfrayn7619]

Great info, many electric players also allow too much string noise when playing acoustic. The open string emphasis helps a lot with that.

[@JJgeetarisst]

Always treat watching Rhett’s videos with headphones on

[@cutittaierau3128]

Love it 😊

[@NinerFourWhiskey]

Great video. One of my favorites in the genre is the acoustic solos in Pure Prairie League Amie. I think a good example of "how to".

[@PoPo-xp7yk]

Tim Renwick on Al Stewart's Year of the Cat. fabulous acoustic solo segues to a fabulous electric solo

[@grene1955]

It's just a joy watching two great guitar players trade techniques on acoustic guitars!

[@NOPE.S.P.]

Two of my favorite guitarists of all time are Michael Hedges and Tim Reynolds. The 1st time I heard each of their music, I was in as much awe as when anyone heard Eddie play "Eruption" before everyone else started copying him. It's kinda bittersweet that they never caught on as much as VH did.

[@dennismcquoid9751]

Justin Johnson does it pretty good.

[@pecosnick45]

Yes. But also no. His methods are a whole different breed of play stylings. Separate him from this the same way you would a classical or flamenco guitarist. This applies to the generic guitarist using a guitar pick.

[@pecosnick45]

Not saying he can’t flatpick, but its not his usual style and he follows these thought processes when he does.

[@howlinhog]

You guys need to get out more. Go to a Bluegrass festival where people are camping, walk around to the various camp jams and you will find that the per capita of awesome players within the Bluegrass audience is far and away higher than any other genre. The best pickers in the world come from Bluegrass and that's not an opinion. I had the good fortune of witnessing Billy Strings (William Apastol) at my local festivals here in west Michigan go from great to super stardom. Billy was by no means alone with his level of skill.

[@michaelhotten752]

Thanks for this video Rhett. And yes to open strings! After 4 years on the acoustic and learning scale patterns I almost never use, I've started learning scales that use open strings. It has left me with a big question, why is it with all the guitar KZbin videos out there very few talk about or teach learning scales and riffs closest to the nut?

[@srenlumholtz6242]

Listen to the solo in Taste I'm moving on. Sounds awesome. 😄

[@nayb1398]

Love Slash's acoustic soloing on Lies -bends and all!

[@msspi764]

Cool! Glad you did this. I had this aha moment when I moved to Kentucky and sought out a jam. Someone starts something like Big Sciota. Then they each take 16 bar (NO MORE!) breaks improvising around the basic tune. They weren’t anything but everyday folk, maybe the occasional musician from Nashville, but just folks with good ears and hands. Watch some videos of these folks. Go to the local Bluegrass jam. There is a lot to learn. $20 sounds a bargain

[@dougcrowe1226]

More please❤

[@TheMjriley5150]

I heard a big click as I was watching this video and it was the sound of the lightbulb in my head coming on. Thank you for posting this! I have always hated soloing on acoustic and now I realize that my approach was all wrong. This is so simple, yet, I've never had somebody tell me this. Thanks, Guys!

[@jkrause365]

Thanks for mentioning what I thought was the obvious; when in doubt, play the melody. That has always been my fall back strategy. Good video.

[@jrlee243]

Slide and flamenco solos are some of my favorite

[@williamneillgross3926]

This was great! One solution for soloing on an acoustic guitar without reworking your technique too much...play an Ovation. Feel and attack and therefore I would say results are much closer to an electric guitar. You can move much faster on an Ovation. If it is set up you can play the licks you play on an electric (excluding Hendrix and Van Halen, though if you can play Spanish Fly, you probably can disregard this caveat). Ovation also projects differently than a traditional acoustic. Try it.

[@bryanvickers]

Leo Kottke...nuff said

[@chrisrowe2308]

Days of the New had some awesome acoustic soloing. "Touch, Peel, and Stand" and "Shelf in the Room" both come to mind.

[@iancook7109]

Nice tips here. I do like the sound of a piezo pickup acoustic solo

[@TheBdriver]

I think of guys like Clapton and Gilmore and my memory comes back to solos I've seen and heard them play. They do it with finesse and grace. Sparsely often. Licks and stuff are short and concise and theres breathing room before the next phrase. (eg Wish you were here)

[@rudolphpyatt4833]

Great points raised here about the different characteristics of acoustic versus electric playing. You guys should check out Jonathan Stout (a/k/a Campus Five) to see how to approach the acoustic guitar without relying so much on open strings; i.e., in a jazz setting.

[@Twinkie1960]

always liked the first half of free bird (acoustic part)…open strings being played between the chords…a nice touch by whoever played it…

[@mattraino3274]

Dynamic Duo!

[@randallhacker]

Great video, and i dig watching you both quite a bit! Do have to agree there may be a bit of naivete, but I wonder have you guys started on electric? Im mostly totally an acoustic player and have my whole concept of soloing rought from acoustic. Funny thing is, i just got my first strat electric and leaning to solo electric now lol. Been a process for sure. You guys can for sure rip it on acoustic too! But yea, to add to this list of crazy acoustic players throw on that Tommy Emmanuel and Billy Strings vid and see that insanity.

[@MoneyGrip70]

Hey camera man , STAY STILL UR MAKING US DIZZY

[@meloysmusicstudio]

It's tough when playing alone - I try to figure out how to do fit in a simple solo while still keeping open bass strings ringing out so that the feel of the song doesn't stop.

[@JamesIanGilliam]

Love to see Eastman getting some love!!

[@joshuajkoplin]

Really underrated guitars.

[@RhettShull]

It’s such a great guitar

[@moserthemusic9200]

Yes. I have a few and think they are great.

[@JamesIanGilliam]

@@moserthemusic9200 I have an OM and a gypsy from them, great guitars!

[@BamaGuitar]

1000% an acoustic and electric are NOT the same, even hybrids! I like both, but being an old fart, I started in the early 70's with acoustics and while I love all the wonderful and creative sounds I can make with my electrics, I respect my acoustics for what they enhance in my ever going, never stop learning, guitar journey. Kudos to this video, respect the instrument you are playing!

[@stephenbouchelle7706]

Good advice and beautiful playing. For a study on the differences look at Richard Thompson.

[@Semikolon628]

Hi boys, listen to Michael Hedges, Mike Dawes and Tommy Emanuel and it‘s like the sunrise, a phantastic world full of acoustic music!

[@callumgregg-smart1904]

I've always thought this was an interesting topic. I could never think of a good acoustic solo. Until that is, I heard old shoes (& picture postcards) by Tom Waits one day. Shep cooke plays an absolutely beautiful solo on acoustic guitar for that song, one of the best I've heard. I think that's the basis for a good solo on an acoustic, simple great feel, and not at all flashy

[@steelhead197]

When in doubt “play the melody”…..thank you fellas! 🇨🇦

[@MichaelMcMonagle-zq5lz]

Really hope you guys go down in history. Some of the most beautiful picking I've ever heard! Thank you. 🙏

[@stefanodellagrotta3832]

I play acoustic but in a blues/ trad jazz contest. I find very useful using mainly downstrokes when solo, so I can focus more on tone and I cannot do fast stuff lol

[@FelixGubbins]

😱 two of my favourite KZbin guitarists on one video ❤️

[@FelixGubbins]

Just need to get Chris Buck in there as well 😉

[@davidmcauliffe8692]

Love the video. Bending on acoustic presents challenges simply because of tuning issues. I used to play heavier guage acoustic strings for sustain but not necessarily good for bending. I like to listen and play eastern music on guitar. It's a good lesson in bending on acoustic, especially with microtonal music. I'm also thinking that some of the concepts here are more for playing in a group setting. If you are the lone instrument, the soloing approach would be different - just the dynamics alone. How would you approach that?

[@gregdale1066]

Daryl Stuermer on a Jean-Luc Ponty tune called Renaissance . Emotive af

[@moctzal]

Totally agree with Sammy G. Acoustic guitars and electric guitars are as different as pianos and organs are, maybe even more. They're different instruments. John Mayer's 2012 Performances EP has some great examples of acoustic guitar solos on it (that version of Queen of California comes to mind specifically). Individual note runs need help on acoustic guitars, 100%

[@cameronfoy3662]

Glad to see you drop that 2012 EP. Picked a part a couple of those songs earlier this year. Played mostly electric last year then hopped back to acoustic this year. Went from blues soloing to acoustic. That EP is brilliant. Shadow Days especially is so tactful. So many little diads and just playing through the scale in a tactful rhythmic way. Awesome stuff.

[@degerdi]

Max Willow fingerpicking a guitar is like listening to heaven as the clouds briefly part after a rain

[@gcensing6351]

So Rhett, seriously, what wood is that top made out of? It has those beautiful flecks in the grain, almost like a figured top. Absolutely gorgeous!!

[@s.lander1751]

Your electric playing will transfer over to acoustic if you restring it with electric guitar strings (11's). Also drill holes into the side of the body to get the "boominess" out of them. The midrange introduced from the side sound holes will completely change the instrument's sound profile making it more percussive and tight.

[@carlyoung5035]

Great video. There comes a point in most electric guitarists learning where you drift over to acoustic and discover that although they have the same 6 strings, tunings, and general theory, they therefor SHOULD be the same - they aren't. (I'm sure this occurs in the opposite direction for those who begin acoustic and pick up electric too). It's my belief that if you can learn both you will be a much more flexible player and enjoy playing that much more because your scope for creativity is suddenly widened. I've been playing electric on and off 40+ years, but I only started playing acoustic seriously in lock-down and it blew away all the apathy and general boredness I was feeling at the time, and I'm now almost acoustic only. And for goodness sake don't think that playing oldey-timey tunes on an acoustic is naff, because some of it is hard as hell and it WILL expand your abilities.

[@samme79]

John Mayer's Queen of California acoustic solo is a prime example of how to solo on an acoustic guitar. Same with his Something Like Olivia

[@johnsmothermon6856]

I like that banjo killer!

[@Birkguitars]

There is a great acoustic guitar solo in Make Me Smile by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel that I think spans the electric and acoustic cross over point. And No Doubt's Don't Speak also has a great solo. They are out there if we hunt around.

[@woofcity6307]

I have the other issue, i can solo on acoustic guitar from years of crosspicking flatpicking, but i’ve learned over many years, i need to set up my electric more like my acoustic - and bring that style to the electric… because thats what sounds the best for me. So i use very low action, same gauge as martin lights - 12-54 wound g, and just slide around more vs bending over a 1/2 step. Works for me but never met a guy doing that… my realization… i had to give myself permission to do it - byt julian lage has played that gauge, so i knew it could sound great if your mind is in it

[@kingmatthewa]

Excellent video. When producing, I would ask guitarists that play constantly solo notes if they talk that way. That would trigger them to think about taking "breaths" in their solos. Thanks for putting this together. Ya'll need to put out a dual acoustic album in this style. I would listen to this all day.