How To Improvise Guitar Solos The RIGHT Way (STOP Thinking Like A Guitarist!) - Lead Guitar Lesson

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In this lesson, I'd like to take a slightly different approach than my usual improvisation videos. Instead of showing you how to improvise guitar solos as a complete beginner, I'll be assuming you already have a little bit of basic guitar knowledge. The main focus of this lesson will be on learning how to use all the notes in a key to start sounding more like a vocalist (or singer), and less like a guitar player. By combining the pentatonic scale, the major scale, and the minor scale, we'll end up with a shape I like to call the "homebase". The end goal here is to make your solos sound more smooth and melodic rather than the stereotypical "boxy" sound many new guitarists get.
If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below! :)
#guitarsolo #guitarimprovisation #guitarlesson #guitar #guitarist #guitartutorial
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🎵 Referenced Videos:
Improvising For Beginners: • Improvising Guitar Sol...
Find The Key Of A Song: • Find The Chords To Any...
Building A Homebase: • Build Your Homebase On...
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📖 Video Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:30 - The problem
2:35 - Our homebase
8:42 - Phrasing
12:28 - Expanding our homebase
14:26 - Other keys & chord progressions
17:36 - Final thoughts
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[@wardengrn]

Played in bands for years, chords, played on stage, got paid too. Only had a mtv and picked up chord charts and jammed. It was fun but learning lots after years of not playing because of work and got stuck, not advancing. I have learned more in 9 months of watching your videos than years of playing with the guys. Thank you.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Wow, that means so much. I'm so happy my videos are helping 🙏☺

[@piticooki4334]

just wanted to say that it's thanks to you that i finally was able to connect the pieces in music theory for guitar. You're an absolut legend keep it up!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I'm so happy to hear that. Glad I can help :)

[@aimekelly7055]

I've been stumbling around in the shadows of guitar playing much of my life and not really progressing. I've been watching your lessons on You Tube for the past couple of months and I've learned more from you in that time than anything I've learned my entire life. You're now the only one I go to for lessons and you also have a new Patreon member. Thanks Andrew

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I’m so happy you’re finding the videos helpful. And thank you so much for joining the Patreon! 😊

[@johnf.r6658]

Never really understood theory and how to apply scales, this is awesome, hope you keep going and doing more videos like this, you really are helping a lot of people to improve on the guitar and as an artist in general, thank you for what you are doing, cheers from Argentina!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I've definitely got a lot more videos like this on the way. Thanks for watching!!

[@OtRatsaphong]

I like your approach of getting us to try to hum a tune in our heads first before trying to make a phrase from the fretboard. 👍

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I find it very helpful! I'm glad you agree 😀

[@wagonet]

​@@andrewclarkeguitar many years ago I tried to learn how to solo without understanding the underlying concepts. I basically sounded like a scale. I'm gonna try this humming method! Great idea

[@1234mikeirving]

Oh buddy, I’ve been playing for years and this was a lightbulb lesson for me, thank you so much! I just found you on KZbin. I’m going to watch all of your videos.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

That's so great to hear! Glad I could be helpful ☺

[@1970Richiez]

I have been playing electric guitar for over 5 years nearly playing every day... Im a member of our local country music club and I have watched thousands of videos but none have moved me or affected my playing as much as this video has... It is probably one of the best ones I have seen for my playing.. Thank you Andrew

[@joshuaormston3320]

This is so good - I can finally play any key!

[@NA44221]

You are a great teacher. Thank you for the lesson 🙏 I don't understand why it's worth the effort to add the notes to all of the pentatonic shapes i know.

[@gerardogomez5343]

This video is great. I’m now just learning scales and one thing I would recommend is learning a little bit of the fret board. I currently have memorized the high E, low E, and A string and it has made this easier and watching videos easier too.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Totally agree. Great advice!

[@juancarlomadrigal4847]

you are the one who explained things so simple and crystal clear, luv your videos man, keep it up..Godbless you!!!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I appreciate that!

[@Yencubing]

Thank you for the tutorial, I tried to learn it for a long time but couldn't find a good tutorial, but yours was very clear and understandable. So thank you😊

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

That's great to hear! Let me know if you have any questions :)

[@freebodychris]

This is gold mate. I have been noodling around lately trying to make up stuff targeting the chord changes. I have been trying to use the triad method. I am finding that very robotic sounding. I'm hitting the notes but there is to much thinking to realy sound fluid.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Glad I could help! Cheers :)

[@freebodychris]

@@andrewclarkeguitar I still sound like i'm programmed and robotic. Any tips?

[@1970Richiez]

This is just Gold

[@stealthbum34]

Subbed. Thanks for puttiing things in a way that doesn’t make me shut down after 30 seconds. 😅

[@RandyGalicha]

Your videos inspires me again to explore my guitar talent, actually im in the same situation you explained, and had additional knowledge. Your videos are worth watching, very easy to learn compare to every other videos, the best for me, thanks for sharing your knowledge man very appreciate it❤️

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

That's amazing to hear! I'm so glad my videos are helpful. :)

[@Belik__]

Omg that's just insane! Thank you sir!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You’re very welcome, my friend 😊

[@kalobpierson9753]

Awesome video

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thedonbishop55]

When I first stared playing, I simply played the notes of each chord. For example, if it was a D7, I’d play all those notes with emphasis on the flattened 7th. Little did I know I was playing Mixolydian without realising. That’s why videos like this are great because you apply music theory with playing by ear. If I had this knowledge earlier, my playing would’ve been advanced sooner. Thanks again for making this.😊

[@aidenrinonos8252]

your ways of teaching are so good, you got me into wanting to learn how to solo. Thank you!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Awesome! I'm glad I can help :)

[@wagonet]

Your lessons have been so helpful 🎉

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I'm so glad! ☺

[@tofu3107]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! Your videos have really been a big help taking my playing to the next level 😃

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You're very welcome! Glad I could help :)

[@thetilteddrummer4654]

Hey Andrew, great stuff! You have a natural and gifted way of teaching. I'm wondering if you have done any videos on arpeggios and on technique. Thank you!!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thank you so much. Nothing on arpeggios yet. But I have a video that covers some lead techniques here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4fShnqPm82bo6c

[@marcusumanzor8583]

you explain everything so well and i have learned a lot of info from your videos. just subscribed

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thanks for subscribing! I'm glad you're finding the videos helpful :)

[@TaterCreator]

This was really helpful!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I'm so glad!

[@Ben-Ken]

Thanks!

[@behzadabf]

just perfect.. thanks.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You're welcome!

[@raycarter616]

Very helpful stuff, thank you.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You're welcome!

[@carloscedillo5081]

Excellent video !

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Glad you liked it! 😀

[@loveguitars]

Great lesson! 👍 Question? Why not do the major scale in 3 note per string? The D string is confusing with only 2 notes on that string. Thanks!🙏

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

That’s a good question! You could add a 3rd note on the D string, but it would be a repeat of one of the notes of the next string up (or down), essentially forcing that next string to only have 2 notes. Just because of the nature of that position, you’re forced to put 2 notes on one of the strings. So we can’t really turn this shape into a 3-note-per-string pattern. The standard 3-note-per-string major scale (the one that starts on the major root on the low E) is a great scale as well, but it shifts your hand into a different position. Also useful, but I still prefer that basic minor pentatonic position to be my homebase because of how comfortable it is.

[@loveguitars]

@@andrewclarkeguitar Hey Andrew, Great information! Thank you! 👍🙏

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@@loveguitars my pleasure! Let me know if you have any other questions 😊

[@ravikaiwar257]

Great! How can you use this approach to solo over chord changes? Thanks

[@Mulberry2000]

Great video but just to be clear, if i play a major scale do i start off with my little finger and move up the scale towards the guitar keys and if i want to play a minor scale i start off with my first finger and move to the 12th fret? For example i want to play a c major pentatonic do i start off with my little finger and move to up ? When i play am pentatonic i start with my first finger? In the chord diagrams they always say start off at the first note of the key regardless of the key of the scale. What i mean i have to use my first finger always, that part was not explained in the video at all. Even chord books they are always use the finger interchangeably.

[@spaceninja7080]

Can you do a video on war training

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I assume you mean "ear training". And yes! I'll get to work on something.

[@filippocalderoni]

Do you prefer playing through the bella+ir or the dream 65? Im thinking about buying a load box or the dream65/woodrow55..but it's difficult to choose

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

No wrong answers with anything you mentioned. They all sound and feel awesome. Personally, I prefer playing through the Bella and IR. The Dream is more for when I'm playing a gig where I'm unable to use an amp. In my experience, the Dream is the next best thing.

[@serujuc6209]

Useful as usual!! One question: is it better to stop on notes from penta and use added notes just at middle of licks? Maybe not relevant...

[@Poopbutt2134]

You can but I’m sure there will b times it seems u just cant

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You can feel free to stop and start on those added notes as well. They'll always "work", but they may not always be the exact sound you're going for. Just play around with them :)

[@serujuc6209]

Understood, thanks! Well, final judge should remain the ear, but i thought added notes bring back some tension in the links... i'll try anyway!

[@mabblers]

Should I get my finger flowing nice with the scales nice and easy before going for Improv?

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You don't need to be going too fast. As long as you can play through a scale at a slow-medium pace without making any mistakes you'll be good to start learning improv.

[@mabblers]

@@andrewclarkeguitar Thanks, I really love how you're able play the scales with a musical sound. I'm trying to get that going in mine playing. However only having been playing two months on the guitar. I'm trying not to be hard on myself being 65. I've been playing drums since I was 16, and able to really get into the music from a percussion way nicely. Now I want to come from the Improvisational way.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@@mabblers Just make sure you learn all your chords and rhythm techniques as well. Typically, you'll want to have those feeling solid before you move into scales and improv. But it sounds like you've already got a good rhythmic foundation which will definitely help you!

[@mabblers]

@@andrewclarkeguitar I haven't don't anything on rhythm techniques, I've tried cords and still working on them. They are the hardest part I've found in playing the guitar. I'll start concentrating on the those now. Thanks again.

[@joshuagopie9989]

🔥

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

🙌🙌

[@davidadkins2563]

Why did you put the guitar upside down

[@Poopbutt2134]

Wow that is a nice tat! Throne on ur hand n the snake

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thanks!

[@jeromesederas2143]

yessir😀

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

😀

[@michaelredhead2055]

Only problem playing like that some of the notes don't always match the chords and sounds out of place your better playing chord tones that go with the chords .

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Chord tones are an important part of improvising, but just one piece of the puzzle. I go into it more in this video if you're curious: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYm9eJadjt6mhNU

[@Poopbutt2134]

3:40 im 99.9% sure that’s a natural minor not major

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

It would be if we started on the A, yes. If we start on the C (with the 1 beside it) then it becomes a major scale. Both scales contain the same notes, just start and end at different points. In this case, we're using this shape ambiguously so that we can be playing in both A minor and C major at the same time with one shape.

[@donkiddick3562]

A lot of this really made sense to me after struggling for so long. Can I just ask why, at 15.30+ your diagram shows on the low E string a C# and a D#. I thought those symbols meant C sharp and D sharp but surely they should be C Flat and D Flat.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

The key of E major is a sharp key. This means there are no flats in the key. So our scale contains the nots E F# G# A B C# D#. There is no Cb or Db in this diagram. Let me know if you're still confused and I can explain further :)

[@Kjhd9987hy]

so i can hear cool stuff in my head, but when i pick up a guitar i go blank its like something took my legs out from under me.