How to Improvise Solos For Absolute Beginners

Here's how I think about taking a solo. Hope this helps.
Pentatonic Scale Video: • This scale will take y...
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Thanks for watching!

[@isaiahmason8985]

Alright man after years of trying to learn guitar on KZbin, after just 2 of your videos I’m seeing my first progress, I’m so thankful and grateful for your teaching man

[@kevinnickens]

I’m glad it’s helping! Thanks for watching!

[@abimaelmendez4912]

I don’t know how but this man is the only one that can teach me! I need more!

[@kevinnickens]

Thank you! More is on the way!

[@SydneyJosephine-mw1jh]

You have an amazing set of beginner guitar videos! Really helping me step up my playing. I hope to see you continue with your series, thank you so much! You're doing something that many KZbin guitar teachers try to do and fail.

[@SydneyJosephine-mw1jh]

discuss what?

[@Steward_93]

Ive only been learning chords lately but now i tried learning scales this video it feels like it jsut opened my eyes into something i didn't payed attention too 5hanks you man

[@Itsastral39]

Wow man... I just had struggles till now even seeing lots of yt video, but you r the first one teaching in a real easy way, like to teach to a child... And it s the best way for beginners who rly don t know how to approach to this... Keep going this way👍🏻

[@VellaaR]

you are literally the best, i was strugguling with creating a solo and i was desperate cause i did not know how to do one, i came across your channel and by far you are the best one i`ve found. You are helping a lot of people, keep doing it

[@kevinnickens]

Thanks! I’m glad the videos are helping!

[@vandanaswaraj8110]

Really well explained with minimal and efficient communication

[@michaelrodriguez918]

It was very interesting and very well explained. It cleared a lot of things.

[@sanchez._.]

man im trying to learn guitar right now but i havent even been able to play it as much since i dont have my own right now but i cant even stop thinking about it lol. Keep up the great vids!

[@aboodx966ii7]

I think that your the best one in KZbin teaches guitar, you just make things simple and you deliver the information straight forward without any confusion, and also the camera quality and the mic is sooo goood even the way you talk is clear and make us excited to hear what you’re saying

[@kevinnickens]

Thank you!

[@Srobinson102]

Patiently waiting for that full video :)

[@maxime1776]

That intro is amazing with the guitar solo in the background

[@arrolate]

Good video as always!

[@arcaneformula]

You're so good a teacher, you give me anxiety about the internet ending and me not being able to access your channel anymore! 😩😩😩😩 Please do not stop uploading. I'm absorbing all of this knowledge like a sponge! You're a brilliant teacher!

[@saber1992]

"Copy solo's form guitarists who inspire you." I'm inspired by Tim Henson and Scott Lepage; I think im going to be stuck on this section for a couple years. 😅

[@stonks693]

Fr 😂 They are the reason I got back on guitar

[@hydratainment.7708]

2 virtuoso level players, man we see you back in 20 years

[@ishakHafiz12]

After finding your channel, I've kinda started to watch all your videos in order though I'm basically above the beginner stage. You give off a bit of a vibe of Eddie from Stranger Things. And put into simple words, your beginner friendly course sort of videos are the best. But when i started learning guitar back in the begining of 2020, your channel didn't have these videos back then. So I'm feeling like I'm re-experiencing it all. I can literally point out the uniqueness' of your videos if you ask me. From Bangladesh 🇧🇩 I believe someday i can be a great guitar player

[@shradhathakur5116]

Dangg,can't wait for the next video!!

[@nutcrack7162]

ghad it make me so happy because only few turorial talks about markknofler style

[@mikeydubs_tv]

I thought I could never do any solos as a beginner guitarist but then I learned Knocking on Heaven's door slash solo. Wow I love playing it, it is a slower "feel" solo and I learned so much!

[@Blues7412]

Where did you find the tabs or what did you use to learn it?

[@mikeydubs_tv]

@@Blues7412 there are tons of videos on the solo. I actually watched Marty music video on it, he teaches it very well note by note

[@jordandimov3455]

I really do enjoy your videos, you sound like you genuinely want to help some noobies learn guitar 🎸. Rock on!

[@kevinnickens]

Thanks for watching!

[@j.niccicoffie3272]

Just found your channel and binge watched the playlist. Found you right on time as I am starting to learn guitar for the first time. I look forward to practicing and continuing with your lessons. Would like to know what a rif, run, lick etc is.

[@kevinnickens]

All those words mean the same thing as “phrase” so it’s just a short succession of notes. I just didn’t want to have to keep saying the word “phrase” over and over again in the video 😂 Thanks for watching!

[@mohammadsharififard1686]

Well I'm happy to report that after listening to your advice and focusing on learning the first solo of knocking on heaven's door, although I'm still not 100% slash-perfect in it, I've gotten so much better in my release, hammer-ons, and most of all bends and I feel so much more hopeful about the future of my soloing. Your advice is great. Thank you!

[@kevinnickens]

Great work!

[@mohammadsharififard1686]

@@kevinnickens Thanks! It means a lot!

[@McKenna.1230]

Kevin Nickens is my guitar pastor

[@kevinnickens]

I prefer guitar warlock but whatever works

[@aaaaaaaaaaaaabbbb]

thanks papa kevin

[@kevinnickens]

Don’t sweat it slugger

[@ritend1706]

Nice 👌

[@danzilbenjamin8196]

When is next lesson coming up will there be full playlist

[@tunguy]

Very good message… you are definitely gifted with the ability to simplify something.. What do you do otherwise?. Are you an engineer?

[@kevinnickens]

That’s very kind, I’m an accountant

[@gordonsmith3092]

Kevin, I'm interesting in any suggestions you have on how to pick a good guitar solo from your influences. I'm also a knopfler fan, but not sure that sultans of swing is the right place for me to start. Any thoughts on this much appreciated. really living how you are delivering this content. Many Thanks

[@kevinnickens]

Thanks! First of all, I personally think Sultans is a great place to start, so dorm be afraid to start there, but as far as how to choose a solo from influences, I think about it in terms of era. Solos recorded in the early days of rock n roll, like the 50s and early 60s were simpler than those that came later like the 80s and 90s. So if you want a good starter solo, pick something from the early days of rock, and if you want more of a challenge, go for something a little newer. Of course there are exceptions to this rule but generally it holds true. Hope this helps!

[@o0Vissers0o]

Hey Kevin, make a video on how to build a practise routine !

[@kevinnickens]

That’s actually a really good idea

[@Koijn2K]

@@kevinnickens yes pls

[@markshenouda5456]

wow, really good vid

[@kevinnickens]

Thanks!

[@zk.official2138]

UPLOAD MORE!!!!

[@wayneswan3092]

So, I've been playing for about 3 months now. How do i make the switch from playing mechanically to musically? How do i bridge the gap between what i hear, and finding the right location on the guitar to play what i hear?

[@kevinnickens]

Unfortunately my friend, that kinda takes a lifetime. Wanting to bridge that gap is why even the greats still practice. You should start with ear training, and then follow the steps I laid out in the “what to learn in order” video. It’ll be slow, but that’s where I would start

[@Aaron-or7bs]

Hey, I’m abit confused about step 2… how do I actually apply my favourite guitarist’s playings into my solos? For example, my fav guitarist is Ichika Nito(if you’ve heard of him), so do I just learn his songs? If so how do I pick up licks and phrases from the song and apply into my playing? (And also know which key that lick/phrase is in?)

[@kevinnickens]

Yeah just learn his stuff. It’ll find its way into your playing. When you are thinking of how to play a certain phrase or lick some of his mannerisms (which you have internalized) will show through

[@Aaron-or7bs]

@@kevinnickens ahh I see thanks!

[@whodis3560]

Babe wake up, new Kevin Nickens video just dropped

[@user-zu8bd9ik9t]

I mostly listen to pop punk and punk rock, so I almost always end up playing with octaves, can't noodle for the love of God (TOT)

[@guitarplay4]

I think Knocking on Heaven's Door is actually in G major, but E minor is it's relative minor scale

[@kevinnickens]

Yeah you’re right, I think that for beginners it’s just easier to use the first position pentatonic scale

[@guitarplay4]

Yeah, I understand. Good message on the video. I have to admit I haven't learned too much solos note to note even through-out my guitar career but I have mimicked a lot of vocal melodies etc. and experimented a lot with KZbin's guitar backing tracks and for like past year with Digitech's Trio+ looper pedal. I think it's good to get creative with your lead playing while practicing you ear training 🤟

[@jaylenwaddle2139]

Everybody in my family can play music, and I can’t. I don’t know what to do and I can never make strings ring out right, I’m about to just give it up man

[@Aaron-or7bs]

How should I actually learn and apply licks? For instance, I've learned a lick in the Am pentatonic scale. Can i only use this lick in the Am pentatonic scale? If so, are we supposed to learn different licks for every single key and scale?

[@Jorge-ej4vr]

No, you can apply the lick to any other scales, depends on the key your playing on. A lick is like a sentence, you can add new words or change words to it to make it more interesting and to your taste. That's why it's so interesting, you can improvise and derive more phrases or licks from the one you learned, in which how solos are made.

[@Somethinoranotha]

First

[@kevinnickens]

Verified

[@IVIonitorr]

OK, so it's time for me to try to learn a solo by Tocin Abasi. Yikes.

[@tmo7734]

A lot of moving hands, no playing…