HOW To Solo Over Any Song

[@lassedresselaers]

Tim Pierce is the Bob Ross of guitar

[@tdb2012]

Agreed. every now and then you almost expect to hear him say something to the effect of "now we'll just do a happy little solo over this piece right here..." The guy is an absolute master at what he does.

[@tonedragon8616]

@@tdb2012 lmfao! Best comment of the day! And I totally agree

[@lairdey]

Happy little string trees.

[@jeremyversusjazz]

Cept tims a WAY better guitarist than bobs a painter!

[@alistairong8022]

Him and Dan from stew Mac

[@samwheeler-brown7458]

Your natural smile when you hit an interval we weren't expecting just makes me want to play new stuff... thanks mate. Epic video

[@timpierceguitar]

Thanks so much, I appreciate it!

[@georgehalls3430]

Sometimes I just want to put my guitar down. Tim, you always inspire me to pick it up and learn more!

[@ricktheexplorer]

There is nothing like your music, and we are blessed to have your artistry on the songs we have. This video was a feel-good time.

[@alxmrls1]

Have to say Tim, you're playing is so transparent when you play over any track it sounds like it was meant to be there. Every note has meaning behind it and rests between the notes are magical!

[@robertalford1321]

💯 true professionalism

[@acedecade8222]

Something Tim does so well is pause between licks, and let it sink in before going on to the next. Really let's the music "breath" so to speak. This is something I really, really, really need to work on. I tend to get going and without realizing it, I'm doing wall to wall suffocating runs. I guess that's another thing I need to write on my "reminder sign" I have posted on the wall in my jam room. "Ease back a bit Ace, let the song breathe."

[@derek9658]

Wonderful phrasing Tim. Not running up and down scales. Love this guy's playing. The Runaway solo showed this years ago.

[@insideoutNOTW]

Love your solos! Sounds so simple, but elegant at the same time. Great job!

[@francisdubois9321]

You sir, are a master!! Absolutely gorgeous playing…as always!

[@thomasnonsense]

I often find that you tell me things that I already know. I just don't know that I know them until the words actually come out of your mouth, at which point the penny drops and I go "Ahhh...". I get so much out of this channel and your masterclass. Thanks for putting the pieces together for me.

[@GuitarPilgrim]

Happy new year Tim!

[@Malkil75]

Thank you for your humble instruction; you are so easy to follow and I have already unlocked some tricks for my brain watching your videos - look forward to more.

[@timpierceguitar]

Thanks so much I appreciate it

[@anthonystevens7810]

Been watching your videos for quite some time now and am always amazed. You're infectious smile and pure joy playing guitar motivates me to pick up my guitar and play more! Keep it up!!

[@deesee2008]

Really enjoy playing over this chord change chart.Thank you

[@Darrenowsley]

I love how you play over the chords first then extend the range of selection of notes and expand your creative improv without thinking. Your note selection is incredible and effortless. I would like to know what percentage of thinking vs Feeling do you believe you do. Watching you has helped me Thank you Tim I really Value your channel I am a better soloist because of you!

[@nicoengerer5959]

Hi Tim, really appreciate this lesson!!! It's so great to connect the scales with this little anker👍 All the best from a broke musician from Nürnberg, Bavaria! You really made my day - thx a lot ❤

[@benink5690]

Agreed. A relaxed practice for me is improv with new licks to back tracks. Quist & Elevated Jam Tracks both show the chords being played during a lotnof their back tracks. They even show scales you can use (mapped out fretboard notes). It helps. Also helps to use grace notes to learn what sits well. Thanks again Tim!

[@EasyHeat]

I've been flying blind on bass, drums, and guitar for over 30 years, and I know certain things through "feel" that only you have helped explain to me in an educational way that I can honestly follow. Thanks soo much Tim!!

[@victorroffe9983]

Great very useful lesson- love the guitar and sound - but Tim’s playing is the icing on the cake

[@thisdyingsoul76]

I reached a point in my guitar lessons in my late teens and early 20's where I was learning theory in a jazz context. My teacher, who had a degree in classical music and was a gigging jazz musician, said he was having to learn stuff the previous week so he could teach it to me. I think he instinctually did these things, he just needed to learn how to explain it. I can remember when he began teaching me to play out. He said "I have spent the last 2 years teaching you music theory to bring you to this point. Its time to forget everything I ever taught you except tk remember in order to do the things I'm about to show you, you needed that other stuff in order to understand how to do this and remain sounding musical." He then started teaching me how to play out by using John Schofield as his example.

[@rawkinj6609]

😮 When you went E Phrygian (EFGABCD) i realized that was on the F maj 7 chord ! MIND 🤯 BLOWN!!! Today Tim, I just fully pieced together the mode thing after digging deep for the last coupla months!! Took 35 years actually and you made it happen with this quick little vid!! 😀🤟⚡My freaking hero right here!! Happy Thanksgiving 🦃!!! WOOWOOWOO!!

[@ueillevx5027]

Really loved the format / tutorial quality of this vid. Thanks again, Tim.

[@djbny2la]

Gamble house is amazing, saw it years ago with my wife. Amazing that not a single nail was used in the house, and that it was an early example of electrification (although at 25 watts per bulb it couldn't have been much better then candles, but perhaps several orders of magnitude safer) Anyway, Thank you so much for this time spent with us. Love that you talk through some of your playing while you are playing, and detail what you are doing, that makes it so much easier to follow for somebody who is a bit slow....

[@mariozedda3036]

Thanks Tim. That was an extraordinary lesson!! I love your playing and even more the way you explain things. Well done!! Greetings from Italy.

[@rjlguitars]

Hope you enjoyed walking the dog, nice playing and have a great festive season.

[@slowfinger2]

About a Hiwatt. A buddy had this rig in the 1970's that we still talk about. A Hiwatt 100 head with an Altec Lansing 15" bass reflex p.a. cab. They called them "The Voice Of The Theatre." That HIiwatt made that cabinet sing.

[@timpierceguitar]

Yeah they’re great amps

[@desert_rat_guitar]

Tim, this video is perfection for my way of learning the guitar, i.e., what approaches you use to come up with solos over different chord progressions. I prefer to learn about which scale degrees work, not which notes. I took your Masterclass for a year but didn't reup. Now I'm back in (the sale didn't hurt). You are my favorite guitar teacher, period. Thanks for keeping me inspired to learn.

[@notme810]

I agree, I have been so shy by overthinking solos. This is so good to help get better!

[@halian1413]

You are a blessing Tim... thanks for sharing your knowledge...just signed up for the MasTerclass AGAIN :)

[@kungfubill4436]

Best guy..great playing every time. Thank you Tim.

[@lucasheidenreich7861]

Dream guitar right there! Such a great juxtaposition of vintage and modern.

[@MNGuitars]

Love it, so useful, so musical and tasteful and really opens ur ears to chord tones. Great vid from the best

[@57RickH]

Great video and I gotta say the double-stop slides at 19:07 are super smooth!

[@JT96708]

I always enjoy the way Tim let’s us see behind the curtain.

[@rshock]

Awesome stuff Tim! Thank you for all you share with all of us. Much appreciated

[@randykomberec6880]

Tim, THANK YOU for all of the great lessons. you are a GREAT teacher and an amazing player. I hope you will eventually release THAT single cut gold top with wrap around bridge, dots and no binding on the neck as a signature PRS!! I have been waiting for that guitar.

[@1950tmh]

Love listening to you! Happy Thanksgiving

[@sagig72]

LOVE THIS VIDEO Tim !! Please please make more of these videos where you demonstrate soloing strategies over a given chord progression. This is one of your best videos in my opinion.

[@timpierceguitar]

OK will do thank you

[@sagig72]

@@timpierceguitar hey man, you are SUCH a great player, such an inspiration. I went to see Tommy Emanuel in Stafford, TX two weeks ago. I wish you toured to TX, I will totally come see you. Just so you know.

[@rigorhead01]

Yeah, I really dig this kind of content too!

[@tubularbill]

Wonderful video. Thank you Tim!

[@limpindug]

Great wee session bud thanks, every time you do a wee shred your tickled expression is infectious, 👍Respect and stay healthy all.

[@rolandmarichal1250]

Thank You So Much Tim. LOVE YOUR PLAYING!!!!

[@Ron_Padgett]

Great stuff. I always learn good stuff watching your videos Tim! Thanks!

[@thejeffkershner]

So I am working through Tim's master class and I love it. I am "The World's OK-est Guitar Player," but I noticed a major flaw in my playing. When going through the "I LOSE MYSELF In This Chord Progression," my lead playing sufferers during the 32nd second notes on bar 7. I realized that I never really played 32 notes before. It's not the speed necessarily (because I can play the line as 16th notes at double the speed), but feeling the subdivisions of 32nd notes is difficult for me. Thank you for being my teacher even though you don't know me. :)

[@trevorvogler4661]

Tim you are wealth guitar knowledge 👍👍👍

[@kevinrobson6830]

brilliant as usual melody is king

[@ToddWayne]

Awesome stuff. Really dig it. That question about E Phrygian: F#m -> Fmaj7 -> Emaj is functionally the same as ii->V->I , where the usual V (B) uses bII (F), a very typical b5 substitution in blues. EPhrygian is one note away from Emin (or E Pentatonic Minor), with the F being the odd-ball :-)

[@Rocknrolldreamlp]

Very helpful comment….Thanks

[@RobertSaxy]

13:03 while it could be f Lydian e Phrygian puts the what seems like the “correct “ emphasis on e

[@shannonjones3714]

Absolutely brilliant as always!

[@jayjeffries7092]

Who in thee hell gave this a thumbs down? So much useful info here. Also it's fun to watch/listen to Tim makes that sound like falling off a log and he does here and there, onto a perfect note.

[@martymaker]

Great as always. Thank you Tim! ❤️

[@rockguitarmodes]

Beautifully tasteful, melodic guitar playing

[@Paul_Hinton]

Lovely and beautifully taught. ❤️

[@trentwaterman7049]

To expand a little bit on the Fmaj: As Tim said; it's all about where you're headed. The Fmaj is heading to the E, and your ear hears that it's coming up. When playing over changes that change tonal key centre it's important to simplify, so that you can make the changes as smoothly as possible without having to think too much. Your ear hears the progression coming back around to the E. You also have to obey the chord quality when choosing the appropriate mode (Maj/min/etc). So... Fmaj you could play Ionian but that would give you a Bb which is the b5 of E (where you are headed). Bb is also the 4th degree of F which won't sound great over a maj7 chord. Lydian and Mixolydian are your two other Maj scale options. But it's a Fmaj7 not a F7 so that eliminates Mixolydian. F Lydian will give you B which is the 5th degree of E. B is also the #4 of F, and unlike the natural 4 it will sound beautiful over a maj7 chord. So now you've found the best Maj mode option for this chord. Personally I would be thinking F Lydian over this chord and heading back to an E Mixolydian key centre when the E hits. But because Tim has that E drone ringing in the back of his head and knows he wants to land on the E; he just thinks E Phrygian - which is the same thing and it's the way that he simplifies it so he can get through there as smoothly as possible. But the most important part is just using your ear to hear which mode will fit best over the change. And then whichever way you want to think about it to help you make the changes in time is the right option for you! Side note: an Emin pentatonic will sound great over a Fmaj7 because it outlines the 7th, 2nd, 3rd, #4, 6th degrees.

[@timpierceguitar]

Yes! Thank you for your theory …F Lydian is even better , and more correct.

[@BenBreeg1138]

Thank you for your explanation, it was the first question that popped into my head when Tim ran through the chart and options.

[@gaz0463]

Every time you improvise it sounds like it was composed. Each note and phrase has an authority that says, “I absolutely belong right here”. It’s such a honour we get invited into you studio for a lesson. This wouldn’t or couldn’t happen any other way. Thanks for your dedication and hard work in producing these videos and passing on your considerable experience and knowledge. It’s very much appreciated.

[@Longhorn.Rock_Roll61]

Awesome teacher Tim

[@andrewmarsh3094]

It's odd. I'm not a "trained" musician by any stretch but watching this I discovered I play in this fashion without realizing what mode I'm in. I'm loosely familiar with them but not to the extent Tim is. It just happens when I don't overthink the changes lol. Thanks Tim for this video Im going to actually try and learn the modes better.

[@GS-uy4xo]

Regarding the E Phrygian decision there are some common tones from G, f#-, and the F and the B is one of them.

[@midi1529]

But yes I just heard the scale choices over your progression. That is exactly what is needed. The best other source i can think of is Grimore...or Tim! You make CV this so tempting. Working on these 40 steely dan tunes, and 2 weeks to medical boards. I cant wait to be free to unleash... ok back to the video lol

[@midi1529]

Fantastic video omg!

[@annunacky4463]

Love the smooth transitions and fluid feel of these masterpiece solos and mini chords. The phrasing is unearthly.

[@jimhutchins2893]

that progression sounded like Atlanta Rhythm Section to me. Another great lesson. thank you for explaining your thought process.

[@ronsheehan]

I’m not gonna let it bother me tonight! Great progression by a great band!

[@larrypower8659]

Hendrix didn’t tune down 1/2 step for his first album, Are You Experienced. He recorded that in standard pitch. But be- ginning with album #2, Axis Bold As Love, he had already begun to play live and record tuned down that 1/2 step. He sometimes did play tuned one whole step down-see the KZbin version (in black and white!) of Red House from somewhere in either Sweden or Switzerland. In it, he’s playing his white SG Custom (3 pickups) and actually starts in the wrong key but realizes this and finds it ok. It’s interesting to guess why that might have been, but not my point! Check it out. Noel Redding (bass) is in the correct key and Jimi adjusts to him after a bit of introductory playing. As we know, Hendrix liked to experiment with his music so using different tunings was likely not unusual for him.

[@waltergomez2864]

Many thanks Tim.... very clean and melodic playing. Very useful those master tips also....

[@timpierceguitar]

Thanks so much

[@jimsalman7257]

Tim, like many of your songs and soloing, this one is soulful, bluesy, and Anthemic. Wonderful stuff, guaranteed to raise goosebumps. Also, that B3 organ really makes the backing track pop. Thank you for another great lesson!

[@quezquez3084]

That FMaj7 must be played with F Lydian, where the 4th is raised to a B. E Phrygian uses the same notes but it really is F Phrygian.

[@tad449]

Happy Thanksgiving Tim!!

[@timpierceguitar]

Happy Thanksgiving to you also!

[@manydreams1life315]

Forgive me if there’s a couple videos I haven’t seen over the years but have you ever considered a video using different amps you have in a track situation and maybe how it effects the choices of what to play in the song. You have such a big collection of amps behind you. I thought it would be interesting.

[@MichaelAntus]

Much respect...

[@derek9658]

I just bought the course Tim after that playing and the Jimmy page video I couldn't resist anymore.

[@peterpigna9505]

Grande Tim, bellissima PRS

[@boddumblues]

Original Hiwatts were wired to military specs also ;-) FYI. Super clean and highest quality!

[@Vocela]

Happy Thanksgiving Tim!

[@timpierceguitar]

Same to you!

[@anthonyhallsworth7113]

Fab. As usual.

Genius.

[@denmar355]

So good. I figured out the Phrygian move! It is the notes of C! No Bb!

[@jeffblackwell7285]

Yeah I would definitely laugh and be smiling... if I knew what the heck he was talking about. Thanks Tim, keep on smiling!!

[@johnk7147]

If it helps anyone..over the Fmaj7 you can think F Lydian. Its from the same parent scale as E Phrygian. And to me it makes more sense since Lydian is typically played over major type chords.

[@timpierceguitar]

Yes, I agree, actually better ….

[@marktan7618]

Tim, what a wonderful and insightful video!. Loving the sweet tones from your PRSs lately too. Being a long time PRS user myself, could you provide some insights on what you really like or dislike about these new vintage inspired Kluson tuners vs the Phase 3 tuners? Is the tonal difference that perceivable between both? Also how reliable are these new kluson tuners? Still on the fence whether i should make the jump on the newer 594s with Kluson tuners. Thanks!

[@Munivemusica]

Hey Tim, hope u are doing great!, A question. did you performed in a record called Oceano produced by Sergio Mendes? The track that I think you appear in is called Oceano as well.

[@michaelhaddan1965]

You're a Special Creature ~~

[@justanothertreeonthenetwit3958]

My version of "cheating" so far that works in some ways is playing kind of "sloppy" sometimes with a lot of notes going on in some cases, mainly meaning just letting my fingers do what they are going to do in some fast parts. By the way, that backing track is amusing me.

[@kilgoretrout321]

Dang I didn't get the notification for this! Oh well, it's 10am every Saturday, right? No excuses, I'm there

[@FreedomGrower]

friekin beautiful

[@SteveSchuffert]

Tim, it would be very cool if you could do a little segment on how you’re using Echo Boy in recording. Show us some settings, uses etc.

[@umbertoyltp]

The track reminds me of Sylvia by Focus, a beautiful base for Jan Akkerman's guitar.

[@timpierceguitar]

Interesting I don’t know that song

[@TheDB11011]

Tim when are you going to get someone to design an app for your masterclass!? The content is great, but a simple to use app would take it to the next level!

[@rexthornton3019]

A few days ago I saw one of your videos where you are playing with a TC Electronic 2290 delay using the pan phase option and sounded amazing and now I can’t find the video!!! I even bought the device to experiment with out of phase feature and I already checked all your videos and I can’t find that one. Did you delete the video? Can you send me the video again?

[@megafauna8374]

Writing out a song/chord chart on butchers paper or a white board is essential if ya wanna play in a band.

[@yummusicpeterjames4797]

Wow, excellento -:)

[@omikl]

I downloaded the backing track and hacked my way through it. The relief when I land on the Em Pentatonic after thrashing my way through the Peloponnesian and Metaxa modes [1] was palpable. 1) Something Greek anyhow.

[@nordineamara4887]

Is therea link to this beautiful backing track ?

[@annunacky4463]

You are ruining my football Saturday…I can’t help but watch you…wish we could have a beer one day. I play a bit.

[@stephenmcnamara9928]

F major 7: Could you play A minor (Aeolian) over it in addition to (or instead of) E Phrygian? It includes the "E" note of the upcoming chord. Thanks.

[@timpierceguitar]

Yup, same notes :)

[@stephenmcnamara9928]

@@timpierceguitar Great, another option. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

[@tuukkatervo8760]

A minor pentatonic stuff also works great. I think it's nice because it omits the root of the chord (no one wants to hear that on top of a major 7 chord) and the #11 (sometimes too dissonant or jazzy).

[@Longhorn.Rock_Roll61]

I'm afraid at the descending part from g to g flat to f I would be stuck in e pentatonic guess I'm glad it would work

[@leightnite3056]

Sounds pretty Atlanta Rythym Section 2 me...and that's Awesome!

[@claudetam4744]

so what should we do if we only know what key a backing track is in but not the chords?

[@terrybraun1271]

One step ahead of the blues. J J Cale

[@wrap-itsolutions2387]

Getting some serious Steely Dan vibes here!

[@kellc1347]

Why does he have to go phrygian on the F major 7??? Can someone help me on that please?

[@JT96708]

In a typical session, does the producer have charts for you? How offer do you make your own?

[@bradh6185]

What's the best way to learn these scales up and down the neck?

[@eyeeateggs]

Look into the caged system and focus on learning one scale, in all 5 of these positions! You can then use these shapes for any root note :)

[@jonnybeck6723]

Hey-oh Tim... Yeah I'd rather have a cheat sheet in front of me... than a frontal lobotomy