How to Solo Over "Summertime" - 10 Hot Licks + Lead Guitar Concepts!

How to solo over Doc Watson's "Summertime." Download Tabs, Guitar Pro, and Jam Track at: / 86624230
Hello friends,
Welcome back to Swiftlessons for another lead guitar tutorial. In today's session, we'll dive into the art of soloing over the timeless jazz standard, "Summertime." Whether you're a beginner or an semi-pro guitarist looking to add more depth to your solos, this tutorial has something for you!
💡What You'll Learn💡
• Understanding the Chord Progressions: We'll start by dissecting the chord changes of "Summertime" and learn how they will inform your soloing.
• Essential Scales: Learn the scales that fit perfectly with the song, enabling you to create captivating melodic lines.
• The Basic Melody - Develop a melodic foundation by learning the songs original melody.
• Pro-level Embellishments: Inject emotion into your solos with tasteful bends, vibratos, and classic licks inspired by legendary guitarists like Merle Watson, Django Reinhardt, and Al Di Meola.
🎶 About the Song 🎶
"Summertime" is a jazz standard composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by DuBose Heyward. It has been performed by numerous artists over the years, and in this lesson, we'll focus on interpreting it in the guitar style of Doc & Merle Watson.
🎓 Lesson Outline 🎓
0:00 - Introduction
0:34 - Soloing Demonstration
1:23 - Chord Progression
3:41 - Basic Melody
10:25 - Licks & Embellishments
22:30 - Play Along
🎸 Grab Your Guitar! 🎸
It's time to embark on a musical journey and unlock the secrets of soloing over "Summertime." Dust off your guitar and let's get started!
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Links:
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[@swiftlessons]

Hey friends, you can check this lesson out on my Patreon page where I'll be posting printable tabs, Guitar Pro, and a handy jam track. Here's the link: www.patreon.com/posts/86624230. Thanks so much for the support! -Rob

[@bp8416]

This is the best. I've looked at chord charts, the real book, and tabs for Summertime, and other lessons, and was confused by different versions, but this just strips it back to the bones, explains the whys instead of just what string and fret, and the strategies for combining the chord shapes with the penta scale, and shows that a chord change that looks complex on a chart is really just a finger off and on. And I've got the chord progression down in just a half an hour this evening. Tomorrow evening I'll go at the solo, knowing the fundamentals and basic theory is explained so I can do my own thing with it, instead of rote learning which I'm hopeless at. I've loved this song my whole life, my dad used to play Louis and Ella, and now I can play it.

[@robertlee8042]

Nice video. Simple. Direct. Not full of fluff. You’re very good at this.

[@swiftlessons]

Thanks, after 10+ years of video making, I definitely feel good about my formatting. That said, I cut out a few points that I feel are very important, but this vid was getting much too long. I'll definitely revisit these topics soon.

[@lartdelavivre1]

Love the methods you teach - make so much sense and have been looking for this for so many years ! thank YOU!!!!

[@kennygore4055]

I have watched you for so long . Man your so awesome !!!! And don't forget you have a GOD'S GIFT , & bless you for sharing this gift with us . I honestly haven't heard anything you play as 2nd. Place . Everything is always # 1 & so explanatory , you never leave "ANYTHING " out !!!THANKS for being you ! GOD BLESS YOU . an old Vet . KENNY GORE , Ocala Florida

[@swiftlessons]

Wow Kenny, thanks so much for your thoughtful and encouraging comment. Really made my night! Take good care. -Rob

[@tedandersen977]

This is SO so good! I have been watching tons and tons of youtube video over the last few years (from teachers like Jens Larsen and Rotem Sivan and Rick Beato and Eric Haugen), as I have been striving to learn how to "play to the changes" (rather than one scale over the whole tune) for my mostly Americana/Swing songs . . . and you've really covered a ton of ground here! Not just the "changes", but how to infuse licks and stylings into those shifts, and simplifications of rhythm, and singing along, etc etc . . . You make the whole environment make sense, especially in your advocacy for "the Melody will take us to the right philosophy of soloing" (rather than learning a bunch to arpeggios and triads) I hope you can do more "Big Picture" lessons like this (it is accompanying your earlier Summertime videos quite elegantly)! Maybe for a tune like Tennessee Waltz, Someday My Prince will Come, or St Louis Blues?

[@MrA1582000]

You really are an amazing teacher. You break things down into simple components thus making it easy to logically learn.

[@georgececere9999]

I have watched so many guitar lesson videos on you tube. and I have to say your lessons are by far the best on you tube. What I like best is the way you break it down into sections and explain the reason how the song is built. Excellent Work!

[@tonybaloney6656]

This sounds so good , this lesson kept me busy for hours. Just watched Doc Watson for some inspiration and wasn’t disappointed . Thanks Swifty always come back to your lessons, great teacher !

[@anthonyangelis1094]

This solo performance is just beautiful. Thank you for another amazing lesson

[@swiftlessons]

My pleasure Anthony, and thanks for the positive feedback. Enjoy your practice! -Rob

[@jimc6687]

Super high-quality lessons, Rob! I keep saying this, but RS gets my vote for the nicest and most thorough guitar instructor on YT.....hands down! Rob always adds in extras to his fun and easy to follow lessons such as here great advice on how he tackles a song and what he adds as embellishments..........Simply, great, great work! Jim C.

[@agadaboum2409]

Excellent, merci😊

[@jaimemantilla5365]

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤eres un genio muy generoso ,compartiendo tanto talento wowwwww mil ,mil gracias !!!

[@jimchironna8075]

ANOTHER AWESOME LESSON !! THANKS SO much !! Your Playing and teaching are Exceptional !! Sharing your knowledge of guitar is a Great gift from you for us players !! I had a half ass version I did of this with a shitty 'solo' I came up with ...Now I really got something I can say on the fretboard thanks to you !! I did add a few runs from my solo to it as well....

[@martabateman4241]

Well this was great to find. I was just brushing up on your old one from nine years ago and then this one popped up. This ones better cos you're singing over the whole song.

[@jamesmcloughlin9404]

Rob this is actually some of the best content I've ever seen from a KZbin teacher 🤘💥🤘

[@user-hw6it5yr1u]

What a great solo. best I’ve heard for this song

[@jeffro.]

Awesome, Rob! Since I primarily play my acoustic these days, I love these acoustic guitar pieces. My playing is very intense, much like yours (but I'm not quite as good, lol), and in addition to learning these songs, I use some of the licks as jumping off points for my own stuff. I've come up with some nice sounding stuff! Maybe I'll record some of them for you (I really should start doing that).

[@aaronlarsen7447]

I love this. ❤

[@yousifmusician4361]

Our big man is back already ❤️

[@dgib4314]

Many thanks for this! I transposed it to Am and managed to work out a nice arrangement with some fun bass runs.

[@cjsmith8319]

The Em key is my absolute favorite. I seem to be so comfortable.

[@DenjaCol]

Excellent song choice, excellent lesson, just what I was looking for..

[@70snuttodd95]

I will definitely sink my teeth into this, your the bomb Rob, 🎉thanks so much 🙏

[@swiftlessons]

Right on, have with these licks and I hope you'll be able to use some of these concepts to compose your own solo. Let me know if there's any other tunes you would like to learn how to solo over. Take good care! -Rob

[@handsolo1546]

Still killing it! I really like the spanish embellishments, that's a quality sound for soloing

[@Maxself4]

Man ! This is incredible ! Thanks a lot !

[@jjadriottt9073]

Awesome!!! Thank you very much! 👍👏👏👏

[@JohnsTake-cg3ss]

Thanks for this one, really enjoying playing this.

[@nicolen.9642]

Aw...cool. I used to play Summertime level preschool...lol. you know strumming Em... I'm going to bring some lush to it. Thank you so much Rob! 🎶🎶🎶

[@swiftlessons]

You have to start somewhere Nicole, see if you can get down that rhythm and basic melody, those two elements are very fun and satisfying to play. I'll have a couple backing tracks at varying speeds available on the patreon page asap. Enjoy your practice! -Rob

[@nicolen.9642]

@@swiftlessons I always look forward to move forward! ✌

[@buckjones1299]

Jjust what i needed Thanks Great Job. 👍

[@martinjohnson2021]

I love it, sounds beautiful. 😊

[@swiftlessons]

Hey glad you're diggin' this Martin, have fun! -Rob

[@CC-qb9sm]

Such a great tune and thx for an awesome lesson Rob.

[@rexchristian3067]

How nice awesome job young man keep up the amazing work Kid love it truly ❤

[@RonaldMarceau]

Awesome lesson! I've been wanting to learn a different way of playing it. Thanks for making this lesson. Cheers Ron.

[@RobertPickeringBucketList69]

In the final chord progression segment, substitute B7 for Cmajor... sounds so much better

[@user-qb8uj4hv8s]

Thanks for your job.

[@marclambrecht86]

This is awesome Rob Greetings from Belgium

[@Redstagwsmnp]

Great learning video

[@johnnylightning1967]

Nice lesson

[@rainerperrey1430]

o! Dear ! Danke ! you have done this Lesson so soooooo well ! I played my sort of a Solo since now - but your Lesson opens - new Dimensions, which lead to the Aim, I'm looking for / Rainer Perrey Cologne Germany

[@Kirk1914]

This is great.

[@pikesk8er235]

Could you do a lesson on take that back for good?😊would be a great cover too

[@dusandrca3378]

You rule!!! 👍

[@raelychel5606]

Bonjour cher monsieur

[@russellmilitello007]

Very nice! It would be helpful for me if you would mention the modes or scales your using during the transitions. Thank you, your great!

[@swiftlessons]

Thanks, so glad you’re digging this. The only thing I didn’t get to go into depth on is the use of E harmonic minor over the dom7 V chord B7. That scale features all four chord tones, and works beautifully over that change.

[@russellmilitello007]

@@swiftlessons thank you! I signed up as a sponsor. Look forward to your gift of music

[@tedandersen977]

@@swiftlessons I'm super glad you brought this up! . . . And, a fine-tuning question: I am always confused in a discussion of "changes" when a teacher says, for instance "play an E (harmonic) minor scale over a B7 chord" -- I thought you always play "a B scale over a B chord"? Why the E over the B? Thanks!

[@andrewchai6529]

Hi Rob great job indeed, mind if you are able to get me the tabs , that will be very appreciated ❤️

[@neildobbs7278]

I'm really seeing the utility in this LaG Hyvibe as a great song writing tool, and i sounds pretty awesome too for the price. Has there been alternate body sizes or other guitars with similar features or is this still the only one of it's kind? Anyone own one and have feedback?

[@bailey123198]

What strings are you using 11's, 12's, 13's ?

[@philippehet]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼❤

[@robertlee8042]

From the B7 you need to walk down to the Em

[@swiftlessons]

Hey Robert, that's definitely a cool option. I also like letting that B7 chord ring out for it's second measure, and letting the lead player do all the talking. Maybe I'll do a follow up on a more stylized rhythm approach. Be well. -Rob

[@Jwinn9]

1st

[@swiftlessons]

Thanks for the speedy comment, enjoy your practice! -Rob

[@TheTomnom]

accent is irritating

[@xbr1mcdag937]

Accent?? What accent are you talking about? I was just posting a message saying: this is the most clear and understandable english ever!