Rascal Flatts - How to Make a Guitar Solo Sing - Joe Don Rooney - Rockin the Country Holiday 2013

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Last month, I discussed some of the differences between the studio and live stage environments.
I cited the tune "What Hurts the Most," which I recorded with Rascal Flatts for our 2006 album, Me and My Gang, as an example of a song whose arrangement has evolved over time to suit the concert setting. As you recall, we looked at one of the main rhythm guitar parts and compared the differences between how I played it on the studio recording and how I now perform it live.
This month, I'd like to focus on the song's four-bar lead guitar solo and detail how I've been inspired over the course of many shows to tweak it in an effort to make it connect with to a live audience.

[@00xanawolf00]

Great lesson. Attention haters: if you really want to be the best guitarist you can be, you MUST get out of your comfort zone and study all forms of music and realize that they all have amazing players that can teach you much...if you are willing to listen.

[@TheSunIsMyDestroyer]

that should be a given, no close minded person has ever been great, only great disasters

[@TheSamuraiApocalypse]

This guy is awesome. So soulful, I love it when guitarists such as myself come to the realization that it isnt about playing the fastest; its about making good music. I dont even listen to country rock, not saying I dont like it, I know that country guitarists are some of the most soulful, but I really like this guy.

[@Thebrokenjar294]

I don't even listen to country, but these are things that I have always said. Even when I was playing nothing but metal I just wanted guitar solos people could sing along to. Shredding has its place and that was the eighties

[@thatguy5557123]

Not a Country fan but can not hate on guitar playing like this.

[@sherrybrewer5292]

Been a fan since 2000. Love the way Rascal Flatts brings country to life

[@tonicobb9940]

Joe Don is a great talent, when he cuts loose in a show, you can really feel the music. Love it.

[@airhambone]

melody and feeling always in a joe don solo, something that seems to be lacking in a lot of the music today

[@jairosalmeron6160]

What a tone!

[@SuperTastywaves]

Awesome Tone, PRS, and unless you're shredding, Less Is More. Thank you GW and JD for demonstrating that so soulfully. You just made me a fan.

[@golfdom1987]

Love this series of lessons!

[@thesimonscrew5923]

That tone though! so nice!

[@wickedout2010]

That's a great song and Rascal Flatts is an awesome band!

[@fifshep3796]

Beautiful.

[@EnduranMusic]

That's a damn nice sounding PRS SC-58!

[@MyComradeConnor]

awesome tone!

[@andrewarriola6127]

I love those single cut away prs guitars

[@supermarine67]

What a great tone he has. I wonder what he uses for a delay? It looks like he might have a Maxon AD999?

[@longjonsilvernuts]

Sorry for being late to chime in. But I see a dd-20 Boss delay pedal. I am sure it's coming from that.

[@savvastdietitian]

thats nice! good points about simple melodies. i allways thought high technique is very important for a guitarist

[@bulzah]

it is but musicalty should be priority for all musician

[@Noodlerification]

Shivers!!

[@manuel3677]

I am totally agree with Nick Webb even if Yngwie is my favorite since i was young.That is true young kids use to forget the most important thing "feeling" and doing perfect bends.

[@JosephMile]

Nice tones!

[@KowboySantos]

world class

[@bobkat321]

Nice phrasing & tone, yes it takes a guitarist to know one, nice feel man, well done good lesson, teach it to Paul..

[@NoHealerJustPain]

I Like it )))

[@devinwebb0]

Why i love david gilmours playing and santana

[@bertrandmarques]

Can somebody tell's me what is the exact colour of his PRS ???

[@federicou324]

tobacco sunburst :)

[@Widdy5150]

Whats the track playing?...awesome!

[@timcook5981]

What hurts the most.

[@00xanawolf00]

@blackcountry fats Oh, like David Gilmour, Clapton, Hendrix, or a million other pioneers of awesome? Are you complaining, or what?

[@nickybareau3639]

so old fashioned! fuck me this lesson could have been given 40yrs ago!

[@NickWebbSax]

This is true, but it's still a point that needs to be put across. Everyone still overplays all the time. Think of the number of kids who use things like this (me included) to learn, but all they end up doing is playing like second rate Malmsteen rip-offs with minimal sense of feel or melody. 40 years on and the lesson of simple and melodic still needs to be brought home.

[@nickybareau3639]

Nick Webb true but neither is right find your own way listen to the cliche of fx he has goin on