How The Pros & Legends (Actually) Make Solos Sound Better!

[@ConcezioPellegrini]

FANTASTIC Lesson. Listen to the grooves and rhythmic power behind Robin Trower, Jimi Hendrix, SRV, Billy Gibbons, Peter Frampton, Paul Kossoff, Frank Marino and all our heroes. Behind EVERY fantastic guitarist is an OUTSTANDING rhythm/percussion section. They make our heroes even better.

[@eddiejr540]

Satriani said the very same thing…he said so many people miss his rhythm work underneath the solos👍

[@sirtogii5216]

Too true. Have been playing about with Maiden's 2 minutes to midnight and the rhythm section behind the solos are very much changing both the pace and mood of the song.

[@Roy_Gaber]

I have always subscribed to the notion that great solos arise from great rhythms.

[@AngelofJustice412]

This is so true man. I was just thinking the same thing the other day while I was listening to Supernatural by John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, one of Peter Green’s most famous guitar parts. Yeah, the long sustained notes by Green are incredibly tasteful, but part of what makes them sound so good are the chord changes in the background. Now you could argue either way whether that’s Green’s genius or the rhythm section, but they have to be taken in conjunction in order for it to sound so good.

[@shanebooth1365]

I love the bass part on Panama behind Eddie's solo! Michael Anthony's playing was just so perfect for EVH

[@sole__doubt]

Working on learning Pananma this past week or so. I doubt Ill be able to get the solo down though, not there yet.

[@BlackNeverLeft]

The rythm guitars behind"Dread and the Fugitive mind"and"Holy Wars"by Megadeth are great.

[@toddkoenig426]

Van Halen rhythm parts always had so many little things to capture to even get close while playing the tunes. Great challenges, also love Judas Priest behind the thunder parts... and Dimebag for Pantera... no wonder I love the guitar for my musical instrument to attempt! 🤘👍🎸

[@kevind3094]

Philip Sayce is absolutely amazing! Good to see him mentioned!

[@BrentAdams]

Great observations! It isn't always the "Flash" or virtuosity of the Lead Guitar Player....it is the entire package!

[@douglascrawford4791]

The rhythm guitar is always the heart of the song

[@mikeg6666]

douglascrawford. Malcolm Young was a perfect example of that , probably one of the best rhythm guitarists ever IMO!

[@douglascrawford4791]

@@mikeg6666 Brother, that is a great mention. But look back into the sixties and some of the music were rifts and nice baseline

[@douglascrawford4791]

Also speaking of ACDC, it was a shame about the original frontman. But how about that cat out of tampa florida

[@mikeg6666]

@@douglascrawford4791 True good point !

[@mikeg6666]

@@douglascrawford4791 Yeah you gotta wonder if they would've had the same success with Bon , because they had more of a blue's oriented sound with him. Which guy are you referring to in Florida?

[@jameslocke9406]

Haha love this. I make all my students learn the rhythm under the solo before we even get to the actual solo. So they feel more comfortable and a part of the solo

[@jboughtin7522]

You get some of the best tones man. Particularly whatever the LP was plugged into. Amazing.

[@skyshorrchannel3474]

Great Vid, I recall thinking - as a guitar nerd teenager - about why the really hot players stood out so amazingly. It hit me that they created the opportunity for themselves in the song writing.

[@hyperbrightstudios]

There's some really good points in this, I noticed yesterday when teaching a student the solo for 'The Wind Cries Mary' and the key change in the middle of that solo is on the of the things that make it so effective, and doesn't happen anywhere else in the song.

[@danilorg]

Great lesson. I'm going to practice that. Thanks!

[@jcburger733]

Great video. We love the solos but it would not be incredible without the rest of the band!!

[@brushstroke3733]

Wow, this is a great insight and tip! Thanks for pointing this out!

[@clemclemson9259]

killer vid RB. always LOVE that friggin LP you are paying the burst and the uncovered pickups are so damn my style

[@TheAtariCreep]

This is why I love your channel bro. Great lesson.

[@DDWyss]

Another great solo that I'm reminded of along these lines is David Gilmour's solo in the Pink Floyd song "Money", where the song switches from 7/8 to 4/4.

[@g3ultra]

Miracle Man is brilliant! One of my favorite solos since the first time I heard it the day it dropped. Zakk came busting out of the gate with that song and confirmed his place as a legitimate replacement for Randy and Jake.

[@MashaT22]

I made this exact point the other day!

[@norseman61]

Dang, those are funky rhythmic solos bangers. Love it!

[@gallardoguitar]

Like an old friend said, a good solo must tell a story, and a good storyteller must know how to use emotions, time and intensity. And having a beautiful voice also helps.

[@jsbobek]

Please do some Lynyrd Skynyrd, in particular, On The Hunt…a cool groovin tune! Scott Raines does a good break down, but it’s not simple. Scott is a great guitar player and knew a few of the original LS band members. His LS renditions are perfect!

[@arustydodge2111]

Made my Sunday; FUNDAY! Rock on, ROBERT!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@Ilikewhiskey2112]

Eddie’s first note in the Jump solo comes out of nowhere and it was always been so fucking cool to me.

[@wasouthpnt]

I always thought that the rhythm that Malcom played behind the solo in Back in Black was what helped make the solo. Listen to how he changes the chord structure to enhance the solo. So good!

[@minkorrh]

The backing chords literally define the emotion of the solo.....i.e. 'modes'. I'm pretty much an ear player, but noticed how the same shape changed it's tonality depending on the chords behind it. Together, they are a literal concert that HAS to be understood to write memorable solo ideas and make people get wet eyes. What I call an 'E-minor'- shape turns into C Lydian with the different chords behind it. The difference is your starting and target notes.

[@Canadianwheelchairguitar]

Listen to John Paul Jones bass behind Jimmy Page's 3 chord chorus on "Immigrant Song"!

[@CA10Z]

YEARS ago I would tell the band "just play the progression" I'm going to be somewhere off the coast of Venus... I don't remember how many bands I quit. Just did not understand what I said. Here it is 50 years later. I still can't get over it..

[@timhall7771]

Great insight!

[@LukeMegginson-j7y]

Philip Sayce ain't talked about enough. Love his stuff!

[@randyheston6267]

Another great video, Robert.

[@landofahhs_1]

Great advice that requires a dedicated method of practice and performance...just look at DiMeola, Pass or Atchins. Though I don't think many self taught blues guitarists use such techniques they still develop techniques and a style that makes their sound their own. Great video!

[@fpsgamer357]

Haven’t even watched it all but the “behind the solo” riff on over the hills and far away is enough to drive its own song if it wanted to.

[@CutEmJack82]

Glad to see Philip getting some recognition!

[@CorumBryant]

This was very interesting Robert 👌 big eye opener

[@MickH60]

Yep, most great solo's are over one off riffs in the song, making them fit is a bit of an art form too, I'd love to see a video done on this alone...

[@allendean9807]

As a predominantly singer and rhythm player, my solos always seem to lack that “touch” which lead players have effortlessly. If i have a friend of mine throw a solo down for one of my songs, it’s not really the melody, the feel, the note choices, it’s an intangible, indistinguishable “touch” that good lead players just possess effortlessly. And it’s something you just can’t quantify, but you know it when you hear it.

[@philipbeasley72]

Yes nailed it!

[@wizrom3046]

Great video, excellent topic. 👍

[@shayh.3556]

Rhythms behind a solo is arguably more important. I can rock some pentatonic licks all day but putting them into context not only with the music but the song is key.

[@KennethFinuf]

Absolutely correct the drums and bass make it sound good!!!😊😊

[@PawpawJamz]

The common thread is don't get busy behind the lead. Hold it together...but, don't step on the guitar. VH, Maiden, Priest..AC/DC..Aerosmith..Journey ..they hold it together melodically but give the lead all the room. Stairway is the perfect example. A, G, F with the A, C, E, D, C walk up is perfect Gives the lead room to breathe. Tonality changes are gold. VH was the master of this.

[@hunedog8693]

A good solo like all music can also be the surprise factor, a good key change can provide that imho.

[@tone1798]

Thank you Robert for turning me on to Philip Sayce! I checked out some of his vids! Wow! Between ARTUR MENEZES and PHILIP SAYCE plenty of inspiration to cop from! Great episode! Robert you are knocking and rocking these episodes out of the park!!!

[@howardcoleman4748]

There's great guitar solos and great knowledge from them and with that knowledge we should forget it and come out with our own original ideas so we can find ourselves and that means a baseline drums and vocals keyboards and percussion maybe a whole orchestra or wind instruments then we can love that possible energy that makes us love that energy

[@JDShellnut39]

Great video and just when I thought it couldn't any cooler here comes a shout out to "Tool Time"! Well done sir.

[@mikestevenson6745]

Blackfoot by Jared James Nichols has a great chord change in that solo!

[@ConcezioPellegrini]

JJN is a MONSTER.

[@sydwynd]

So you're saying it's more about song writing that soloing. Compose a great song with chord, key, or feel changes first. Once the song is fully crafted THEN add a solo where you need one.

[@killedbycoconuts]

Waiting on the 80s course to drop!!!!!

[@jaknunas]

Thanks for the Philip Sayce love. Canada represent!

[@sauletto1]

Excellent video !

[@Gawnfall]

YOOOO ROBERT AYEEEE .

[@lucasnunes4391]

Make more videos/classes about rythm guitar.

[@Nyoshi219]

Do you still use the iconic DLR notes in your transitions? I miss those lol.

[@nesta8518]

What about old school blues solos? Simple outlines, vibrant colouring

[@birdsiview6845]

The solo can’t happen without the rhythm and bass. And a solo lifts up the key changes as well as being a bridge.

[@sebastionhawk5565]

Nice advice. And, YOUR HAIR IS PERFECT!

[@gibsonfan159]

I've been an Ozzy fan for a long time and didn't know there was a music video for Miracle Man. Also, Zakk straight up stole that main riff from Over The Mountain.

[@losangulos]

Anyone know wht ibanez model is the yellow one?

[@ammetalman]

SkyNet... Good one!

[@darvoid66]

Did you give up using Dragon's Heart picks? The one you're using looks like a more traditional thinner style pick.

[@foesfly3047]

This is a very good point 🤔

[@johnkendrick7304]

Man that is one of the nicest looking Les Paul guitars I've seen in my whole life

[@NeilAloha]

Thanks!

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

Thank you SO MUCH!

[@davidmini3606]

I love Phil Sayce

[@ro307805]

Over the mountain GOAT

[@partriotsfight5039]

I hear a new series here Robert “Behind the Solo” Bring it. It’ll be cool

[@TheBhannah]

Love that Ibanez !

[@kengreer3302]

Crescendo to the riff

[@powerbylightfutureisnow1579]

reo ? speed wagon blows me as the best solo ever.... roll with the changes . cutest girls too.! when i was that age that young. !

[@jonathanlego4930]

He said skynet… lol. Probably not too far from the truth . Lots of great guitar solos. Great vid

[@thseed7]

🤘

[@westinclinard8189]

rob rob robert rob robby rob

[@ritualawakening3704]

Skynet…he ain’t wrong! 😂

[@NeilAloha]

🤟🏽

[@doric_historic]

I can barely play that of which is occulted behind the solos...

[@ldfox11]

That's, ask Skynet

[@Vivi_9]

Tone Improvement!

[@thomaslong8401]

I have learned "context within the song" is very important for making the song pop. I remember seeing a band where the guitar player was playing great licks/leads but could have been playing them over any random song. Boring

[@jakedging]

Skynet, lol. Someone is no fool

[@jake13b]

round and round. song is in E and solo is in A.

[@Cosmic-Spanner]

wow, what is that garbage at 10:00?

[@johnbrodsky5374]

No Randy Rhoads?

[@harshvardhanbhatt7555]

Skynet 😂😂😂

[@ajaybangi]

Skynet 😂

[@rodneyruffo3095]

Skynet LOL

[@alexguitar841]

I've been saying this for years. As much as I love Slash does anyone really think he would have achieved the same levels of success if it weren't for GnR writing amazing songs to begin with?

[@8KilgoreTrout4]

Ain’t that true though

[@silverarrowslk]

Jimmy Page? Na too sloppy and IMO his solos are not impressive. At the time the likes of Clapton and Blackmore were way better. Fast forward and now we have so many great players. I must say loads of these have been inspired by Malmsteen and Eddie Van Halen but not Jimmy Page.