10 Steps for Improving Your Solos

[@samuraiguitarist]

Break out of your intermediate rut with a straight forward path to improvement. Join the Dojo for weekly lessons samuraiguitartheory.com/p/the-samurai-guitar-theory-dojo-m

[@Reject101Personal]

"I am going to play you a solo I am not proud of" precedes to play something I wish I was at a level of being able to do

[@GreenJeep26]

Zakk Wylde once said that guitarists should listen to a lot of southern rock. The reason, I figure, is that classic southern rock bands were masters of motif. Having the ability to cycle through solo themes. Listen to any Lynyrd Skynyrd lead(s). They're full of themes that build on one another. They take the vocabulary of the blues and ride that bad boy home. It's the opposite of random notes really.

[@tylerbeaumont]

I remember reading somewhere that an old man in WA once told Kurt Cobain and Mark Lanegan that they should listen to lead belly because he had “real soul” in his music. They did, and they ended up writing some of the best music in their entire genre! I suppose going back to the roots really does bring the inspiration flowing.

[@CharleySuede]

Allman Bros. come to mind as well. The interplay between the styles of Dickey and Duane shaped a good 12% of my natural playing style. Billy Gibbons 22%, SRV 37%, Angus Young 17% and Roy Nichols the remaining 12% 😆 Something like that anyway.

[@MrUnderhilll]

They sound so good because half of the solos from southern rock bands were written by the studio musicians "The Swampers"

[@Lackedddd]

I know it’s bad when his “boring solo” sounds 10x better than a solo I can come up with 😂

[@chrisrosencrans]

You're not alone lol

[@RByrne]

For real. 😥

[@nikijohnson7477]

that just means your solos will get 100x better

[@nicholasmitchell9019]

Bro same. I’d say his is closer to 1000x better

[@mcswordfish]

Same bud, But let's not lament the soloes we can't play, rather let's enjoy those from Sammy G and Chris Buck and all the other contemporary greats we have on machines in our pockets

[@heisannhoppsann90]

you should make this a series! such a great breakdown on how to make a solo 10x better. i have lost count of how many times i've listened to that solo at the end. just great Mr samurai!

[@cloudlesssky5763]

Take his course

[@Pinkmilka]

Even the "i am not proud of" solo sounds epic :D

[@GryynGlo]

It’s amazing how much better the solo sounds when you make the rest of the track follow along with the dynamics of the solo. I listened to Derek Trucks’ solo from Midnight in Harlem a while back and discovered that the rest of the band contrivutes greatly to the feel and intensity of the solo. Especially the drums in that track really lift the song and the solo to new heights. Guess it goes to show how much better it is to play with other musicians as a lot of the magic happens when you sit down and play together.

[@tonyhunt4444]

I love the way you compared soloing to writing, it made a lot of sense like that 😎

[@BlazertronGames]

Genuinly extremely helpful. I'm a beginner, and just incorporating the idea of not always ending on the root note, and varying the phrase length has helped me think about phrases in a much better way. Instantly improved my improv! I actually already had noticed I was playing the root note too much, so for a 12 bar blues, I'd just try to end on the root note of each chord, but that still ends up sounding boring, so just landing on any note, regardless of the chord, makes it sound more interesting, and then accentuates the resolution when you finally do land on the root note.

[@vadeking]

Good demonstration of turning creative critique into actionable improvements. A lot of solid concepts used, too. There is a lot one can learn from this singular video. Thanks for taking the time, Sammy G!

[@XXIII_89]

That firebird is AMAZING!!!!! Congrats!!!

[@gguitar4496]

Yeah true, you can check it out in a video that Trogly's did with SammyG

[@waffleboxx]

love all your content Sammy G! watching you really makes me want to pick up a guitar, and my room is full of them!

[@Trog]

There's that 'bird!

[@cloudlesssky5763]

Sammy G this is one of your best videos, u are a really good teacher not because of the technical things, but the approach, the mind and ur words speak to us all ❤

[@ggaarreenn]

that little lick at the 5:33 mark is quite polyphia/scott lepage-esque and i love it

[@travisguide4516]

1:23 this is good for conversation and music i love this advice and yes i do know people that talk to me that way sounds like the samurai knows someone like that too😂

[@shaneharrington3655]

Such a great lesson

[@sklermbot]

this is a great video dude, maybe my fav I've ever seen you do

[@LushLofiBeats]

Bro Jimmy woke up watched samurai guitarist videos all day and went to sleep is me most days

Im just taking notes and you can find it useful: 1. All the time you have to leave a space (Alonso reference) 2. Lacking continuity (use a motif) but don't over use it imo 3. Directionless, go to a higher part for example (maybe also change to brighter pickup) to give it a sense of direction 4. Don't end all phrases on the root 5. All phrases of one bard sounds boring flair: (these things when possible don't force) - add style to phrases (slides, legato, etc) maybe think how another guitarist would play that lick - incorporate open string - add intervals 6. Use an interesting backing track

[@jaytyler5741]

I love how to took a philosophic approach to this lesson. I haven't watched one of your videos for a while, but I have been checking it out since you started doing this. It's nothing I didn't already know, but I want to commend you because I think this will be very beneficial to young intermediate guitarists and I think bass players could learn a thing or to from thim this lesson also. Keep on keeping on! Also, I love the name of your channel(Japanese reference) because I am a sushi chef etc. (Most musicians still have to have day jobs.... ugh). Peace!

[@kevinmineroff]

Can anyone identify this firebird model? I absolutely adore it and want to look into buying one!

[@andrewpappas9311]

Awesome to see you playing that Firebird you found in the video you recently did with Trogly’s Guitar Show, that guitar looks and sounds incredible

[@samuelkurth9676]

This is the first time I thought a non-reverse Firebird has looked good... Kudos. Also, great video!

[@ravenstarr30]

I think you just described typical conversations my friend and I have at work while everyone else is left completely lost...

[@TarnishedViking.]

Awesome Present, Tation! 💚👍

[@ghfdt368]

Great video I'd also like to add a few other things. Dynamics also massively help a solo sound better aka hitting notes with different volumes. Don't make the solo more complicated than it needs to be. Get a few ideas and motifs and work around them otherwise it looses it's way and get boring fast. Finally add different rhythms and timings to your phrases. A great solo to me should DEMAND your attention and retains it, once you do that it's a great solo in my opinion. For example in comfortably numb the final solo isn't flashy but it tells a incredible story and the way Gilmour uses phrasing and his sense of dynamics and rhythm takes it to the next level. He does one amazing phrase where he goes down the pentatonic scale in an off beat way and repeats the same idea again a phrase or 2 later and it's brilliant.

[@donald-parker]

Good concepts. Two other ideas - think like a vocalist or horn player. Pause when you breath and get out of the pentatonic boxes. And there are 7 other semitones just waiting for a chance to be heard.

[@alexmott507]

Rivers Cuomo, while not the most technical guitarist, had talked about writing melodic solos by singing them instead of writing them on guitar. Recording yourself humming or scatting a solo idea will result in different ideas than your regular bag of tricks & licks. I highly recommend that everyone try it!

[@randydean23]

That firebird sounds sweet!!!!

[@100-Cockroaches]

The difference between before and after having space is amazing

[@GobbleFNBR]

It did become a lot better of a solo

[@radfury23g32]

Ayyy that's a pretty new Gibson you got there 🤤

[@Xaion6]

That is the coolest non-reverse Firebird I've ever seen!

[@silent-trouble]

Amazing tips and solo.

[@nickandrews2255]

This video is what I needed to help with my soloing thanks man gonna check out the website and you earned a subscribe from me which is not easy to achieve!!!

[@Marcnshae2011]

Super helpful, thx! 🎸🤘🤘

[@seaneddy1]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who uses gout as a throwaway topic.

[@rinasbrruti1016]

thank you

[@thedondeluxe6941]

That Firebird is niiiiiiiiiiiiice👌

[@HakuniAkutu2488]

Sir if your making a solo let say sweet child of mine. Are you depending on triads or scales or pentatonic or modes or arpeggios to make sweet child of mine solo? I'm interested to learn guitar. Thanks

[@carsontate4354]

That solo in the beginning was better than any I’ve played lmao

[@Kyaint]

First Solo: 0:17 Final Solo: 7:39

[@phil.7064]

the new firebird is looking SWEET

[@peekfinder]

Great rythm sound ! What gear did you use ?

[@Shakura8]

Awesome vid!

[@MaPa60]

Wow, that was an incredible holiday gift, stacking solo tips like that! Superb content man!

[@juliogonzales8624]

thank you.

[@lucasholmgrenmusic]

My son loves the look of the Blue gibson

[@joseppi2382]

Yes

[@thatonenerd6650]

“If I incoorperate the diatonic major-“ Guitarists * * run screaming from the room * *

[@ArthurMorgan268]

What does this mean

[@seanehle8323]

Me: I feel like you've overplayed the first motif a bit. Sammy G: adds 1 more at the end Me: Perfection!

[@finnvanderbar3935]

i feel like the lack of feel in all but the last one really made a difference

[@evelyng360]

What kind of Firebird is that?? It looks awesome

[@CharleySuede]

Sounds like Mike Campbell had an influence on the lead track. Nice!

[@tomdack463]

That solo is my personality

[@gillt6748]

great video

[@BTCTim]

As much as I'm a big fan of open note drones, in this context, they sounded more like you played it sloppy. The glitch slides also felt quite out of place to me. Great concept that I'll definitely use though! Thanks Sammy G! And speaking of local sports teams, Valour sucks, Forge rules!

[@anuraggdeshpande286]

What do you think of denny dias' stream of notes solos in steely dan?

[@1683clifton]

Talking to Tim Pierce's people sammy! Nice.

[@dr0psy]

that NR firebird

[@Bigbuddyandblue]

“When telling these little stories, here’s a good idea, have a POINT!” -Neal Page- Planes, Trains, and Automibles

[@RedHeaven]

BTW, I'm so loving the tone of that guitar.

[@friendlyguy1221]

What about using Stinkface? Pretty sure you made a video about how Stinkface (and I would think rock moves too, a step further) makes solos better. 😜

[@GalaxyDinoPlayzjojobestshowlol]

what is that guitar your using?

[@holiday_ish]

nice

[@JamesMcKenna-Jmcks]

Yes learning to solo can be frustrating especially when you take up the challenge speed picking, At the moment I completely sock at it, But feel the solos I've created are getting better more melodic, despite the bum notes...

[@catfishmudflap]

Nice guitar.

[@caseybayliss]

im at the point where i can play really good and can play solos pretty fast but I cant make up one in all these songs they are playing up and down the frethboard and going form the 3rd to the 15th freths easily but when I try it sounds terrible the smoke on the water solo its all over the frethboard but I'm stuck over here on the 5th and 7th freths doing minor pentatonic stuff I'm stuck

[@RedHeaven]

That thing where the first solo he's not proud of is better than 50% of the solos I'm doing on my best night.

[@jcwarlock]

Very nice

[@SCBLGamingFilm]

No idea what coffee you drink in Canada but that coffee analogy sounded like someone on an insane amount of Colombia's finest

[@ideitbawxproductions1880]

You sure that was coffee whitener??

[@foreheadlstudios2936]

Great advice! Also, I would have liked to hear about that guy's hamster.

[@DiRtYToanz]

Bro is the Firebird new?

[@phindiggity]

Oh mann... what Gibson is that?

[@dtworzguitar5775]

Nice guitar

[@paulbowman2340]

What's Ghoat ?

[@generalgrievous589]

The Stevie T level bad is funny 😂

[@seto8]

"Let me play you a solo I'm not particularly proud of" Proceeded to play the solo I can never write even in my dreams

[@filippomissiroli2234]

What's the name of that guitar?

[@Koftasandwhich]

What guitar is that

[@trevorclark7985]

the “bad solo” isn’t horrible it just lacks emotion and style

[@nobody-wd8lr]

The tittle is pretty unique , unleashing the beast that been sleeping 😂

[@jonwanrocks]

is that the samurai dad amp?

[@jonwanrocks]

cuz its real cool

[@TonySantuccistudios]

Sounds like a blind melon song. One of my favorite bands

[@seandaniel23]

The Hunk of Clunk

[@Hy35021]

It took me 20 days to learn your “not so proud of solo” at half speed

[@GitShiddy]

Is it weird that to my ear/perspective the first solo sounds like it was written then played but the 10x better one sounds like it was improvised & then transcribed.

[@TacoTommy]

Gonna try this out tonight 😁

[@TacoTommy]

I would also love a video showing how pedals can cause a story to unfold during a solo, I am writing a solo where I plan to shift from delay at 144bpm to wah at half time and then back to delay at 144bpm 🙂

[@luukasthenerd3793]

How much was the guitar. I want one.

[@AdvenuringTime]

It was a one off from the mod shop.

[@tristanlukehart5107]

that first solo is amazing mine sounds like i just picked up a guitar 1 minute ago 😭

[@bored9260]

My problem is psychological because I cannot let go… that last jam sesh showed

[@bored9260]

Then when I let go I can play Tetris but …

[@riffrock]

What’s that guitar

[@radioactivedragonite2420]

Yeah putting your fingers on the fretboard seems to make my solos better as well

[@generalgrievous589]

Idk why but that solo reminds me of Hill Climb

[@esteban1487]

Double stops!

[@expjames911]

Do the same video but for rhythm guitar.

[@Noobmaster-v4u]

Solo that im not proud of *Continue to cook the whole 5star meal"

[@zeeshanhamdani6271]

Okay gotta learn the bad solo first. Cuz it sounds dope......

[@navaho5430]

I use to have a hamster that liked coffee and sport , but it caused him gout what are the chances.

[@ananthkashyap4854]

Your boring solo is dream of many😻🥺🙏🙏🙏