Soloing Secrets - Brian May

Hey everyone! Here's the next episode of Soloing Secrets with Brian May. I've had a lot of requests to feature more of Queen's legendary music, and aside from a Chordplay episode featuring some of Brian's rhythm guitar and chord-based ideas, along with a few harmonized moments during the 'Harmonizing The Guitar' episode of Brewster's Millions Of Rants, this is the first time we've looked at his soloing style on the LNL channel - so get ready, this is going to be another deep dive surrounding a complete guitar legend.
The ideas in this lesson include a number of sample phrases/ideas pulled from various Queen albums, including elusive licks from songs such as 'Tie Your Mother Down' and 'March Of The Black Queen,' along with some of his crafty scale sequencing phrases from songs such as 'Bicycle Race,' 'Jesus,' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' This episode concludes with an in-depth look at Brian's inventive use of delay effects and a few applications of strategically harmonizing parts with the delay repeats. This is an interesting idea using a basic/common effect (delay) that Brian fully explored in concert while touring and performing around the world with Queen for decades.
Needless to say, if you're a Brian May/Queen or classic rock fan, you'll find plenty to sink your teeth/fingers into hiding in this lesson, but for those that are new to Brian's fretboard magic and the glorious music of Queen - this episode will certainly shake things up in your routine and supply you with plenty of new ideas, concepts, licks, and inventive areas of music to explore.
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[@ledflaplin2001]

Brian May is just incredible. He had that flashy, fast playing style before it was really en vogue. I see a lot of the 80’s guys like Vai, Satriani had to have looked up to May.

[@davekiddie4467]

?

[@ledflaplin2001]

@@davekiddie4467 what’s your question?

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

@@ledflaplin2001 : Perhaps "?" indicates a blank stare. Likely we will never know. Good for a laugh though. lols

[@NoLegalPlunder]

He’s amazing. His soloing seems almost like singing. And his tone is some of the best tone ever. I just learned the other day that he plays the harp on their song Love of My Life. He didn’t know how to play it until they needed him to do it for the album.

[@SuperHorsecow]

Goes to show. The music goes from musician to instrument, not the other way around.

[@tallpaul1020]

What a great lesson. The thing I always liked about Brian is you can hear the intelligence in his playing. Obviously he's an extremely smart man. But what a pioneer. Love the harmonizing. Thx Dave great video as usual!!!!

[@babylemonade2868]

Steve Vai said he can imitate any guitarist but Brian May. A nice surprise,thanks Dave cool video

[@SealedKiller]

Brian brought Arpeggios, Scales, Harmonizing into my playing. He made me actually understand the fretboard fully. He also made me understand theory because I really wanted to understand how certain notes made up those harmonies.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

Six note scales are awesome, and rarely used outside of Celtic music and a few other genres. Also, Freddie does the same echo harmony trick with his vocals in the middle of _The Prophet Song._

[@colbyanderson8630]

I always thought Brian May's "Star Licks" tutorial video would be a good source for one of your "three licks" episodes.

[@michaelw5010]

the ability that you show, going from guitar god to guitar god is amazing. you NAIL their licks. outstanding videos

[@elektrekduck147]

Loved how this started with me playing along to these licks and ending up with me playing Nuno. When you really break these down like you do, you are able to hear the connections really well. Great lesson!

[@stesharr]

Another insightful and Interesting lesson from dave,thank you. Saw Brian with Queen a few weeks ago ,if you've never seen Brian doing his stuff live then you really must,he really is a fantastic player and a lot heavier than you'd think he'd be. Definitely up there in my top ten rock guitarist 🎸.

[@DaveyWoodford]

Are you always using the Behringer V Amp on these videos? Out into a cab? Sounds EPIC always sir . Love the content , you are a tremendous player , teacher

[@iannash1027]

Another great lesson David - thank you. Brian's solos were/are never less than perfection - incredible compositions, harmonies and tones - and they'll always define the sound of Queen. A true great.

[@raybaumgardner]

The opening piece takes me back to the Starlicks VHS tape! Wore that one out rewinding and pausing it 😆

[@efranco37]

exactly! He probably couldnt cite that video for copyright but agree!

[@chrishandley]

Brian is the reason I started playing. Excellent lesson thank you!

[@herrvierkoetter]

Hi David, thank you so much for your deep dives into so many guitarists, I play guitar since 50y. You add context to many of my guitar heroes and explain the why and how. Brian May brought me back to the beauty of Major and his guit and amps produced such an incredible warm, voice-like sound.

[@mikeg3660]

Great lesson/licks for Brian’s style. Would love to see something like this on Tom Sholz of Boston. It seems like they share some playing style and brilliance.

[@briann1737]

cool-inspiring, Thank you

[@joeb3083]

Thanks for another great lesson Dave, I really appreciate your work. Learning a lot 🤘

[@primitiveknot3480]

Great stuff. I remember listening to the Brighton Rock solo on Killers Live over and over back in the day. Inspirational.

[@BillLarkinmusic]

Great topic and lesson !

[@frankiedonofrio5438]

Well done Mr. Brewster!!!!!!

[@holtrain81]

Great lesson, really dig that delay sequence!

[@billbailey6779]

My gratitude.

[@greg77hot]

Thanks Dave... Love Queen 1 /2 ...shear heart attack.

[@embreesmith7613]

Thanks, David These videos take time

[@tonyx2802]

Damn this was really for guitar players ✊🏽

[@guismth]

Thanks for working so hard David! Most informative lessons!

[@waynegram8907]

The band Harem Scarem guitarist Pete Lesperance licks lesson

[@dougstubbs4351]

Second lol 🤣😆 now what. Psych what up man??? Great lessons the past 2 weeks. I'm back on 2nd shift so once I get home from work I will be watching this. Such a great guitar player and song writer collaborator.

[@joeyd3324]

Brighton Rock Solo...

[@noellyyra6111]

Hey dave! Is there any chance you could make more videos about Prince? You already did one video. But it simply isn't enough, there is too many live videos of him shredding like a god that you need to deconstruct.

[@scottcummings8602]

Fantastic video, Mr. Brewster, did you use a sixpence coin for this lesson, or something else? Thanks

[@backtoshallabal6662]

now I know how much Brian May influenced Randy Rhoads

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

Now I know, now I know, now I know, now I know, now I know, now I know, Wh oo oh, oo oh oo woah, oo oh oo woah, oo oh oo woah, oo oh oo woah, oo oh oo woah Can anybody hear me? Anybody hear me? Hear me, hear me , hear meeeee. (The part where Freddie does the same echo harmony trick in _The Prophet Song,_ one of my fave Queen songs) Also: R.I.P. Randy! ❤

[@daveqr]

I realized that when I heard an old Queen boot from the early '70s. People don't really talk about that, but it's right there if you listen.

[@damonstewart70]

Kurigans theme!!!

[@CollinMcMIchael]

Please do Dakota, with the songs runaway, into the night and angry men are epic

[@outtathyme5679]

Instant click

[@dominicgibson9529]

Come on Dave, I'm going to bug you til you come through with a look into one of the most underrated guitarists...Brian Tatler of Diamond Head. No Diamond Head= no Metallica, no Megadeth, and all the bands they subsequently influenced.

[@kanoabotprime1472]

Second

[@esteban1487]

first