This Iconic Guitar Solo made me a Better Guitarist

[@trevornever27]

Many people assume that Lynyrd Skynyrd was a southern fried rock jam band, but the truth is that they were a highly disciplined and well rehearsed band that played every solo the exact same way every show

[@johnnywilson7799]

That’s what happens when you practice

[@gib59er56]

You are absoloutly right man !!!!

[@SpedSpedding]

Absolutely! I remember catching them at the Manchester Apollo, and I was thrilled they nailed the solos just as they were written. I’m all for a unique live experience, but as a guitarist, it’s like going to a gig and the singer improvising a new chorus-it just doesn’t hit the same. Give me the solo I fell in love with!

[@trevornever27]

@@SpedSpedding right on! Thats so cool you got to see them live and can confirm it. I thought it was a fascinating factoid to share since many assume otherwise. Im with you and want to see musicians perform the recorded music live. If you really want improv and variation, theres always jazz. Thanks for your reply, your proficiency and style in teaching really stands out from other tutorials. Its easy to see you have a real passion for music and what you do. You always present the nuances in addition to the nuts and bolts that hold it all together

[@jeremyversusjazz]

I agree with buk when he says “most people consider the allmans the best southern rock band ever but for me it’s skynyrd.” (Paraphrasing btw)

[@jeremycrawford3858]

Second solo? YES PLEASE!

[@SpedSpedding]

Second solo loading… 🫡

[@willd2225]

Beat me to it

[@chriss1492]

Great lesson! I love Lynyrd Skynyrd! I grew up in North Florida and they were the icons we looked up to as young rockers in the 70s. Thanks for keeping the legacy alive!

[@edzappia2892]

Thanks!

[@SpedSpedding]

My pleasure as always! And thank you for the support.

[@JohnHarper-m6f]

Love your lessons, Sped - I first started playing guitar in the early 1980s when I had to use a 16rpm record deck to slow the solos down. Your lessons do this for us in a fraction of the time. It's an amazing gift that you can figure things out note by note; an even more amazing gift that you can play this bloody stuff, but here's the biggest gift of all ...... Gary Rossington actually wrote it and made it part of a legendary song. Oh, to have been there that day !!! 😲😲 Sped - please know that all the time you spend putting these lessons together is so appreciated. My guitar playing is indeed improved by each lick, solo or rhythm part I learn - so, thank you, thank you 👏👏👏🙂

[@SpedSpedding]

Hey John, thanks a ton for the awesome comment! Seriously, hearing that my content has helped you level up your guitar playing is the best. Messages like yours are what keep me fired up to keep creating. Hope your week’s going great!

[@northsongs]

I'm a Skynyrd fan from way back in the day and I've always particularly loved the interplay of the guitars on the solos for What's That Smell. Great video, Sped!

[@willd2225]

Working for MCA’s solo is Ed’s masterpiece

[@jeremyversusjazz]

I had the same feeling learning all the parts to SHA…Skynyrd were tiiight as hell. As others have said, obsessed with rehearsing and presenting their live shows as close to the studio records as possible. Yet the shows never felt overly rehearsed. Amazing band. Street Survivors is my personal fav skynyrd record. To me its one of the 20 greatest records ever made by anyone in any genre. 👊

[@__Anton__]

Brilliant lesson, please do second solo. 👍

[@liquidsmokemustang1537]

Nice lesson. This is a great solo. One suggestion. When presenting a step by step song or solo, it is nice to be given the tuning used and key the song is in for those who don’t know. Carry on brother.

[@Drainage_Eli]

Love it. My technique gets better every time I watch one of your videos.

[@SpedSpedding]

How amazing is that! What helped you most with this one?

[@jwilder2251]

Classic rock radio plays the same couple of Skynyrd songs over and over again, doesn’t do them justice. So many songs with killer guitar

[@SpedSpedding]

What are your favourites? I saw them live in Manchester years ago. So good. Simple Man is another favourite of mine.

[@jwilder2251]

@@SpedSpedding Check out the Street Survivors album and the track You Got That Right. Also the title track on Gimme Back My Bullets. Great playing on your vid btw

[@ToneHelix97]

I will have it done by tomorrow sir! No detention for me. Thanks for sharing, when I learned from your hearts’s alone solo lesson, it made a lot of improvements to my lead playing

[@SpedSpedding]

Excellent work! See you in the next video.

[@royharper9472]

Man approaching 150k. Started going fast after 100k. Well done not easy to do. Takes hard work and determination. Hats off!

[@SpedSpedding]

Thanks for being with me on the journey Roy, appreciate you. Looks like it’s hats on for this one though. 😂😂😂

[@asdtexas1700]

Let’s do the second solo and I’m from Alabama. Ed King is my favorite guitarist.

[@SpedSpedding]

You got it. Phenomenal solo and player.

[@daverench2327]

This is awesome brother

[@dritt-drittpaniagua739]

I was just packing up my bags and head down to your studio! Just like a "prebend" I like the way you stifle any arguments that might be on the following up!

[@SpedSpedding]

As in the second solo I am yet to do?

[@UncleDickeysRandomLife]

The magic unlocked for me yesterday. ( To a degree )

[@justinpalmer6098]

Dude, this was great! I really enjoyed it. I've got it down. I'd love to see the second solo.

[@SpedSpedding]

Thanks Justin! Glad you enjoyed the video. The second solo is a beast; I’ll get working on it. 🤝🏻

[@edzappia2892]

Thank you Spederick for showing/allowing me, again, after 30+ years and in retirement, how to play another classic solo 100% correctly, as opposed to playing it about 80% all these years, Hells yes to the second full solo.

[@SpedSpedding]

I just love comments like this. That's so cool. Well done for making little changes. Which parts got a bit of a tweak?

[@skipneumann1]

Was 1974 I remember working on this back in the day- it was my first serious whammy bar attempt- and learned how to bend in tune

[@SpedSpedding]

Songs that teach us something pivotal like that will always be special. 🤝🏻

[@victorformosa228]

Another great lesson Sped, we all have our favourite solos etc, so you wasn't talking out of your... 😅 Nice to have you back, p,s, do that second lesson.

[@SpedSpedding]

I'm working on that second solo as we speak! It's one I played for years, but I know I can make it way better than the lazy version I had.

[@andyclark8354]

I used to play in covers band, way back, that's one of the solos I had to learn in about 5 days before going live, loved it , do much fun.

[@SpedSpedding]

Nothing quite like learning a new solo for a live performance deadline... 🤣

[@davidhughes6933]

@@SpedSpeddingFastest "learning curve" was being told the day before a wedding gig that the bride and groom wanted "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" - and it had only just hit the charts.. and I was but a lad!

[@chrisjude8794]

BRILLIANT Sped SHA was something I always wanted to play when I started out on my guitar journey. Loved learning the rhythm sections ( lots of small variations though out the song) but the solo felt way to difficult for me. So yes armed with this and hopefully the second solo 🙏🙏I will put this right Great explanation and tips as always One of the things that make your tutorials the absolute best Cheers Sped 🎸👌👌👏👏👏👍😎

[@SpedSpedding]

Many parts of this I corrected as I got older. Changing the way I think about it helped me with more choice. I see it as D Mixolydian.

[@FrancoM7747]

You are an exceptional instructor. Thanks!

[@SpedSpedding]

I appreciate that! Thanks for watching my friend. 🤝🏻

[@JulioMacarena]

Gold lesson.

[@SpedSpedding]

Glad you think so, thanks for watching!

[@joelfildes5544]

Great stuff…may I recommend Hotel California,as the difference between Walsh and Felder is astonishing…it’s great to practise BOTH their styles doing the solo…er…solo !It amazes me how you can keep the tone the same,yet still sound like each of them.I’m a massive Walsh fan,as I love a good ‘feel’ (ooh er Mrs) but the Felder stuff is NEXT level…think it’s a Jazz thing ? (Spit) but they are riffs you just wouldn’t stumble on,unlke Walsh’s ‘standard’ penta stuff.Another great one is Goodbye to Love by The Carpenters…I shit you not (Tony Peluso) the worlds greatest fuzz sound…cheers arkid !

[@yingtongtiddleyepo]

Yes more more! I could watch you all day- which will save me listening to my crap playing! Love it Spedsville🎸😁

[@SpedSpedding]

I’m sure your playing is boss! 🤝🏻

[@halloweenjack2562]

Wow, you make that look so easy, but I could never do that in a million....Anyway, here's a challenge - maybe - what about the solos from the Live & Dangerous version of Jailbreak by the magnificent Thin Lizzy (short and sweet maybe, but also perfect!)? Or any other solo(s) by Brian Robertson e.g., Opium Trail??? Cheers, Sped!

[@phlegmbeck9224]

This always gives me fits. Thanks.

[@SpedSpedding]

You're welcome! 😅

[@brettking2800]

Second solo? Yes, please!

[@SpedSpedding]

You got it! Done. 🤝🏻😏

[@michaelgaurnier3108]

You always have great music taste!

[@SpedSpedding]

Thank you! This was on in the car a lot as a kid.

[@Winterfell1066]

Yes all the solos from Sweet Home!

[@SpedSpedding]

Awesome thank you! 🐺

[@DamonBates]

Second solo please! … Even though I’m still trying to get the fiddly bit in the second sultans solo up to speed lol! Thanks for all you do as always Sped

[@SpedSpedding]

You can do it! There are many tricky parts in that second solo. That song was another milestone for me when I was younger.

[@DavidDotson-lo6rp]

Yes

[@vinvin1909]

Great lesson. Cheers, mate.

[@SpedSpedding]

My pleasure!

[@darylm.stephens9603]

Always love your vids.

[@SpedSpedding]

I appreciate that! Thanks for watching.

[@lawndart188s]

Great lesson! Loving it from GA, USA

[@SpedSpedding]

Appreciate you! Thanks for watching. 🇺🇸

[@johnnyboo8243]

awesome! Nice one Sped

[@SpedSpedding]

Thank you!

[@bogse]

You know Van Halen Panama solo never gets old, I play it almost daily + the part Dave starts to speak, haha. You could do a video tutroial of that solo so we would see how you play it.

[@SpedSpedding]

Where he reaches down and eases his seat back? 😂 Yeah it’s a cool moment that!

[@seanmurray976]

Very impressive 1st solo to take on as a kid! - Lynyrd Skynyrd will have their music spinning/being played here on earth long after we have shuffled off this mortal coil....that said. THANK YOU for this - BTW - you've got the tone (as you know) DIALED in mate. Peace ~

[@SpedSpedding]

It was more the first solo I felt like I was really proud of if you listen to the story again. One that was very complex that I worked hard on. I had learnt others before! Thanks for watching. 🤝🏻

[@seanmurray976]

@@SpedSpedding I love the vids man....I have benefited greatly....much appreciated my man!!

[@meeno_the_man]

Yes, please. Let’s finish the whole bit. You’re a rock god, honest.

[@SpedSpedding]

You’re too kind! 😍 I’ll stretch off and prepare us for the madness of the second solo.

[@mentalcog2187]

Yeah,.. caught me off guard with some Skynyrd!! HA! Good one!! Fellow Zep Fan that appreciates Lynyrd Skynyrd too is flipping awesome Sped!!

[@SpedSpedding]

That’s wicked! Such a great band, caught them at Manchester Apollo a few years ago, actually went with a student of mine at the time. Amazing show.

[@mentalcog2187]

@@SpedSpedding Haven't seen Lynyrd Skynyrd since 1975! Before the plane crash in '77. Did see Rossington Collins Band when they first came out with that little dynamo singer though. Not sure how things were in Britain but in the USA,.. didn't matter who's concert you were at, after '77,.. people would light their lighters and holler "Free Bird!" Not joking. That went on for many years. Many. 1975 was my sister first time seeing Zeppelin and mine was 1977! Missed the first time through. Aaaah,... the days of concerts and music was everyone's interest. Even if you had no desire or money to play.

[@gibson7289]

Thanks again sped..ya ,let's get the second one in there..

[@SpedSpedding]

Always a pleasure!

[@JIMIIXTLAN]

Your Rockface during the solo is awesome!

[@SpedSpedding]

😂😂 thanks!

[@justtheguy27]

You deserve so many more subscribers, Sped. Keep it going! Oh, and you kind of remind me of a young Mick Mars (with the hat) with a British accent. :P

[@SpedSpedding]

Maybe it's the hat in this one? 😂 I've never had MM before but I do get Blackmore all the time!

[@bryanmoraski7005]

Thank you sir.

[@SpedSpedding]

Most welcome!

[@ahyesverygood1336]

2:27 - You should pick one person out in the crowd and play solos "at" him/her like that, for the whole set😂. I've kind of ignored Skynyrd for most of my life, having grown up listening to The Exploited (surprisingly _great_ solos for a punk band🤔), etc, but will be listening to more from now on. Feel like I've missed out on a lot😄.

[@SpedSpedding]

😂😂😂 Yeah I definitely will. Psychotic eyes and a trout mouth. I’m sure they’ll love it.

[@ahyesverygood1336]

@@SpedSpedding 😄

[@RebelTheUncanny1]

Nice upload choice, Mr.Spedding.

[@SpedSpedding]

Why thank you Mr Uncanny. 🤝🏻😂

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video from my favorite youtuber have a wonderful weekend ❤😊

[@SpedSpedding]

Thank you! You too! 🤝🏻

[@MackAxyzz]

great job man; glad to see you dig into skynyrd...interesting bit about guitarist ed king and producer al kooper from back then> As for the story of Ed King playing his guitar solo in G, even though the song is in D, Kooper said, "IMHO, the song is in they key of D. Ed disagrees and says its in the key of G. We are both talking about the same finished recording. It is an opinion about an existing piece of music." Some stories say Kooper tried to change the solo to D in the mixing process, but King won out. "Neither of us wishes to 'fix the key,' Kooper said, "the discussion is an interpretation of what each of us hears. Ed IS playing his solo in they key of G while in my opinion the song is in D. That causes some interesting note rubs but I got used to them after a few hours because Ed refused to change the solo in ANY way."

[@SpedSpedding]

Ha, I love this! It’s fascinating to see debates about key and scales surrounding such an iconic solo from within! 😂 I think it might come down to the level of musical theory understanding at the time. One interpretation might be that you could view the chords G, C, and D as the I, IV, and V of G major. However, it feels like the song is really grounding itself in D as the home chord, right? Personally, when D is the tonal centre and C major is present, I think of it as D Mixolydian, where D is the I, G is the IV, and C is the flat VII. Is it possible that they simply didn’t have the terminology for modes back then and referred to everything as the “key of G” or “key of D,” when in fact they might have been playing in D Mixolydian. I know I didn’t have that understanding way back when. For reference, here are the chords in each key: Key of G Major: 1. G Major (I) 2. A minor (ii) 3. B minor (iii) 4. C Major (IV) 5. D Major (V) 6. E minor (vi) 7. F# diminished (vii°) D Mixolydian: 1. D Major (I) 2. E minor (ii) 3. F# diminished (iii°) 4. G Major (IV) 5. A minor (v) 6. B minor (vi) 7. C Major (VII)

[@MackAxyzz]

@@SpedSpedding yeah i get into that stuff to ha...i appreciate your input and perspective; blessings to you brother...more skynyrd please sir! 😎

[@isMike999]

FIRST off...that NECK and the grain between the 4th and 8th frets is AMAZING....George Lynch "Alone Again" solo was my first solo that made me a better guitarist....too bad he was a butthole when I met him the first time.....nice playing Sped...

[@SpedSpedding]

Quite a few people have commented on that grain. I feel like I got really lucky with it. It’s a beautiful pattern. People say it looks like an eye. 👁️

[@isMike999]

@@SpedSpedding 💣

[@Roscoe1279]

Very well done! Did you use a track isolator?

[@Metal-13]

Very cool Sped ⚡️🎸⚡️

[@SpedSpedding]

Thanks so much!

[@hisoverlorduponhigh90]

Sped is in the house. It is time to rawk.

[@SpedSpedding]

I've forgot my key, can you let me in?

[@markdonaldson3920]

Excellent mate 👍 🤟

[@SpedSpedding]

Thanks Mark!

[@brianhasenkam8607]

SECOND SOLO NOW!!!!😊

[@SpedSpedding]

Haha it’s a beast isn’t it! Keep your eyes peeled.

[@allenmahan9393]

*_KILLER!_* 🎸

[@SpedSpedding]

🤝🏻 Nice one thanks for watching!

[@martinjohnson2021]

Your the best Sped, funny guy too!!!

[@SpedSpedding]

Haha thank you!

[@vaughngallacher6454]

Yes Please! 2nd Solo :)

[@SpedSpedding]

😏😏😏

[@vaughngallacher6454]

@@SpedSpedding Thank you!!!!!

[@stevehyde7573]

Second solo please!

[@SpedSpedding]

Leave it with me. 🫡

[@TommySG1]

Hah! Awesome Sped! We were just discussing something along these lines via Patreon, I didn’t think there’d be an upload this quickly but I’m certainly not going to complain 🤣 The only thing missing is maybe filming this in an old barn with a horse or two behind you and maybe a nice pair of shit-kicker boots ahah 😂 Love it and thanks for doing this, hope to see more man. Tommy~

[@SpedSpedding]

Haha, yeah that would have been the perfect back drop. You’ll have to make do with moody LEDs for now. The questions and research on Patreon will all become clear soon! 😏😏😏

[@TommySG1]

@@SpedSpedding , Very cool and thanks again!!!

[@omegalast800]

...whats a "fractal?"...sounds fab! I've still got some Green Shield stamps to use up.

[@SpedSpedding]

Haha, I reckon you're gonna need a few more. It's a modeller that I use for my tones. FM9.

[@omegalast800]

@@SpedSpedding ...sheeshkababs!?£?!£$! ...I'm going for a foot spa instead.

[@gibsonfan159]

I swear that last descending phrase is also on Gilmour's Mother solo.

[@SpedSpedding]

I’ll have to investigate.

[@Teabonesteak]

Shooting Star by Bad Company is a great song.

[@mikedr1549]

Sped! Long time! Seems the algorithm has forsaken you!!

[@SpedSpedding]

This gets said to me on a regular basis. It actually kinda makes me sad now. No idea why, it's frustrating. Hope you're good.

[@jasonmarriott2658]

Hi sounds great. What is the model of yr guitar please.

[@69goldi]

How about some Paul Kossoff Mr Sped ? His solo on the song Remember on the Fire & Water Album is sublime

[@SpedSpedding]

Fantastic player. I will keep that in mind. Thanks!

[@joelfildes5544]

@@SpedSpeddingYou don’t hear much about his brother…Juan…?

[@SpedSpedding]

@@joelfildes5544 He's hurt his arm.

[@joelfildes5544]

@@SpedSpedding but on the other hand…

[@James-cs3hp]

Awesome....!!! dose BXRRELL have something new coming out soon....??? 🎸❣️

[@SpedSpedding]

6th September! “Tattoo.”

[@chimmychoozie9474]

and third solo :)

[@SpedSpedding]

Draw my own line at piano solos. 😂

[@chimmychoozie9474]

@@SpedSpedding XD this made me look up some old footage (7/2/1977 - Oakland Coliseum etc.) looks like they just made up about 4 new solos every time they played it and they are ALL killer!

[@Roscoe1279]

I've performed in rock bands, off/on for over 50+ years. I played the lead to this song, but hearing you, I missed many notes. HOW did you hear the smallest of notes?

[@SpedSpedding]

First of all, thank you-that’s a huge compliment to my musical ear. I suppose 20 years of teaching has sharpened my ability to spot details. If you’re playing more than teaching, you’ve probably been more focused on live performance than dissecting the specifics of a song, right? I like to think I put a lot of effort into everything I do and hold myself to a high standard. As I’ve grown as a musician and teacher, I find that if I’m not 100% confident in what I’ve worked out, I don’t feel comfortable teaching it to someone who’s paying me.

[@glenh2752]

I woke up bored at 6am, so put together these lyrics for your next song: Sped Spedding spoke spectacularly, spanked spaghetti, sparing speechwriters, sparking specific spacecrafts, spasms and spontaneous, spectroscopical sparkleberries.

[@SpedSpedding]

“Spacecraft Sparkleberries” is what I go by on a Friday night. 🕺🏻

[@glenh2752]

@@SpedSpedding splendid 😎

[@gibson7289]

What do you think he recorded that song with?real snappy sound kinda tele like.just listened to the original and i thought you were wrong on the 12 to 15 hammer on after the first bend.... what was i thinking lol,ill never doubt you again..sorry brother.

[@SpedSpedding]

Haha, thank you! There's something there in the track if you listen right? If it's a tele it would have to have a trem on it because of the dip at the end?

[@gibson7289]

@@SpedSpedding that's true I didn't think of that,but I definitely hear that hammer on.

[@nuendo2496]

I like the guitar on more on Werewolves of London…..

[@SpedSpedding]

I’m off to investigate. 🐺

[@THillick]

How many of us still get mocked by wannabe's in the audience telling us we played the solo in the wrong key.. (If you know, you know ;-))

[@davedavid7061]

well, I heard Mr Young sing about it

[@SpedSpedding]

Well, I heard ol' Neil put her down

[@UncleDickeysRandomLife]

My Ibanez JEM wont sound like the blues at all. Its not becuz l havent lived the blues either. But im not amped. My ower and water is off. Has been for months.

[@Harvey-r6t]

Check out the way this guy plays both solos! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXOcfa17hcmjq9Efeature=shared

[@guyroger4131]

Like to hear the second solo.

[@SpedSpedding]

I got you. 🤝🏻😏

[@slimturnpike]

Is that plate reverb?

[@SpedSpedding]

I can’t remember now. I flicked it over on the preset actually. If I remember to check I’ll let you know.

[@slimturnpike]

@@SpedSpedding thanks Sped