i cant solo!!!!!!!!!!!!! i play all the time, i know pentatonic scale and the major scale. i try to execrise my fingers and play my sclaes constantly, but my solos suck. i cant seem to write solos upward of the 15th fret because its hard for me to play those notes quickly and fluidly, actually, i cant even write solos. anyone have tips on writing solos that actually go along with the song you are playing? im tired of writing solo-less songs, my songs dont feel complete to me because i cant write in a decent solo.

Forget the scales and just try humming out a lead solo to the background music & recording it. Listen back & learn what ya hummed.
The scales you've learned should be used to help you navigate around the fretboard instead of using them as a basis for a solo.

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always listen to your favorite artists and try to get tabs of their works. read and understand how they manipulate different scales to create certain melodies. research on different licks and practice playing them on different keys. im sure you write great melodies for the vocal lines of your songs, so maybe next time try putting those melodies on your solos and just do variations of those themes. happy playing. hope i helped

If you're having trouble soloing you could try taping some riff you made up (be sure you know what key you're in) and try to solo over it. Being able to solo doesn't come easily, it takes a lot of time and practice. Another suggestion for your trouble with playing past the 15th fret is something that my guitar teacher does. When he gets down there he plays with only his first three fingers because he says its less crowded. Also get a metronome thats where you'll get your speed and accuracy. Try learning some licks, after a while you'll start to make up your own and your solos will sound great.

Leftside, I can sympathise with that feeling. It took me a lot of time and patience to become proficiant in soloing, and the higher frets of the guitar were frustrating at first. The way I learned is a combination of whats already been said, use the melody to form the solo if it feels right, then extemporise on it. Remember, many musicians spend hours improvinsing before they come up with a solo they're happy with.

Don't be afraid to copy things from the people you like. Great musicians borrow from each other's music all the time. I was always told 'Imitate now, understand later.' If you copy a solo you know what the original artist knows....finding out how to do your own thing with that knowledge will take time.

Also consider how the chords behind the solo will affect the sound. If you want an example, download 'Dirty Women' by Black Sabbath - get the studio version, then the live version from the Reunion album......notice how the live version doesnt have rhythm behind the solo.....the result is a much more bare sound. Work out major and minor solos over chords....this is a good way to begin building a nice variety to your playing.

Okay, I'm carrying on. If you want any more inspiration just yell

^Chacron^

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What I do when I really need a solo is to think of what key the song is in and start playing by ear starting with that note. I find it pretty effective, but I don't know how that would work for everyone else.

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Don't solo...

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