P.S. James:You're right.You really learn the parts by repeating them over and over and I believe the pros,as you put it,do play by a script to a large degree(some more than others)But you can play the same notes twice and convey a different emotional intensity both times.So in that way I feel he"s playing from his gut,ya know?I also think that the song structure shouldn't limit you to only one approach,with exceptions.I should point out here that I make a clear distinction between riffs and leads.Riffs in a song are much more integral to it's structure.Peace