Originally Posted by: bartonhallI have been trying to find tabs on building tension in a solo.

Nick gave you the best possible advice on how to build tension via chord changes: Use the V chord! :)

I not familiar with "the dead, allmans", but I know in a typical Blues you will hear the same I-IV-V over and again. So, the trick is to gradually build tension over the course of a few minutes of a solo using dynamics and phrasing.

Start with relatively slow (whole notes, half notes) and quiet licks. Space them out, don't run them together, hold bends for a whole measure. Gradually increase the relative speed (1/4 & 1/8 note licks) in the middle, gradually raise the volume. Eventually toward the end, raise the volume to maximum and play faster licks (1/8 triplets & 1/16 notes).

Best of success with it!