Originally Posted by: Neal Walterone measure at a time works for me too. If it's a tough solo, even one note at a time just to make sure it's right. I used to wear out cassettes this way but now there are great tools, like Transcribe!, which lets you slow down a solo to 20% while staying in key. If you start with a high quality file, like a WAV, then you get good quality slow-plays. I used this to break down the Van Halen solo for the "You Really Got Me" lesson.

I had an old slower downer (somethingsomething Guitar and Drum Trainer) but it got obsolete and stopped working. I just tried Transcribe! and it's awesome! It also works on videos. I will be sending them my cash. Thanks for the tip!

Back on topic, it varies for me with the song/solo. Sometimes I can get it in a couple hours or even less depending on complexity (or if I have a handy GT instruction vid!) Other times, I'll manage most parts and then fill in something I can do until I can get to the rest. Due to procrastination, that can happen over a longer period, even weeks, depending on how bad my substitutes are compared to original.

Sometimes I find the worst part is simply memorizing all the parts and where they go vs. being able to play them. When that's the case, I find it best to simply listen to the song (and not play) several times, looking for patterns or cues. What I call "loose" songs like TTH's New Orleans is Sinking, or Golden Earring's Radar Love are like that. Taking me a long time to memorize even though the licks are pretty simple.

I actually find shorter, more difficult solos easier to learn than song-long fill-fests :)