Emotional soloing
Hey guys, I've been trying to get a more emotional style into my solos, not just lightening fast shredding! Any tips?
# 1
There are a lot of things you can use for emotional soloing. For me it works best when I play slow and know what notes to bend which sound good. Sustain these notes well and bend them good and in the right place.
I can give you a lot more tips, but perhaps this video is also helpful ( you don't have to be a subscriber to access this one ).
http://www.guitartricks.com/courselesson.php?input=bT80bzJlNmdkZA==
I can give you a lot more tips, but perhaps this video is also helpful ( you don't have to be a subscriber to access this one ).
http://www.guitartricks.com/courselesson.php?input=bT80bzJlNmdkZA==
# 2
Yup, as Neal says in the video, sustain, vibrato and timing are all very important.
The rest is chord tones, chord tones, chord tones :).
This means you have to know what chords you are playing your solo over, and target notes from those chords. If you know your arpeggios in a few different positions, this isn't too hard.
For example, if you're playing over the chords G, D, C, C - the scale of choice would probably be the G major scale (same notes as Em). The easy way would be to noodle around in the E minor pentatonic scale.
But, if you really want to sound good (like Slash for example), you would use the E minor pentatonic scale (or E natural minor/G major) as a base, or shell, and land on and target notes that are in each chord.
Start by learning the E natural minor scale in the 12th position. Then figure out where the G major, the D major, and the C major arpeggios are in that same position. Those are the notes to target over each one of the chords. You can use the rest of the notes in the scale as passing notes, but really accent the chord tones.
Hope this makes sense. /Ben
The rest is chord tones, chord tones, chord tones :).
This means you have to know what chords you are playing your solo over, and target notes from those chords. If you know your arpeggios in a few different positions, this isn't too hard.
For example, if you're playing over the chords G, D, C, C - the scale of choice would probably be the G major scale (same notes as Em). The easy way would be to noodle around in the E minor pentatonic scale.
But, if you really want to sound good (like Slash for example), you would use the E minor pentatonic scale (or E natural minor/G major) as a base, or shell, and land on and target notes that are in each chord.
Start by learning the E natural minor scale in the 12th position. Then figure out where the G major, the D major, and the C major arpeggios are in that same position. Those are the notes to target over each one of the chords. You can use the rest of the notes in the scale as passing notes, but really accent the chord tones.
Hope this makes sense. /Ben
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Pentatonic Speedster
Funk Lick Library A2
Bat Country
Funk Lick Library A1
Tapping: Level 4
Tapping: Level 3
Alternate Picking: Level 2
Find all of my lessons here:
Complete Lesson Catalog
# 3
If you are looking for some inspiration check out some Jeff Beck. Love his playing! YouTube has some vids you can check out.
I also agree chord tones are very important and especially if you are playing over changes you can target them on the down beat of each change. This will keep the listener in check and with you melodically plus make you sound like you are telling a story. I think that is a skill that really takes time to develop. Start working over static vamps and build out from there to two chords etc.
Let us know how you're doing.
All the Best,
Joe
http://www.guitarlessonsbuffalony.com
I also agree chord tones are very important and especially if you are playing over changes you can target them on the down beat of each change. This will keep the listener in check and with you melodically plus make you sound like you are telling a story. I think that is a skill that really takes time to develop. Start working over static vamps and build out from there to two chords etc.
Let us know how you're doing.
All the Best,
Joe
http://www.guitarlessonsbuffalony.com
# 4
use slow legato and phrasing that isn't just really fast, and hit the key notes very hard. You want to punch it into their skull. Playing with a lot of emotion can be conveyed through dynamics, or how loud you play. If you wanna be cool, you back off a little bit or palm-mute. However, if you wanna show your emotions, play loudly.
One way to think of it is to decide what kind of emotion you want to portray. If it is a raw or rough emotion like anger or something, play loud and wail it out.. If it is a sensitive or gentle emotion you are trying to portray, use a lot of finesse- like slurs (legato) and vibrato and fluidity :) Remember all of the most emotional solos you can remember and draw inspiration from that. What sort of sound do those solos have? try to emulate that sound in your own style.
One way to think of it is to decide what kind of emotion you want to portray. If it is a raw or rough emotion like anger or something, play loud and wail it out.. If it is a sensitive or gentle emotion you are trying to portray, use a lot of finesse- like slurs (legato) and vibrato and fluidity :) Remember all of the most emotional solos you can remember and draw inspiration from that. What sort of sound do those solos have? try to emulate that sound in your own style.
# 5
Neal's video is nice. I agree that a well done vibrato, bend can add a lot to the emotion in a solo.
There are other technique as well that can add a lot to the emotion of a song. Hammer-ons, pull-offs, thrills, slides, etc. Combining them can make your solo more alive.
There are other technique as well that can add a lot to the emotion of a song. Hammer-ons, pull-offs, thrills, slides, etc. Combining them can make your solo more alive.
# 6
Originally Posted by: metal iz goodHey guys, I've been trying to get a more emotional style into my solos, not just lightening fast shredding! Any tips?
I totally changed a lot of my shreading licks after watching an interview with David Gilmore (Pink Floyd). He said I am nowhere near as fast as a lot of guitarists out there.....therefore I must make each note count. I'd say he does that extremely well!!! I find it a different mind-set that keeps getting better with time and practice. Let me know how you progress.
# 7
One thing that I do is make myself feel the emotion that I want to portray. This helps me add emotion to my playing. If you mix this with the advice others are leaving here then it should add some emotion into your lead playing!
# 8
Hi...I'm not a very fast player so I've had no choice but to try to build the emotional style of soloing...I find it really helpful to forget about scales sometimes and just fiddle about until I find a lick that works over the chord progressions...combining that with what everyone else has mentioned about slides bends and vibrato it's not that hard to come up with slower but interesting stuff...
Check out a few of my tracks on my bandmix profile...no shredding but as much emotion as I can muster...!!!
http://www.bandmix.co.uk/craigyj/
Check out a few of my tracks on my bandmix profile...no shredding but as much emotion as I can muster...!!!
http://www.bandmix.co.uk/craigyj/
# 9
I was just going to mention Mr. Gilmour myself... Check out his amazing guitar work on Dark Side of The Moon and Wish You Were Here.
# 10
Originally Posted by: Marshallmk1Hi...I'm not a very fast player so I've had no choice but to try to build the emotional style of soloing...I find it really helpful to forget about scales sometimes and just fiddle about until I find a lick that works over the chord progressions...combining that with what everyone else has mentioned about slides bends and vibrato it's not that hard to come up with slower but interesting stuff...
Check out a few of my tracks on my bandmix profile...no shredding but as much emotion as I can muster...!!!
http://www.bandmix.co.uk/craigyj/
I visited your bandmix link and I like your playing a lot and wonder where you get your backing music from? If you could let me know either through this thread or via pm I'd be very grateful :)
Thanks
[FONT=Franklin Gothic Medium]Youtube Channel - Jim47ww[/FONT]
# 11
CraigyJ,
I really enjoy your music........keep up the good work.
Doug
I really enjoy your music........keep up the good work.
Doug
# 12
Originally Posted by: SlickStringI visited your bandmix link and I like your playing a lot and wonder where you get your backing music from? If you could let me know either through this thread or via pm I'd be very grateful :)
Thanks
Hi there...I write and record all of the backing music myself. I program the drums...play the bass and keys and backing guitars...I'm lucky really being a bit of an all rounder...:)
The only thing I didn't play myself was the piano on Mad World.
# 13
Originally Posted by: Marshallmk1Hi there...I write and record all of the backing music myself. I program the drums...play the bass and keys and backing guitars...
That's impressive. I particularly like the mood of Alana's Song. Nice!
[FONT=Franklin Gothic Medium]Youtube Channel - Jim47ww[/FONT]
# 14
Originally Posted by: drf46CraigyJ,
I really enjoy your music........keep up the good work.
Doug
Thanks Doug...:D
# 15
My technique for emotional soloing is to work on the expression of different moods and to try to express the 2 extrems of every mood like - very quiet very loud ... as a introductional example. I also work with the expression of colours once you get more advanced.
Emotional soloing for me is a different view how you start to practice your guitartechnique - you change your perception of playing guitar and then more and more you change your way of playing.
Shreding can be very cool if it is truely connected to emotions ... its just one expression. Personally I can not hear these guitarplayers who just play fast because they think it cool and no emotions behind.
Greetings
HP
Emotional soloing for me is a different view how you start to practice your guitartechnique - you change your perception of playing guitar and then more and more you change your way of playing.
Shreding can be very cool if it is truely connected to emotions ... its just one expression. Personally I can not hear these guitarplayers who just play fast because they think it cool and no emotions behind.
Greetings
HP
# 16
also...work on techniques such as bending and VIBRATO. These are very expressive tools that mean you can wring every last drop of emotion out of that note!
As far as "coloring" the sounds, you could really explore the tonalities of modes if you want to get into that.
From a more creative point of view, as mentioned before...try and FEEL the emotion you want to get across and have it in mind the whole time you're writing/playing!
Good Luck!
As far as "coloring" the sounds, you could really explore the tonalities of modes if you want to get into that.
From a more creative point of view, as mentioned before...try and FEEL the emotion you want to get across and have it in mind the whole time you're writing/playing!
Good Luck!
# 17
Thanks for the tips! I think I understand it now! But then, you never can fully understand music....
# 18