Soloing

vokal · Newbie Alert Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 3

I know this concept might be hard to explain, but what can i do to make myself better in soloing in different keys? I find soloing in E pretty easy, though Gmajor is just a little difficult

fatboy · Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 11:10 pm Post subject:

I'm no expert but here is one suggestion.

When you solo in any key try to do so without using unfretted strings. THis will ingrain in you the basic "shape" of the keys in your fretting hand. Then when you need to change keys all you have to do move your starting point up or down the fretboard and soloing in any key will be exactly like soloing in any other
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Neil Gray · Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:24 pm Post subject:

Yep. Sound advice.
Another way I enjoy is by doing major/minor scales all the way up the neck. They of course keep the same shape, so you're learning how to play intuitively as opposed to intellectually as you get the feel of the bass. You learn the 'shapes' that work, and you learn the sound of your neck/fretboard. Start with open E Major scale, then open E minor scale, then F Maj - F min, F# maj - F# min... on and on.
When you get as far as you can go on the E string, descend on the A string.
You'll know your key signatures in no time, and soloing will be a breeze after this exercise becomes easy. The key is to have no pauses in between your scales. Practice different styles as well. For example, play one scale in a blues groove, and the next in a country groove. Stuff around with it. It works, and it's learning theory while playing music.
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IrIsH_FouRStringeR · Growing Guppy Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 42

neil amazing advice this has helped me alot too. grateful much!
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oldfclefer · Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2005 6:45 am Post subject:

Soloing kicks my butt every time.
Here's some advice I got a long time ago.
Whatever song you're playing when you are soloing, first play the melody of the song for half of a verse, then vamp, riff and scat on the scales for the other half. Also learn modes (found in theory resources), I was told lydian and mixlydian are very useful.
I don't know why, but that has worked for me every time.
I guess it amazes people that the invisible musician, the bassist, has some sense of melody.
Just a suggestion.
Have fun putting your soloes together.

Neil Gray · Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2005 1:00 pm Post subject:

Modes are great. I learned the theory behind modes when I tried my hand at lead guitar. Even the little bit I learned stuck, and helps with bass playing.
The key is to learn this stuff, and then not have to think about it. There is nothing more boring or confusing than negotiating the relative minor of C#sus7, only to find out that while you were thinking about it, the three bars that you could of actually used that information in are long gone, and your chance to wow the crowd won't come around until next week!
The other thing that I have learned is that it is rare that you will be in a situation where EVERYTHING is new. Chord progressions have a degree of familiarity, if only because they've been around so long! The more you play, the more you will recognise music, and the more you will be able to anticipate what sounds good (because it fits, because you know it does because you've played it all before). This is where improvisation becomes a little easier to understand. The more you PLAY with a group of people, them more you grasp what they are trying to do. Improvisation and soloing becomes easy because you can anticipate the music.

Here endeth the muse.
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Team_Steve · Tadpole Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 20 Location: Brisbane

modes are KING, i'm a sucker for using mixlydian (5th mode) for fills, just sounds so good in the up beat aussie rock band i play with! but dorian is good in the more serious songs with that darker feel to it, i guess you could extend it all to solos, a solo is basicly a 8 bar+ fill Very Happy

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Creeping Death · Tadpole Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Oregon

soloing by changing keys is easy, I knew about that from playing Trombone in 8th grade.

If you make a 2 or 3 note riff starting with the root of the key's scale just keep it going in other keys.