Duh!

**Dirt Rich** · 02-10-2012, 05:48 AM

I just had a musical epiphany from the strangest place. I was listening to Ray Charles (who is a freaking musical genius btw) on the way home, and I realized that the way he sings his songs is exactly what a guitar solo should sound like. The reason my guitar solos never sound right to me is because I'm thinking of my guitar like a guitar, when I should be treating it like a vocal! Anyway, thought I'd share it, as I just sat down with my guitar with this in mind, and it completely changed my approach to soloing, I believe for the better!

**die Bullen** · 02-10-2012, 06:31 AM

interesting thought- maybe that's why I can't play solos too. I have an absolute mental block when it comes to lead playing- I've never been interested in it or able to do it well

**Dirt Rich** · 02-10-2012, 06:59 AM

Try it man, I bet you'll like it! Just play what you would sing!

**die Bullen** · 02-10-2012, 07:10 AM

I will. I spend so much time on rhythm that any solo I learn has to be memorized note for note which is very sterile. Maybe this is where I've being going wrong- although I think as a person some people are inclined to that "abandon" that makes great leads, whereas I am very much a controlled person who tends to follow the rules and interpret things literally. That doesn't work if you are a lead player.

**YeahDoIt** · 02-10-2012, 07:19 AM

I think there are no rules. I try various ideas, record and listen to playback. I sometimes sing a part and try to reproduce it on guitar but I also try lots of other ideas. A fishing rod can work as a bow on a guitar, similar to a violin bow. I just experiment a lot.

**etechstan** · 02-10-2012, 11:07 AM

Treat it like a melody

**Teleblooz** · 02-10-2012, 07:27 PM

Which is why so many sax solos sound so expressive. Being produced by breath, it necessarily is phrased to accommodate the player's breathing. Hence, it sounds like a vocal. Guitar solos phrased the same way also have more of a "singing" quality.