How To Write A Guitar Solo

It’s more stressful to think about writing a guitar solo than it is to actually do it. Here is a simple tutorial to get you started.

First, decide which key you are playing in and stick to it. It’s okay to wander away somewhat in the name of freedom of expression but when you are just starting out, discipline will help you. Next, learn a scale. The pentatonic is fine, most people work with it. This is just to give your first efforts some structure.

Start with a riff. That’s a collection of notes that has a little rhythm to it. It doesn’t have to be brilliant, in fact, don’t worry about your audience’s reaction at all at this stage – just get something down to begin to work with. As you become more familiar with your first riff, you will begin to add more notes and variations.

So add another riff. You are still in the same key, using your scale in the same time signature, so you should be able to put the riffs together without making them sound awkward together. Once you have a couple or three riffs, repeat them over and over, play them in a different order. Play them till you can do it without thinking.