kewlpack
02-08-2005, 03:01 PM
Scenario:
You find yourself becoming annoyingly repetitive in a solo and can't seem to "break out of the box". You panic! What do you do???
Quick Tip:
Before you jam - practice the following: Find all of the alternate voicings of the chords in the progression (or as many as you can). Play along with the original jam track (if you have a recording) but only use the alternate chords - this will give you some sonic separation. Some chords will stand out much better than others, depending on the jam track.
Now, pay attention to the notes that you are hitting on the top three strings when you hit the alternate chords - essentially the top half of the chord on the G, B, and E strings.
Now limit yourself to playing the alternate voicings of the chords only on the top three strings... once you have memorized the positions... now arpeggiate (strike individually versus strumming) these alternate chords in rhythm with the progression. Of course, for a nice jazzy flair you can always slide into these alternate chords for part of a lead - it's a nice old school touch.
Slide into the first note from a half-step down (or up!) for flavor. Bend a note a bit (or a bunch)... keep it simple at first - keep it in time and stay with the progression. Don't worry about "boxes" right now. Just the alternate 1/2 chords you want to hit. Sell the audience on a few notes first... then build up to more. They just want to remember that you made them feel something sweet!
Next, jump up an octave on the top strings and play the same arpeggiated chord! Play the same lick or change it ever so slightly. Then start up high and move DOWN an octave. Hey - you just created your own little lead "hook"! Pinch a harmonic! w00t!
After you get used to this, you will begin to notice that things fall pretty neatly into various scales. Once that epiphany occurs, you can begin to pull extra notes from those scales into your lead work. You are gettin' GOOD! ;)
Remember to start simple and stay in rhythm and in key.
Results:
You just found...
- several ways to play alternate voicings of chords in the song which makes you a better rhythm player!
- that arpeggiating (slow or fast - it's up to you) part of a chord can form a sweet lead that always fits.
- repeating a particular set of notes creates a "hook" that you can always return to at the end of the lead which brings an identity and voice to your lead.
- you can branch out into a scale wherever you want by starting from the alternate 1/2 chord.
IT'S JUST TOO COOL!
~A~
[Disclaimer: I am not a great soloist by any stretch - but this theory works regardless of skill!]
You find yourself becoming annoyingly repetitive in a solo and can't seem to "break out of the box". You panic! What do you do???
Quick Tip:
Before you jam - practice the following: Find all of the alternate voicings of the chords in the progression (or as many as you can). Play along with the original jam track (if you have a recording) but only use the alternate chords - this will give you some sonic separation. Some chords will stand out much better than others, depending on the jam track.
Now, pay attention to the notes that you are hitting on the top three strings when you hit the alternate chords - essentially the top half of the chord on the G, B, and E strings.
Now limit yourself to playing the alternate voicings of the chords only on the top three strings... once you have memorized the positions... now arpeggiate (strike individually versus strumming) these alternate chords in rhythm with the progression. Of course, for a nice jazzy flair you can always slide into these alternate chords for part of a lead - it's a nice old school touch.
Slide into the first note from a half-step down (or up!) for flavor. Bend a note a bit (or a bunch)... keep it simple at first - keep it in time and stay with the progression. Don't worry about "boxes" right now. Just the alternate 1/2 chords you want to hit. Sell the audience on a few notes first... then build up to more. They just want to remember that you made them feel something sweet!
Next, jump up an octave on the top strings and play the same arpeggiated chord! Play the same lick or change it ever so slightly. Then start up high and move DOWN an octave. Hey - you just created your own little lead "hook"! Pinch a harmonic! w00t!
After you get used to this, you will begin to notice that things fall pretty neatly into various scales. Once that epiphany occurs, you can begin to pull extra notes from those scales into your lead work. You are gettin' GOOD! ;)
Remember to start simple and stay in rhythm and in key.
Results:
You just found...
- several ways to play alternate voicings of chords in the song which makes you a better rhythm player!
- that arpeggiating (slow or fast - it's up to you) part of a chord can form a sweet lead that always fits.
- repeating a particular set of notes creates a "hook" that you can always return to at the end of the lead which brings an identity and voice to your lead.
- you can branch out into a scale wherever you want by starting from the alternate 1/2 chord.
IT'S JUST TOO COOL!
~A~
[Disclaimer: I am not a great soloist by any stretch - but this theory works regardless of skill!]