| Thread Review for Where does a solo start from? (newest post first) |
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Shreddemon |
Posted on 5:11 pm on Sep. 4, 2009 |
IMHO, the last example you posted still hasn't the design and strong expression. hope you don't get me wrong, I am not saying what I do is better than yours, maybe it is just me that thinks this way. but when I try to come up with some solo or riff or anything. I try to utilize some techniques to craft and perfectize my compositions, for example I'd use some cadences in my progressions for smooth and pleasant chord/key changes. or create some tension and resolve to a more restful chord. or use some kind of melodic or rhythmic motif in the riffs or melodies.
well, not always, but I try to use this techniques whenever I feel stuck in a rut. and they really help.
having a design in the song, and knowing where it want to go, gives it intention and meaning. I think before writing a song, you must think of what you are trying to express through it. you can ask yourself questions about it, for example "how a song about smth should sound like?" or "what sounds can create a feeling like smth?". and answer them on a paper, and you will get the idea about your new song. and always keep your ideas somewhere, so you can get back to them, and work on them anytime.
hope you find this useful
cheers =]
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Resmanthes |
Posted on 5:20 am on Sep. 4, 2009 |
ah that was good,yet I think a little too "sweet" and of course,you're right...actually here's another track. it's a bit more complete.
I kinda wanted to try my luck doin' previous solos using guitar pro but this one's got more feeling into it and I made it last longer by repeating some phrases a bit like u metioned but still it's not enough.
check it out and let me know what u think:
http://rapidshare.com/files/275474433/Lunar_Dream.mp3
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Shreddemon |
Posted on 2:26 am on Sep. 4, 2009 |
well, I think these examples sound classical style or progressive, but they are not telling me anything about the structure and the design. the 1st reason is that they are too short, and sound like they are a passage between 2 parts of a song.
here is an example of what I mentioned about the phrasing, I always try to come up with a good sounding backing track that really helps to write a good solo. as you'd notice this short example is a simple solo that has an intro, some fast licks to spice the melodies up and an ending. and is like a mini-song.
http://rapidshare.com/files/275427229/Improv__12.gp5.html
have fun
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Resmanthes |
Posted on 10:23 pm on Sep. 3, 2009 |
Thanx for the post demon!(I feel I'm David Boreanaz on Angel somehow,strange)
u know other than feeling limited using scales, some times u feel like u're doing random stuff. now this could sound cool or like nothing at all but I guess eventually u wannna change smth about them so it takes the "random" thing away...
how did u feel about my improvisation on bands and songs?
and here's some short stuff I made using guitar pro,at first it felt a little by accident but I changed smths here and there. do u think the rhythm and solos are connected?nothing seems out of song's whole body?
http://rapidshare.com/files/266310837/saeed-Classical_Breeze.mid
http://rapidshare.com/files/266310841/Saeed-New_Song.mid
http://rapidshare.com/files/266310842/saeed-New_Song_2.mid
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Shreddemon |
Posted on 6:53 pm on Sep. 3, 2009 |
well, this is a common thing about guitarists, cuz most of times we only think of patterns and shapes rather than the sound. the solution is to have good aural skills, good rhythmical ability, knowledge of fretboard, and music theory. these skills at any level can help to get out of the rut and sound fresh every time we play smth.
and beside having those skills, you should think of the improvisation and phrasing as speaking. winding up some words and saying it in a row, will not express you. so you really need to give your playing a meaning.
think of your solo as a small song, it should have an intro, a high point, and ending. it must intensify the vibe of the song, and be related to it. the structure of it is up to you, but it must has a feel to it.
so from now on, don't allow your fingers to do whatever they want, or your playing will sound the same all the time. 1st think of a melody for your solo, and if you can record yourself humming it, then try to learn and play it with your guitar. then notate it somewhere, if you are not happy with it yet, don't give up. just keep this idea for now. now only keep the rhythm pattern of the melody, and try improvise another melody with the same rhythm, then alter the rhythm, and play the 1st melody on it. now you have 3 ideas, you can keep doing this until you have a lot of other melodies. now you have more options and it is good =D.
now if you like a melody more than the others, you can play it with different types of vibrato, add bends here or there, slides etc.. or see if you can add fast runs or licks to it, or maybe repeat the same melody and add another one in harmony. when you are happy with the 1st phrase, you can go to the 2nd one. in no time you will have a long solo. maybe not the best solo ever played, but at least it will motivate you to write more solos. and it will get better with time.
hope this helps, good luck
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Resmanthes |
Posted on 1:54 pm on Sep. 3, 2009 |
| I mean when I improvise, I wind up doin' the same thing all over again and if I memorize a bunch of scales I feel restricted playin' through them...what do u think?
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