Simple tips for exciting solos

We've ALL been there. In a rut. What is a rut anyway? I would define it as the point at which the enjoyable becomes stale. You just start to sound really predictable and familiar to yourself. This happens to EVERYONE. We can take some tips from the world of story telling to bust out of these ruts. After all, what are you doing when soloing if not telling a short story?

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[jeremyversusjazz]

rewatching this and occurs to me how much i dig that JM!

[ransbarger]

One of the few channels I hit the like button before watching.

[horsevinyl]

If you aren't thrilled, no emotional sensations predictable, don't push. Just do the work that has to be done. Joy comes often through the backdoor. Be thankful for being a guitar player and imagine you can even make a living out of it. Unbelievable blessing. An old guitar player.

[danthegeetarman]

That “finish the thought” concept is pure gold. The tension and then release concept is something I forget about but is such a crucial tool when soloing

[danthegeetarman]

Great video. So many gems. Had to go back and watch a couple times to make sure I didn’t miss anything the first time

[musicproductionvideos]

Another cool thing about diminished chords... drop any note in the chord... a half step down and it becomes a dom7.... which means you can modulated in 4 different directions.

[TomCPlus]

That is indeed one of my jobs in the band, to be the featured melody in one or more parts of each song. And since it's a cool job to have, I have always wanted to improve my parts to a level that I hear in my favorite songs. I had a lot of room for improvement -- ouch -- and I'm paying attention to (1) accurate note-bending and vibrato; (2) selecting interesting intervals within a line, going wider whenever that works; (3) cleaning up "non-chord tones", landing on the chord tones at the right time in the phrase to match changes; (4) precise timing, staying in the pocket wherever it goes; (5) working with the vocalists and not stepping on 'em. There's more . . . but those are big ones for a better-sounding effort. I'm better lately. 😎🎸

[michaelwade]

And here I was thinking we'd get 16 bars of 32 notes in E harmonic minor lol! Great tone, great phrasing Justin, love your channel!

[samnewton]

Phrasing, Yes, one of THE most important elements of soloing, and one of the most difficutl to acheive. I think being comfortable with space is really really difficult. Being relaxed when playing, again, really hard for most of us. I think maybe listening to what is going on chord wise and reacting to that is maybe what is missing for a lot of gutar players. Not just playing a bunch of licks that apply to the root chord. Anyway, a really great subject. and one that is difficult to attain. Also I would say, play like a singer... Really like your channel. You seem to address subjects a lot of YouTube guitarist don't addrss.

[AlexMusicOvery]

Love your lesson with a bit of theory knowledge thrown in there 🙂 thank you 🙏

[jonesy]

Singing is the same. Creating interest by starting a verse, pre, chorus and bridge in a different place, before, on or after the downbeat/0ne. Playing phrases that people will want to sing is the ultimate hooky guitar part

[daxmoore]

Very interesting! Thanks for the lesson.

[jaygallamore]

Shit! I’m traveling for the weekend and don’t have a guitar. Now I’m going to have to wait until I go home, re-watch this video, and dissect it so I can understand what you just said. Seriously, this kind of stuff makes me work to be a better musician - thanks!

[g_and_kikos_studio]

Really glad with this title you just didnt jump on and shred. Still tasteful licks without having to go insane with speed. I like to bust out the speed occasionally, Tim Pierce style I guess you could say

[TonyThomas]

Great playing, @JustinOstrander! Who are you top guitar influences? You seem to be able to play just about any style! Your wah riffs remind me of Hendrix/Band of Gypsys.

[ScottyJohnson]

Is someone having a musical mid life crisis? A musical instrument is finite. It, along with a person's physical limitations will only allow so much to happen. If someone plays their instrument for hours on most days, it is logical to assume that one will reach a point where nothing seems new and different. It could be compared to childhood versus adulthood. So many activities were so new, so entertaining and exciting to do as a child. Those same activities to an adult might not even be enjoyable. You've done it all. It would seem to indicate that maybe a break is in order or perhaps a regimen of mind clearing exercise or just getting away. JMO! I can appreciate your predicament.

[TonyThomas]

You should have a course called "Math Guitar"!

[charliebendock]

Wow really dig that wah tone! I have a crybaby i bought back in the 90s that just seems to extreme and i havent been able to enjoy it. But recently i tried running it with two amps, a tweed deluxe 5c3 and Princeton reverb, with the wah only on the deluxe and im really enjoying it. Do you ever mix multiple amps for your recorded tones? Or would that just end up taking too much sonic space particularly when multiple guitars tracks are used in songs?

[agatzebluz]

I love your Tshirt Justin. Where can I find it ?

[RobMichael]

That Wha has a great "puke factor "