IMPROVISATION: Recipe for Improvised Guitar Solos

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This Video: February 25, 2011 | Search Videos by Title/Date.
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Andrew Wasson of Creative Guitar Studio answers a viewers question...

Q #1). I have my scales down, but my soloing sucks when my friends and I jam on the weekends. I know my keys alright and I have a knowledge about major and minor but I still can't make a good lead. I need help.
- Christopher, Hawaii

Q #2). I've played guitar for eight years. I know my scales and some techniques, but I just can't use them to improvise a good solo. A lot of things are still too difficult and there is just no progression in my playing. What am I doing wrong?
- Leon, Netherlands

A: When it comes to guitar improvisation, there are several areas we need to target in order to develop the skill. The first area is; scale & arpeggio knowledge, (however if the scales are only learn't mechanically, then players will still have some difficulty with improvising, as I'm sure both Leon & Christopher will agree). The next point is that of licks and phrasing. In order to solo even a little, you will require some pre-learned licks and lines. Without them, it will be tough to phrase fluently. Finally, (probably the most important element to develop), is that of working on composing melodies. This will develop your ear. This is different from ear training, (which is about recognizing intervals). What I'm talking about is, working with a progression to develop an established melody for that progression. By doing this, you'll train your ear to follow the sounds in your mind. Sometimes, players will call this idea connecting their fingers to what they hear in their head.

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[Stinnie89]

Try to use pentatonic as "home" and only add extra scale notes (from the whole minor scale for example) as passing notes. You cant go wrong with that and your ear will pick up on those "extra" notes, soon enough you can land on them safely or hold them longer etc, because your ear "knows" if it fits or not. Plus, bending more half steps instead of only whole steps opened it up for me a little more.

[Koolgit]

This is going to sound like the stupidest most cliche' question, BUT IS THERE ANY WAY TO BE AMAZING AT THE GUITAR WITHOUT KNOWING SCALES?

[D1vid3By0]

@Koolgit

Technically even if you didn't know scales or music theory you would be playing a scale anyway. even if you just played every note at random you'd be playing a chromatic scale. The answer to your question (which you have probably heard a million times over the past 8 months) is no.

[metaladik143]

@Koolgit nah scales will be the one helping you make guitar solos all good guitarist knows scales try some pentatonic i think its the easiest

[soul6567]

@Koolgit ofcourse, all u need is brain, eyes, and finger transplant from good musicians

[antitobaccopsa]

@Koolgit no, 

[delftsblueink]

I make the melody in my head and then I whistle them or something like that and then I know to find them on the neck. and the melodies in my head fits the most of the time in the tone of the song.

[mrflip321go]

@Koolgit I you really want become great guitar player you should learn scales. Learning scales doesn't to much good unless you understand how to use them and when to use them.

[MrJeffersontrovao]

What a good song this guitar work!

[MrJeffersontrovao]

I really wanna learn but it is so difficult !!! Ohh my Lord!!

[MrJeffersontrovao]

good teacher!

[MrBoblangan]

@Koolgit no