PROGRESSIVE ROCK GUITAR: Melodic Soloing Concepts

Improvising a "melodic" solo is one of the greatest challenges for any guitarist, prog or otherwise. This is because it's so personal, requiring the player to draw both upon their knowledge of the fretboard and their own interpretation of "soul." Some of the great melodic prog players are Steve Howe, David Gilmour, Steve Hackett and lesser-known, but supremely gifted soloists like Bill Nelson (ex-Bebop Deluxe) or Roine Stolt of the Flower Kings.

In this improv, I was playing over a rhythm track based largely in E major, with the occasional, brief modulation to E minor. Instead of running up and down the E major scale (Ionian mode), I tried to jump around the strings, constructing non-linear shapes and arpeggios (i.e., notes *not* in a row), and land on interesting chord tones, such as the major 6th and 7th, and also the 9th (F#). This creates more interest and tension than always landing on the 1st (root), 3rd or 5th.

To add interest, it's useful to add a variety of techniques, too. Here I used both wrist vibrato and mechanical (whammy bar) vib. You can also bend strings, either with the typical whole step or the sometimes more interesting half-step bends, something I picked up from Steve Lukather. There's a fair amount of legato runs in there, as well as trem-bar work reminiscent of Allan Holdsworth. And it's hard to talk about melodic rock playing without mentioning Carlos Santana, certainly one of the most melodic and soulful guitarists in rock history.

The net effect of all these various techniques and melodic ideas is to create a solo that holds the listener's interest and draws them further into the music. Work on your own melodic playing and see what interesting new trails it leads you down. It's always an interesting journey. --pete prown

Category:

Music

Tags:

• progressive rock
• prog
• pink floyd
• david gilmour
• steve howe
• yes
• flower kings
• king crimson
• robert fripp
• guitar
• melodic
• shred
• arpeggios
• scales
• modes
• fender
• stratocaster
• jeff
• beck

[ssolooc]

Although i am able to decipher and understand the modal/theory behind this piece, it would be great to have the tab already tabbed out.

[willy1864]

I can see and hear that your a big of Dave Gilmour. At times a would have bet it was Gilmour playing this. Absolutely beautiful job Pete. You are a master as well!!!

[griffinmpable]

wowzers. this is impressive. i was the guitarist of a 3 piece more folk based prog rock than most prog bands. you have got a great tone going on here, what would you happen to be running for gear? im always studying the different ways people use their gear as i am constantly searching for different ways to run my rig. im up to a full stereo rig but for sake of space i wanna break it down a bit

[ParanoidRiff]

@ipodojunkie Learn the minor and major pentatonic scales. Then Improvise with basic Rhythm, then improvise with full songs, this is brief but should help you start.

Btw don't try making riffs, they best come naturally.

[eFxLiiVe]

DUDE YOUR VOLUME SWELLS ARE AMAZING!!! im jelous.

[The90degreez]

Thank you for knowing who bill Nelson is. He is a very unknown guitarist however one of the greatest in my opinion. Great job. If you could put up a lesson on his playing style it would be greatly appriciated.

[ipodojunkie]

i would like to get in to playing this style. What do you recommend? i have a hard time coming up with riffs......i need help.

thanx ..

[Desimodontidae]

Awesome.