[Jamonkey]

hey,

I tend to think of building a solo as storytelling. I think I'm almost repeating the above comments except I'm "re-phrasing" it lol. Letting it breathe is a good idea, what you don't play can be just as important as what you do, I'm a shredaholic so I go against the typical feelings of the board, but I still realize that you don't just play a rhythm line and all the sudden go and play 30 notes a second it just doesn't make sense.

If your telling a story, you'll start out with an introduction, I'll play what will be the main theme first and then I give it detail like it were an introduction. I'll "say" something, then define it by playing it an octave higher (kinda like saying something and responding to it in a higher voice). I'll slowly add intensity, and speed to build up to a climax and then eventually a resolution.

Alright, that's how I approach it.