[BackToBlack]

Hi gals and gals,

I'm starting to begin learning how to solo and shred as opposed to just chord playing, and was wondering if anybody had any beginner's tips.

Basically, I'm just learning all my scales up and down the fretboard, and have just been playing around in those. Am I off on the right foot?

[si16]

Some good info in this thread here - Simple question

If you are just starting out then keep it simple. Try jamming to backing tracks that keep to I IV V progressions. As you're probably aware the most common scales used for soloing in the pop/rock genre are the minor and major pentatonic and the blues scale, sometimes the minor scales. The major scale isn't used as often but it is the most important scale to learn from a theretical point of view.

Most important of all keep your ears tuned in at all times. If something sounds good break it down and work out why is sounded good.

[fly135]

Learn solos from your favorite songs. You'll be able to see the scales that they are using in their licks, and it will help you break out of the repetitious up and down scale runs. You will also get a feel for phrasing. Eventually you will begin incorporating your favorite artists techniques into your own original licks.

[scotty_b]

Another good thing to work on is taking the melody from a song and improvising on that.

[BackToBlack]

Thanks guys, I'm going to try all of that.

[BackToBlack]

Hey quick question -
what are I, IV, V progressions?

[Stratrat]

Originally Posted by BackToBlack

Hey quick question -
what are I, IV, V progressions?

A chord progression that uses the I, IV and V chords of the key - i.e. in the key of C, it would be C-F-G.