Greetings.
I’m new to soloing here.Just wanted to know what you guys exactly listen to while playing along a backing track.I’ve practised quite a bit with a metronome yet find it difficult to stay in time with a backing track.Also I have learnt a few licks and have come up with a few basic ones of my own but find it difficult to play the same along a track due to different feel and rhythm.Wanted to know if you guys simply change the rhythm pattern and play the same licks or play entirely differnt licks.
Thanks
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I think if you are having issues keeping in time while playing riffs, AND you acknowledge you are new to the concept. I would simplify the process and add more later. So maybe instead of trying to add the licks right away just move around within the scale. Just start with whole notes and quarter notes etc. Once you can stay in time within the basic scales and limited number of notes, then you can add the most basic riffs, then more complex riffs etc.
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Hey mate,
As @Svoisine said, best to simplify it and build a solid base first, starting with the pentatonic scale.
Starting with licks is simply too many steps ahead, when you’re just getting going.
Building block upon block will give you the most consistent progress.
Playing over 1 single chord is the best way to start in my view; it is hugely beneficial. Too many skip ahead and think 1 chord is pointless.
On the contrary, it will allow you to build a quality foundation, find your way better, and promote good phrasing.
Cheers, Shane
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One technique I learned recently is to put on a backing track in the key you want to solo along to. Then play your scale (pentatonic perhaps) over that backing track. That gets you in time with the beat of the track. Then gradually (or immediately as it was in my case), stop playing the scale and start soloing. Just simple stuff at first. Find the BB king box for example if it’s the blues. That sort of thing.
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Hi Ashkin,
It’s a question I have heard several times put in different ways and have considered myself on many occasions. I come to this from various view points, I initially tried to learn guitar, songs, chords and scales when 11-14, I am now nearly 68. I have started and stopped playing 4 times in my life. I on the 4th time aged 45 I went to college on BTEC Music Performance course, where you had to learn and perform 3 songs every 2 weeks and improvise or perform at least one solo, we were told to learn scales and use them to improvise. I then had a 20 year gap for health and work reasons.
I picked up the guitar again in August 2024 and I am now on BLIM4 (JG Blues Immersion) having rejoined after completing BLIM3, there is a lot on the course and not enough time to do it all and will probably have to go through it several times more.
To answer your question there is in my humble opinion not a simple answer or even a best way to approach it. Sticking to the same rhythm/feel is an option but not necessarily good, sometimes a slower licks over a faster song can be more effective, and visa/versa, bit there is more to it than that.
I learnt early on the Minor Pentatonic scales initially in A from position 1, and also the Major Scales positions starting in key of C. I was able to create solos of a sort over songs that worked with the Minor Pentatonic scale, most standard blues songs work but not all, if they stick to the I, IV and V chords of the scale they do work, similarly this applies to popular songs.
With Popular or Rock songs they often will use Chords from the key it is written in and substitutions or extended chords(added notes), this in itself adds to the complexity of what has to be considered if improvising over such a chord progression, the player has to consider whether they can use the notes of the Major or Minor key the song is written in, ie. sound good over those chords, or if they have to consider using other notes or scales to fit certain chords. Jazz material is or can be another level of complexity.
I am by no means an expert and there are others on JG far more knowledgeable than me including @Richard_close2u who may be able to advise, but this would be my approach, based on my experience and being on JG’s Blues Immersion(BLIM).
Firstly I would look to learn the Minor Pentatonic Scale in A position 1, there is guidance in https://www.justinguitar.com/modules/scale-info-for-beginners My recommendation is to start slowly and practice with a metronome, if you make a mistake stop and restart, increase tempo and note sequences as you become more proficient. Find songs like simple Blues backing tracks in the key of A Major the are at a slower tempo. Yes A Major playing the A Minor Pentatonic over it is what gives it that Blues sound, there are specific reasons, but you investigate that. Then choose or create a simple 1-2 bar lick/riff, it may be only a few notes, and play it over the backing track altering its rhythm, feel and note lengths until you find what you like. Then find or create another and repeat, maybe to compliment or answer the first (call and response).Then put them together over the 12 bar blues, and add others as you go, over time your confidence will grow. Once you are confident with A minor Pentatonic position 1 move onto A Minor Position 2 and add more, until you have done all 5 A minot pentatonic positions. You could consider trying different songs in different keys once you know position 1 and understand it by moving it up and down the fretboard.
Another very valid approach is to find solos in songs in suitable keys that you like, Justin recommends Transcribing them down yourself, i.e. you listen and work them out on the guitar and then write them out them in Tab and/or notation. This is initially very hard to do but will train your ear and develop note knowledge and mapping of the fretboard. You could start with just some tab of favourites and learn a few licks and then try them out over backing tracks.
Another approach is to look the Chords in a song and the chord tones, an example would be to look at C major which is made of the 1st 3rd and 5th notes from the major scale, ie. C, E and G, and with other chords in the song, and also the other chords. If you are playing the C major chord you will already be playing these. You can then use those note to improvise over that part of the song, (other notes may sound ok some will not). This will be quite hard and will push you into learning the Major and Minor scales and then use these as appropriate, I would say this is the ultimate goal and requires a lot of skill and knowledge.
Whatever approach you choose to take if you are not doing so already I would recommend you start Justin’s Practical Music Theory (PMT) course, this will help you to understand now and for the future as you guitar skills develop.
I hope this helps and does not confuse you more.
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Hello @Akshin26 and welcome to the Community.
You have received much good advice already.
What I would add is this.
1] Keep it simple. Focus on one small thing only to start.
2] Follow this guide I wrote several years ago aimed at anyone in the position you describe.
Richard
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Hi Akshin, and it is great to meet you as you can see plenty of help from a great community cheers Hec
I’m pretty new to soloing on guitar too. I’ve done plenty more on piano and some on bass.
To answer (wrt the guitar) the request I quoted:
I listen to the chord sequence.
Then to expand a bit further beyond the quote:
I then find where the chord root notes are in one position on strings 1, 2 and 3 (the highest 3 strings). For the 1st few times I’ll try and hit those notes on the chord changes. Later I’ll add notes from whatever scale I think is appropriate. So if I’m playing a 12 bar blues in A, I will add notes from the Am pentatonic, but probably only those on the same string as the root (so only 2 note choices) or the adjacent string (so a total of 4 notes to pick from, one of which probably won’t sound particularly good).
If I’m playing a major scale I’ll do similarly. Justin has a backing track in grade 2 that’s in C major. I can’t remember the chord sequence but say it is C, G, Am, F - I’ll find those notes. Depending on which string you are playing, you have either 2 or 3 notes to pick from.
Assuming you know the potential chord progressions in a 12 bar blues, I’d suggest starting with one of those unless your ear is already good enough to recognise chord sequences. Alternatively get the chord sequence from somewhere else.
It’s pretty rudimentary, but thus far, I’ve found it works well for me. I think it is probably helped though by my understanding of scales and music theory from the other instruments I play.
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Hello Akshin & Welcome!!!
I’m very, very new to improvisation & often have difficulty staying in time with a backing track… my solution was to buy a looper pedal. I have a Boss RC-1 & use it to create a simple, slow track that I then play the pentatonic scale in various keys to practice! It’s still hard to stay in time but it feels easier/better to be “in charge” of the whole process for lack of a better way to phrase it!
Good luck!!!
Tod
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