Every guitarist has their solo. The solo that just shakes them to the bone. That one guitar solo that makes the world a better place. That legendary solo.

For me it’s Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd. When David rips into the most beautiful, melodic, flawless solo that I’ve ever heard, my day is instantly better.

The tone, the power, the careful phrasing is so moving.  So how did he, and so many other rock greats, create their legendary solo?
Let’s dissect some of the greatest guitar solos of all time, and unlock the secrets that you can start using in your soloing today.

Step 1 – Tempo is more important than you think!

When I was young and wet behind the ears, all I ever wanted to do is play fast. I figure if I could play faster than anyone else, then I would be better than anyone else.

Nothing can be further from the truth.

Now, the only the thing I think about while playing my guitar is how little can I play.

Music is the language of life, and if you want to truly live as a musician you must learn how to listen.

Think about it, what makes a good conversation? The person who talks non-stop, or the person who sits there and listens.

So think about setting back into the moment, into the groove. Let the music breathe, and then begin your solo. Play a few notes, then rest. What is the music saying back. Then respond with a few more notes. Then rest.

I know that this sounds a little kooky, but it’s the secret to being great. Just because you can play 300 notes a beat and never repeat the same lick twice doesn’t mean you’re great, it just means you you’re fast. In a relationship, would you rather be known for being great or fast? We’ll just leave that one alone.

So how do you add space and make your solos remarkable?

Step 2 – Hooks are everything, it’s what catches the biggest fish.

A musician is nothing without his audience (fish), the bigger the audience the bigger the musician. Writing hooks within your phrases is the key to getting a bigger audience.

That’s why it’s so important to learn the melody of every song you play. Jimi Hendrix did it. He could play every note that he sang, and it added an element to his music that many people of that time didn’t have.

Most guitarists just want to know what key they are playing in, that way they can just pull out their bag of recycled licks.

Always learn the melodies first. You can then use your licks or knowledge to expand on the melody, but it’ll give you a base to solo around. By sticking with the melody and creating hooks, you ensure that people remember you.

Step 3 – Tone, Tone, Tone, Tone, Tone!

Spend time crafting your tone. Distortion can kill the mood! This is something that has been lost over the years. If you look at the list of best solos of all time, even the hard southern rock giants, Lynyrd Skynyrd, had relatively clean tones. Many people misinterpret the intensity of their music as just distortion.

They just played with pure passion, raw intensity, and power, and that’s why they have landed themselves as one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

Concentrate on making great music, not just a great solo, play with everything you have. Use hooks, melodies, and space to craft your solo, and you’ll create something that will be remembered for ages to come.

Feel free to add your favorite solos, and any personal tips and tricks in the comments below!