How to Write a Guitar Solo

A guitar solo isn't just an intermission between verses and choruses, it's a key part of a rock composition. But sometimes the inspiration just isn't coming. Here are some tips for guitar players with writer's block or those looking to get better at writing an original solo.

Instructions

1. Find an emotion. Some guitar players say you should find a "base" to write from when creating a guitar solo. Look at the song lyrics as a marker for what you think your solo could sound like.

2. Work from your base key. One important music theory aspect of writing a guitar solo is that you always want to keep your notes in the realm of the song's overall key. Going beyond this can get you a weird, disconnected sound that will not reflect well on your writing ability. Keep this in mind when brainstorming solo ideas.

3. Use effects. The tone of your guitar makes a big difference in your solo. Using distortion or more sophisticated effects like delay or chorus can amp up your soloing and let you do more with fewer notes. Many "drama-rock" compositions make good use of effects to enhance a solo. For some examples, listen to anything by Pink Floyd or the ensuing solo work of Roger Waters.

4. Utilize minimalism. Instead of jumping around trying to find a battery of notes for your solo, try a short repetitive musical phrase that you embellish with side notes and good guitar tones. Nine times out of ten, you'll end up on top with this kind of solo. The top rock band U2 did a lot of this in their later work, in albums like "Achtung" and "Zooropa," but they're not the only ones. Many of your favorite bands practice minimalism in the studio. They're not lazy; they just know what sounds good.

5. Take a page from the great old ones of guitar soloing. If you're stuck, listen to bands of the 1980s glam-rock era including but not limited to: Def Leppard, Skid Row, Poison, Guns n' Roses or Van Halen. These bands knew all about crafting a powerful guitar solo. Yours doesn't have to sound like theirs, but taking a trip down memory lane can be a good start for developing your sound.