6 Must Know Tricks to Successful Solos from Udemy

It's very hard to play an awesome solo without the proper 'phrasing'...

Imagine talking to someone who always spoke in the same tone, at the same pace and stopping at exactly the same spots. Would you believe anything they tell you? Probably not right? Because they don't sound genuine or even human. If you want your audience to feel something during your solo's, you're going to have to be believeable. To be believable your solo itself must have that extra “human element" to it. That's where phrasing comes in. Problem is, most people have no idea what phrasing even is or how to begin finding their own “voice" in their solos.

Most people try to “copy" the style other guitarists.

While it's great to learn from the masters, what most people end up doing is trying to become something they're not. Not everyone can tap like Eddie Van Halen. If you try to force it, you'll only become a subpar copy…

Here's What You Can Do

Steve Stine, Professor of Modern Guitar Studies at North Dakota State University, decided to take his more than 25 years of teaching and playing guitar to make a short course aimed specifically at teaching people how to build their own explosive solos in their own style and strengths. The outcome was this course... 6 Secrets to Successful Solos will get you building your own phrases and melodies and ultimately solos, starting from the ground up so don't worry if you've never played a solo before in your life.

What's inside

Learning objectives

This course will get you building your own phrases and melodies and ultimately solos, starting from the ground up so don’t worry if you’ve never played a solo before in your life.
In less than 3-hours you’ll have the knowledge and technique to start building your own jaw-dropping solos

In 2 weeks you’ll be cranking out powerful solos of your own personal style.

This course will get you building your own phrases and melodies and ultimately solos, starting from the ground up so don’t worry if you’ve never played a solo before in your life.
In less than 3-hours you’ll have the knowledge and technique to start building your own jaw-dropping solos
In 2 weeks you’ll be cranking out powerful solos of your own personal style.

Syllabus

Introduction

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Complete Tab Transcription

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Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Taught by a Professor of Modern Guitar Studies, which may offer learners insights into advanced techniques and methods for soloing

Explores phrasing, which is an important element in creating solos that sound genuine and believable to an audience

Includes listening exercises that feature popular songs, which may help learners understand how phrasing is used in different musical contexts

Features jam tracks in various keys, which allows learners to practice phrasing and improvisation in a practical setting

Requires learners to transcribe tabs, which may be difficult for those who are not familiar with music notation or guitar tablature

Reviews summary

Unlock your guitar solo phrasing

According to students, this course offers a focused and practical approach to developing guitar solos, particularly emphasizing phrasing over simply learning scales. Learners appreciate the clear and engaging teaching style of instructor Steve Stine, which makes complex ideas accessible. Many find it an excellent starting point for beginners who have never attempted soloing before, providing them with the confidence and tools to start building their own melodies quickly. The included jam tracks are seen as valuable resources for practicing the concepts learned. While the course is highly effective for foundational understanding and practical application, some more experienced players felt the content could be too basic for those already familiar with soloing fundamentals.

Practice applying techniques with provided jams.

"The jam tracks are essential for practicing the phrasing concepts."

"Using the backing tracks helped me internalize the lessons."

"Wish there were more varied jam tracks."

Excellent starting point for soloing guitarists.

"This course is perfect if you've never soloed before."

"As a beginner, I found this really accessible and helpful."

"It gave me the confidence to start improvising."

Instructor Steve Stine is clear and effective.

"Steve's teaching style is very easy to follow and inspiring."

"He explains complex ideas simply."

"Great energy and helpful tips from the instructor."

Teaches the crucial concept of phrasing.

"Really opened my eyes to what phrasing is and why it matters."

"I finally understand how to make my solos sound more musical."

"It's not just about notes, it's how you play them."

Provides tools to build actual solos quickly.

"I can already hear a difference in my playing after just a few days."

"The practical tips helped me start creating my own phrases immediately."

"Focused on applying concepts to real playing situations."

Content might be too simple for advanced players.

"Already knew most of this; too basic for me as an intermediate player."

"Didn't learn much new material at my level."

"Good foundation, but I was hoping for more advanced techniques."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in 6 Must Know Tricks to Successful Solos with these activities:

Review Basic Music Theory

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Strengthen your understanding of music theory to better grasp melodic creation and chord progressions discussed in the course.

Browse courses on Music Theory

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Review scales and chord construction.
Practice identifying intervals and chord qualities.
Study basic harmonic progressions.

Review 'The Guitar Handbook'

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Use this book as a reference to deepen your understanding of guitar techniques and music theory.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Browse the book to identify areas of interest.
Read sections related to techniques used in the course.
Use the book to clarify any concepts you find confusing.

Review 'Guitar Aerobics'

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Improve your guitar technique to execute solos more cleanly and expressively.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Select exercises that target specific weaknesses.
Practice consistently for at least 15 minutes daily.
Focus on accuracy and clarity over speed.

Four other activities

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Transcribe Solos

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Deepen your understanding of phrasing by transcribing solos from your favorite guitarists.

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Choose solos from different genres and guitarists.
Slow down the audio and transcribe note-for-note.
Analyze the phrasing and melodic choices.
Identify patterns and techniques used by the guitarist.

Improvise Over Backing Tracks

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Practice improvising over backing tracks to develop your phrasing and melodic ideas in real-time.

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Select backing tracks in various keys and styles.
Focus on creating melodic phrases, not just playing scales.
Record your improvisations and listen back critically.
Experiment with different phrasing techniques.

Compose a Solo

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Solidify your understanding of phrasing by composing your own solo over a backing track.

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Choose a backing track that inspires you.
Develop a melodic idea or motif.
Structure your solo with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Incorporate phrasing techniques learned in the course.
Record and refine your solo until you are satisfied.

Help Others With Solos

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Reinforce your understanding of phrasing by helping other guitarists improve their solos.

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Offer feedback on solos.
Explain phrasing concepts.
Suggest exercises.

Career center

Learners who complete 6 Must Know Tricks to Successful Solos will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Guitar Instructor

A guitar instructor teaches students how to play guitar, guiding them through technique, theory, and repertoire. This course may be helpful to guitar instructors as it provides a different approach to teaching soloing, focusing on phrasing and developing a personal style. A guitar instructor can adapt the course's strategies on melodic creation and embellishments to their own teaching practices, allowing them to expand on their instructional methods. This course enables the instructor to guide their students toward finding their own musical voice, rather than mimicking others, and help improve their student's improvisational skills. The course's emphasis on practical application is directly relevant to the work of a guitar instructor.

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Musician

A musician is a performer or composer of music, often working in a variety of genres and settings. This course may be useful to a musician looking to develop a unique and expressive soloing style by focusing on phrasing. The course emphasizes finding your own voice, rather than copying others, which is essential for a musician seeking to stand out. Through learning how to build phrases and melodies, and ultimately solos, a musician will gain confidence in their ability to express themselves musically, both in performance and in composition. This course includes practice against jam tracks in various keys, which will build proficiency in soloing, which is a core part of a musician's skillset. This course may be useful to musicians regardless of their instrument.

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Session Musician

A session musician is a professional instrumentalist who is hired for studio recordings or live performances, often adapting their style to fit various projects. A session musician may find this course helpful for developing a unique soloing voice, which makes them more versatile in various session environments. The practice against jam tracks found in this course would be useful for a session musician in developing their improvisation skills, and learning in different keys. The skills in melodic creation can help a session musician rapidly add compelling layers to a track. The course's approach to building solos from the ground up would be useful for a session musician who has to often learn and perform new materials.

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Songwriter

A songwriter crafts original songs, including lyrics and melodies, often for performance or recording. This course may be useful for a songwriter as it emphasizes melodic creation and phrasing, which are important elements in songwriting. The attention to conveying emotion and meaning through musical phrasing directly ties into the core skills of a songwriter. A songwriter can use the strategies described in this course to build unique and expressive melodic lines that enhance the emotional impact of their songs. The course helps students explore how to form a distinctive musical voice, aiding the songwriter in creating more unique work. The course's focus on structure and development of musical ideas can further enhance a songwriter's capabilities.

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Composer

A composer creates original musical works, often in a variety of forms for different settings. This course would be helpful for a composer who wants to explore new melodic ideas and phrasing. Through its focus on individual expression and finding one's own way to construct a solo, the course may be useful for a composer looking to develop their unique voice. A composer could use the strategies taught in this course to create more expressive and captivating solos within their own compositions. The approach of this course may also be helpful to composers who write music including solos for various instruments. This course's emphasis on musical structure and development of ideas would be useful for a composer.

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Music Director

A music director oversees the musical aspects of a performance or production, often guiding musicians ensembles, and singers. This course may be helpful to a music director by deepening their understanding of how to develop a unique musical style. A music director can utilize the course's focus on phrasing to better communicate their ideas with musicians during rehearsals and performances. Further, this course's focus on building solos can help a music director in creating performance concepts and guiding the interpretation of a piece of music. This course may be useful to a music director in improving their capacity to guide their musical teams.

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Film Score Composer

A film score composer creates original music for films, working closely with directors to enhance the emotional impact of a cinematic work. The focus on solo development in this course may be useful for a film score composer. The course's emphasis on unique melodic expression may help a film score composer to better capture the unique style and aesthetic of a film. A film score composer can utilize the course's principles of phrasing to create more impactful musical moments. The course's strategies for building from simple to more complex ideas would also be beneficial to a film score composer.

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Music Producer

A music producer oversees the recording and production of music, guiding the creative process and shaping the final sound of a track. This course may be helpful to a music producer by giving insight into building solos with phrasing, and a stronger sense of musical development. A music producer can utilize this course to better understand the artistic decisions involved in recording a musical solo. The exploration of phrasing from this course may aid in finding unique and expressive sounds in the production process. By understanding how to develop musical ideas, a music producer will be better equipped to guide artists in their creative workflows.

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Music Arranger

A music arranger adapts existing musical works for different instruments or ensembles, crafting new arrangements that retain the essence of the original piece. This course may be useful for a music arranger by focusing on melodic development and phrasing. The focus on creating unique musical ideas and developing them could also help a music arranger explore different arrangements. The course's exploration of developing musical ideas can enable a music arranger to create more interesting and dynamic arrangements. A music arranger can utilize the course's approach to musical phrasing to better tailor the dynamics and emotional impact of their arrangements.

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Music Critic

A music critic evaluates and critiques musical performances, albums, and compositions, often writing for publications or online platforms. This course may be useful for a music critic as it develops an understanding of musical phrasing and solo construction. This would give a music critic further insight into the technical and emotional aspects of a solo. A music critic who understands the technical elements of a solo is better positioned to analyze and evaluate its impact. The course's emphasis on finding a unique voice can also help a music critic to better understand and articulate the individual style of a musician.

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Orchestrator

An orchestrator arranges music for an orchestra, considering the timbral and harmonic possibilities of the entire ensemble. This course may be useful to an orchestrator by deepening their understanding of melodic development. The focus on creating phrases and melodies may further their ability to write more complex and layered orchestra parts. The course's exploration of unique musical styles could also help an orchestrator to find new timbral possibilities for the orchestra. An orchestrator who is able to write compelling solos may be more effective in their own work.

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Audio Engineer

An audio engineer is responsible for the technical aspects of sound production, including recording, mixing, and mastering of musical compositions. This course may be helpful for an audio engineer by deepening their appreciation and understanding of the musical process behind a solo. An audio engineer who understands the elements of solo construction may be better equipped to capture a high-quality recording of a musical performance. Further, understanding musical phrasing may help an audio engineer in ensuring that a recording properly communicates the emotional intent of the music. The course's practical focus may benefit an audio engineer in the studio environment.

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Sound Designer

A sound designer creates and manipulates audio for a variety of applications, including film, video games, theater, and virtual reality. This course may be useful for a sound designer who wishes to create unique musical and textural sound content. By understanding the creative process of musical phrasing, a sound designer can better create original musical material for their projects. A sound designer can utilize the course's exploration of musical ideas to find new sonic textures and patterns. This course may be helpful to a sound designer for understanding how to create immersive soundscapes through musical concepts.

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Music Therapist

A music therapist uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. While this course focuses on soloing, it may be helpful to a music therapist as it allows for a deeper understanding of the communication of emotion through music. A music therapist can use this course to better understand the nuances of musical expression as a medium for therapeutic communication. The exploration of musical phrasing and melody may improve the music therapist's ability to create unique and personalized musical experiences for their clients. This course on developing one's own musical voice could also help a music therapist to lead more effective musical interactions.

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Arts Administrator

An arts administrator manages the business and administrative aspects of arts organizations, such as orchestras, theaters, or music venues. This course may be useful for an arts administrator who wishes to better understand the work of musicians that the organization employs. The course may also be helpful to an arts administrator by providing a better idea of the artistic development process behind musical works. By understanding concepts such as phrasing, an arts administrator will be better able to support their institution's artistic endeavors. This course may be useful to an arts administrator who wants a deeper understanding of the artistic processes of musicians.

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6 Must Know Tricks to Successful Solos

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Unlock your guitar solo phrasing

Activities

Career center

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