I am new to this forum (this is first post), but I have been playing guitar for about 4 months now and now that I have learned several chord formations and rhythm techniques I want to learn how to solo. I've been trying for the past few weeks learn how to solo, mainly trying to "learn a solo" to a song that the band i am in is covering. It's fairly fast...if anybody knows of the band Skillet...their song Whispers in the Dark...that's the solo I'm trying to tackle. I've pretty much memorized the solo...I'm just having trouble going to the speed of it does anybody have any tips or any advice that could help me acheive this. I beleive that if I can learn this solo than it will lead me to other things. Thanks








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Ben Kasica of Skillet Rocks!!!

Divided by Zero!
David Wagoner ~ Lead Guitar
Jacob Hutchison ~ Rhythm Guitar
Cody Severance ~ Bass Guitar
Aaron Bell ~ Drums
Looking for ~ Keyboard

what i do and I'm sure most of the people on here do is break it up into several parts. For that particular solo i would tackle the beginning of that solo by breaking it up and getting the first few notes really fast and continuing from here

that's what I've been doing is breaking it into parts, but like it seems I get to a certain speed and then after than my fretting hand just falls apart on me...i like can't get to that speed....any suggestions there?








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Ben Kasica of Skillet Rocks!!!

Divided by Zero!
David Wagoner ~ Lead Guitar
Jacob Hutchison ~ Rhythm Guitar
Cody Severance ~ Bass Guitar
Aaron Bell ~ Drums
Looking for ~ Keyboard

just take it slow. Go at half speed and then ramp it up after you get it practiced.

k thanks...I know this is a stupid/beginners question...but what are we looking at in terms of if I practice 2-3 hours a day...the time it takes to be able to land these types of solos decently?








_________________
Ben Kasica of Skillet Rocks!!!

Divided by Zero!
David Wagoner ~ Lead Guitar
Jacob Hutchison ~ Rhythm Guitar
Cody Severance ~ Bass Guitar
Aaron Bell ~ Drums
Looking for ~ Keyboard

it could vary from 1 day to 2 weeks.

i forgot to mention this little tidbit I've been playing for about 4 months...so if you take that into the fact...what am I looking at, cause I'm trying to get our band gigging as soon as possible, secondly I have like huge palms and small but fat fingers...how much of a hinderance is this going to be for me? I'm trying to get a pic up to give you kind of an example of what I'm talking about...oh and by the way I really apprecitate your advice jack








_________________
Ben Kasica of Skillet Rocks!!!

Divided by Zero!
David Wagoner ~ Lead Guitar
Jacob Hutchison ~ Rhythm Guitar
Cody Severance ~ Bass Guitar
Aaron Bell ~ Drums
Looking for ~ Keyboard

here's a picture of my fretting hand...I think you'll see what i mean










_________________
Ben Kasica of Skillet Rocks!!!

Divided by Zero!
David Wagoner ~ Lead Guitar
Jacob Hutchison ~ Rhythm Guitar
Cody Severance ~ Bass Guitar
Aaron Bell ~ Drums
Looking for ~ Keyboard

*high five*!

dude, in other threads, we've talked about how hand size doesn't matter. Hell, you don't even need all of your FINGERS to play guitar. You'll learn how to play with what you've got!

At 4 months, you have a lot to learn... but you'll only get better! Keep practicing. 2-3 hours a day is a good amount. One day, it'll click!

k, also, sorry to keep asking, but I'm getting pretty good info...i've been told, by you also, that my time I pracitce is good for my stage level...but I need to know exactly what to practice during my time i've set? I can't determine...I'm a rhythm player that sings, so I warm up with scales and chords. But I don't know exactly what to practice in order to get better other than the solo itself...if you or someone get me like a sort of sample practice schedule I'd be greatful cause I don't want to be practicing and it be doing nothing for me...thanks








_________________
Ben Kasica of Skillet Rocks!!!

Divided by Zero!
David Wagoner ~ Lead Guitar
Jacob Hutchison ~ Rhythm Guitar
Cody Severance ~ Bass Guitar
Aaron Bell ~ Drums
Looking for ~ Keyboard

I would suggest spending the first quarter of practice on things you can do well.
The second quarter, try and do something new that you can't do well.
The third quarter, try another new thing.
The fourth quarter, do something you do well already.

okay...but like are scales, and chords, the answer or should I practice something else?








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Ben Kasica of Skillet Rocks!!!

Divided by Zero!
David Wagoner ~ Lead Guitar
Jacob Hutchison ~ Rhythm Guitar
Cody Severance ~ Bass Guitar
Aaron Bell ~ Drums
Looking for ~ Keyboard

Wow, your asking just what I keep forgetting to ask, good on ya!
Start practising some ear training asap, Ive been playing for only about 6 months and regret not learning by ear sooner.
Having said that, if your a cover-band for the moment, you might not need it as much, but its still pretty useful.
Also, if you can, try slowing down the solo your trying to cover to a point where you can play along, and then speed it up gradually as you get better.

One thing thats quite important too regarding speed is a smooth and efficient technique can be faster than a rushed one, not to mention cleaner.

Im useless at theory tho...I dont even know what I dont know...I keep searching google for scales but I dont know if what I find is actually scales cause each site has diffeent looking ones.. I only know the key of E lol...








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Im an optimist, so naturally I like to think my head is half FULL.

I would suggest focusing on clean chord transitions first.
Then focus on scales and theory. At first, work on screwing around with the minor and major pentatonic "scales." The pentatonic scales are popular because they only use 5 notes of a full scale and for that reason are very versatile.

After that, you can jump into different modes and real scales.

While you're doing all this, try writing your own stuff from what you hear in your head. See what comes out of your fingers when you think a note.

thanks very much...I can actually see me getting more accurate when I play the solo (not to full speed of course), but I am able to go a little faster now. I have an additional question...when running like a series of hammer on and pull offs how exactly do you go about it. Like I have to go on A string (A to C to D) then go to D string (F to F# to G#) then G string (A to A# to C) then B string...and then it just goes on a for a little longer but all the while its just a series of hammerons like I don't know exactly the technique to go about this, any ideas or tips?








_________________
Ben Kasica of Skillet Rocks!!!

Divided by Zero!
David Wagoner ~ Lead Guitar
Jacob Hutchison ~ Rhythm Guitar
Cody Severance ~ Bass Guitar
Aaron Bell ~ Drums
Looking for ~ Keyboard