Guitar 8: Jam
12-bar blues in A
| A7 | A7 | A7 | A7 |
| D7 | D7 | A7 | A7 |
| E7 | D7 | A7 | E7 |
Rules for a good solo
- Start on A. End on A.
- Play a short idea. Stop. Leave as much silence as sound.
- Repeat your idea. Repeating is not boring, it is how a melody is made.
- Few notes with good rhythm beat many notes with none.
- Bends and vibrato on long notes. That is your voice.
Guitar 8: Jam
Solo steps
8.1One note solo
Solo for 12 bars using only A, fret 7 on the D string. Only rhythm, loud and soft, long and short.
BPM
Pass: 12 bars that still sound like music.
8.2Three note solo
Now use A, C and D only: D string fret 7, G string frets 5 and 7.
BPM
Pass: you played at least two ideas twice.
8.3Question and answer
Bar 1: play a short question that ends high. Bar 2: answer it and end on A. Bars 3 and 4: silence. Repeat through the 12 bars.
BPM
Pass: every answer ends on A.
8.4Full chorus
Whole box, all licks, all techniques. Two rounds of 12 bars. Record it and listen back.
BPM
Pass: you would play the recording to a friend.
What next
- Move everything two frets down: G minor pentatonic. Three frets up: C minor. Same shapes.
- Learn one solo you love by ear. It is made of these notes.