How To Play A Great Solo

Join John Wheatcroft as he looks at ten simple but hugely effective steps you can take to make your solos stand out from the crowd.

- John Wheatcroft

Communicating with others, whether writing, making a presentation at work or even having a good conversation with a mate, is all about getting across what you want to say. When playing solos there are many parallels with the way that we communicate using language. We start with words (notes), bunch them together to make sentences or paragraphs (licks, phrases, or whole verses), and this hopefully points towards a wider overall meaning and a point (or solo) well made.

In trying to make any kind of point - be it conversational or musical - we usually like to see a strong beginning, the introduction of themes and elements that develop our point. Ideally, this all leads towards a satisfactory conclusion that wins the listener over.

Dynamics play a huge part too. ‘How’ we say something is often as important as ‘what’ we say, so something a little unexpected thrown in helps keep us on our toes (a joke or two to lighten up a presentation, or an unusual lick or technique in a solo).

Just as some people seem born with the ability to tell a joke, or can hold your interest when relating a story, some players have the knack of knowing what works when soloing. It’s not essential to consciously recognize the key factors when creating a good solo. You can learn a great deal by osmosis, by simply listening to a lot to great music - and let’s not forget that elusive ingredient, talent.