What to Think About When Improvising a Guitar Solo

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Learn what should go on "inside the mind" of guitar players when jamming, improvising or soloing.

(Image credit: Cindy Moorhead)

What do you think about when you're improvising a guitar solo? The weather? What you're going to have for dinner? 

In this lesson video, instructor Steve Stine—whose popular lessons have been featured on GuitarWorld.com since 2011—discusses what goes on (or what should go on) "inside the mind" of guitar players when jamming, improvising or soloing.

"Watch this a few times and see if it helps to change your way of thinking when soloing," Stine adds.

For more lessons by Stine and Guitar Zoom, visit guitarzoom.com.

Damian Fanelli
Damian Fanelli
Editor-in-Chief, Guitar World

Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.

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