What to Think About When Improvising a Guitar Solo

Tuition
By published

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.

More about lessons
Marcin Patrzalek

Marcin’s percussive fingerstyle is dropping jaws with its stunning mix of speed, complexity and explosive dynamics. The warm-ups that fuel his virtuosity are guaranteed to boost your own playing
Spanish musician Paco de Lucia (born Francisco Sanchez Gomez, 1947 - 2014) plays guitar during the World Music Institute 'Flamenco Festival New York 2004' concert at the Beacon Theater, New York, New York, February 27, 2004

It’s the flamenco technique that lit the rhythmic fire under Marcin and Paco de Lucía, and treats all four fingers and thumb as separate plectrums – why learning rasgueado will give your picking hand a huge turbo boost
Tom Petty and Mike Campbell

“I brought a musicality that Tom wasn’t capable of. I had techniques that I could express to him in his songs that he couldn't have done on his own”: Mike Campbell on what he brought to the Heartbreakers as Tom Petty’s guitar foil
See more latest
Most Popular
Marcin Patrzalek
Marcin’s percussive fingerstyle is dropping jaws with its stunning mix of speed, complexity and explosive dynamics. The warm-ups that fuel his virtuosity are guaranteed to boost your own playing
Spanish musician Paco de Lucia (born Francisco Sanchez Gomez, 1947 - 2014) plays guitar during the World Music Institute 'Flamenco Festival New York 2004' concert at the Beacon Theater, New York, New York, February 27, 2004
It’s the flamenco technique that lit the rhythmic fire under Marcin and Paco de Lucía, and treats all four fingers and thumb as separate plectrums – why learning rasgueado will give your picking hand a huge turbo boost
Jared James Nichols works the crowd in Nashville with his Goldtop Les Paul Standard. The stage is illuminated in purple.
“This is a technique that has been used to great effect by some of my biggest blues heroes”: By thumb-picking bass notes while playing a melody, you can be your own rhythm section – Jared James Nichols shows you how
The great Jimmy Reed wears a sharp suit and bow-tie and plays an Airline electric guitar in this archive live shot from 1960
Jimmy Reed was one of the most influential blues guitarists to ever live – and his fingerpicking style makes an incredible launching pad for improvisation
James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett performing live onstage, playing Gibson Flying V guitars
The gallop is the most important metal rhythm of them all – learn the breakneck guitar technique behind classic Metallica, Slayer and Iron Maiden riffs
Joe Bonamassa and Gary Moore: Bonamassa plays a '59 Les Paul Standard, wears a dark suit and shades, while this archive pick of the late Moore sees him embrace the '80s with a sleeveless red jacket and matching Strat.
“Gary’s approach to soloing was like placing a brick on a car’s gas pedal. Like SRV and Jimi Hendrix, he had infinite passion and musical ideas”: Joe Bonamassa explains the expressive soloing secrets of his hero Gary Moore
Parts of the guitar
What's a bridge? What's a headstock? What do we mean by a 'cutaway'? All the parts of a guitar explained
Joe Bonamassa plays a Gibson Les Paul Standard at the Grammys. He wears a dark suit, dark shirt and shade.s
“One of the hardest things about expanding our technique is going ‘against the grain’ of learned patterns”: Rewire your lead playing with four soloing ideas inspired by contemporary blues maestros
Eric Gales takes a solo on his signature Magneto electric guitar, with its gold pickguard matching his thick gold chain. He wears a ball-cap and tinted glasses.
“The skill is in choosing which notes to emphasize, or maybe skip entirely, while maintaining the alternate strokes”: Why rhythm is as important as the notes you play in a blues guitar solo
palm muting
“We often overlook this humble technique, yet it’s such an important tool for expressive rhythm and lead playing”: How to palm mute on guitar – and take it from beginner to pro