Easy Beginner Guitar Solos
6 easy guitar solos that sound cool
In a previous article we discussed the basics of guitar tablature and the most used guitar scales , which will help us tremendously while learning solos . Often when you want to learn a solo to a song you will likely be using tabs. However, since the tabs have limited info, we must listen to the song repeatedly while learning the solo. In this tutorial we are going to present 6 easy guitar solos that beginner guitar players can learn to play.
Lead Guitar: 6 Cool Guitar Songs To Learn
- Wonderful Tonight Guitar Solo - Eric Clapton
- Wish You Were Here guitar solo - Pink Floyd
- Guitar Solo for Let It Be - The Beatles
- Smells Like Teen Spirit guitar solo - Nirvana
- Lead guitar in Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Guitar solo for Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
Guitar Solos: Electric Guitar At Its Best
Guitar solos are the most popular in
rock, pop rock, and heavy metal bands
. In these bands we often see a lead guitarist and the rhythm guitarist. The rhythm plays the basic
chords of the song while the lead will play important riffs, intros, outros, and of course solos. Most of the time solos are made up of
specific scales that correspond to the key of the song
.
In heavy metal music most solos are minor pentatonic scales played very fast, musically they are not complicated, but the speed and technique (known as shredding) at which they are played is very difficult (and remember you always should use metronomes for practicing these scales). In most genres the solo is usually played closer to the end after the bridge or after the 2nd verse. When solos are played the bass guitar and drums will keep the beat and rhythm of the song going while the soloist is in the forefront. Often guitar effects and pedals will be used to help the solo stand out among the rest of the song.
Sometimes guitar solos are set in stone and played the same way every time, but occasionally, especially in jazz they are improvised around a skeleton of chord changes . However, for the beginning guitarist we are going to pick out a few of the easiest guitar solos for beginners. For our article we will also be considering intro solos as well like our first one.
Wonderful Tonight Guitar Solo
This memorable intro solo by Eric Clapton is very easy to learn and well known. In this link you will see that with the tabs there is nothing overly complicated except for a simple bend a few times. Eric Clapton has a gift for taking very simple melodies and by playing them just right they sound perfect. This is a great intro solo to practice on.
Wish You Were Here guitar solo
This is another super famous intro by Pink Floyd , most all of us have this song ready to play in our heads at anytime. The intro is very easy and includes tabs that have single notes and chords (of course playing it like David Gilmour is another story ). This song is perfect to play on an acoustic guitar for an audience, after playing the intro solo you can move right into the main chords of the song. In fact, if you have a second player they can also help with the second guitar part which is also an easy solo.
Guitar Solo for Let It Be
And now if we step away from intros for a second and get to proper solos, " Let It Be " is not too difficult to learn. Don't forget your bends, hammer ons, and pull offs. Sometimes solos can seem a bit complicated at first glance and first play. It is best to practice each note at a time and as you get more comfortable switching each note start trying to play them as they sound in the song. When learning tabs and solos you need to constantly play the song over and over to cement it in your head.
Smells Like Teen Spirit guitar solo
The solo for this Nirvana song is really just an extended version of the main melody of the song, with added flourishes to make it stand out. As with all grunge music the sound doesn't just come from the notes you are playing but also from the added effects and pedals. Grunge often used distortion, overdrive, and chorus effects to layer the sound during the solo. While you are learning the solo to this song why not practice some of the main intro riffs!
Lead guitar in Californication
The Red Hot Chili Peppers keep it nice and simple on the solo for their song " Californication ". So simple that it is often one the first solos many guitar players learn. It goes to show that a solo does not have to be complicated to be popular. Just like the intro to "Wonderful Tonight", sometimes the simpler it sounds the more memorable it will be.
Guitar solo for Seven Nation Army
Much of Jack White's and The White Stripes music are very simple blues riffs that are very catchy. The entire song of Seven Nation Army is actually a great song for beginners, especially the solo. Notice in the tabs that the guitar requires a different tuning than standard tuning. This is often the case in many rock songs, the strings are lowered a half step, drop D is used , or in this case a completely unique tuning.
Tips For Learning Guitar Solos and further resource
There are of course many more solos out there to learn, you may have plenty you are already working on. Overtime you will see that a solo isn't just about the notes you are playing; guitar
effects are essential in most solos. Some of the
best solos are simply the main melody
or riff of the song with added bends, hammer ons, pull offs, and other flourishes designed
to give a unique sound. If you ever get to the point where you wish to write your own solos it helps to remember a few points:
- At first stick to a scale that fits the key you are playing in, later you can always experiment outside the scale, but at first stick to notes that belong. Pentatonic scales usually fit great for solos.
- Use plenty of added techniques, don't just play the note, stretch it, bend it, mute it, slide it, make it sound great.
- While complicated solos sound awesome, sometimes the simpler the better .
- Use any added effects or pedals to make it stand out from the rest of the song.
- Don't play too long! Unless you are playing a long jazz set, keep it short to moderate and ease right back into the rest of the songs verses or chorus!
Useful Links
- For more information on guitar solos and scales, check our Guitar Solos Resources Page
FAQ
Why should a beginner guitarist focus on learning easy solos?
Learning easy solos helps beginners apply fundamental lead guitar techniques like bends, hammer-ons, and pull-offs in a practical, musical context. It builds confidence and provides a clear understanding of how solos contribute to a song, making them an excellent starting point for developing lead guitar skills.
What is the main difference between a lead guitarist and a rhythm guitarist?
In a band, the rhythm guitarist primarily plays the foundational chords to maintain the song's structure and groove. In contrast, the lead guitarist focuses on melodic elements such as important riffs, intros, outros, and especially solos, often taking the musical forefront during these sections.
How are guitar solos typically structured or composed in popular music?
Guitar solos are usually built around specific scales that correspond to the song's key, with pentatonic scales being a common choice. While some advanced solos can be improvised over chord changes, many popular solos, particularly beginner-friendly ones, are either set melodies or extended versions of the song's main theme, enhanced with techniques like bends and hammer-ons.
Beyond just playing notes, what essential techniques help a guitar solo stand out?
To make a guitar solo expressive and impactful, it's essential to incorporate techniques such as bends, hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, and muting. Additionally, guitar effects pedals are often used to further enhance the sound and make the solo stand out from the rest of the song.
Are guitar effects pedals necessary for playing solos effectively?
While not always strictly necessary, guitar effects pedals are frequently used to help solos stand out and achieve a specific sonic character. For instance, genres like grunge often employ effects such as distortion, overdrive, and chorus to create a layered and distinctive sound during solos.
Why might a guitar solo, like in 'Seven Nation Army,' require a different tuning than standard?
Some guitar solos require different tunings to achieve specific sounds, tonal qualities, or to facilitate certain riffs that are not easily played in standard tuning. This can involve lowering strings (e.g., a half step down), using alternative tunings like Drop D, or sometimes even a unique tuning designed for a particular song.
How crucial is listening to the original song when learning a solo from guitar tablature?
Listening to the original song repeatedly is crucial when learning a solo from tabs because tablature provides limited information. Actively listening helps you accurately grasp the timing, rhythm, dynamics, and overall musical feel that tabs alone cannot fully convey, thereby helping you cement the solo in your mind.