How to solo with 5 notes!
A few months ago I was playing around with some solo ideas… just jamming over some backing tracks. I was trying to come up with something “new.” I’d been stuck in a rut for while and I needed something to get my creative juices flowing. So, I popped in a jam track and start just playing scales…
I didn’t try to do anything fancy. I just played scales and then tried to create a few licks. And here’s the BIG “Ah-Ha!”…
I didn’t try to IMPRESS anyone. (Not even myself). I wasn’t trying to be “cool” and show off. I wasn’t the “guitar-guru” teacher. I was just playing for ME. I was enjoying playing. I was just having fun.
And something happened…
I realized that I was playing these sweet little licks that sounded great. I mean, it wasn’t like you would have said, “WOW!” or anything. It was just cool to play a few licks that really added to the music.
And the most important part? I was having a BLAST!
BUT, I began to wonder if it was just a “fluke” or if I’d stumbled upon a real technique for creating solos. So, I changed the jam track to another song. And I started the whole process over again. I found that right scale and then tried to create a nice sounding lick with just a three or four notes. Once it started sounding good, I tried to expand it a little to turn it into a full-blown solo. And it worked!
So, I called up my camera guy and said, “Dude, I think I’m on to something. We need to video tape this stuff!” So, he grabbed his gear and headed over to my house. Three hours later, we had the whole thing on tape! It was amazing how easy it all just “flowed.”
Anyway, I’ve packaged up all these videos into to course called, Creating Simple Solos. I didn’t think there was any way we would be able to get it released this year. But I just got off the phone with our DVD company and it looks like we’re going to be able to have it ready in next month — December!
In fact, the printer just sent me the proofs for the course. Here’s what the DVD cover looks like. Sweet huh?
So, it looks like this course will be ready before Christmas. You might want to let Santa know that you’ve been good this year. 
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the video, please post your comment below, I want to hear from you!
Cheers,
Dan Denley
P.S. The new site will be here (eventually).
November 19th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Dan, you rock, man! Thanks for this video. I’ll be loking forward to this course !
November 19th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
It always amazes me,the most simple Is what we don’t see.
Good Job!
November 19th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
You can sing, too? Nice. This might be a good Christmas present…for myself!
November 19th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Dan, you’ve done it again! Another intriguing taster for us all to absorb. Power on, my friend.
November 19th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Nice job, Dan. When I play solo’s I tend to write them the way you are showing, starting with a melody in my head. I know others who can spontaneously improvise really well and though I can learn various licks and patterns and do use them in solos, I am not naturaly gifted with this form of soloing. I admire technique but I identify most with an appealing or a beautiful melody - simple but well executed and something you can hum.
paul Lisney
November 19th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Dan, you really know how to cut to the chase and make sense of it all. I save all of your emails you are very insightful. Keep up the good work, you are appreciated.
Lee
November 19th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Bravo, Dan… simple, sencillo y hermoso… bien hecho.
November 19th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Dan,
Show us some Buchanan “pinch harmonics”!
November 19th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Dad, that melody sound a lot like “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Bros. Huh?
November 19th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Sorry, I meant to type Dan, not Dad. But since you are a Dad, I guess it’s fine the way it is. Thank for that little lesson. Wish I could play like you.
November 19th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
hi dan, good work
please tell me what is new in this dvd, compared to the solo course you already provided us.
will you soon develop a program for the jazz style and improisation or on flamenco guitar and arpeggios techniques. thanks.
Hi Ben, this course is different from my Lead Guitar Secrets 2.0 (or LGS) because it’s a much more simple approach. I don’t focus heavily on theory. It’s geared toward learning how to create simple solos that sound great, but aren’t necessarily “flashy”.
I’m going to be releasing more videos from the course and giving you all the details as we lead up to the release in mid-December.
Thanks!
Dan
November 19th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Dan,
that was a good one! thanks for all the tips.
November 19th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
DAN,
You couldn’t of said it any better, “You don’t have to shred all the time to be a good guitarist”.I’ve allways said to other musicians I write songs with keep in mind “less is often more”. I follow that rule and it keeps me from going crazy.
THANKS DAN,
November 19th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I got to tell you Dan,I came home from work last week and wanted to play my guitar. I was fighting it,but I put the guitar on my chest,kicked back the recliner. I plucked at some pentatonic patterns all around the fret board and I came to a spot where everything started to blend in. It got me to start playing. Thanks for your tips. To much info is not enough. John
November 20th, 2009 at 1:23 am
VERY GOOD LESSON AS ALL WAYS THANKS DAN JOETHESHAKER-RBLEG
November 20th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
You are just good.I thank God for your life.
November 20th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Dan, this is a great idea. Anyone can, with a little practice play a scale, but some ideas on how to take it, or a part of it, and create a melody line is a great idea
for those of us that are just now experimenting with creating on the run. Good job.
November 20th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
EXCELLENT LESSON.
REGARDS SINCE CHILE
ALEXANDER
November 20th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
This maybe just what I need at my level. Tks
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:46 am
Many Thanks for the video, it was really great and so easy to learn. When your new video on solo’s comes out dont forget Australia is on a different time zone
Regards for Christmas and I have already made it clear that I have been good this year
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:51 am
YES!!
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Dan, You’re Great, thanks for the video, you make going to the next level seem so easy, keep them coming Tks
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Artie Traum has a video which teaches how to begin a solo with just two notes: A and C in the A minor pent scale. For me, this is more effective in creating a beginning solo since I am new to soloing. By using slides, tremolo, hammer-ons and pull-offs, he gets a lot of mileage out of these two notes. He then goes on to expend out in both directions adding the G(bVII) and D notes which really opens things up. It is similar to what Dan did but works the notes more. He starts with the A note on the D string at the 7th fret and uses the A minor pent to create the licks. I have already passed this on to my students. It seems to be a really good way to begin.
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:13 am
Dan the guitar secrets man, very nice and simple. You’ve wet my appetite for simple guitar solo’s. Looking forward to your release of yet another guitar secret. Ray from Australia.
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:31 am
Hello, Dan,
I enjoyed that demo. I am not a soloer,by any means,but this has whetted my appetite immensely.Thanks loads,and keep on teaching!
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:28 am
Hi Dan, Excellent solo scrip, very simple and eash to learn and follow. A beginner guitarist could start soloing right away with this lesson. I plan to start including it with my practice lessons from some of your other DVD’s. Thanks again for sharing, this was a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday present.
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Hi Dan that was very nice I am going to ask my wife to buy the D.V.D. for my christmas present.
November 23rd, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Hi Dan,
God a nice lessons too..
Thanks…
November 27th, 2009 at 2:47 am
hi dan
i know it is different from your lead guitar secrets course.
i bought the blues guitar secrets too, which deals with solo.
is this course covering something new.
thanks
ben
November 27th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I couldn’t get your ad for the special sale today Friday 27th 2009.
Would you please send it to me before the sale is over.
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Romulusi, I’ve forwarded this request to Lisa in my office. She will assist you.
December 3rd, 2009 at 6:56 pm
hi dan
still did not get an answer to my question.
how is it different from the blues guitar secrets course that deals also a lot with solos. is it covering new stuff.
thanks
ben
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:47 pm
a very cool lesson keep up good dan your pal joetheshaker-RBLEG
December 9th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Ben, yes it is covering different material than what is covered in the Blues course.
December 9th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I don’t know how to play solo. But I should like to learn to do it, if possible!
Are this so simple as you say?
Best regards and have a nice day.
David R. (from Norway)
December 9th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Course will help me go from just playing scales to actually playing lead. I need help with phrases. Mine are sometimes boring and repeated. Help me use what creativity I have. Other courses too long and drawn out. I lose interest before I get where I’m going. Besides I like the fact that Dan is a fellow Tennessean.
Bill
December 11th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Looks like what a fellow volunteer needs!
December 11th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Looks good!
December 17th, 2009 at 3:46 am
so cool dan, it just looks simple on you but to others more complicated thanks all the same and keep doing the job it has improved me a lot
frm kenneth
December 28th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
Looking forward to reading more. Great article.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
May 24th, 2011 at 9:14 am
Gardield is so funny, like, like, like
June 7th, 2011 at 12:40 am
Very good blog. Great.
October 26th, 2011 at 9:33 am
Helpful information. Lucky me I discovered your site by accident, and I am shocked why this coincidence did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.