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How to Solo Over a Blues Track

A blues solo is often seen as an integral part of a blues song. For the guitarist, it is an opportunity to express his playing by incorporating runs of notes and bends. To improve solo playing without having the expense of guitar lessons, a player can develop her skills by playing along to a collection of blues tracks in different keys. This is a simple but effective way to develop soloing techniques within the comfort of your own home.

Things You'll Need

  • Electric guitar
  • Guitar tuner
  • Pick
  • CD player
  • Blues CD
  • Guitar amplifier
  • Guitar cable
  • Pentatonic scale wall chart
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the pentatonic scale wall chart in a prominent position so that it is easy to read when playing. Insert the guitar cable into the input jack on the guitar and into the input socket on the guitar tuner.

    • 2

      Tune the guitar. Unplug the guitar cable from the tuner and connect it to the guitar amplifier input socket.

    • 3

      Turn on the CD player. Insert the blues music CD or blues backing track CD of your choice. Press play and adjust the volume of the CD player to a suitable level.

    • 4

      Adjust the guitar volume and the amplifier volume to a level that allows it to be heard alongside the blues CD without drowning the CD player out.

    • 5

      Using the wall chart, play notes from the appropriate scale along to the CD. Bend the strings and try different note combinations to create a guitar solo. Keep improvising and experimenting with notes to create a pentatonic scale-based solo.

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