Pavarotti and Guitar Solo’s
Soloing is much easier than we all want to make it. In my opinion, most players try “overwork” themselves when they solo. It’s like they feel like a spotlight comes on and they have to fill every space of silence with a note (or more soloing).
I once heard Wayne Dyer quote somebody saying , “Is it the space between the bars that keeps the tiger caged?”. He continued, “Is it the notes on the page or the silence between the notes that makes the music?”.
I love both of those quotes. They both resonate strongly with me as a guitar player.
When we as musicians “solo”, I believe it is very important that we not only embrace the silence between the notes (as in nothing being played for a 1/2 beat or more) but we also need to train ourselves to make that a part of the solo.
Not only should we intentionally interject the silence, there’s something else players should do. We should let a note sing!!
Please… Let it sing.
Give it gentle vibrato and give it life!
Imagine the voice of Pavarotti or any of the Three Tenors being tragically silenced before the the notes were given life. Watch the video of these amazing vocalists.
Obviously, we are not The Three Tenors, we are guitarists. Don’t let this slip through your busy fingers though my friends.
This can be tough for a player early in the game because often they feel like something has to be “going on” at all times. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Challenge yourself to allow the complete silence (“space”) and “singing” in a lick, riff, or solo and not only there, but in the song’s melody. Doing so creates a vortex that not only pulls the listener in more but also creates depth and feeling in your playing. These are the times in a piece of music that ones eyes close and the player literally becomes the music.
Run through “The Bridge” mini course (free see menu to the right) and remember the concepts of this post!