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Can someone explain rock guitar solos to me? Most just sound like random noise to me.
Posted on 7/15/21 at 7:47 am
Posted on 7/15/21 at 7:47 am
The ones I like have real melodies such as in Stairway to Heaven. Every note sounds good and matches the rest of the song.
But many guitar solos just sound like random noise and doesn't even seem to flow with the rest of the song. The notes don't sound good together, and to me it's often the worst part of a good song.
Yet people seem to love it. What am I missing?
But many guitar solos just sound like random noise and doesn't even seem to flow with the rest of the song. The notes don't sound good together, and to me it's often the worst part of a good song.
Yet people seem to love it. What am I missing?
19
Posted on 7/15/21 at 7:59 am to PrimeTime Money
How about giving a specific example of a solo you don’t like and you may get a better response.
Posted on 7/15/21 at 8:20 am to PrimeTime Money
Posted on 7/15/21 at 8:52 am to PrimeTime Money
Agreed
They all pretty much suck.
They all pretty much suck.
Posted on 7/15/21 at 9:16 am to PrimeTime Money
It’s rock-n-roll. It ain’t supposed to pretty.
That said, lyrics are those annoying things interrupting guitar solos. I keed, I keed.
That said, lyrics are those annoying things interrupting guitar solos. I keed, I keed.
Posted on 7/15/21 at 9:35 am to PrimeTime Money
Some solos are indeed masturbatory excess, while some are sublime expressions of soul, art, and talent.
Posted on 7/15/21 at 9:45 am to FightinTigersDammit
quote:
some are sublime expressions of soul, art, and talent.
See also Gilmour, David.
Posted on 7/15/21 at 9:53 am to Unobtanium
Here's an interesting video from Rick Beato about the famous solo the OP mentions, Stairway to Heaven. He reimagines the solo played by Eddie Van Halen, Peter Frampton, and Eddie Van Halen. All different, but really fun to listen to.
Stairway Solos
Stairway Solos
Posted on 7/15/21 at 10:02 am to parrotdr
I loved that video, and I think he won.
Posted on 7/15/21 at 10:30 am to PrimeTime Money
Soloing over the changes is a practice rock n roll and blues inherited from Jazz. It is a moment for a member of the accompaniment to the vocalist to get to shine and carry the melody. Some guitarists use it as a moment to show off how fast they can play. Others are all about expressing emotion. A great solo can elevate an already good song. A mediocre solo merely extends a song.
Some of my favorite guitar solos are in the song “Blackbird” by Alter Bridge. The song is about the death of a close friend and mentor. The guitar soloist (Tremonti) absolutely nails this feeling of profound loss, sorrow, and directionlessness that often coincides with the loss of a loved one. You feel the guitar crying. Absolutely elevates an already good song into a great song.
Not every song needs a solo, and not every guitarist is capable of delivering a good one on any given song.
As I often say on this board, due to its “unique” demographics and preferences, not liking guitar solos as a general rule says more about you than it does guitar solos as a musical device.
Some of my favorite guitar solos are in the song “Blackbird” by Alter Bridge. The song is about the death of a close friend and mentor. The guitar soloist (Tremonti) absolutely nails this feeling of profound loss, sorrow, and directionlessness that often coincides with the loss of a loved one. You feel the guitar crying. Absolutely elevates an already good song into a great song.
Not every song needs a solo, and not every guitarist is capable of delivering a good one on any given song.
As I often say on this board, due to its “unique” demographics and preferences, not liking guitar solos as a general rule says more about you than it does guitar solos as a musical device.
Posted on 7/15/21 at 10:43 am to PrimeTime Money
My favorite guitar solos complement the songs they're featured in. They mesh perfectly with the rhythm guitar played underneath, match the mood of the song, and are "sing-able."
Some examples for me would be...
"The Unforgiven," Metallica
"Do It Again," Steely Dan
"Janie's Got a Gun," Aerosmith
"You Got Lucky," Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
None of those are real shredders, but I think they're fantastic for their songs.
Some examples for me would be...
"The Unforgiven," Metallica
"Do It Again," Steely Dan
"Janie's Got a Gun," Aerosmith
"You Got Lucky," Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
None of those are real shredders, but I think they're fantastic for their songs.
Posted on 7/15/21 at 10:53 am to Hoodie
David Gilmour solo at the end of "Poles Apart" is a thing of beauty.
Posted on 7/15/21 at 11:04 am to FightinTigersDammit
quote:
Some solos are indeed masturbatory excess, while some are sublime expressions of soul, art, and talent.
Posted something similar in the “over-rated” guitarist thread. Someone like Keith Richards can convey more soul and emotion in 6 notes than other famous players do in 6000.
Posted on 7/15/21 at 11:09 am to Hoodie
quote:
"Do It Again," Steely Dan
Denny Dias playing a sitar for the first time and absolutely killing it. That is one amazing solo.
This post was edited on 7/15/21 at 11:10 am
Posted on 7/15/21 at 11:11 am to Hoodie
quote:Exactly. I love solos like that.
My favorite guitar solos complement the songs they're featured in. They mesh perfectly with the rhythm guitar played underneath, match the mood of the song, and are "sing-able."
But it seems like 90% of rock guitar solos are just random noise that doesn’t even sound good.
Posted on 7/15/21 at 11:15 am to PrimeTime Money
There are millions of songs, millions of guitar solos. Not all for the same reason, and they vary wildly.
To say "rock solo" in this context without being more specific is silly. Theres a huge difference between some random 80's band trying to break in and David Gilmour.
To say "rock solo" in this context without being more specific is silly. Theres a huge difference between some random 80's band trying to break in and David Gilmour.
Posted on 7/15/21 at 11:18 am to TigerBR1111
quote:How about I post some solos I DO like.
How about giving a specific example of a solo you don’t like and you may get a better response.
The solo at the beginning of Eminence Front by The Who is awesome. It’s got a real melody and rhythm.
Like a Stone by Audioslave
Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
Civil War by Guns N Roses
Those are just some random ones I thought of. They all have a tune and a melody and a rhythm and compliment the song.
Let me see if I can think of some ones I hate off the top of my head in my next post.
This post was edited on 7/15/21 at 11:19 am
Posted on 7/15/21 at 11:30 am to PrimeTime Money
Check out Mark Speer from Khruangbin. He has an amazing tone and his solos sound like exactly what you're looking for.
Posted on 7/15/21 at 11:39 am to Hoodie
quote:Maybe that’s what I don’t like. “Shredding”.
None of those are real shredders
I’ve been perusing through some music videos to find guitar solos I hate, because I made this thread without anything specific in mind.. it’s just something I’ve always thought and made a thread about it. But while looking up “greatest guitar solos”, I came across “Eruption” by Van Halen.
I absolutely hate it. It just sounds like noise. Is that considered “shredding”?
Posted on 7/15/21 at 12:06 pm to PrimeTime Money
I'd say Eddie's "Eruption" is an example of shredding. It doesn't gel with the solos and songs I mentioned earlier, but I enjoy "Eruption," too.
I believe there are two schools of thought on guitar solos: There are folks who've never played guitar and enjoy music for what it is. Then, there are listeners who've at least dabbled at guitar and are blown away by the speed and technical prowess of some players and solos.
I can appreciate both. "Eruption" doesn't have a lot going for it as far as being a catchy tune, but it's an amazing display of speed and talent and technical wizardry.
Speed isn't the be all, end all for me, but it's fricking cool in small doses. I think the apex of both worlds coming together in a solo is Kirk Hammett's ripper in Metallica's "One."
I believe there are two schools of thought on guitar solos: There are folks who've never played guitar and enjoy music for what it is. Then, there are listeners who've at least dabbled at guitar and are blown away by the speed and technical prowess of some players and solos.
I can appreciate both. "Eruption" doesn't have a lot going for it as far as being a catchy tune, but it's an amazing display of speed and talent and technical wizardry.
Speed isn't the be all, end all for me, but it's fricking cool in small doses. I think the apex of both worlds coming together in a solo is Kirk Hammett's ripper in Metallica's "One."
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