But the most important rule of them all is that you have to stay in the rhythm no matter what. A wrong note or two can get by very easily, and with experience you will choose the right alterations without thinking, you will feel what fret sounds like what and picture something in your head rather than figuring out if the note you’re on is in the key or not.

Staying in the rhythm is not so easy as it may seem at first glance. Often times you get carried away with what you’re playing and you fail to pay attention to where the song is, and overlapping occurs which ruins your solo. My advice for this solo lesson is to try tapping the rhythm with your foot to try and keep you from forgetting about the song. A more advanced technique would be to play notes in the counter-measures of the base rhythm; this is bound to create more feeling to the solo and people will enjoy it more.

Technique-wise not that much is required, though you have to know where you’re at and what you can do. Of course while training you can try and do anything, that’s the best way to learn, but in a solo you play for some people you should try and stick to the things you know are going to sound good.

Speaking of things you know sound good you should have 3-4 basic patterns that last half a measure/a full measure/2 and a half measures etc so you have something in reserve if you run out of ideas. I am writing this solo lesson because many times I got stuck without knowing what else to play, and you don’t want to ruin everything with 10 seconds of complete silence.

This solo lesson should help you develop a style of your own, suitable for you and your technique level.