what i suggest you is to listen to your fav players solo and try to figure out what kind of scales/modes they are using - for exampe, yngwie uses harmonic minor all the time, and kirk hammet uses mostly pentatonic scales, so practice whatever the scales that u need to learn - but SLOW AND PRECISELY. practice with metronome and slowly build up your speed. when the speed comes along, then learn the solos from the songs that you like. when you're first learning to play lead, especially when you're self taught, those methods can help you a lot. also, check out all the lesson videos that you can get - lesson videos help you tons. and before you know it - when you're improvising, all the scales and licks you practice will come out, but in different texture and tones, making it "yours".

i was also self taught for two years before I came to college. and here i've seen incredible players that are self taught. so yes u can be an amazing player....it just takes time.

you might wanna check out this software called amazing slowdowner - you can download a trial version and it is fantastic software for any players. so check it out for sure.

i am 100%...well....at least 80% self taught, and i will give you some tips-

#1- dont be aftraid to learn opther peoples solos and take a little bit from each player to make it your own

#2- when you DO learn someones solo, dont just learn where to throw your fingers, learn why you are putting them there.

#3- GET VIDEOS AND PRACTICE!!!\

#4- play with other musicians if you can, it is the best and fastest way to learn new things.

#5- take the time to sit down and learn a llittle theory, then, immediately try to apply what you learned to the guitar, hell just a few notes here and there and you will get it

#6- QUALITY of practice is just as important, if not more so than quantity. but quantity IS a big deal. practice a bit EVERY DAY. but if it becomes a chore to practice, there is no point in being a guitarist when you dont have fun doing it anymore.

good luck, and may the power of SATAN's rocking be with you.

wow SATAN i didnt know you were self taught. u play more like you'v been taught by an angel, or maybe its something else... :P

I'm self taught too and I'm still teaching myself to do these things.

If I could just hand you everything I know I would. My advice is do as much research as you can. Ask questions about everything (even the stuff you think you know) just to be sure you are getting it.

Other part, even if you understand how everything works you have to build up the physical capability to use the knowledge. So search for drills and small lead riff's to make yourself get used to differen't methods of putting notes together.

Lastly, record yourself playing so that you hear what you really sound like.

I love when people post things like this. I get alot of good advice. I'm self taught also. I'm a decent chord player, but I want to play lead and it does seem hard, but alot of people do it. I'm thinking of getting a teacher to get me over that edge. havn't decided yet. but to be fair I don't work on it as I should.

Sawa Rhythem,

Have you not had a chance to read the posts in the Education section of this web site. There is some really great stuff in there and the best thing is the authors of all that stuff are right here at this site so that you can ask questions direct. Please go and check it out. Have fun!

My Dentist was self taught. Just thought I'd share that....

Truthfully, it's best to get with a teacher simply for the objectivness they can bring to rounding out your program and focusing you on some things you should be learning, but may not have occured to you.

Otherwise, discipline is the key. If you want to play lead I would suggest getting some primers to learn the basic scales, and some dexterity exercises, and learning all of your favorite solos note for note from the recordings. There is no substitution for transcribing for any musician, and we all have to go through it teacher or no teacher, if you really want to get to the heart of the matter. Find the sounds you like in the records you enjoy and disect them..figure out how they tick, learn them, and implement them into your improvisations.

The other aspect I would focus on is not dividing rhythm/lead as two seperate entities. Harmony is the biggest stumbling block for improvisors, and understanding that chords shape your leads much more than scales do will take you a long way. Use your progress playing rhythm (or playing chords) and use those chords to guide you through the tunes your wanting to solo over. In this respect if you know the chords, 90% of the battle should already be under your fingers, the other 10% is figuring out how how to connect them in a creative way that is meaningful for you.

Good luck!

-sallan

i'll say it, google it. Just run a search for scales and modes. try not to stay in the pentatonic box. I'm not a top knotch lead player my self, more of a rhythm guy. but i do plunk around with it at times....


after you get some scales and modes under your fingers, record a rhythm track and try running between the notes. and remember its not just about playing notes theres phrasing within the song itself, kind of like talking, one line sez this the next sez that, that way your not just running over the same progression the same way everytime. ya dig?

I know some dude who can play suuuuper fast. It's not impressive cause he's sloppy as hell. I can "rip it up" however I only play as fast as I can COMFORTABLY CLEANLY - not as fast as I can play cleanly because I can do it faster than I do normally, it's just not that "effortless" like I do when I solo. I suggest learning your scales and modes one by one - don't just run up and down them, try to figure out different ways of playing them.

Find out what your weak spots are and make up your own excercises that focus on them - this is the best advice I can give you. Being able to single out your weak spots and overcome them is truly an easy concept, yet is often overlooked.