In this lesson, we are going to look at a Metallica guitar solo example of the Four Horsemen. This will teach, what can be done when you learn scales, alternate picking, and ear & eye training, through lots of practice & focus.
This song gives a great example of phrasing. Which is very much like singing with your guitar. That is what you want to accomplish with your guitar solos. No matter if you play fast or slow, you want to master phrasing. This song is a great example to study for this purpose as well.
This video is of me playing the middle solo to The Four Horseman by Metallica. I truly think one of Kirk's best album solos. Notice also at the end, the use of power chords. This whole song utilizes a lot of what makes Metallica the metal monsters they are.
Lead guitar
Playing lead guitar is a lot of fun & a lot of work. You must be dedicated & determined more than the average guitar player. You must develop patience & have the most serious commitment to the guitar.
To get started playing lead guitar you want to start out learning lead guitar scales. These are what's going to create the road map you need to travel to get across the fretboard.
Scale roadmap
This "roadmap" I speak of is how lead guitar players solo all over the neck & sound good with every note they play. They know where they are going & they have discovered what works & what doesn't.
By developing this roadmap for yourself, you'll be able to do the same. Play up & down the fretboard & sound good with every note you play. You'll amaze your friends, and yourself.
Five scale patterns
Five scale patterns are the most common. These are the minor pentatonic scales. These are widely used by guitar players in many different styles & I would recommend you start there. Then you can progress to more advanced scale box patterns.
Focus on just learning one at a time. Learn the first box pattern & get it down well. Be able to see it on the fretboard & be able to play it fluidly up & down. Then & only then move on to the next one & repeat the process.
Additional Help
If you need further assistance with your lead guitar playing, I recommend you get my method book I authored and published Lead Guitar Wizardry.
This book will teach you in an easy-to-learn step-by-step format everything you need to know to get started playing lead guitar. With pictures and easy-to-understand notation, you'll be having fun playing guitar solos in no time. Just follow the instructions step-by-step.
And, as always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me as I am always available. You can reach me at my website, or on Social Media. Best of luck with your learning.
Sincerely, Dwayne Jenkins
