| Which lead guitar notes are the right ones to play? | | | | lead guitar notes over a chord progression, riff, or |
| How do you know whether to play in a minor scale or | | | | bridge in a song. Double your problems if you have to |
| a major scale? How is the mood of the song going to | | | | accommodate a vocalist with limited range or an |
| be changed by the solo you choose to play? | | | | inexperienced rhythm section. |
| These are the sorts of questions any reasonably | | | | The only way to get out of jams like these is to have |
| experienced guitarist asks him or herself whenever | | | | masterful knowledge of the available scales so you |
| composing a new song, or adapting an existing song | | | | have the maximum number of options when you go to |
| to fit their bands playing style (or more often than not... | | | | play a lead. Learning how to bridge scales together is |
| the lead singer's vocal range). Figuring out which lead | | | | advanced guitar music theory but it can do wonders |
| guitar notes to play can be very frustrating for this | | | | for a band trying to cover a few short-comings in the |
| reason. Pick the wrong scale and you can't bridge | | | | other parts. Being able to slightly alter a chord in a |
| from the solo back to the verse. End in the wrong key | | | | bridge section can cover the gap between where |
| and your transition to the chorus sounds more like a | | | | your vocalist's range ends and where your solo needs |
| train-wreck than a bridge. | | | | to begin. |
| This is the type of problem you run into when playing | | | | |