Analysing a Solo
Whenever you learn a solo you like, it is worth analysing it to find ideas and concepts to use in your own solos. Here is a shuffle solo written in the style of Buddy Guy. It uses only the Blues scale, mainly in the E form, so there isn’t too much to work out about which notes are being used. This makes it possible to concentrate on analysing the musical ideas used in the solo.
The analysis follows the solo. The next section of the book contains solos in the styles of various players. Try analysing these solos in a similar manner to this one. The more you think about what you are learning, the more you will get out of it.
This solo contains several of Buddy Guy’s trademarks. The first of these is building on a theme. Notice how the first theme is repeated, first exactly and then closer together.
This helps to drive the solo forward as well as giving the listener something to follow and make sense of. As the solo progresses there is more repetition.
Two more techniques used here are consecutive hammer-ons and consecutive slides. Try making up some of your own licks using these ideas.
This example demonstrates developed riffs over a turnaround progression
The second 12 bars of the solo contains the classic chicken imitation. Notice how the chicken lick is played using straight eighth notes against the shuffle feel. This can add tension and interest as well as a touch of comedy.
Probably the most distinctive of Buddy Guy’s techniques is his use of double stops on the first and third strings, played with pick and fingers or thumb and fingers. The original idea for this type of lick came from the piano playing of Otis Spann.
