This lesson will focus on melody, which is the principle creative aspect of lead playing. A strong solo is, first and foremost, melodic. Certain elements such as speed, technical wizardry or groove may support or enhance the melody and it certainly pays to practice all of those elements, but as a lead player, you must know how to compose, improvise and play melodies!
The first thing you should do when you’ve chosen a song over which to improvise is to learn to play the melody, preferably in more than one position. When you’re comfortable playing the melody, it is time to begin creating your own small melodies that fit over the chord progression.
The best way to improve your ability to create melodies is to commit to doing so as a regular practice. Instead of trying to create a masterpiece, develop your skills by writing a lot of small melodies. Try writing a minimum of ten 4-bar tunes a week over a I – IV – V – I progression. When you have written 50 – 100 of those, begin composing 8-bar tunes. In time, you will begin to see a big improvement in your melodic sense and your ability to create with ease.
Try to make each melody tell a story, with a beginning, middle and end. Use the chord tones to guide you in your note choices and work toward creating an interesting and natural melodic rhythm. (You will find it easier to be creative with the melodic rhythm when you have progressed to 8-bar melodies and beyond.)
Write them!
The most satisfying way to compose your melodies and keep a record of them is to actually write them on staff paper. If you have never written music, don’t let that stop you. Writing short, simple pieces is not only a good way to learn to compose, it is also a great way to become familiar with the staff and musical notation.
If you’re unwilling to write the melodies down, you can still compose, record and play them. Regardless of the method you choose for creating and making a record of the melodies, be sure that you learn to play them on your guitar—ideally in different positions and in different keys—and listen back to them with a critical ear!