Simple Slate

Learn to Play a Good Lead


I can think back to hundreds of examples where I’ve been blown away by a lead guitarist. Ever wonder just how he got to be so good? I can guarantee a good lead player did not just pick up his instrument for the first time and <poof> he could miraculously play great leads. In this article, we are going to cover some of the basics for producing that great lead of your dreams. Ok I gest, but these tools will help you get at least a good lead going. Lets go over some of the basics:
1. Learn those scales.

I know you have all heard it a million times. Scales are boring I know, but they are the evil necessity to playing great leads. Start with pentatonic scales. Practice them over blues. Pentatonic and blues go hand in hand and will give you a feel of the scale over moving and predictable chord structures. Next try your scale over Rock, you will find it is equally as applicable in most cases.
Next scale to learn would be your basic major scale. Try to learn this scale across the neck. What do I mean by that I can hear some of you asking right now? I mean find your root at every point up and down the neck and play your major scale. Become familiar with the patterns. This same scale is applicable across modes.
Next you want to break your scales down into arpeggios. 1-3-5-7 etc etc. You will notice how this nicely overlaps
with the pentatonic scale.

Major Pentatonic Scale



Minor Pentatonic Scale


Major Scale in first position.

2. Always use ALTERNATE PICKING as your primary method of performing this scale.

B. Play it forwards, then backwards, in a slow, even tempo.

2. Adding color
By color, I mean bends, tapping, harmonics, hammer ons, and pull offs.

Here is a great exercise for hammer ons and pull offs! Keep finger 1 on fret 5 and use the fingers which are shown above the note to hammer on and pull off
2 3 2 3 2 3 4 3
E|---5-h7-p5-h8-p5-h7-p5-h8-p5-h7-p5-h8-p5-h10-p5-h8-p5--|
B|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------------------------------| Repeat if needed
D|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Technique and control should always be your main goal. Speed demons, well, maybe we envy them maybe we don’t. Starting out though, speed should not be what you are striving for. Speed comes with good control and good technique. Voicings and creativity in your solos will prove to be just as important, if not more important in the long run. Stay creative and happy soloing.

Dae is 100% correct in what she has posted. Great research and information here. That is EXACTLY what you need to learn to do, and then take your OWN style from there. We all have to learn the basics first ... Crawl befor you can Walk basically.

Dae .. You did a great job supplying this information .. Rock on Sisiter!!

I've been working hard on my leads but still can't quite get the spped, what can I do to get more speed?