The Soloing Lesson I Learned From Public Speaking
Whenever I stay at a hotel, I always get sucked into a Law & Order SVU marathon.
How is that show always on?
I dig how the endings vary from episode to episode. Sometimes happy. Sometimes sad. Sometimes super, super dark.
Endings are important, especially when it comes to your solos.
You can save a lousy solo with a great ending. And you can ruin a great solo with a clumsy ending.
Public speakers tend to set themselves up for success by having their first and last lines figured out in advance. If the bookends are solid, you can get away with a lot of missteps in the middle.
Now, I'm not saying you need to pre-compose the first and last lines of your solos. But keeping it simple—especially at the end—is not a bad idea. That way, you're less likely to botch the last note and leave your audience with a poor representation of your playing.
What feels simple is going to vary from person to person. Just know that there are times when it’s okay to stay in your comfort zone. Playing material that’s familiar can still sound tasty AF.
Speaking of which, if you need any inspiration for what to play at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of your solos, you can't go wrong with a line from Tastiest Blues Licks You've Ever Heard.
Subscriber Andy W. confirms the tastiness quotient here:
"Hi Jeff,
I hope you’re well. I’m emailing because I felt the need to say a big thank you all the way from the UK. First of all, for the licks, which I’ve really enjoyed practising; they certainly do sound tasty. I love the effect of mixing the major and minor blues scales together and it’s been a great challenge to pick one and transpose it by ear.
I know it’s a bit odd to hear this from a complete stranger, but I thought you might appreciate hearing about the impact you make from a fan. Thanks again and keep up the great work!
Best wishes,
Andy"
Click here to get Tastiest Blues Licks You've Ever Heard while they’re still dirt cheap.
Happy shedding,
Jeff
P.S. Tomorrow I'm going to tackle the question of why we make soloing mistakes in the first place, so make sure to tune in!