What else Should I Learn on Guitar?
Posted in learn guitar on 04. Jul, 2010
Another learn guitar question has come in this week. Let’s tackle it straight away:
There’s this Band club at my school and lots of people are asking me to audition but I can’t play anything. Do you know any good songs I can play to impress them? Also, I want to learn how to improvise solos. Where do I start?
I can jam in Am. (Blues)
I can easily learn Greenday songs, but they’re all power chords.
I seem to have the habit of only learning the intro to a certain song.
I can play some Clapton songs
I can pluck.
I can mute.
So what do you guys suggest?
Please dont give me sh** about smells like teen spirit, I’m not that much of a noob.
I can play Stairway too, Just not the solo.
I tried master of puppets and I think I can manage it but it’s too long.
And the guy who said Cliffs of Dover- LOL.
now, here is a vital lesson in music: being a rhythm player is more important than being a solo guitarist, because without a rhythm, most (i say most because a rhythm guitar isnt always vital) solo guitarists are just going mental-fast around scales without a background: boring, and easy to come out of time.
so, play something that has a diverse range of rhythm and solo, particulalrly if it has an odd time signature. dont play anything too advanced for yourself.
the jam in Am is an excellent choice, just use some dominant 7th chords instead, or a shuffle (google the aformentioned). and if anyone asks why you arent soloing, explain that rhythm is much more important than solo. unless theyre idiots (lol), this may turn them in your favour.
soloing; soloing uses multipule scales, mainly the following in order of importance: pentationics, scales, arpeggios. obviously you need chords to solo over, but dont worry about that for the moment. now, learn pentatonics: practise them over and over, and over time, you WILL develop them into somethign you can solo over because yoll learn what sounds good. then move onto scales (moveable). do the same; frequent practise.
now, some songs for rhythm. time of your life – green day, a generic blues shuffle, paradise city – GNR including riffs for a bit of showmanship 
, a SLOWED DOWN and simplified version of rude mood by SRV. SLOW IT DOWN and simplify it or you will sound sh!te, theres no way youll be able to play at 260 bpm after 10 months.
good luck 
It sounds like you like blues.
Maybe try some Led Zeppelin songs?
Some cool Led Zeppelin songs:
The Lemon Song
Custard Pie
Black Dog
Whole Lotta Love
Stairway To Heaven
I like these too:
Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl
Outkast – Hey Ya
Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
The Beatles – Let It Be, Blackbird
Aerosmith – Dream On, Walk This Way
Also, Nirvana songs are very easy compared to bands like Guns N’ Roses, Led Zeppelin, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Aerosmith, etc. They’re mostly power chords too, but they have nice riffs and they’re all good songs!
Easy ones:
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Rape Me
In Bloom
All Apologies
Come As You Are
Dumb
They’re all easy.
You can try Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, which is one of my favorite songs. The guitar doesn’t enter until 2:19 on the song, it has a guitar solo, and a hard rock part to it. It’s pretty easy and it took me about two days to learn!
Good luck!
Songs that Can impress people-
Caprice
Crazy Train
Cliffs of Dover
Classical Gas by Mason Williams. All the greats have redone it. I linked to the original song. It’s short and sweet.
Oh come on Cal, Classical Gas comes in an easy tab version as well and it can be slowed down without losing the integrity of the song. I’m able to play it and I’m a beginning to intermediate player. I suggest it because it’s an excellent exercise in finger plucking, which a lot of beginners neglect especially if they are playing more contemporary songs.
If you are rhythmic player that’s your deal, but guys like BB King never played a chord in their life. No disrespect on this issue, you clearly are a more advanced player than I am but I’m just saying sticking to the easy may not be the best route in the long run.