Improving as a solo guitarist without learning scales

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

I am a drummer of 20+ years. I am a guitarist for only the last 5 or so (more of a guitar owner). I can play many chords, and have composed a number of songs. I learned to play drums without a mentor, and have continued the same way learning the guitar.

My weakness is that I haven't been able to improve playing solos. I have written a number of passages which could be considered solos. But playing these passages time and again starts feeling stale, because my progression is very fixed. I refuse to learn scales. I do realize that there is a great globe of musical theory and many schools of approach to learning all of these scales. I choose not to learn the same way that a vast majority of guitarists have; if I drink the kool-aid, then surely my approach will be a not-too-distant relative of any number of guitarists.

And isn't the goal to not sound like everyone else? I realize the irony of my question - how do I not do like so many others, but maybe do it like you? I am looking for perspective. Certainly there must be more than few of you who have learned to play the guitar (and solo) very well while ignoring the establishment of scales.