The Art of the Solo

What’s it about?

You’ve learnt hundreds of solos, but the time has come to make your own. In this Masterclass, Michael Wagner lays down three solos and then breaks them apart. It’s not just the what and how, but the why too. Understand every decision Michael makes, and get a tighter grip on the art form of soloing. 

This course is built around three tracks; the Dorian “1971 Blues”, the AC/DC-inspired “Old Man Jack” and the stirringly powerful “At the Foot of the Mountain”. For each one, Michael has composed a solo that fits the bill. He lays them down, then breaks them apart. First with an active listening of the backing, and then a section-by-section breakdown of each solo. Showing you what notes he played, how he played them and why he made those choices.

To further aid your understanding, he also shares his “three rules”, and goes in-depth with a general tips Q&A lesson. Ideas and approaches you can use in any setting, built on tried and tested concepts learnt from knowledge, experience and influences.

What will I learn?

This Masterclass will help you make better choices when soloing. From the big melodic hooks to the smaller passing licks, it all matters and Michael will equip you to make the most of every moment.

There are practical skills to take on board with a variety of approaches to dynamics, articulation and even pickup switching and volume control. You’ll learn when to go big, when to take your foot off the pedal and how to take a tiny - seemingly bland idea - and turn it into something epic. You’ll also learn the essential theory needed to make the most of each track, and use that to your advantage when writing solos in the future. 

And if you just need a creative catalyst, you’ll learn three incredible solos. Each one overflowing with ideas you can steal.

What theory is covered?

• Major pentatonic
• Minor pentatonic
• Dorian

What techniques are covered?

• Active listening
• Alternate picking
• Bending

Who’s it for?

This is for players looking to play solos that stand the test of time. Stop copying, start creating.