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And that’s not all: mySongBook is 50% off! One year of access to the mySongBook tabs for only 30€. It’s a fantastic deal, with top-quality tabs for all levels.
As a special bonus, get 60 days of free access to online guitar lessons from Your Guitar Academy when you buy Guitar Pro 8 or subscribe to mySongBook on our website!
Got questions? Drop them in the comments below, we’re here to help! ⬇️
Why do you need Guitar Pro 8?
Guitar Pro is THE essential tool you need as a guitarist, bassist, composer and musician. With Guitar Pro 8, you can play and learn tabs at your own pace, edit your compositions, and share them with the world. And above everything else, it’s easy to use.
What’s new in Guitar Pro 8?
We’ve added a bunch of new features in the 8th version of Guitar Pro. One of the most popular so far is the Audio Track feature, which lets you add your own recordings directly into your tabs. It’s more than just a way to enhance playback, it helps you check the accuracy of your transcriptions and makes practicing more enjoyable with the sound of a real guitar.
Check out the full list of new features we added to help you become a better guitarist and composer.
What’s mySongBook?
mySongBook is the library of tabs available in Guitar Pro 8. With mySongBook, you’ll get access to thousands of quality tabs right inside the software. You’ll find essential guitar riffs, solos, and full songs from legendary bands. There’s plenty to practice and help you improve your skills by learning some of the greatest hit songs of all time. Many scores include professionally recorded backing tracks, making your practice sessions more immersive and rewarding.
Join the amazing guitarists using Guitar Pro 8!
Rick Beato, Paul Davids, and Justin Guitar, just to name a few, use Guitar Pro 8 daily to practice, create content, and share their tabs!
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Any Questions?
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Hello guys, this is Edina, UK-based guitarist and educator. Today I’m going to teach you a few exercises that will help you improvise more freely, musically on Spanish Guitar. Remember you can also download the Guitar Pro files attached to this article to practice along and save them to keep improving your skills. Now without further ado, let’s get on with the lesson:
When I was younger and just starting out on guitar, I was always mesmerized by people who seemed completely free on their instrument. One of my most memorable early experiences was when I was playing guitar somewhere and a random person joined me, effortlessly playing beautiful solos on the spot.
I remember wondering: How can they do that so easily and sound so musical at the same time? How do they know what notes to play to sound good, even though they’ve never played with me before?
Early in my guitar journey, I was lucky enough to meet a jazz guitarist who helped me understand the major scale and showed me how to practice it in a way that sounded musical. That opened the door to playing over any chord progression with more confidence and creativity.
So, what was the secret of those guitarists who joined me and played solos over my chord progressions? What did they need to do to achieve a good sound while improvising?
To actually sound good, you need to be able to play at a certain speed and practice specific exercises.
The first two exercises below will help you increase your speed and strengthen your technique. After that, we’ll look at six more exercises based on one of the major scale positions. These will not only improve your phrasing and creativity but also help you memorize scale patterns more effectively.
How fast should you play to sound great when soloing?
To sound truly dynamic and expressive during improvisation, it’s important to be able to speed up, slow down, and incorporate a variety of rhythms. Some of the best guitarists in the world captivate their audiences not just with melody, but with the incredible speed and control they display in their solos.
The key to developing this level of control is using a metronome. It helps you track your progress, build speed gradually, and develop rock-solid technique. In this section, you’ll learn two excellent speed-building exercises: the three notes per beat and the four notes per beat.
Nearly every guitarist I’ve played with (especially before live gigs) relied on these exercises. The three-notes-per-beat drill, in particular, was a go-to warm-up for building clean, fast technique that translates into confident solos.
Before diving into the exercises, it’s important to focus on reducing unnecessary movement. This is essential for increasing speed and efficiency:
- Right-hand movement: Minimize motion. If you play with your fingers, use alternate picking (alternating between your index and middle finger) and keep movements small. If you use a pick/plectrum, also use alternate picking—alternate the direction of the pick with each stroke.
- Left-hand movement: Only move your fingers when absolutely necessary. For example, when playing consecutive notes on the same string, don’t lift your fingers unless needed. Keep them in position to reduce wasted motion.
- Hand positioning: Stay stretched and hover close to the frets you’ll be playing. Avoid pulling your fingers back unnecessarily, as this adds extra, inefficient movement.
Speed goals
- Aim for a minimum of 130 BPM when playing three notes per beat.
- For the four notes per beat exercise, aim for at least 100 BPM.
Some advanced players can push these exercises well beyond that, reaching speeds of 200 BPM and up with the three-notes-per-beat drill.
Three notes per beat speed training exercise
This exercise is excellent for practicing alternate picking and building speed. Since three notes are played per string, changing strings is forced in an alternating pattern.
- With a pick/plectrum, the picking alternates between downstrokes and upstrokes as you move across the strings.
- With fingerpicking, the strokes alternate between the index and middle fingers.
Four notes per beat speed training exercise
This exercise is also beneficial because it engages all four fingers, even though string changes are executed using the same finger (if fingerpicking) or the same side of the pick (if using a plectrum).
Now, let’s look at the six musical exercises to master scale positions
The exercises here will be on the C major scale, also called C Ionian. The names of all the modes originate from ancient Greek terminology, and C Ionian is what most people commonly refer to as C major.
When you start learning the scales, it’s best to start with the key of C, because this scale does not have any sharp or flats. It consists of seven notes: C, D, E, F, G, A and B.
The C note is on the eighth fret of the low E string, so that’s where we will start the exercises.
Exercise 1. C Ionian Up and Down
Set the metronome to 60 bpm and just go on the scale up and down playing two notes per beat.
Exercise 2. C Ionian Beat Switching
In this exercise, the exact same sequence is played, but the pattern alternates between two notes, three notes, and four notes per beat at a time. This drill is incredibly effective for building rhythmic control and flexibility. To truly sound musical during improvisation, it’s not just about hitting the right notes—it’s about how you play them. By practicing rhythmic variation, you’ll learn to speed up or slow down intentionally, giving your solos more emotional expression and dynamic range.
Exercise 3. C Ionian Steps
In this exercise, the scale is played by moving two steps forward and one step backward until reaching the last note, after which the same pattern is followed in reverse.
Exercise 4. C Ionian Thirds
In this exercise, thirds are played within the scale by playing the 1st note, then the 3rd note, followed by the 2nd note, and then the 4th note, and so on.
Exercise 5. C Ionian Four Notes
In this exercise, the scale is played only in reverse. Four notes are played, starting from the top, then the starting point moves to the second note of the scale and another four notes are played, and so on. This pattern continues until the first note of the scale is reached.
Exercise 6. C Ionian Arpeggios
In this exercise, arpeggios are played using the first, third, and fifth notes of the scale, repeating the pattern across the next octaves within the shape. After that, seventh arpeggios are played using the first, third, fifth, and seventh notes of the scale, with the pattern repeating throughout the shape.
Of course, these exercises are only the start of your improvisation journey, but they’ll help you sound better than simply running up and down generic scale shapes. With consistent practice, they’ll not only improve your musicality but also reinforce your understanding of each shape and position on the fretboard.
Jam over a backing track
Ready to try improvising over this position? Here is a Spanish rumba backing track in the C major scale so you can jam over right away. The chords for this backing track are: C major, A minor, D minor and G major.
Learn more
If you want to truly master the fretboard and take your improvisation skills to the next level, check out my newly published book: Learn to Improvise on Guitar with Exercises.
Inside, you’ll find everything you need to master the major scale and its modes, including:
- 6 hours of video lessons
- Over 200 Exercises
- Key Changes
- Backing Tracks
- GuitarPro files
Ready to dive deep and unlock your full potential on guitar? This book has got you covered!
Now available on The Spanish Guitar Hub, Amazon USA, and Amazon UK.
What students are saying
“The best improvisation course I’ve ever taken.” – Huy Nguyen
“Edina Balczo’s courses are always educational and highly recommended. In this particular course, what I learned exclusively was the key change through modal scales. There are tons of lessons about modes on the internet, but they are mostly limited to theory. Even after studying them, I still didn’t know how to apply modes in practice. This course opened the door to modal application. Although it’s just a small part of the course, it was the most important part for me and fully met my expectations. I look forward to more courses from Edina Balczo.” – Felix Chen
“I wish I had this course when I first started playing Spanish guitar!! I highly recommend.” – Philip W Empey
Great course!! Fantástico! – Ferzy Torrez
About Edina
Edina Balczo is an award-winning UK-based guitarist, author, and educator with over 25 years of experience. As a registered guitar tutor (Grade 8 with distinction, University of West London), she is passionate about helping students master Spanish, classical, Latin, and folk guitar styles.
Edina is an official Guitar Pro artist. She also runs the popular YouTube channel The Spanish Guitar Hub, which has garnered millions of views and tens of thousands of subscribers worldwide.
In addition to her solo work, Edina performs with her acclaimed guitar duo De Fuego, winners of the 2019 LUKAS (UK Latin) Award for Best Jazz/Folk Act of the Year. Through her books, Edina shares her expertise, passion, and proven teaching methods to help guitar players at every level unlock their musical potential.
Struggling to learn a new song on guitar? You’re not alone. Every guitarist has experienced the frustration of spending hours on incorrect tabs, stumbling over the same riffs, or simply giving up on that dream song still playing in their head.
Here’s the good news: learning songs faster isn’t about natural talent—it’s about using the right method. In this guide, you’ll discover how to learn a new song fast on guitar using Guitar Pro’s powerful features.
We’ll walk you through a proven 7-step process that transforms frustrating practice sessions into rapid progress. You’ll master essential skills like identifying correct tabs, using the speed trainer effectively, and building a practice routine that actually works.
Ready to learn your favorite songs faster than ever? Let’s dive in!
The Best Tips for Learning a Song Quickly with Guitar Pro
- Download Guitar Pro to access a comprehensive tool for guitarists
- Get the song’s tab to visualise and read the score
- Review the chords and practise playing them to improve transitions
- Review the rhythms of the song
- Break the song into small sections for more effective learning
- Don’t hesitate to slow down the tempo to work on difficult passages
- Practise regularly to gradually master the song
The Best Tips for Learning a Song Quickly with Guitar Pro
1. Download Guitar Pro to access a comprehensive tool for guitarists
If you’re new to Guitar Pro and want to follow along this guide step by step, just download the Guitar Pro 8 demo.
Guitar Pro is the #1 tablature software used by guitarists worldwide. With user-friendly practice features, a realistic sound engine, and professional editing tools, it’s the perfect companion for beginners learning songs faster. Try the free demo today!
2. Get the song’s tab to visualise and read the score
Start by finding a Guitar Pro tab for your chosen song. Simply search online for “[song name] Guitar Pro tab” to find downloadable files shared by musicians and creators worldwide.
Alternatively, explore mySongBook, Guitar Pro’s official library of professionally transcribed tabs, where you can browse thousands of songs by genre, instrument, or type. Subscribers can access the full library directly within Guitar Pro, while everyone can enjoy one free tab daily on our website.
Once you have your file, open it in Guitar Pro and let’s begin!
TAB PLAYBACK WITH TABLATURE READER AND RSE SOUND RENDERING OR AUDIO TRACK
Press play, notice how you can follow along the tablature with Guitar Pro’s playback feature, which incorporates a tablature reader, RSE Sound Rendering and audio tracks.
RSE (Realistic Sound Engine) is Guitar Pro’s Sound Rendering system based on our own proprietary sound bank, it’s been specifically designed to offer you the most realistic and pleasant sound experience.
Of course, you can also combine it with MIDI, if you prefer lighter files, and audio tracks for a completely customisable auditory experience.
3. Review the chords and practise playing them to improve transitions
Now that you’re all set up, let’s move on to the nitty-gritty of your practice session. Chords are the basic unit of guitar playing. It’s important to practise playing them individually and consecutively in order to transition between them.
With Guitar Pro 8, you can customise if and how you want chord diagrams to show up in your score, and if you’re scribbling down your own ideas you can access the chord library to help you notate chords and come up with interesting voicings. Here’s how to access CHORD DIAGRAMS and the CHORD LIBRARY:
Chord diagrams in Guitar Pro
You can choose whether you want to see them at the top of your score, in the score or both. You’ll find how to customise chord diagrams following these steps:
- In the right Inspector Panel: Song >Musical notation > Stylesheet.
- In the Stylesheet: Page Score & format > Chord diagrams
Chord library
Guitar Pro 8 lets you create a chord library individual to each project. Name the chord you want to add, create it from scratch, add alterations, inversions and omissions. To open your Chord Library go to:
- In the Menu Bar (top of your screen) : Note > Chord…
- Alternatively, press “A” on your keyboard to display the Chord view and then press enter to display the chord diagram on your tab
So, once you’ve set up the score in your preferred way, practise the chords for a few rounds, use single downstrokes if necessary, and make sure to get those transitions as clean as possible!
4. Review the rhythms of the song
Now that we’ve practiced chords and transitions we’re onto the next step: rhythms.
In Guitar Pro 8 you can visualise rhythms in various ways, here we’ll show you two of them, but keep in mind, again, it’s fully customisable to each player’s preferences!
Tab displayed with the rhythmic notation
If your score is both in standard notation and tablature you might not be able to see rhythm figures in your tabs by default. To visualise them follow these steps:
- In the right Inspector Panel: Song > Musical Notation > Stylesheet
- In the Stylesheet: Notation > Rhythmic
- Uncheck: “Hide in tablature when using standard notation” if you want to see rhythmic notation in your tablature.
- Check: “Extend rhythmic inside tablature” if you want the rhythmic notation to extend over your tablature lines.
Slash notation for chord grids
If, on the other hand, you’d rather only see the chords along with the rhythm, you can switch to slash notation and activate chord grids (shown above). Here’s how to change your score to slash notation:
- In the right Inspector Panel: Track > Musical notation > Slash notation
Again, once you’ve chosen your preferred notation, take some time to practise just the rhythm. For the newbies reading, if you’re strumming and struggling you can always mute the strings with your left hand and practise getting into the groove of the song.
Once you feel slightly comfortable with it, go ahead and put chords and rhythm together. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect, for now we’re just practising coordinating those two movements together.
5. Break the song into small sections for more effective learning
When trying to learn a new fine motor skill, we need repetition to give our brain a chance to catch on to that new movement pattern.
If you’re running the song from top to bottom, you might be embracing more variability than optimal, and might be making it way harder for yourself. Therefore, the more complex a song, the more necessary it’ll become to break it into small sections. So, here are a few ways you could break down the song into smaller sections for more effective learning:
Section markers
You can start by dividing the song into sections. These often share the same rhythmic patterns and chord progressions, which is exactly what we’re looking for when trying to learn. Section markers will generally appear in your score as verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, etc.
To access section markers go to the Edition Palette: “| A |” icon
Loop playback
If there’s a specific part you’re struggling with, like a technical riff or a bar chord transition, give it special attention. You can loop that section using loop playback by activating it in the toolbar and selecting the section in question.
You can also adjust the tempo and practise playing it slower, which we’ll discuss in the next step of this guide.
Pro tip: After practising the specific hard part, always practise “uniting it” with what comes before and after. This way you’ll teach your brain to remain calm and confident going into and getting out of the technically challenging parts.
6. Don’t hesitate to slow down the tempo to work on difficult passages
Every guitarist knows: to play fast, you must first practice slow. This essential studying technique helps you build precision and efficiency.
When working on challenging passages, slow down to focus on finger placement and movement optimization. This allows you to eliminate unnecessary motions and develop muscle memory for cleaner playing. As you gradually increase speed, your refined technique will make you faster and more accurate.
Guitar Pro’s features will help you master this process:
Metronome
In the toolbar:
- Activate/Deactivate Metronome
- Metronome & Count-in settings (three vertical dots)
Countdown
It’s always useful to have a countdown when you’re practising (or recording). Here’s how to activate it:
In the toolbar:
- Metronome & Count-in settings (three vertical dots)
- Activate/Deactivate count-in (hourglass icon)
Pro tip: You can add an inter-loop countdown when repeatedly practising looped sections. (It can be especially useful if you’re increasing the tempo of the loop to practise being faster.)
Tempo adjustment
- In the toolbar: Current tempo (quarter note value icon)
- In the toolbar: Relative speed to apply a certain percent of the current speed to the score (90%, 80% and so on)
Guitar Pro speed trainer
Guitar Pro offers an inbuilt speed trainer. With this feature you can choose to practise at a relative speed or a fixed bpm. You can also set it up to automatically increase tempo for a looped section based on the “progressive speed” increase.
For instance, you could set it up to start at 70% of the original speed, having a 10% tempo increase every four repetitions, all the way to the original tempo (100%). Let’s see where to find the speed trainer in Guitar Pro:
In the toolbar:
- Relative speed (Up and Down arrows) to customise the settings.
- To configure the speed trainer precisely, you’ll have to clic on “Custom values” to access the Speed settings window
Make use of all these tools and knowledge to practise the song you’ve chosen at different tempos, if you’re patient you’ll notice immense improvements in your technique just by modifying the speed.
7. Practise regularly to gradually master the song
If you’ve made it to this last step, congratulations, you definitely have the perseverance to learn a new skill! Here’s the last best kept secret: you’ve got to put in the hours, practise, practise and more practise. Here are a couple Guitar Pro features that’ll keep you doing just that no matter what:
Focus / unfocus mode
In global view you’ll find all the tracks, you can lower the volume or mute the guitar track you are working on to play along the other instruments.
Audio track feature
Watch this tutorial to learn how to add audio tracks to your Guitar Pro project:
Add a recording (.mp3 or .wav file) via the audio track to synchronise the song with the score and create the ideal learning environment.
See also: How to add an audio file to your scores? Guitar Pro 8 tutorial
Additional Tips to Optimise Your Song Learning on Guitar
Listen to the song repeatedly to immerse yourself and memorise it
Listen to the song, many times, passively, actively, however you want. You could try learning other parts, even if you’re not a singer nor a pianist, give it a go. It’ll transform how you perceive yours, and teach you how to play alongside a band.
Record yourself to identify mistakes and areas for improvement
It’s always good to have an external reference. Think about it as an audio mirror, we might think we’re doing a fantastic job, but discover we’re not really hitting those bass notes when we listen back to it. It’s an easy trick to implement, and it sure is guaranteed to reveal details you were blind to, or deaf, let’s say.
Try to memorise the song without relying on the score
It goes without saying, if you ever want to perform in public you will have to memorise the score. But even if that’s not the case, memorising it will free up space to really dial in on that technique or, to simply enjoy playing!
Conclusion
You now have the building blocks for learning songs faster: choosing the right song, mastering chord transitions, analyzing rhythm patterns, focusing on specific sections, and using tempo control effectively. Guitar Pro supports each step with powerful learning features, realistic audio, and flexible practice tools.
Remember: progress comes from consistent practice. Don’t fear mistakes—they’re essential for learning. Take that challenging song out of the drawer, use Guitar Pro’s speed trainer to master it, and explore mySongBook for accurate tabs.
Share your experience in the comments! Which tips worked best for you? What would you like to learn next?
Thanks for reading, and keep playing!
Download Guitar Pro 8 / Guitar Pro 8 DEMO!
Your questions
How long does it take to learn a new song with Guitar Pro?
With Guitar Pro’s practice tools, most beginners can learn a simple song in 1-2 weeks of regular practice. Complex songs may take 4-6 weeks. The speed trainer and loop features help you progress 2-3 times faster than traditional methods.
Can I use Guitar Pro if I’m a complete beginner?
Yes! Guitar Pro is designed for all skill levels. The tablature view makes it easy to see exactly where to place your fingers, and features like tempo adjustment let you start slow and gradually build speed as you improve.
What’s the best way to practice difficult passages?
Use Guitar Pro’s loop playback to isolate challenging sections, then apply the speed trainer to start at 60-70% of the original tempo. Practice for 10-15 minutes daily, increasing speed by 5-10% each session until you reach full tempo.
Long seen as heresy, the pick was originally a technique used by guitarists curious to try out the electric bass, which officially hit the market in 1951. Some of them even became legends of the instrument, Paul McCartney being one of the most famous examples.
Other bassists adopted this approach around the same time as McCartney, like Carol Kaye, who played on a huge part of the American pop scene during the ’50s and ’60s. In fact, she may have inspired Sir Paul in his style and technique. Carol used a pick with a small piece of foam placed under the strings near the bridge, giving that distinctive vintage sound from the era.
In the early ’70s, Yes bassist Chris Squire also made a name for himself with his pick usage, inspiring many in the progressive rock scene. And over the years, a whole wave of bassists followed like Peter Hook from Joy Division in the ’80s, whose melodic and unconventional playing still makes every New Wave kid from that decade nostalgic.
Then came the explosion of bassists using picks in the ’90s and 2000s: Krist Novoselic from Nirvana, Mark Hoppus from Blink-182, Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy, and Jason Newsted, then bassist for Metallica.
All these four-string legends seem to thoroughly debunk the stereotype that bass shouldn’t be played with a pick…
So, is the pick just a frustrated guitarist’s trick, or does it have genuine value for bass?
Well, believe it or not, it really does have legitimate advantages on our favorite instrument!
First, in terms of sound, you can get certain tones that are much harder to achieve with traditional fingerstyle. A more percussive tone, more attack and midrange, which can help your playing cut through the mix with more clarity.
That’s what we’ll explore through 10 basslines that use this technique and perfectly illustrate its value.
Before we dive in, let’s go over some basics for anyone new to the pick.
You hold it between your thumb and index finger, with both fingers roughly perpendicular around the pick. (Everyone’s hands are different, so think of this as a guideline, not a strict rule.) The idea is to form a pinch grip. As with any technique, don’t over-tense your muscles. It’s all about a balance between your forearm and wrist. Avoid locking up the forearm, or you risk tendinitis. While the forearm gives momentum, it’s mainly the wrist that brings flexibility and smooth motion. Depending on the tempo, you can use downstrokes for slower songs, or alternate picking (down-up) for faster parts.
It’s all about personal taste and what you need. Picks come in tons of shapes, sizes, thicknesses, and materials. Triangular, rounded, plastic, wood, even aluminium—there’s something for everyone. These factors all influence both your tone and technique. A thinner pick will have more snap and brightness. A thicker one will give more attack and roundness. For beginners, I recommend trying several types to find what works best for you, both in terms of feel and sound.
The type of strings you use also affects how a pick sounds. With flatwounds, known for their warm, vintage tone, the pick adds more definition and a cool retro vibe. With roundwounds, which are naturally brighter, using a pick gives even more presence and a more modern sound.
1- Come Together – The Beatles (1969)
We mentioned Sir Paul McCartney right at the start. Bassist, guitarist, singer, and even drummer (according to legend), in one of the greatest British bands of the era. The bassline in “Come Together” is simple yet super effective and innovative. It’s one of the most famous lines of the last century. That distinctive tone? Flatwounds and a pick.
Preview the Come Together tab available in mySongBook here.
(or Subscribe to mySongBook to access the full score.)
2- Highway Star – Deep Purple (1972)
A classic ’70s rock track, “Highway Star” is a Deep Purple hit. Bassist Roger Glover delivers a hard-hitting line that clearly shows the arrival of heavy metal in the early part of the decade. Near the end of the chorus, his creativity shines : he seems to be playing around with chord arpeggios. The pick was probably his go-to method for songs like this.
Preview the Highway Star tab available in mySongBook here.
(or Subscribe to mySongBook to access the full score.)
3- Sledgehammer – Peter Gabriel (1986)
A must-know for any self-respecting bassist: “Sledgehammer.” Tony Levin, a studio legend with over 500 albums under his belt, plays a fretless bass with an octaver (doubling the note an octave below) for that extra low-end. The result is an extremely groovy and unique line that gives this ’80s anthem its unmistakable character. The pick adds extra funkiness to Tony’s playing. This song is not yet available in mySongBook.
4- Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine (1987)
A global hit off Appetite for Destruction still one of the best-selling debut albums ever. Bassist Duff McKagan, from Seattle’s punk scene, met Slash in L.A. His playing is melodic and unique, with a bright attack thanks to his use of relatively soft picks. That intro? An anthem still sung by fans today.
Preview the Sweet Child O’ Mine tab available in mySongBook here.
(or Subscribe to mySongBook to access the full score.)
5- Just Like Heaven – The Cure (1987)
Another classic from 1987. Many kids in France remember it as the theme song for the show Les Enfants du Rock. Simon Gallup, a founding member of The Cure, likely had no idea those four notes would become so iconic. Influenced by punk, using a pick was a natural move for him, giving the line clarity and presence in the mids.
Preview the Just Like Heaven tab available in mySongBook here.
(or Subscribe to mySongBook to access the full score.)
6- Get The Funk Out – Extreme (1990)
Not easy standing out next to Nuno Bettencourt and Gary Cherone. But Pat Badger held his ground just fine, thank you. That legendary intro blends glam and funk rock, combo that’s more than proven itself over the last four decades. In the ’90s, using a pick was common, especially to beef up low-end power. Warning: this one grooves hard.
Preview the Get The Funk Out tab available in mySongBook here.
(or Subscribe to mySongBook to access the full score.)
7- Schism – Tool (2001)
Winner of a Grammy for Best Metal Performance, this progressive metal juggernaut is hard to miss. After a chordal intro, the bass settles into an ostinato that runs through nearly the entire track. Classic Justin Chancellor alongside drummer Danny Carey, they form the core of Tool’s sound. In Drop D tuning, with complex time signatures (switching between 7/8 and 5/8), this one’s a real challenge.
Preview the Schims Out tab available in mySongBook here.
(Subscribe to mySongBook to access the full score.)
8- No One Knows – Queens of the Stone Age (2002)
Josh Homme’s band hit like a freight train with their early albums, and in 2002, Songs for the Deaf took it to another level. Still considered their best work, it features one of the tightest bass-and-drum pairings in American rock: Nick Oliveri and Dave Grohl. Nick’s pick-driven solo on “No One Knows” is played high up the neck with hammer on, it’s tricky, so warm up first before jumping in.
Preview the Schims Out tab available in mySongBook here.
(or Subscribe to mySongBook to access the full score.)
9- Snow – RHCP (2006)
Yes, it’s true Flea has used a pick before, and more than once! In “Snow,” a well-known RHCP song, the verse and pre-chorus are fingerstyle but the chorus is played with a pick. He strums chords, a concept often overlooked or misunderstood by some bassists (we see you). This kind of chordal work highlights the technical side of pick playing, which he also explored in 2002 on “Don’t Forget Me.”
Preview the Snow tab available in mySongBook here.
(or Subscribe to mySongBook to access the full score.)
10- The Pretender – Foo Fighters (2007)
Most of the songs so far have basslines that stand apart from the other instruments. But sometimes, locking in with the rhythm guitar hits just right. “The Pretender” is the calm before the storm. Dave Grohl’s band dives in hard, every note and beat supports his vocals. The pick gives the line its sharp, aggressive edge. Bassist Nate Mendel stays low-key but effective, while the late Taylor Hawkins brings wild energy to the drums. Two contrasting personalities that proved how powerful differences can be.
Preview The Pretender tab available in mySongBook here.
(or Subscribe to mySongBook to access the full score.)
I recommend working on all the techniques you come across on your journey as a bassist, whether they are conventional or not.
Feel free to leave a comment to share your opinion or mention other bassists who use this technique.
Guitar Pro is an excellent tool to help you improve and transcribe your sheet music.
So, grab your bass, and see you soon!
Introduction
Hey, I’m Brandon Paul, a pro touring guitarist and passionate online guitar teacher. I’m beyond excited to introduce Brandon Paul Guitar Legacy, my brand-new online guitar school designed to help guitarists master Rock and Blues.
In collaboration with Guitar Pro, I’ve crafted an exclusive lesson from inside my school, which is complete with free downloadable Guitar Pro files to enhance your learning and take your playing to the next level.
Lesson Overview: What You’ll Learn
In this lesson, we’re taking your rock soloing skills to the next level by focusing on four essential elements:
✅ New scales to add more color to your solos
✅ Arpeggios to make your playing more dynamic
✅ Techniques to build your chops and make your solos more expressive
✅ A fully improvised solo to put everything into action
Each video lesson is just a taste of what’s inside my school—there’s so much more waiting for you! Let’s dive in.
Section 1: New Scale Options
The Natural Minor Scale (Aeolian Mode)
The Natural Minor Scale (also called the Aeolian Mode) is a must-know for any rock guitarist. It’s perfect when you want to expand beyond the minor pentatonic and create richer, more emotional solos.
Why use it?
- Emotional, melancholic, and expressive tones
- Adds depth to your soloing beyond the typical minor pentatonic licks
- Works amazingly in rock and blues solos
The Major Pentatonic Scale
The Major Pentatonic Scale is another essential tool in your arsenal. While minor pentatonic gives you grit and attitude, the major pentatonic brings a sweet, uplifting sound that balances your phrases beautifully.
Why use it?
- Creates bright, happy, and smooth melodies
- Mixes well with minor pentatonic for more variety
- Adds a new dimension to your rock solos
Section 2: Arpeggios – Unlocking the Fretboard
Arpeggios are an incredible tool for outlining chords and adding more structure to your solos. Instead of just playing random notes, you’ll be playing within the chord structure, creating a much more melodic and polished sound.
Why use arpeggios?
- Helps you connect chords smoothly within solos
- Adds flair and sophistication to your lead playing
- Improves technical precision and fretboard awareness
Section 3: Combining Legato & Picking
When you blend legato (hammer-ons, pull-offs) with picking, you unlock a new level of fluidity and precision in your solos. This hybrid approach lets you play both fast and smooth while keeping everything under control.
Why master this technique?
- Legato adds flow and smoothness to your lines
- Picking adds attack and precision, giving you control
- Switching between both makes your solos more dynamic
Section 4: Putting It All Together
Now that you’ve learned new scales, arpeggios, and techniques, it’s time to put everything into practice with a fully improvised solo that showcases all these concepts in action.
Why is this important?
- Helps you apply everything in a real-world scenario
- Improves your ability to improvise confidently
- Makes your solos sound authentic and unique
Bonus: Includes a mid-tempo rock backing track in A.
Practice Tips for Faster Progress
🚀 Dedicate at least 15 minutes per day to focused practice
🚀 Use Guitar Pro tabs & backing tracks to solidify your learning
🚀 Stay consistent—small daily efforts lead to massive improvement
🚀 Get organized with my FREE 50-page practice booklet
About Brandon Paul Guitar Legacy
My online school, Brandon Paul Guitar Legacy, is designed to help you master Rock & Blues guitar through structured, step-by-step lessons. Whether you’re a complete beginner or working towards advanced mastery, my school has hundreds of lessons covering everything from theory and technique to improvisation and songwriting.
🎸 100’s of structured lessons (beginner to advanced)
🎸 Theory & Ear Training courses to boost your musicality
🎸 Jam-ready backing tracks for real-world practice
🎸 Guitar Pro tabs and files for every lesson
🎸 Practice booklets to track progress and stay motivated
Start Leveling Up Your Solos Today!
- Download the FREE Guitar Pro files
- Watch the lesson videos and start practicing
- Join Brandon Paul Guitar Legacy for full access to structured learning
👉 Ready to take your playing to the next level? Visit Brandon Paul Guitar Legacy Academy (free trial available) and start mastering Rock & Blues today!
What Students Are Saying
“Very nice course. Easy to follow, well-explained lessons, essential talking and useful PDFs. Great teacher, I learned a lot, and I improved my playing greatly. Thanks!!”
– Benedetto D.
“After playing (self-taught) guitar for 15+ years I feel like I’m a beginner again with all the great stuff I’m learning. Filling in a whole lot of gaps with this course. Thanks!”
– Kenneth G.
In Collaboration with Guitar Pro
“I’m honored to be working with Guitar Pro. Their industry-leading notation software makes my lessons even easier to follow. With Guitar Pro tabs and backing tracks, students can learn faster and play better.”
By Brandon Paul.
It’s hard to imagine how many thousands of guitarists Carlos Santana has inspired and influenced over his amazing career as a musician. He plays with such ease and fluidity, always managing to create incredibly interesting musical phrases. I’ve often heard people refer to his sound as ‘exotic’ or ‘full of flavour’.
This lesson is going to showcase five Santana inspired licks for you to learn and practice! To take your learning to the next level, we’ll provide all the theory you need to understand how Santana uses various scales to craft his wonderful sound. Use this as an opportunity to explore new sounds in your own playing as well!
The lesson
Be sure to watch the video below to really get the most out of this lesson. Tabs will be provided below for each lick, but the video will help you replicate the feel and rhythm for each of them!
The theory
Let’s take a quick pit-stop and dive into some theory before we get to the licks. I truly believe understanding how each scale is crafted will help you get the most out of each lick, as well as being able to explore new avenues in your own playing!
Santana’s sound is heavily based around the natural minor scale, and two slight variants of it – the harmonic minor, and the dorian mode. Though these two minor variants share six out of the seven notes from the natural minor, they create a very different flavour. Let’s take a look at the construction of each of them.
Natural minor
The natural minor scale is what many people refer to as just the ‘minor scale’. Let’s have a look at A natural minor as an example, as it has no accidentals (the collective term for both sharps and flats). The notes within the A minor scale are A(1), B(2), C(b3), D(4), E(5), F(b6), and G(b7) – with the numbers relating to each interval. So, where do the b3, b6 and b7 come from? If we look at A major, we have the notes of A(1), B(2), C#(3), D(4), E(5), F#(6), and G#(7). Therefore, we can see that we need to flatten (lower by a semi-tone) the 3rd, 6th and 7th degree to transform the major scale into the minor.
If the theory behind scales is new to you, be sure to swing by the Guitar Club and check our incredible course on harmony! It will help you understand how scales are crafted, how to harmonise them, and how to use them in practice!
Harmonic minor
Now that we know the notes and intervals that make the minor scale, we can take a look at the one change needed to transform it into the harmonic minor! The single difference between the two scales is that we’re replacing the G – the b7 degree – with a G# – the major 7 degree. You’d expect the major 7 to make it sound brighter and happier, but it actually makes the scale sound darker, as there is a large amount of tension between the b6 and 7.
Dorian mode
Modes are often shrouded in a bit of mystery, as they can often be presented as a whole new paradigm music theory and knowledge. However, they’re a lot more simple than you might think! The dorian mode, for example, is just the natural minor scale with a raised 6th interval – we just need to change the F(b6) natural into an F#(6). Unlike the harmonic minor, the dorian mode gives a slight flavour of major to the minor scale, which Santana uses frequently!
Dorian is just one fantastic example of how modes can be used to take your playing to new levels! Learn everything you need to know about the dorian mode in this free lesson, or get a full understanding of the modes from our in depth course!
The licks
With the theory out of the way, let’s take a look at what you’ve come here for – the five Santana inspired licks! Referring to the video will be the best way to really nail these licks, but I’ll provide a short description for each one as we go along!
Lick 1
This first lick is an excellent example of how changing the F(b6) from the natural minor scale to the F#(6) of the dorian mode can have a huge impact on the overall feel. In this case, we’re using the F natural as an embellishment or passing note.
Lick 2
Here’s another example of how using the dorian mode ‘lifts’ the feel of the track. We’re using the same concept of using the F as a passing note to get to the F# of the dorian mode – just in a different position of the fretboard.
Lick 3
You could argue that this third lick is in either the natural minor, or the dorian mode. Why? Because we’re not playing any form of the 6th degree, without harmonic context, it’s impossible to discern between the two. It’s safe to assume that we’re in the dorian mode with Santana’s playing, but experiment dropping in both the F natural and F# to see which flavour you prefer!
Lick 4
Now that we’ve seen a handful of examples of the dorian mode, let’s see how we can make use of the harmonic minor! Remember, the only difference between the natural minor and the harmonic minor is the major, or natural 7th degree. Experiment by making this small adjustment in your own licks to see what you can come up with!
Lick 5
Though the dorian mode and harmonic minor are fantastic scales to change the dynamic of a lick, or an entire track, we can’t forget the beautiful sound of the natural minor! The challenge in this final lick is not in the theory, rather in the speed and ferocity in the playing to emulate Santana’s passionate playing!
I hope you find lots of value in both the licks and the theory behind them! Remember to always reflect on any new material you learn and ask yourself – “how can I use this in my own playing and style?”. If you ever need guidance with your guitar-playing journey, the Guitar Club has you covered every step of the way! Don’t just take my word for it, sign-up for free for 7-days and explore everything we have to offer! If you enjoyed this lesson though, you might love our courses on how to learn licks and improvisation. I very much look forward to seeing some of you there soon – happy practicing! 😃🤘