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The newest rock/metal music out there seems to have a lack of the familiar structure that was predominent for the majority of the 60s-90s. Am I behind the times?? Probably. I may still do lead solos (if you can call 'em that) anyway, just to be different. lol Do Y'all notice any lack of guitar solos in a lot of today's rock music? Or is it just my imagination?

everything works in cycles.

Between Chuck Berry and Jimmy Hendrix, there weren't a whole lotta solos in popular music. The wankers of the 80's burnt people out pretty bad, but it will come around. I know Dream Theater does some crazy solos.. I dunno.

Yes, and no. Heck I dont know. Some of our stuff features lead guitar work. ( I really dont think you can call it a solo if someone else is playing)
One of our songs feature Bass and Drum solos. Yes, they are the only ones playing at the time.

Thanks 4 the input Keith. I guess i should clarify, George. By solo I meant in the traditional sense, not being the only one playing. I just dont hear verse-bridge-verse-solo-bridge-verse-verse (or something like that) anymore. (plus i'm really not speaking of Vai, Satriani, DreamTheater etc) just the more conventional mainstream hard-rock groups... I was just wondering if the solo is going out of style and one would be considered a dino for putting one in a new song (not that i care; music is whatever you feel like putting out there, of course)..

New rock is for the most part home manufacturing by those who wish to make money.

1. Create an audit.

2. Find what people like the most.

3. Create an audiology from it.

4. Mask it.

5. Sell it.

What do you currently wipe your floors with?

I was just reading an article in Guitar Player Mag. and they were interviewing Meshuga, those guy's play 8 string guitars I am still trying to master 6. in the article they said basically they all consider themselves percussionist on their instruments and this is what I have noticed most new rock and pop music has really changed the verse chorus format and the drummer and singers are the main instruments in the band in other words today's music is very beat and vocal oriented and their rhythms are all power chords and the guitars bass and drums are really playing together but they are all drummers if you will.

Have you noticed how much we all sound like our parents

Disturbed is still doing guitar solos is their work. I heard a song on the radio on the way home from Raleigh last night that had a really good guitar solo.

From what I am hearing but not always, its hash.

Music smack that has only one tune.

J-HALEY wrote:I was just reading an article in Guitar Player Mag. and they were interviewing Meshuga, those guy's play 8 string guitars I am still trying to master 6. in the article they said basically they all consider themselves percussionist on their instruments and this is what I have noticed most new rock and pop music has really changed the verse chorus format and the drummer and singers are the main instruments in the band in other words today's music is very beat and vocal oriented and their rhythms are all power chords and the guitars bass and drums are really playing together but they are all drummers if you will.

Have you noticed how much we all sound like our parents

J-HALEY wrote:I was just reading an article in Guitar Player Mag. and they were interviewing Meshuga, those guy's play 8 string guitars

There is a video of those guys up on Bass Player TV: www.bassplayer.tv . Click on "Artist Features" and scroll down.

I'm not a big fan of this kind of metal, but these guys are wicked!!

Wow, yes I see what your saying. That was prevalent with the "young" bands this weekend. It would have sounded better for most of them if they would have turned their instruments down a touch so the vocals would come through better. But hell were a metal band, whats the old bald guy running the sound know ?

Yeh Meshuga had a solo. I guess, wow I've never seen an 8-string in-use. What's it 1/2 bass and 1/2 guitar? They rock 4 sure. Got the audience going. Not real melodic. They make Hendrix sound like the capt & tennile. lol.. naw- bad example. I'll think of a better analogy in a minute.. gotta go do chores...

Maybe I just have it all wrong. To me , a solo is not a static bit of music played in between the b section and the next a section. A really great solo may only happen a certain way one time. I was lucky to watch GARY BURTON,,,,,[vibe player] go off in a million directions on twenty minute solos, real special.
REALLY FEELS SPECIAL when your whole band is locking on to your solo and it gets across to the audience. Five minutes in and you are just starting to unlock the doors and create live on the spot . That is a solo. Not some canned lines you play to make it sound like the record. It also shows you know your instrument. I dont think most of the younger players will understand. You had to be there OR at least try it before you say it can't be done.

I was thinking more of van halen, aerosmyth, hendrix, zztop, skynyrd, the outlaws, joe walsh etc etc, when there was a MANDANTORY solo in almost every song... .. now it's not...

After thought,Truly great solos bring you into the realm of JAZZ players.
After you learn all your scales,modes , arppegios, stock licks, and standard ideas,,,,,,, YOU GOT TO LEARN HOW TO THROW THEM ALL AWAY. That can be very difficult.
Steve Vai is a very profficient guitarist,Amazing showman etc, BUT. He would be out of his league playing with somebody like Gay Burton. Different way to look at it. Not saying its better or worse , just different way to look at it.

Thats the kind of music we play Z so I get to solo often. I don't like new music and I rarely listen to anything past the early 90's if I had to pick a favorite band it would be either Van Halen or Journey or maybe Foriegner or Areosmith, well you get the picture.