Guitar basics: getting started with lead playing

“Okay, lead guitar. I know what that is. It’s when you play solos instead of chords and rhythm. Am I right?”

That’s right. There’s a lot to learn though so it’s important to cover some basics.  Whereas chords are made up of several notes, you’ll need to get to grips with ‘one note at a time’ style playing to get started with lead guitar. Whether you’re into classic rock, blues, metal or even jazz, it’s the most common approach to lead guitar.

“One note at a time doesn’t sound too hard. I guess there must be more to it, then.”

There is! Playing one note at a time is in some ways easier and in some ways harder than chords. Easier because you don’t usually need quite so much finger stamina, but harder thanks to faster changes from note to note.

Still, the basic principles are the same as chords: play each note with your finger close to the fret and use fingertips rather than the fronts of your fingers. This is probably a good time to look at our simple tabbed lead guitar line below. See if you can play through it.

“It’s actually quite easy. I feel like I’m not exactly setting the world on fire though!”

‘Easy’ is a good place to start from and it only takes a bit of practice to put your own stamp on any lead line. We’ve played through our lick five times using different expressive fretting techniques each time to bring the lick to life. First we’ve played with no real expression before going on to use vibrato, hammer-ons and pull-offs, slides and finally string bends. 

“That all sounds a bit complicated. I’m hoping it’s not as hard to play as it sounds.”

Unfortunately, complicated-sounding terminology is common in music so try not to be put off by it. Vibrato is easy - you can try it right away; hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides are also easy but there’s definitely a ‘knack’; string bends may take a little longer because you need to develop finger strength. 

“Got it. How do I keep time with the music?”

We’ve recorded our lick in the most common musical time ‘signature’. A steady four count will help you stay in time with the backing.

Take the lead

Learn these five lead guitar techniques to add a bit of flair to your lead playing

1. Vibrato

Fret a note, pick the string and ‘vibrate’ your fretting finger as the note rings out to create a wobbling sound effect. It works best on longer notes.

2. Hammer-on

Fret a note, pick the string, then quickly and firmly press down onto a higher fretted note without picking the string again.

3. Pull-off

The opposite of a hammer-on. Fret a note, pick the string, then pull your finger away to sound a lower note fretted by another finger.

4. Slide

No surprises here. Simply slide along the string from one note to another. Keep pressing down as you slide or the notes will die out.

5. String bend

Your aim is to bend the string to change the pitch to a higher note. Fret with two or three fingers for maximum strength.

Easy lead guitar line

Play through the line without using any expressive techniques, making sure you can manage to moves from note to note. Bars 1, 2 and 4 can all be played with your first and third fingers; bar 3 has a few more options. As you gain confidence, try using some expressive techniques.

Looking for more of a challenge? Try this…

8 essential blues guitar lead tricks