Harmonizing Solo's

Hi, Just want to make sure how to Harmonize a Solo being played over a chord progression backing track or loop. WHen I solo a lick or what ever and want to harmonize it, do i just go higher up the neck?

When soloing you should never go straight to the octave it (no offense to anyone who does this) makes you sound very poorly educated musically.

Harmonising can consist of so many notes, a lot of people use the thirds, fifths and sevenths, along with fourths and sixths... It really depends on what you're playing - but you should first consider the key that you're in and think about the harmony according to that key's scale.

You don't have to play it up the guitar, you can play it lower, a few notes higher, or anywhere you see fit.

I made a lesson on it and moshzilla as well. There you should find a bit more knowledge. Otherwise you first have to determine the scale and then play the riff you are using, a third, fifth, or whatever, higher/lower. Remember your guitar has to be in tune with the other guitar. I once encountered some problems with it when i was using a loop pedal, never got why it wouldnt work.

@ Admiral - a riff is not a lick! He's playing a solo and wants to harmonise his licks. (honestly not trying to sound rude)

Thanks guys, yea im playing by my own with my loop station so I dont have another guitarist accomponing me. But ill check those lessons out thanks !

Yeah man there are many ways to harmonize but the first step is to determine what scale the first guitar is playing. In the lessons Admiral mentioned you will find ways to add the second guitar.


The difference is you can get sued for copying a riff!! XP

oh, i though it is kind of the same?

http://musiced.about.com/od/faqs/f/riff.htm

so a riff is mostly chordbased?

Yeah, a riff is mainly chord based whereas a lick is a short melody or phrase within e.g. a solo.

@ MoshZilla - you can still get sued for stealing a lick, just depends on how much of it you've taken and if you've incorperated it into your own style or not.

Moshzilla I only use one guitar, im not interested to harmonize 2 guitars cuz there aint any. . .

eh, you need 2 guitar lines to harmonize, even if they are fused together with a loop pedal, dont forget that ^^

Yeah, what admiral said. I meant with a loop.

Jazzy that was a joke, just not a good one. :(

Damn ye ofcourse :( I just thought its possible with one guitar. . .

It is possible with one guitar. Check this out..
http://www.all-guitar-chords.com/lesson.php?id=226

of course you can harmonize with one guitar, its just a bit trickier

Thanks ill be studying that lesson :)

You can send PM if you have any questions.

@ Admiral - no you don't dude :) You can do crazy stuff like tapping! or harmonics while you play other notes, it's always possible to harmonize with just one guitar :D

@ Mosh - Woops! Sorry dude -_-

you can harmonize with 1 guitar... its called chords! just play them higher up on the fretboard... i do it all the time! i dont think i do it in the sense your thinking but its certainly possible... (unless i didnt understand the conversation)

If your looking for like avenge 7 fold kinda thing i dont think that can be done on 1 guitar... but itd be groovy to try!

thats what i thought reinhardt was refering to, i didnt forget your lesson moshzilla! i just worded myself kind of bad i think. The word "harmonize" is applicable in far too many ways ^^ bad. haha

I understood it to be with a loop or backing track also??

We are just getting too old for this stuff man! haha :D

Too old to rock & roll Too young too die!!

Ian Anderson