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As guitar players, we have stories to tell when improvising lines. A captivating guitar solo communicates your emotions as a story with a starting point, a middle, and an ending point.

Josh Smith, who is considered one of the most compelling guitar storytellers of the era, has returned with his second TrueFire course. Blue Highways: Improv Roadmaps delves into Josh’s process for formulating guitar solos. Ultimately, this helps you craft a system for coming up with your own.

Here are six video blues guitar soloing lessons from the course. For the full course, check out Josh Smith’s Blue Highways: Improv Roadmaps on TrueFire!

Josh Smith Guitar Lesson – Attitude & Emotion

Attitude and emotion. You’ve built up all the vocab, technique, phrasing, time tone etc. Now, lets put it all together while also being honest to the feeling and emotion you want to convey.

Josh Smith Guitar Lesson – Material & Outside Influence

The material and other outside influences also influence our improvisation. The groove, tune, vibe automatically influence how we play. So, what if the other members of the band play something that demands a reaction? Having open ears is important to letting this influence you. Also, the audience can change the course if an improv. Let’s learn about reading those signs.

Josh Smith Guitar Lesson – Influences & Emotion Study


Download the tab & notation for this blues guitar soloing lesson

Now, in this example, I am going to listen to the backing track to guide my solo. Furthermore, I’m going to simulate letting the environment change my solo.

Josh Smith Guitar Lesson – Funky Blues in G – Overview


Download the tab & notation for this blues guitar soloing lesson

Let’s explore a different feel. How does the straight groove, the bass playing, and the tone change my approach? And, how do the changes of the song affect my playing? Let’s really develop a theme.

Josh Smith Guitar Lesson – Funky Blues in G – Performance


Download the tab & notation for this blues guitar soloing lesson

Watch how I take my time, especially over that long 1 chord to build a theme and a vibe. As I’m paying attention to that 2-5-1 tunraround, I’m also letting my tone (gain and slapback delay) influence my playing. But, taking your time is of the utmost importance here.

Josh Smith Guitar Lesson – Funky Blues in G – Breakdown


Download the tab & notation for this blues guitar soloing lesson

Now, let’s talk about the them and ideas used to construct this solo. Technique and tone drove the solo, as well as open strings and tone.

Digging these free video blues guitar soloing lessons? Check out Josh Smith’s full course, Blue Highways: Improv Roadmaps.