How I Finished This Solo (Part 2) - Bends, Tremolo, Suspended Ideas & More - 417

In this podcast episode, I take you behind the scenes for Part 2 of the solo I started breaking down in the YouTube video yesterday. If you haven’t seen Part 1 yet, go check that out first — this builds directly from where we left off.

Welcome to Solo Writing Secrets, Part 2!

In this episode, we’re continuing our deep dive into a solo from one of my original songs. Part 1 covered how I constructed the first half of the solo. In Part 2, we focus on some of my favorite techniques for creating expressive and dynamic solos:

Single-string legato
Tremolo picking
Expressive bends
Suspended arpeggios
Octave drops
Gritty pentatonic pull-offs

All the phrasing is designed to move through the chords: A → C# minor → E → F#, repeating throughout the solo section.

Key Techniques I Used

Single-String Legato

The second half begins with a smooth legato phrase using only the high E string. I used:

Notes from C# minor pentatonic pattern 3
Pull-offs from frets 4 → 2 → open, then reverse
Repeating the same concept higher on the fretboard using pattern 4 and pattern 5
Slides to increase smoothness and momentum

This technique gives a flowing, vocal-like sound and builds melodic tension as it climbs the neck.

Tremolo Picking

Next up is tremolo picking — rapid alternate picking on sustained notes:

It sounds fast and intense, even though the fretting hand doesn’t move much
Played around the 12th to 16th fret area
Finishes with strong bends on the 19th fret of the high E and B strings

This builds energy before we change textures again.

Suspended Arpeggio Over E

Here I introduce an E major arpeggio but with a twist — a suspended note for extra tension:

Played across the top 3 strings
Follows the shape of a C-style arpeggio
Includes a sus4 (A note) resolving to the major 3rd (G#)
Creates a rhythmic, almost piano-like effect using alternate picking

This kind of suspended movement gives a lyrical feel without sounding like pure scale practice.

Octave Drop (Offset)

After the arpeggio:

I grabbed the octave of the fifth (B) and walked it down the scale
Played the lower note first, then offset the upper octave slightly
Result: a staggered “melodic echo” that feels modern and expressive

Pentatonic Pull-Offs

The solo wraps up with gritty minor pentatonic pull-offs:

Pull-offs from 12 to 9 on the top 3 strings
Slides and position shifts between patterns 1 and 2
Final climb ends on the 12th fret of the B string
I added a bit of tremolo bar at the end for a loose, expressive finish

Why This Solo Works

Every technique here is intermediate-friendly:

Legato requires accuracy, but not speed
Tremolo picking is more about right-hand rhythm than complexity
Arpeggios use familiar shapes with a suspended twist
Octaves and pentatonics are things most players already know — they just need to be creatively combined

The result: a solo that’s packed with emotion, variety, and forward momentum!

Want the Tabs and Guitar Pro Files?

If you’re a member of Play Guitar Academy, all the backing tracks, TAB, and Guitar Pro files are available now in your member dashboard.

We’ll be walking through this solo live in our group lesson this Wednesday at 5 p.m. Eastern. If you’re not a member yet, now’s a great time to join us.

Free Resource to Build Your Soloing Skills

If you’re still learning how to create solos from scratch — or how to phrase musically over changes — grab my free email course:

Blues Solo Breakthrough: 6 Steps to Confident, Killer Solos
It’ll show you the exact tools that helped me build solos like this one.

Final Thoughts

Every one of these techniques is within your reach. The magic is in how you combine them.

Start slow, focus on transitions, and most importantly — have fun!
Let me know what you thought of this breakdown in the comments or at our next Q&A inside the Academy.

Thanks for listening to this week's podcast. See you in the next episode!

Listen to the Audio Podcast

▶▶To take your own solos to the next level, grab my free course Blues Solo Breakthrough—it’ll help you play with purpose and confidence, one step at a time. - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/bluessolobreakthrough

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