Over the years there have been some hot takes on the internet about how there is supposedly a "wrong" way to improvise and take a solo in bluegrass and other genres.
Any dogmatic approach to music will have serious blind spots — and yes, even a blanket statement like that one is subject to scrutiny.
The Fear of Taking a Solo
For so many guitar players and musicians there is already a certain level of fear and trepidation about improvising and taking a solo.
"What if people think I suck?" "What if I play the wrong thing?" "What if I make a mistake?"
These are very real questions for all of us. They can be haunting. But the goal today is to let go of these questions and let go of the idea of there being a "wrong way" to take a solo or improvise.
There is no wrong way. There are only:
- Expectations — listener, bandmates, stylistic, and so on
- Choices — what will you play, and what will you do with those expectations?
That's it.
The Only Real Mistake
If the fear of playing something wrong is so great that you pass up opportunities to improvise or take a solo, you will never improve.
People sometimes mistakenly think the goal is to play the "perfect solo." It is not. In music, there is no such thing as perfect besides hyperbolic or personal uses of that word.
The beauty in improvising as a human being is learning to honestly work with your imperfections — to use imperfection as a tool and a device. The only way to reach this level of fluidity with mistakes is to constantly be vulnerable enough to enter into a musical place where you might actually make one, and then learn from it, again and again.
What Your Favorite Soloists Actually Do
Your favorite soloist makes mistakes every time they play. The difference is that they've made those mistakes a million times before and have the reps to work with the mistake and make it musical.
The Takeaway
Improvise as much as possible. Take the opportunity to solo as much as possible. Give yourself the grace to learn from your mistakes without shame. Never shake your head "no" when the solo is offered to you.
Don't believe the hype about a "wrong" way to improvise. It's just a scare tactic.
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