How do I learn a guitar solo from a YouTube video?

By the RepeatWatch team · Updated

Quick answer

Learn a guitar solo one phrase at a time. Loop a two-to-four-second phrase with an A–B loop, slow it to 60–70% without changing the pitch, and let the speed trainer add 5% every three loops. Save each phrase as a section, then join neighboring phrases until the whole solo runs at full tempo.

Try this now: loop the first phrase of any solo at full speed five times, then at 0.7× five times. Which version could you actually play along with?

How to learn a guitar solo with the Loop Ladder

  1. Find where the solo starts. Open the video in RepeatWatch and set A a beat before the first note of the solo. If the description lists chapters, Import timestamps takes you straight there.
  2. Loop one phrase. Set B where the guitarist pauses, usually after one or two bars (2–4 seconds). Nudge A and B by 0.1 s so the loop starts on the pickup note, not in the middle of a bend.
  3. Slow it until you hear every note. Drop the speed to 0.6× or 0.7×. The pitch stays the same, so bends and vibrato still reach the right notes. Hum the phrase before you play it.
  4. Climb the ladder. Turn on the speed trainer: Step +0.05×, Every 3 loops, Goal 1×. The trainer climbs on a schedule, not on your accuracy, so if a loop falls apart press minus to step back down.
  5. Save the phrase and move on. When the phrase is clean at full speed, save it as a section such as "phrase 1" and loop the next one. Keys 1–9 jump between saved sections.
  6. Stitch the phrases together. Loop phrases 1 and 2 as one A–B loop at 0.8×, then 1 to 3, and so on. The joins are where solos fall apart, so each join gets its own loop.

Try it now: paste a YouTube link.

5 common mistakes

  • Starting the loop on the downbeat when the phrase begins with a pickup note, so the entry never gets practiced.
  • Running the whole solo at full speed and rehearsing the same fumbles every time.
  • Copying the tab without listening: bends, slides and vibrato live in the recording, not in the numbers.
  • Letting the speed keep climbing after sloppy loops instead of stepping back down.
  • Learning each phrase perfectly but never practicing the joins between them.

Frequently asked questions

How slow should I start a guitar solo?

Start at the speed where you can play the phrase with no mistakes, often 0.6× to 0.7× for a fast rock solo. If you still miss notes at 0.5×, the loop is too long, so cut it in half.

Does slowing down a solo change its pitch?

No. The YouTube player keeps the original pitch when you change speed, so a slowed solo stays in the same key and you can play along in tune.

How long should each loop be?

Two to four seconds, or about one phrase, is a good size. Short loops give you many repeats per minute and let you fix one problem at a time.

Can I share my solo loop with a teacher or bandmate?

Yes. Copy loop link gives a URL with the exact start, end and speed, such as /?v=ID&a=43&b=60&r=0.75, so they open the same phrase at the same tempo.

Sources