The Magic Of Open Strings For Soloing On Acoustic Guitar

by Simon Candy

In this video, I sit down with music theory expert Tommaso Zillio to discuss and demonstrate unique ways to solo on acoustic guitar.

This recording is an excerpt from a livestream I did with Tommaso, and focuses on cool ways to solo on acoustic guitar using open string riffs and runs.

In this lesson, you get a breakdown of this very cool and unique way to create great sounding solos on guitar.

First, I demonstrate this soloing concept via a blues, before pulling apart a few key riffs so you can see what is going on.

You then learn the best and easiest way to get started with this great guitar soloing sound.

Watch the video below to learn more:

Open String Riff Conversion

The following is a typical dominant 7th riff played over an E7 chord:

Acoustic Solo Technique Open String Riff 1

Here is the same riff converted into an open string riff:

Acoustic Solo Technique Open String Riff 2

I break down this riff in the video showing you how to replace any note that can be played as an open string, with an open string for a very cool sound:

Open String Scales

The Major Scale

The following is a typical G Major scale played in the 3rd position:

Acoustic Solo Technique Open String Scale 1

• Option 1

Here is one way you could convert the scale into an open string scale, replacing all notes that could be played as open strings, with open strings:

Acoustic Solo Technique Open String Scale 2

• Option 2

Here is another way you could convert this scale using open strings:

Acoustic Solo Technique Open String Scale 3

The Pentatonic Scale

In the video, I take you through a simple way to get the open string sound into your playing using the pentatonic scale.

Watch the video for a detailed breakdown of this and gain a greater understanding of the following pentatonic scale runs.

• Em Open String Pentatonic Pattern 2

Here is the open string pentatonic technique applied to pattern 2 in Em:

Acoustic Solo Technique Open String Pentatonic 1

• Em Open String Pentatonic Pattern 3

Here is the open string pentatonic technique applied to pattern 3 in Em:

Acoustic Solo Technique Open String Pentatonic 2

• Em Open String Pentatonic Pattern 4

Here is the open string pentatonic technique applied to pattern 4 in Em:

Acoustic Solo Technique Open String Pentatonic 3

• Em Open String Pentatonic Pattern 5

Here is the open string pentatonic technique applied to pattern 5 in Em:

Acoustic Solo Technique Open String Pentatonic 4

• Em Open String Pentatonic Pattern 2

Here is the open string pentatonic technique applied to pattern 2 up an octave in Em:

Acoustic Solo Technique Open String Pentatonic 5

Open String Blues

The following is a blues in G using the open string solo technique.

This is similar to the demonstration I give in the video above:

Acoustic Solo Technique Open String Blues

Learn more ways to get the open string soloing technique into your guitar playing