Shortcut to Creating Your Own Instrumental Song

A shortcut to creating your own instrumental song is to build on the same techniques used to play a solo or break.

(Hint : See our blog post 4 Easier Ways to Solo and Improvise on Your Instrument, as a foundation for these next steps).

Once you are comfortable creating licks using pentatonics, limited notes, a melody line or riffs, you can use each of (or any combination of) these methods to do a complete instrumental song of your own.

Pentatonics Licks—Building Blocks

Improvise using the pentatonic scale, and underneath it or between licks add:

Alternating bass

Rolls

Chords

Shuffle

Power Chords

Noodle around with the pentatonic scale till you find a combination/lick you like.  Play this with one of the backings, then expand upon the lick.  This gives you a base to start and grow from, setting the tone of your piece.

Alternatively, create a couple licks.  Once you have played and expanded on one, move to the next and do the same.  For cohesiveness, come back to the first basic lick to finish off.

Pentatonics and use of Limited Notes—Mini Breaks

Using rhythm backings such as shuffles or chords can hold their own space, while you alternate with limited note soloing. 

There is less space for the individual notes, therefore you need less notes.  In effect, you are creating mini breaks within your own rhythm backing.

Pentatonics and Single String Melody—Stretch it Out

Same pentatonic scale, but only use one string for your licks.  Simplifies and makes use of the whole instrument neck. 

Again, use any of the backing methods under this ie. shuffle, alternating bass etc.

Riff—Repetition

Create a riff as the core theme of your piece.  Repeat it, ornament it, add to it, branch out from it. 

A riff is meant to be repeated, so come back to this riff throughout your piece to help the song sound cohesive, or alternate the riff with licks.

Rhythmic Riff—One Person Band

Creating your riff based on varying rhythms for playing your full chords with some variations on the chords, creates a nice full sounding song.

Combine with Limited Note Method

By creating a riff with your chording, you supply the foundation for the notes of your song to be framed, and only need a few notes to establish the melodic side of it.  The single notes become accents.

Create a rhythmic riff with your chords such as 1 bar plus first beat of next bar, then use single notes for the last three beats. You will only have time for a limited amount of individual notes.

Easiest:  Pick Lick Note(s) from the Chord

This is handy when you know your chords, but are still learning your instrument. While holding the chord shape, pick any note or combination of notes from the chord as your melody notes.  Then go back to your chordal riff.

Even Easier

There is actually no need to play a “single” note.  You can create a whole song using varying rhythm riffs and forms of your chords.

Conclusion

Now its time to pull it all together and create your own solo piece.

Often I just put my phone to record and start playing, using any of the above methods or even a combination of them.  If I like how the recording sounds, I take the time to either transcribe it onto tab paper or memorize it.  I then make any changes I feel it needs to fine tune it.

Other times I create a riff or a lick from the pentatonic scale to set my song theme.  Then build it bar by bar from this start.

Whichever way you want to try, both are based on the same basic 4 steps that are used for taking a break, expanded into a full length instrumental song.  Give it a try :)