Solo of the Month (SotM) #126 - Challenge

stratman3142

The challenge is now open and ends at midnight 23rd April 2026

Discussion:

Thanks to @flying_pie for this backing track.

You can download the backing track from the link below:
https://app.box.com/s/igmq5u5btkjn20r9e9uuvh1h791wkoki

You can hear track on Souncloud below:
https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/sotm126-flying_pie-badly?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing&si=89802224700d4f99a09c0402dc71b1d2

Track info from @flying_pie:

Title: Badly Needing Love

Tempo: 60bpm

Oh yay, the blooz has got me. And all you boomer lawyers can put your Kirk Hammet Les Pauls to use

it's the following completely original chord progression twice through: 

A7 D7 A7 A7

D7       D#dim

A7  F#7 B7 E7

A7 D7 A7 E7  

General Info

Record your solo over the top of it and then submit it (ideally in mp3 format) to solos@thefretboard.co.uk

Also, feel free to post on how you approached the solo on this thread, which will add a bit more interest and maybe we can learn something from each other.

There should be headroom to record your solo. Try to set a level without excessive master limiting, because we want to avoid loudness wars.

Voting will start soon after the submission deadline, with each voter selecting their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice.

First choice gets 5 points - Second choice gets 3 points - Third choice gets 1 point

The order and scores of the top three entries will be announced soon after the voting ends.

No prizes. It's just for fun.

As people submit their entries, I'll post them below to hopefully promote some discussion on approaches used for the solo:

https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/sets/sotm126-2026-04?si=0a72c5bff29c43faba156623a0b3e7fd&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

digitalkettle

Bah...I was going to stage a comeback this month but I'm medically exempt from participating in 12-bars

Benz3ne

Submitted, unfortunately for any headphones users. T'was recorded on my phone and it's highlighted just how poor a device it is for generating 'music'.

stratman3142

Benz3ne said:

Submitted, unfortunately for any headphones users. T'was recorded on my phone...

It's in the playlist. The phone recording makes it sound like an authentic live blues jam  

fastonebaz

digitalkettle said:

Bah...I was going to stage a comeback this month but I'm medically exempt from participating in 12-bars

Surely you play the Jack regularly though  

digitalkettle

fastonebaz said:

digitalkettle said:

Bah...I was going to stage a comeback this month but I'm medically exempt from participating in 12-bars

Surely you play the Jack regularly though  

I do...but as little as I can get away with (don't want to Overdose ).

fastonebaz

digitalkettle said:

fastonebaz said:

digitalkettle said:

Bah...I was going to stage a comeback this month but I'm medically exempt from participating in 12-bars

Surely you play the Jack regularly though  

I do...but as little as I can get away with (don't want to Overdose ).

Anyway good to see you back and not troubled by any down payment blues.

flying_pie

@digitalkettle it's 60bpm. Snap it to the grid then feel free to cut and paste as you see fit so it's no longer 12 bars

digitalkettle

flying_pie said:

@digitalkettle it's 60bpm. Snap it to the grid then feel free to cut and paste as you see fit so it's no longer 12 bars

Could be a good excuse to actually learn my DAW beyond the usual 'arm audio track -> record' activities!

digitalkettle

flying_pie said:

@digitalkettle it's 60bpm. Snap it to the grid then feel free to cut and paste as you see fit so it's no longer 12 bars

Btw, it's not you, it's me

flying_pie

digitalkettle said:

flying_pie said:

@digitalkettle it's 60bpm. Snap it to the grid then feel free to cut and paste as you see fit so it's no longer 12 bars

Btw, it's not you, it's me

No. It's both of us.

You may have your issues, but I was fully aware of what I was doing when I opened Reaper and started the project 

maharg101

Sent one in

I'm trying to improve my slide playing beyond 'wailing cat' territory, and this was the perfect excuse. Lovely backing track thanks @flying_pie ;

Epi LP > Anasound Elements reverb >  MJW Electra Twin > Ox. Bit of eq, compression/limiter in Reaper.

Single take after about a dozen goes.

stratman3142

maharg101 said:

Sent one in...

It's in the playlist.

Benz3ne

To chime in with my approach to the solo (or any solo, really, for that matter). I'll noodle my way once or twice through before starting to pick up on the 'facets' that sound good to my amateur ear. Then, I'll start going through more constructively but with those facets coming through and developing a 'theme' to the solo.
For this one it was a nice, simple, 12-bar blues, with focus on the major aspects with minor and diminished variations where necessary. I was quite happy with how it came together, especially with the little run at the end. I have a tendency to let speed sometimes override what could be a good solo, so my attempt above was to slow down and take it easier for a change.

Partscaster Cabronita > HX Stomp > Fender FR-12 recorded in the room with an iPhone 13 Pro.

stratman3142

Mine's in the playlist.

My Les Paul Standard in the middle switch position, with the two pick ups out of phase (it's one of the push-pull pot settings). Now where did I get that idea?

Through a Helix Native Brit P75 Nrm ampsim, with a bit of reverb added.

I've been watching a lot of Jack Ruch tutorial videos recently

Benz3ne

stratman3142 said:

Mine's in the playlist.

My Les Paul Standard in the middle switch position, with the two pick ups out of phase (it's one of the push-pull pot settings). Now where did I get that idea?

Through a Helix Native Brit P75 Nrm ampsim, with a bit of reverb added.

I've been watching a lot of Jack Ruch tutorial videos recently

Lovely sounds from the LP, they go really nicely with the out-of-scale notes you've thrown in. Really tidy.

Bellycaster

Sent mine in. Les Paul on neck pick up into Marshall Modeller on GuitarRig5 bit of reverb and short delay.

fastonebaz

Sent one in.

Charvel san dimas, coil tap, neck (JB), volume 8 then 10

Dunlop wah half cocked

Clean boost

Tremolo

Bassman amp

Bassman cab Dyn57 L pan & Rib121 R pan

Echorex Delay

TDR Nova EQ

TDR Kotelnikov compressor

TDR Nova EQ

Valhalla Supermassive Hydra delay

Limiter

Good fun jamming along.

CoffeeAndTV

I’ve submitted a solo too.  It’s an archtop > Helix LT > MacBook > Reaper 

in between the helix and reaper there is also a lot of not knowing what the hell i’m doing.  I’ve forgotten the stuff I learned last time I recorded.  I recorded with compression on the helix so it sounds more plummy than I would have liked.  

The aim was playing getting the end and also behind the beat on any slower parts and on the beat for anything faster than eighth notes. 

stratman3142

They're coming thick and fast.

Entries from @Bellycaster @fastonebaz and @CoffeeAndTV in the playlist.

Benz3ne

And there I was for 2 weeks thinking "I'll come in second place at this rate"