How to Know What to Play Next in a Guitar Solo
Guitar Improvisation
How to Know What to Play Next in a Guitar Solo
You play a phrase you really like.
Then your mind goes blank.
Your fingers fall back into the same old lick, run up a scale or stop completely because you have no idea where the solo should go next.
If that sounds familiar, you are not short of talent or creativity.
You probably just need a clearer way to develop the musical ideas you have already played.
You Usually Do Not Need a New Idea
Most guitarists think the next phrase must be completely different. Strong improvisers often do the opposite: they repeat, answer, move or develop the idea they have already introduced.
Why You Run Out of Ideas
Improvisation can feel overwhelming because you appear to have endless choices.
You could play any note in the scale.
Move to another position.
Use a bend, slide, arpeggio or lick.
Follow the chord change.
Or do absolutely nothing.
When your brain tries to compare every possible choice in real time, it often chooses the safest option: the same phrase you always play.
The Better Question
Do Not Ask: “What New Thing Should I Play?”
Ask: “What could I do with the idea I have already played?”
7 Reliable Ways to Continue a Guitar Solo
1. Repeat the Phrase
The easiest possible next move is to play the phrase again.
Many guitarists avoid repetition because they worry it will sound boring.
In reality, repetition helps the listener understand what matters. A phrase often becomes memorable only after it has been heard more than once.
2. Change the Ending
Repeat the beginning of your phrase, but finish it differently.
You might resolve onto another note, add a bend or allow the phrase to continue for an extra beat.
The listener recognises the opening, but the new ending creates development.
3. Answer It
Treat the first phrase like a question.
Then create an answer.
Your response might move in the opposite direction, use a similar rhythm or resolve more strongly.
This is call and response, and it is one of the quickest ways to make your solo sound like a conversation instead of a stream of exercises.
4. Follow the Next Chord
Sometimes the harmony tells you exactly where to go.
Listen for the next chord and aim for one of its chord tones.
You do not need to change the whole scale. One carefully chosen landing note can make the next phrase sound perfectly connected to the music.
5. Move the Idea Higher
Take the character of your phrase and move it into a higher register.
You do not need to copy every interval perfectly.
Preserve the general rhythm and direction. Moving higher naturally increases intensity and helps the solo feel as though it is progressing.
6. Change the Rhythm
Keep the same notes but completely change their timing.
Make the phrase shorter.
Delay its entrance.
Add a pause in the middle. Rhythmic variation can make familiar notes feel like a completely new idea.
7. Leave Space
The next thing you play does not have to happen immediately.
A pause gives you time to listen, allows the first phrase to settle and creates anticipation for whatever follows.
Silence is not evidence that you have run out of ideas. Used intentionally, it is part of the phrase.
Practical Exercise
The Five Possible Next Moves Exercise
Create one short phrase over a backing track.
Now play five different continuations:
- Repeat the phrase exactly.
- Repeat it with a different ending.
- Answer it with a contrasting phrase.
- Move the idea higher up the neck.
- Change the rhythm while keeping similar notes.
This trains you to see one musical idea as a starting point rather than a dead end.
Build a Solo From One Idea
One of the best ways to practise melodic development is to build an entire solo from a single phrase.
Start with something simple enough to remember.
Then develop it in stages.
Stage 1: Introduce It
Play the original phrase clearly and leave enough space for it to register.
Stage 2: Repeat It
Confirm that the phrase is an important part of the solo.
Stage 3: Change It
Alter the rhythm, ending or register while preserving its identity.
Stage 4: Build Intensity
Move higher, play more strongly or delay the resolution.
Stage 5: Resolve It
Finish on a note that feels settled over the harmony.
You have now built a complete musical journey without needing five unrelated licks.
Let the Backing Track Help You
You do not have to invent the direction of the solo alone.
The music underneath you is constantly offering suggestions.
- A chord change can suggest a new target note.
- A drum fill can invite a more energetic response.
- A quieter section can encourage more space.
- A rising progression can inspire an upward-moving phrase.
- A repeated groove can support a repeated rhythmic idea.
The more carefully you listen, the less pressure you feel to create everything from nothing.
What to Do When Your Mind Goes Completely Blank
Sometimes you will genuinely have no idea what to play.
When that happens, use this simple reset:
Stop → Listen → Sing → Play
Stop: Leave a deliberate pause.
Listen: Notice the chord, groove and emotional direction.
Sing: Hum a short response, even if it is only two or three notes.
Play: Find the phrase on the guitar.
This turns a moment of panic into a moment of musical intention.
The Play Like A Pro Approach
At Play Like A Pro Guitar, I do not teach improvisation as an endless search for new licks.
I teach students how to develop the ideas they already have.
HEAR → UNDERSTAND → PLAY
Hear how your first phrase could develop.
Understand the musical choices available to you.
Then play the next phrase with confidence instead of guessing.
The Real Goal
Do not judge yourself by how many new ideas you can invent. Judge yourself by how creatively you can develop one good musical idea.
Common Mistakes When Continuing a Solo
Searching for a Completely New Idea
Your next phrase does not need to be unrelated to the first one. Repeating and developing an idea usually sounds more musical than constantly starting again.
Filling Every Gap With Notes
Silence gives you time to listen and allows the listener to understand the phrase you have just played.
Ignoring the Chord Progression
The next chord often provides the clearest clue about where your phrase should resolve.
Moving Around the Fretboard Without a Reason
Changing position can create intensity, but movement should support the musical idea rather than simply prove that you know another scale shape.
Relying on Your Default Lick
Familiar licks feel safe, but using them automatically can interrupt the musical story you have already started.
Trying to Plan the Entire Solo at Once
You only need to make one musical decision at a time. Play a phrase, listen to what happened and choose the next move from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do I Run Out of Ideas When Improvising?
Usually because you believe every phrase must introduce something completely new. Repeating, answering or developing your previous idea gives you a much clearer next step.
How Do I Connect Guitar Phrases Together?
Keep one recognisable element between the phrases. That might be the rhythm, melodic direction, starting note or shape of the original idea.
Is It Bad to Repeat a Phrase in a Guitar Solo?
No. Repetition helps listeners recognise your musical ideas. The key is knowing when to repeat the phrase exactly and when to introduce a small variation.
Should I Follow Every Chord Change?
Not necessarily. Some phrases can continue across several chords. However, deliberately resolving onto important chord tones can make your solo sound much more connected to the harmony.
What Should I Do If My Mind Goes Blank?
Stop playing for a moment, listen to the backing track, sing a short response and then find it on the guitar. A deliberate pause is always better than panicking through a scale.
How Can I Practise Developing Musical Ideas?
Create one short phrase and force yourself to produce five variations before introducing a completely new idea. Change the rhythm, ending, register, dynamics or target note.
The Real Goal
You do not need an endless supply of new licks. You need a small number of good ideas and the ability to develop them musically.
Continue Learning
Continue developing your phrasing, melodic ideas and improvisation skills with these guides:
How to Create Better Guitar Phrases
Learn how rhythm, repetition, space and target notes transform scale patterns into musical phrases.
Read Guide →Call and Response in Guitar Soloing
Turn individual phrases into musical questions and answers that give your solos structure.
Read Guide →How to Build a Guitar Solo
Learn how to organise phrases into a complete solo with direction, contrast and resolution.
Read Guide →Target Notes on Guitar
Give every phrase a clearer destination by aiming for notes that support the harmony.
Read Guide →How to Stop Overthinking Guitar Improvisation
Reduce hesitation, trust your ears and make one confident musical decision at a time.
Read Guide →Ready for the Next Step?
Ready to Stop Running Out of Ideas?
You do not need to memorise hundreds of disconnected licks to keep a solo moving.
You need to understand how to repeat, answer, develop and resolve the musical ideas you have already introduced.
That is exactly what Guitar Soloing Made Simple was designed to teach. Inside the course, you will learn how to create stronger phrases, follow chord changes, develop melodic ideas and build complete solos without freezing or falling back into the same scale runs.
Stop asking what random lick should come next. Start developing solos that move with purpose.
