| Lead guitar is not dependent on the type of guitar | | | | Whether lead guitar is played on an acoustic guitar or |
| being played, but on how that guitar is played. Often | | | | an electric guitar depends on the music being played. |
| when people think of playing lead guitar, they think of | | | | Currently popular acoustical, or unplugged, sets require |
| playing an electric guitar. In reality, lead guitar can be | | | | musicians to play acoustical instruments. In that case, |
| electric or acoustic. | | | | the lead guitar would be played using an acoustic |
| In the most basic terms, music consists of harmony, | | | | guitar. |
| melody and rhythm. The rhythm is the pulse of the | | | | Lead guitar does not always sound the same, even if |
| song, often referred to as the beat, and is usually | | | | the same musician is playing the same song twice. For |
| played by drums, bass guitar, and rhythm guitar. | | | | example, electric guitars allow for distortion and effects |
| Harmony is the use of matching simultaneous chords | | | | that acoustic guitars do not have, so the transition from |
| within a musical composition. | | | | electric to acoustic may require changing the melody |
| The third major component of music is the melody. | | | | to suit the instrument. In addition, the riffs, fills, and solos |
| Melody is the part of the music that you remember | | | | used by the guitarist may change each time if the |
| and can later identify. Melody is often the lyrics of a | | | | guitarist prefers to be creative during live |
| song, with verse and chorus being two separate | | | | performances. |
| melodies. It is what gives a piece of music its | | | | Contrary to popular belief, lead guitar is not a type of |
| character. | | | | guitar, but a position within a band and within a song. |
| In terms of guitar playing, lead guitar is the guitar playing | | | | The lead guitarist carries a great deal of responsibility |
| the melody. A lead guitarist must be able to use riffs | | | | in carrying the melody while staying in tune and in time |
| and fills to move the melody along, as well as playing a | | | | with the rest of the band. Learning to play lead guitar |
| guitar solo if it is required in the song. While doing all of | | | | correctly requires time and practice, but it is the |
| that, the lead guitarist must also be able to play in the | | | | instrument most listeners will remember having heard. |
| same key at the same tempo as the rest of the band. | | | | |