In a band, the lead guitarist is the one who leads the group through a certain melody. The bass guitar, which is the lead's accompaniment, also follows along, but tends to help the other members, such as the drummer, keep up to the rhythm of what's being played. It is important for the lead guitarist to be able to take the music to higher levels through improvisation and solos as well. The lead guitarist of many bands may also be the singer and songwriter of the group, with other members lending their skills to the back-up vocals involved. re Playing the lead guitar means that you will have to have a certain natural ability to lead musical ensembles. However, even those who are musically inclined may or may not be able to lead a group of musicians. If you have never played in a band or do not play another instrument, then it will be hard for you to accurately judge if this will be your role in a group. So, the road to becoming a lead guitarist versus becoming an accompanying guitar player is not all that different. You are still going to have to first learn to play the guitar. And second, you are going to have to be able to communicate nonverbally to other band members what you are playing so that they can also keep up - keeping the sound whole and pure.
Learning to play the guitar as a leader in any band, you'll also have to have an idea about which sort of music you'd like to play. A guitarist, for example, would not generally lead a jazz band. But, they would lead a rock and roll, heavy metal, or punk rock band. With newer contemporary rock and roll, lead guitarists have an even greater roll to fill. They have to be quite versatile and skillful in their playing, being able to alternate pick, sweep pick, and play solos and riffs with great speed and accuracy. The skill involved doesn't happen overnight, but with several months of intense practice, followed by some years playing with different groups, performing in front of audiences, and even critiquing your playing through recording sessions is one way to vastly improve your playing range. A lead guitarist has to be a master of his or her domain in a certain sense.
Overall, learning to play the lead guitar is much the same as learning to play a regular acoustic or electric guitar. The path is lined with difficulties and obstacles, but it can be done. Developing a thick fundamental base of your musical understanding, being able to play numerous chords a variety of ways, and being able to at least understand tablature and scales will help immensely. The best thing you can do is to simply practice daily, read how to improve yourself on and offline, attend jam sessions, and practice with someone who understands music. The hard work, experience, and dedication will pay off immensely.
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