One of the Most Epic Rock Solos of All Time!

And you're about to learn it. :)

In this lesson, we'll start our lesson on how to play Slash's main Solo in Sweet Child O Mine, the greatest Guns N' Roses classic.

This is a killer guitar solo - loads of fun to shred it on your guitar. So many tasty elements to check out here. Great licks, great tone, and fantastic use of the wah-wah pedal.

🚨 This lesson covers Part 1 of Slash's incredible main solo in Sweet Child O Mine. Part 2 is here.

This is not a beginner lesson! If you're new to guitar, you really need to be hip with other bits of this song before getting started here! Below, you'll find lessons to all other solos and sections of Sweet Child O Mine. Beginners should start simple and build their way up!

💡 Following my Guitar Courses? This Guns n Roses guitar solo is suited to Grade 7+ Advanced Guitar Players!

Grab your guitar & get ready to shred.

How To Play Sweet Child O Mine Main Solo

First, listen to the solo without the wah-wah pedal all the way through. This is what you'll sound like when you're practicing it. Once you get it right, you can revisit it and add it as an ornament to spice it up. Listen to the original recording, and focus on the rhythm. It's too difficult to count - so you'll have to use your ear training skills for this.

💡 Start simple! Then, develop it as you get more comfortable with the chords, rhythm, and tempo!

For the solo, different fingering can achieve the same thing. Do it the way that it feels the best for you - and in a way that'll make your string bends easier. Get your string bending ringing out clearly - this is what makes Slash's solo so incredible.

Advanced Guitar Solo Tips

Practice chunks of the solo until they feel right. Then, practice it until you feel it flow. You'll want to increase your speed as you go. It's better to play consistently than rushing through the bits.

There's a monster lick in there - I know you're eager to learn it! Take things nice and slow down when you first practice it. Different guitarists might approach it in different ways.

Check out the close-up in the video. After studying Slash in many videos, it might be the most accurate to follow. Watch out for the quick hammer-on and flick-offs here and there.

🔑 Make sure you get that rhythm. It'll be so much easier to understand what's going on.

JUSTINGUITAR - SWEET CHILD O MINE GUITAR SERIES

If you're learning the main solo - I hope you already know how to play the rest of the song! But here's a list of the 7 different parts of this all-time classic Guns n Roses hit:

The Intro

Chords & Arrangements

First Solo

The Chorus Riff

Second Solo

The Main Solo - Part 1 (this lesson)

The Main Solo - Part 2

Want chords, tabs, and lyrics to follow along with this lesson? Check out JustinGuitar Tabs!