Here is Guitar Solo Tip #4 - Rhythmic Variety in Your Phrasing

When guitarists first learn to improvise, they usually begin by using
scale sequences and arpeggios to create phrases and melodic ideas.
All of this is great and necessary, but one of the drawbacks is that
often these types of ideas are very predictable rhythmically.

Being predictable is not entirely a bad thing. We need to have
recognizable types of melodies and rhythms in our phrasing for
most people to enjoy it. But when predictability in our phrasing
becomes boring, not only to others but also for ourselves, it is an
indication that something needs to change. When we get to this
point in our playing we usually get frustrated and say we are in
a “rut.” Then we think we should seek out new information, new
licks, new scales, or different techniques. While all of this may
help oftentimes we just need to learn to apply the skills we already
have in new ways. This is where rhythmic variety can do wonders!

Spicing up your phrasing with interesting rhythmic ideas is a great
way to break out of the same old worn out ideas. Usually scale and
arpeggio patterns are played in even groups of 8th notes, 16th
notes, triplets or 16th note triplets. You can think of these as groups
of 2’s, 4’s, 3’s and 6’s respectively. What makes these predictable is
that many times there is no deviance to the rhythmic pattern. So
why not mix a few of these patterns together? Here are 3 ideas
you can try now:

1. Combine different rhythmic groupings together within the same
phrase. For example start by playing eight notes using 16th notes
and then six notes using triplets. This type of thing creates rhythmic
interest in your phrasing.

2. Use odd note groupings. Choose any 5 notes and play them as
a repeating 16th note phrase. If you try this with a metronome at
a moderate tempo you’ll hear that a different note lands on beat
one every measure!

3. Try to mix in phrases that do not completely match any particular
rhythm. If you listen to good horn players they often play very fluid
“floating” phrases that sound like a flurry of notes without any
rhythmic structure, but they usually come out landing squarely on
the beat. Practice doing this with your own phrases!