Day 3.

Canvas - Part 2
Welcome to Day 3. You’re progressing through the prog quite well! Today we’ll check
out the second half of Canvas.

The dynamics in this section kick it up a notch.

● You can hear it in the rhythm guitars and drum parts.

● We’re heading up the fretboard to match that energy, playing some longer
notes and more screaming bends.

Even though we’re dynamically ramping up here, Plini still plays some melodic
phrases that tie into the original idea. This is an essential skill for guitar storytelling
and something to keep in mind when writing your own solos.

Let’s finish out strong. Come on!

Exercise 1. A minor pentatonic + the 9th, long trill

The 9th/2nd is a colorful note to add to the minor pentatonic scale. It is present in
both the natural minor scale and the dorian scale.

Aim for smooth and connected phrasing when making your way down the B string.
Exercise 2. Alternative​​picking, groups of 3
The exercise is situated in this one-octave position of the A minor pentatonic scale.

Slow

Faster
Technique tip

It’s a bit of a paradox, but faster stuff like this alternate picking requires us to stay
loose and relaxed.

● Any tension will get in the way of building speed.

● Plini recommends experimenting with the angle of your pick placement.
● Try a slight perpendicular tilt and let the pick do the work for you.

Exercise 3. Bend and tap

Use your fretting hand to mute the surrounding strings and ensure a clean tapping
tone for this one.

● You’ll need to do a pull off with your tapping finger to keep the phrase going.
● Take your time. The slower and more effortlessly you can play this exercise,
the greater confidence you’ll have at faster tempos.

Solo tutorial
Follow along as Plini guides you through the solo in individual phrases.

Phrase 1

This one is hammer on and pull off heavy.

Phrase 2

Work in those trills and end the lick with an approach bend.

Phrase 3

Keep it relaxed for these alternate-picked triplets.

Phrase 4

Bend and tap your way through this Lydian-sounding lick

Alright, time to shred through Part 2 in its entirety!

Performance
Here’s the full solo at speed.
Fantastic! It’s only Day 3, and your bag of tricks is bursting. Don’t feel rushed to get
these solos down. The more attention you pay to certain exercises, the more likely
they are to manifest in your playing.

The next solo really raises the bar, so let’s tackle the challenge together on Day 4.
See you soon!