Rosanna - Solo by Toto
Toto’s Rosanna is a showcase of musical brilliance, and the guitar solo is no exception. Mastering this solo not only helps you replicate the iconic sound but also strengthens your ability to execute advanced guitar techniques. This lesson focuses on breaking down the solo note-for-note, exploring the techniques that make it legendary, and highlighting their benefits for your playing. Jamie Humphries breaks down this iconic solo in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.
About the Guitarist: Steve Lukather
Steve Lukather, Toto's guitarist, is a virtuoso whose style combines precision, melody, and impeccable taste. Known for his work in Toto and collaborations with legends across genres, Lukather's approach blends jazz, rock, and blues influences. His solos are not just displays of technical skill but also profound musical expression, making him a vital figure in the history of guitar playing. Learning a Lukather solo, such as the one in Rosanna, gives insight into his creative mindset and equips players with tools to enhance their musicality.
Techniques Covered in the Solo
String Bending
String bending is a key feature in the Rosanna solo, allowing for expressive pitch shifts that mimic the human voice. Lukather's bends are precise and emotive, creating a lyrical quality in his lines.
Benefit: Mastering string bending improves your pitch control and expressiveness, enabling you to add emotion to your playing.
Vibrato
Lukather's use of vibrato adds richness and sustain to his notes, making them sing. This subtle yet essential technique is a hallmark of his style.
Benefit: Developing vibrato enhances the dynamics and character of your solos, giving them a professional polish.
Alternate Picking
The solo features fluid alternate picking for its fast, articulate passages. Lukather's execution ensures clarity and speed.
Benefit: Practicing alternate picking boosts your precision and agility, essential for tackling intricate solos.
Learn more about alternate picking
Slides
Slides between notes create a seamless flow in the phrasing. Lukather uses them to transition effortlessly, adding smoothness to his lines.
Benefit: Slides help you connect notes more musically, creating a legato feel that enhances melodic playing.
Double Stops
Double stops add harmonic depth to the solo, showcasing Lukather's command of melody and harmony simultaneously.
Benefit: Integrating double stops improves your understanding of harmony and your ability to add complexity to solos.
Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs
Lukather’s hammer-ons and pull-offs are used to create fluid, cascading lines that contrast with the solo's more percussive elements.
Benefit: These techniques increase the speed and fluidity of your playing, allowing for dynamic phrasing.
Legato
Smooth, flowing legato runs are a signature of this solo, showcasing Lukather’s technical finesse and melodic sensibility.
Benefit: Practicing legato enhances finger strength and control, resulting in smoother phrasing and less reliance on picking.
Rakes
Rakes add a percussive, dynamic flair to Lukather’s phrasing, emphasising certain notes for dramatic effect.
Benefit: Rakes improve your control over dynamics and attack, helping you add texture and emphasis to your playing.
Bluesy Bends
Bluesy bends give the solo a soulful edge, blending emotion with technical precision.
Benefit: These bends deepen your understanding of blues phrasing and enhance your ability to convey emotion in solos.
List of Techniques in the Lesson
Why Learn This Solo?
The Rosanna solo by Steve Lukather is a masterclass in melody, emotion, and technical prowess. By studying this solo, you'll not only pay tribute to a legendary guitarist but also gain tools to elevate your playing to new heights. Whether it's the precise bends, smooth legato lines, or expressive vibrato, each technique contributes to a richer understanding of guitar artistry.
About The Tutor
Tutor Profile
Jamie Humphries
Jamie is one of the mainstays of LickLibrary, having a stream of hugely successful best selling DVDs, Jamie is best known as Brian May's sideman who he's played shows with all over the world. Aside from this Jamie is a hugely popular clinician working all over the world with Ernie...