Practice Studio

John Petrucci - Glasgow Kiss Pt.6 - Outro Solo - Guitar Lesson

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Classic Rock

Gain6
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Presence5
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.

About Glasgow Kiss Pt.6 - Outro Solo


The outro solo from "Glasgow Kiss Pt.6" is one of the most demanding pieces John Petrucci has put on record, and Drop D tuning is central to how it sits on the neck. That lowered sixth string opens up wide interval stretches and allows power-chord punctuation between solo phrases, so you will need to account for it in every position shift. The solo sits firmly in the territory of Progressive Rock, meaning the phrasing is long, the note choices are angular, and clean execution matters as much as raw speed. Expect a demanding combination of legato runs, alternate picking, and string-skipping lines that will expose any weakness in your picking-hand synchronisation. Isolate each phrase in short loops using the Practice Toolbar and work each one at a reduced tempo before pushing the speed up. Getting the phrasing articulate at half speed will pay off far more than chasing the full tempo too soon.

  • The solo is played in Drop D tuning, which shifts fingering patterns across the neck and enables some of the wider intervallic stretches Petrucci favours.
  • Alternate picking and legato technique are both required throughout, so practising each phrase with a single technique first will help identify where the real difficulty lies.
  • String-skipping passages in the outro demand precise right-hand accuracy, making slow looped repetition an essential step before attempting full tempo.

How to Play Glasgow Kiss Pt.6 - Outro Solo

Tuning: Drop D

The drop D tuning lets you fret the low power chords with a single finger, which is central to the heavier riffing here.

Use the section loop to isolate a passage and drop the speed to build each section up to tempo.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Petrucci uses the Cry Baby wah to add expressive vocal qualities to his lead passages, especially during Dream Theater's complex solos where the wah cuts through dense arrangements without muddying his articulate tone. The pedal's responsive sweep complements his pick dynamics and the tight midrange of his DiMarzio pickups.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)