Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son - Outro Solos - Guitar Lesson

About Carry On Wayward Son - Outro Solos

The outro solos on "Carry On Wayward Son" are where Kansas really put guitarists to work. Kerry Livgren and Rich Williams trade and layer lines across a section that demands both stamina and phrasing clarity, all sitting in G minor at a steady 120 BPM. That tempo feels comfortable until you try to keep your phrasing clean through the full sequence of melodic runs and bends. E Standard tuning means no retuning surprises, but the real challenge is nailing the rhythmic placement of each phrase without rushing into the next one. The Progressive Rock sensibility here means the solos are composed, not loosely improvised, so learning the actual notes matters more than winging it. Isolate each solo section with the Practice Toolbar, slow it down, and work on matching the articulation before bringing it back to full speed. The melodic logic of each phrase will click much faster that way.

• The outro features layered, composed guitar solos rather than free improvisation, meaning accuracy of phrasing and note choice is essential to capturing the part correctly.
• At 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, the runs are technically demanding mainly because of their length and the need to sustain clean articulation across the full outro.
• Looping individual solo segments slowed down with the Practice Toolbar is especially useful here, as the melodic lines are long and easy to lose track of mid-phrase.