Eric Johnson - Manhattan Pt.5 - Main Solo - Guitar Lesson

About Manhattan Pt.5 - Main Solo

Few guitarists make clean picking tone a technical discipline the way Eric Johnson does, and the main solo from "Manhattan Pt.5" is a concentrated example of that obsession. Running at 120 BPM in E Standard, the solo sits in a comfortable tempo range on paper, but Johnson's phrasing demands absolute pick-attack consistency and smooth position shifts across the neck. The lines blend legato hammer-ons with precise alternate picking, so any unevenness in your hybrid approach will surface quickly. Tone cleanliness is as much the challenge here as the note content itself, since Johnson's style exposes every muted note or sloppy transition. Work through the solo in short segments using the Practice Toolbar, looping it slowed down until each phrase speaks clearly before you bring it back to full speed. Pay close attention to where he chooses to pick versus pull off, because copying those decisions is what gets you close to the feel of Progressive Rock lead playing at its most refined.

• The solo runs at 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, giving you a stable reference point but demanding clean, even pick attack throughout every phrase.
• Johnson blends alternate picking with legato runs across the solo, so isolating which notes are picked versus hammered-on is key to accurate phrasing.
• Tone clarity is a core challenge here, as Johnson's dry, precise picking style immediately exposes any finger pressure inconsistencies or fret buzz.