Queen - We Are The Champions - Solo - Guitar Lesson

About We Are The Champions - Solo

The guitar solo in "We Are The Champions" by Queen is a compact but expressive moment that rewards careful attention to phrasing and sustain. Brian May's playing here leans heavily on melodic phrasing in C major, where bending in tune and controlling vibrato matter far more than speed. The solo is relatively short, but getting the bends to land exactly on pitch and decay naturally is genuinely tricky, and sloppy vibrato will stand out immediately against the song's big, open-chord feel. The surrounding rhythm parts use a lot of resonant, ringing chord voicings, so matching that warm, singing tone for the solo takes some thought about your pickup selection and picking attack. If the bend-and-release phrases are giving you trouble, set up the Practice Toolbar to loop them slowed down until your muscle memory locks in the correct pitch target. Pay equal attention to dynamics: May shapes each phrase with noticeable swells, so a flat, even attack will miss the point entirely.

• The solo sits in C major and relies on lyrical bending and sustained vibrato rather than fast runs, making clean intonation the core challenge.
• Brian May was known for using a sixpence as a pick, which contributes to the bright, crisp attack heard throughout Queen recordings.
• Practising the solo at reduced speed with the Practice Toolbar helps lock in accurate bend pitches before bringing it back up to tempo.