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i.                Learn the solo using a metronome – a metronome is key to doing this properly. Take it at a slow speed to begin with if there are any tricky phrases or difficult licks to master. Increase the speed a step at a time when you have it sussed, until you are able to play at the speed or the original recording. Playing along with the recording is always a good way to crown the achievement!

ii.               Highlight and transpose your favourite phrases – ideally you would be able to do this in all 12 keys, though the fingering for some of them will inevitably make this impossible.

iii.             Create exercises for your phrases around a circle of fifths/fourths – this is just another way of practicing the favourite phrasing you have picked out. If you do this fluently and are patient with it, it can result in some quite staggering results. I have occasionally created new tunes out of phrasing exercises adapted in this way.

iv.             Adapt the phrases, shifting the odd note by a semi-tone – this is where it really starts to get fun and you can begin getting creative with your favourite phrases. Again, learning these changed phrases in all twelve keys and around circles of fifths/fourths/thirds etc can take you on quite an exciting journey

v.              Experiment with the phrases over different keys/modes – again, some really interesting discoveries can come out of this, for example taking a Dmb5 phrase and using it over FmMaj7.