Quotes About Soloing

If the whole idea, in the original bebop days, was to get to soloing, then that's all it should be about.

I can see forms and shapes in my mind when I solo, just as a painter can see forms and shapes when he starts painting. And I can see different colors.

The problem that I have is with the music business. For some reason it seems almost impossible to get anything, any music, released which includes improvisation or soloing.

Anything called the Teflon Corner is not sweet for free-soloing.

In soloing - as in other activities - it is far easier to start something than it is to finish it.

I generally don't climb something if it makes me feel fear. The beauty of soloing is that there's no pressure - no one's telling me to do it. So if something seems scary, I don't have any obligation to do it. I can prepare further or just walk away entirely.

Soloing was pretty easy for me because it was probably the first thing I've ever done.

If I'm soloing, I usually try to start with a theme, which will often stem from the blues.

I like the simplicity of soloing. You've got no gear, no partner. You never climb better than when you free-solo.

Duane Allman might be my favorite guitar player ever. I'd say I'm influenced by the Allman Brothers more than any other band. When I taught guitar lessons for a living, the students that were interested in soloing had to learn the intro to 'It's Not My Cross to Bear' first thing.

When I was young, I had one of those Yamaha drum machines, and I used to practice to that quite a bit, just to practice soloing and being in time and completing all my phrases.

In soloing-as in other activities-it is far easier to start something than it is to finish it.

To be clear, I normally climb with a rope and partner. Free-soloing makes up only a small percentage of my total climbing. But when I do solo, I manage the risk through careful preparation. I don't solo anything unless I'm sure I can do it.

Free soloing is just the most natural way man can climb. It's just using your hands and feet without any use of protection or rope to ascend.

When you're single, your pockets will jingle.

I love my climbing shoes. Virtually all of my big solos have been in the TC Pros. They are the most important thing when I'm soloing.