The Solo of My Life

The thing that got me on to playing guitar was when I saw Kuya Mark, my classmate’s brother when I was in elementary, playing the intro solo of Sweet Child of Mine. I was taken back by the mere notion that I can actually see someone making the exact sound that I was hearing from the cassette tape. I was totally blown away. He let me listen to Poison, Guns and Roses, Skid Row and other hair bands. From then on, I decided I have to learn to play guitar. Kuya Mark became my very first and last mentor.

Even after introducing me to Metallica’s Enter Sandman for the first time, I didn’t get serious in practicing and learning advanced guitar. To me, chugging power chords and noodling pentatonic scales (Hammett-style) across the fretboard is all there is. During high school, when I ironically was the drummer of our band, it became apparent that I had to compose songs, and create the guitar solos for each song. That’s when I decided to take my learning to another level – that is, learning the scales and modes. There’s no point in doing solos if they are out of tune. I learned the scales and a little bit of theory. I was proud that somehow I can already improvise. But to an experienced musician, that wasn’t even level 1.

During my 3rd year in college, Kuya Mark striked again and introduced me to Dream Theater. After hearing Images and Words, I was like stunned. I heard sounds that I never heard before. I never imagined anyone could combine technicality, melody, speed and musicality at the same time. For me. Dream Theater took these metal bands to school. From then on, John Petrucci became one of my biggest influences in playing guitar. I decided that in order for me to play his stuff, I needed a deeper knowledge of music and time to practice and improve on skills unknown to me during that time. But it was college, and I don’t even have a guitar (The only time that I can honestly say that I have my own guitar was when I got my 5th paycheck when I was already working. All the guitars that I used from elementary to college were all borrowed.) My parents would rather spend money on my school fees and expenses rather than buy me a guitar. So I told myself, after college, I’ll be the next John Petrucci.

After college, I bought my guitar and started to my self-education in music and theory. Along with Dream Theater, I included Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Symphony X, and Shawn Lane to name a few, on my list of influences. I studied music theory, notation, advanced scales and chordal harmonies. I took time to learn jazz, fusion and classical music. I even studied pieces from Bach, Paganini, Beethoven and the like, and apply such in guitar. The best thing that I learned from this period is how to improvise – how to do a solo given a certain set of chord progressions. This has a lasting effect on my life being a musician. I am able to apply this skill when I compose songs, and even now that I play for a church band, I am able to imprint my mark on each solo in each song.

Time came when I thought I sounded like John Petrucci, and I realized that after all that I have learned, I have to sound like me, like Ryan, and not him. I have to have my own voice, my own signature. When I play guitar or do a solo, I’d like to people to say “Hey, that’s Ryan playing!” instead of “Hey Ryan, nice one man, you sound like John Petrucci”. I became the anti-thesis of what I aspired years ago.

It was a realization and a change of view for me. I had to mold all my knowledge and skills into one voice – a voice that differentiates me from others. A voice of my own.

I am thankful to God for giving me such a wonderful gift- the gift of music. It made me a better person. Now, I have dedicated my music to inspire others, to let them know life, and to let them know Him – all for His glory.