There are several techniques of playing a lead guitar but some of the more advanced techniques include mastering the natural and pinch harmonics and assuming a good control over vibrato.

Many lead guitarists can play the natural harmonics but there are some people who find it difficult to play pinch harmonics on their lead guitar. Natural harmonics, vibrato control and pinch harmonics can make your guitar sound different and the sound or pitch can vary from soft screams to harsh metallic depending on the kind of effect you want. The sound of the harmonic is almost similar to that of a bell and can be heard when you touch a particular string of your lead guitar at a specific fret bar.

Natural Harmonics

Natural Harmonics is as easy at it comes on the lead guitar because it takes place at different spaces all along a particular string and especially where one sine wave ends while a new one begins. It will not be wrong to say that natural harmonics are produced at particular string positions.

Pinch Harmonics

Pinch harmonics on the other hand used extensively in hard rock but more common in metal genres. Steve Vai and Eddie Van Halen, both have used pinch harmonics extensively on their lead guitar to provide a signature sound that identifies them in a crowd of other lead guitarists. One of the tracks in which Steve Vai has used pinch harmonics effectively is called bad horsie. A clean way of doing the pinch harmonic will be to pinch a string on your lead guitar between one side of your thumb, which is holding your pick and the pick itself. Probably, one of the best ways to learn this advanced lead guitar technique is through cranking up the distortion. Once that is done, you can place the hand holding or playing the frets on the A string or the Low E on the 5th fret and even the 7th fret in such a way that it would seem like you are playing the D or the A note.

Some of the lead guitar legends who have extensively used pinch harmonics include Steve Vai, K. K. Downing (Judas Priest), Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne) and the late Dimebag Darrell (Pantera).

Vibrato Control

Vibrato is considered to be one of the most expressive techniques on a lead guitar. Vibrato control is necessary to bring out the desired sound on your lead guitar playing, which will be able to cut across the boredom of playing the same tune. The best way of assuming control is by ideally starting with a wider range but slow to moderate speed vibrato. A fast vibrato is extremely effective too but then you can go out of tune and control if you are not well versed with playing it on your lead guitar. With vibrato, you always start slow and easy. The masters of vibrato control include Marty Friedman, John Petrucci, and Yngwie Malmsteen.

Some of the greatest guitar compositions have made it to the hall of fame thanks to their lead guitarists. Lead guitar refers to a the use of a guitar to perform melody lines, instrumental fill passages, and guitar solos within a song structure. Guitarists like Van Halen, Steve Vai, David Gilmour, John Petrucci, Dave Mustaine, Tom Morello, Kirk Hammett, Jimmy Page, Dave Murray, Joe Satriani, Steve Morse and many more have popularized the art of playing the Lead guitar.

Mastering the lead guitar takes time and effort. To master it you will need to use different and advanced scales, arpeggios, modes, riffs and licks. If you are thinking of becoming a lead guitarist then you will have to master various techniques of playing solo starting with hammer ons, pull offs and tapping.

Hammer Ons

Hammer-ons are normally played with pull-offs and are also known as slurs. A hammer if used on a lead guitar can create a smooth sound between different notes and is considered to be a great way of rendering a solo performance. It can be seen as playing multiple notes in one strike. Something like playing multiple notes on a saxophone in one breath. It is the slur effect that makes the hammer a must for playing lead guitar. Just as the name sounds, a hammer-on means striking an open string. Hammer on is extremely useful for strumming patterns in which you would be required to hold on to a particular chord for a few seconds.

Pull-Off

For lead guitar playing, to accentuate the rhythm, you use a hammer on first and then play it backward, which is a pull off. To play this better, you should ideally start with two fingers on your fretboard. Let’s take an example: if the index finger is at the 5th fret on your guitar’s D string and if your ring finger is on the 7th fret then try picking the note at the 7th fret. At the point when the note rings, pull-off the ring finger, which will leave your index finger on the 5th fret. The sound that you get will be similar to a slurring effect and is a pull off.

Tapping

Tapping is a popular lead guitar technique that has been used by many great guitarists. Associated mainly with an electric guitar, you can use the tapping technique on almost all kinds of string instruments. There are two types of tapping technique: The one-handed tapping also known as ordinary tapping, and the two-handed tapping. Some of the lead guitar experts consider it to be an extended technique. The technique will require you to tap the strings of your lead guitar using the use the fingers of one hand and this will sound like legato notes. But remember successful tapping requires the use of both the hands. Van Halen used the tap–pull–hammer method in his highly successful number called "Eruption" to create a long cascade consisting of several tapped notes.