That is natural. Some one else’s solo is more difficult to master. This is more than mechanics, more than knowing scales and modes, the solo is that persons expression. It is difficult to capture how someone else feels about a song and duplicate his playing technicues to reproduce it. I have always thought solos to be very personal things. When I learn someone else’s solo to a song, I really do not try to reproduce it exactly as he played it, I try to inject my own feelings into it. Therefore, my solo will vary slightly from the original. I think that is proper. Too many young guitarists try to duplicate someone else’s solo. They may have the notes right, but have no idea of the feeling.

Enough rambling. You want to get better at soloing. Right? Everyone does. You need a good solo teacher. I suggest Joe Satriani. In addition to being a great guitarist, he is an excellent teacher. He can explain things quite well.

Here are some videos to get you started.

Joe Satriani has a lot of good videos on Youtube. Those are just a few of the many.

Also, check out the theory lessons at Wholenote.com. Lots of good material on modes and scales. Here is a sample.

http://www.wholenote.com/default.asp?iTarget=http%3A//www.wholenote.com/cgi-bin/page_view.pl%3Fl%3D754%26p%3D4%26a%3D0

Later,

Hello again,

I should have given you this link. It is sort of a starting point for modes at Wholenote.

http://www.wholenote.com/default.asp?src=l&l=4230&p=1

Also, this may help, over at Guitar Nuts. Click the diagram to go to the scale maker. Handy device.

http://www.guitarnuts.com/theory/index.php