SlickerBill

You don't say what type(s) of music you play, so I don't know if this will help you any.... but, if not, maybe someone .....

I do not, can not, and will not even attempt to take a solo break on guitar in standard tuning anymore! There is a tremendous change in dynamics between playing rhythm guitar and soloing. I never could get the hang of going from playing big booming chords to controlled single-string picking. Tried it for years and finally gave up.

However, when I started messing around with open tunings, I found I could make the transition from rhythm to melody pretty much seamlessly. The thing about soloing in open tunings is that it is not absolutely necessary to make sure that the "target note" is the only one you play because the surrounding open notes harmonize with it instead of clashing. Therefore, there is not as much difference in right-hand technique moving from rhythm to lead as with standard tuning. Playing melody with a flatpick in open tunings, at least in the style I use, is like a cross between conventional rhythm and lead playing.

Whether this is something you could or should try, I have no idea. If you're playing bluegrass you would be shot for even thinking open tuning (even though I once saw Kenny Baker -yes, the fiddler - flatpicking the hell out of a guitar in Open G). You just can't get that driving 'grass rhythm guitar thang going in an open tuning. But, if you're into Celtic or original stuff it may be worth playing around with.

Bruce