The trying is the fun part jimi.
Actually, to me getting the drums together was the fun part. Laying out, tweaking, and fine tuning the lead guitar passages and fills are like the ditch digging of the process to me.
Well, doing the bass is no picnic either.
I get the guitar parts together by jamming with the finished rythym tracks and listening back. Then, I decide what is working and what isnt....then I try to incorporate what works into a cohesive guitar ride that builds momentum but leaves room for better and faster licks as the song rolls along.
One of my favorite guitarists is the late great Albert King. Another of my favorites, the late great Tommy Bolin, played in Albertz band for a while before he gained rock and roll stardom. Bolin was asked in an interview what he learned by playing with Albert King. He said; "Albert King taught me the most important thing I ever learned as a guitarist....don't blow all your cookies in the first bar!!"
I took that advise to heart too....a long time ago. I thought about it often through the years....like when shred was all the rage. These dudes like Van Halen, Satch, Vai, the sweedish dude whose name evades me right now....play a song and it's like sub machine gun speed guitar....neck tapping...whammy dive bombing....1000 miles an hour on every ride.
After one ride the listener is worn out and numb to it....they have blown their cookies in the first bar. There is nothing left to do after a tune or 2. As a listener I'm good for one song of that kind of total onslaught and I'm bored.
Then you listen to Albert king. He is on a slow burn doing bends early in the song more than licks....might do a couple of impressive licks in the first ride.....then he will do an absolute killer lick towards the end of the last guitar ride and it just resonates and satisfies.
Guess what....
He has played a song and only used 3 or 4 of he best licks and he has a bag full if them.
He never blew all his cookies in the first bar.
I have to dicipline myself not to do all my best stuff too early in a song or set of songs. It's human nature to want every guitar lick to be absolutely killer but if you don't pace yourself you have painted yourself into a corner and at that point you're either repeating your licks or playing weaker licks towed the end of the song.
Anyway, I'll quit rattling on.
lol