Am I the only one who does this?

[Andrew Fernandes]

I know some solos from A7X and other bands. When I create or improvise my own solos I use some of the same patterns or licks and maybe change up the rhythm or patterns or played a note that is picked different amount of times so I vary it a lot to make my own. I know I should really use scales. I only know pentatonic and I think the unholy confession scale lol.
Is this a bad way of learning?

 

[idssdi]

Not necesarily bad but when you write your own solos or are improvising it is also nice to come up with your own licks. Saying that everyone pretty much borrows from everyone but still it is nice to know some scales

 

[Richard O'connor]

i wouldn’t say its a bad way of learning but there is a lot more out there lol. Try to learn your modes, and as many different scales as you can. Its important though that when you learn your scales that you try to use them that you don’t stay within these scales. Try to think outside the box, in terms of melodies and such. You don’t want to become a robotic shredder that has no sense of melody.
Im not very articulate when it comes to explaining things. So watch this video by the god himself guthrie govan. He explains much better what im trying to say within the first few minutes.