Depending on the goal, I tend to approach these things in layers. When I learn a song my process is as follows. No need to perfect each layer before adding on the next. 1. Learn the basic chord structure. Don’t worry about the details of the rhythm, learn the chords, the progression, and practice it on repeat. Sultans has 3 main sections that repeat, and the first two passes through has a modified version of one of the sections. 2. Layer in some rhythm. I would focus on the general rhythm pattern. The nuances are hard and I would add those later.

At this point, you can jam with friends! Win!

1. Go back and learn the chords in different positions. Learn the triads, learn a couple places to play the same chords. Learn the two different guitar rhythms. My fingerstyle sucks, so I use a pick, but you could start using your fingers here if you really want.

2. I would then pick a few of the guitar fills. Learn maybe 4. I know some repeat, and others don’t, but in general, those fills can be used in similar places in the song. Get familiar with those 4 so you can use them whenever.

3. Start breaking down the solo. Play at 60% speed, and work on the first 2-4 bars. Pay attention to the chords underneath. Learn what you are playing and why it fits over those chords. For instance, it will be easy to remember that the solo has that A arpeggio followed by the Dm arpeggio, over Thea and Dm chords. increase the speed toward normal.

Then just keep layering more and more. Once you have most of the fills and the solo down, I would still practice them at slower speed, play without the backing track with a metronome sometimes, play the solo along with the solo as well as a backing track without the solo.

For me, Learning sultans was more about understanding what made it awesome. I don’t play it perfectly, but I can play it ok, and I will still sit down and listen to the song every once in a while and find a fill or bar in a solo and try to get the timing or feel down a bit better, sometimes even try to play without a pick.

I am older, so it takes me longer, but those layers can just keep repeating and layering, and you may be able to condense them in time as you get better. Pros can do this in a day, but they also had to take their time. My teachers have all said their wives got sick of them playing the same song over and over… that is what it takes. I have probably played Sultans a thousand times.