You can also help your phrasing by singing along with your solo. Sing the notes as you play them. It will also slow you down a little, so you are not worried about how fast you're playing.

I was also given these words of advice, I gladly pass them on to you:

Unless you're paid by the note, there's little reason to play fast.
The guitarists that solo with fewest notes are the very new and the very experienced.

Good luck and keep practicing.

Something has been really frustrating me lately, I've noticed that even with my knowledge of the scales, chords, techniques, etc. I still have the hardest time phrasing Every time I play there's such a lack of smoothness. It almost feels like I'm trying to match my playing with the beat rather than with the chords and the music and even though I know my way around the fretboard I still make mistakes, or I don't end up hitting the note I want to hit, or I hit the note and it doesn't end up sounding right 'cause I messed up on the attack. Ughhh I guess this is the thing that takes a lifetime to master. I can write a solo, I can improvise, but my phrasing sucks. I don't know how to improve it, and what's difficult is actually teaching it because it's such an individual thing the way we play. It's possible that maybe I wasn't used to the key I was playing in. I usually play in Em and Am with a kind of blues progression. I was practicing my phrasing in D minor and it was more Santana-like, but still I just don't get it. How do I improve my phrasing? I know about listening to good phrasing B.B King, Clapton, Gilmour, etc. I know about having breath between notes. I know theory, or at least a decent amount. My ears are better now that it's been 3 years. What I want to know is what can I do physically? How much breath should there be between notes? When do I play fast or slow? How do I avoid mistakes? I want to learn how to make my improvisations flow rather than sound forced. Sometimes it gets very SRV, even though it should be more smoother and less intense. Idk, any info will help. Thank you.

Blaqdog the last thing you wrote raised an eyebrow. "The speed thing will come." This might be a big part of your problem if you are worrying to much on fitting speed into your playing. The best advice I can offer anyone is to play within your ability.What good is it if you are trying to play something fast just for the sake of playing fast if it dont fit or is going to be sloppy. Great solos do not have to be fast at all-Harrison=Something/Gilmour=Comfortably Numb/Slash=November Rain. All great solos, all about note selection and phrasing.