I keep hearing rumours about VST plugins than can be used for selecting, mixing and matching lead guitar samples into a lead line for a song. But finding them is difficult because I have no idea what they're called. I've searched for "guitar sequencer" and several other terms, words and phrases and I get about one or two usable hits for each. I've been searching for two days.
Please feel free to jump in at any time and tell me what I'm talking about.

I don't know about lead lines really but do you mean stuff like Virtual Guitarist (2)?
http://youtu.be/KfaPgp1pS3I

Sanderxpander
I don't know about lead lines really but do you mean stuff like Virtual Guitarist (2)?
http://youtu.be/KfaPgp1pS3I

Thanks for the reply, Sanderxpander.
That looks to be all about chords whereas I'm looking for a way to do a screaming lead break. The only reason I'm considering it is because I'm not much of a lead player. I can handle simple, melodic stuff, but this particular song cries out for something bordering on the insane and I just don't have the skills.
So, bottom line: No, I don't think that's it. I did spend some time checking out virtual guitars (Ample Sound's offerings as well as Steinberg's) but they all seemed to be oriented toward doing chords rather than lead lines.
 
What I'm looking for would involve (I think) pre-recorded bits of guitar and can be dragged-n-dropped onto some kind of scale/matrix thing to build a solo. I don't know; maybe it just doesn't exist.

"screaming lead break" hmmm....
automatically and doing something unique to fit your song...hmm....
 
I would just practice and do it on keyboard with pitchwheel until it fits somehow.
A heavily distorted synth works pretty well I think or guitarsamples if you got it.
 
Or look at advanced arpeggiators that you can program partly or to the level you want.
That would have ability to stay in a key of the song and give sopmething to work with.
 
You can generate melodylines from chord progressions in tools like Jammer Pro.
It has some randomness to it and generate a different line every press of a key.
 
Or look up Van Halens site and see what he charges... ;)
 
Jokes aside, there are sites that offer their onlineservices and they have guitarplayers as well as full session musicians.
 
I found this review at SOS for such places:
http://www.soundonsound.c...les/onlinesessions.htm
 
or just google "session musician work online" for plenty suggestions.

I'd reach out to forum member Danny Danzi.
 
He is an excellent player and I'm sure could, for a small fee, write & play something that fits in with what you need.

Band in a Box will generate solos for you.  I usually "generate" a couple different ones AND slog through doing one myself, then comp.  Ehh...

Band in a Box will generate solos for you.  I usually "generate" a couple different ones AND slog through doing one myself, then comp.  Ehh...

Check out Ministry Of Rock 2. I think u can do pretty much anything with that. Its not a drag and drop type thing but the demos online sound pretty cool.

As a guitarist, this thread depresses me.

+1... for some things "computer only" has (sometimes extreme) limitations... as a guitarist, this thread made me cringe in a severe way as well :(