Category: Riffs & Licks
Funk 49 Joe Walsh (James Gang)
Funk 49 Joe Walsh: Introduction “I’d like to let you know that I’ll be running for President….and here is an industrial love song” said Joe Walsh as he launched into Life’s Been Good whilst on tour with The Eagles. Not sure why we’ve mentioned this, but Mr. Walsh is such a quirky character that Andy blurted […]
Target Notes in Blues Solos
If you find yourself running up and down the frets and scales but feeling uninspired when playing blues solos, then here’s just one approach to help you break out of the musical rut. Just knowing the various scales is not enough because unless you make them connect to the actual chords being played, they can […]
Hybrid Picking, Part 3: Practice Licks
Now that you’ve learned the basics of hybrid picking and had a chance to advance your skills … … here are five ‘country-style’ licks that incorporate hybrid picking. Having said that, don’t be afraid to experiment with these, as the licks could as easily be woven into other styles of music. Initially, spend some time […]
Paperback Writer riff. The Beatles
Paperback Writer riff. So here’s another classic Beatles intro for you to learn. The majority of them are instantly recognisable, so we won’t tell you that this is the case for Paperback Writer – although it is!!!!! This natty melody is based around the G minor chord shape barred on the 3rd fret and is […]
Reelin In The Years. Steely Dan
Reelin In The Years. As promised, we have another great harmony guitar piece to learn. This is certainly more of a challenge than Rosalee, which featured in our last issue, where we concentrated on syncopated singles in a descending scale. Well where would we be without a challenge! If you tried out our Rosalee harmony […]
Easy Improvisation & Soloing: The Eminor Pentatonic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6h10Ry31Y8 Easy Improvisation Let’s be honest, most of you must have had some dream about being on stage and improvising a guitar solo at the lead singer’s request and launching into an amazing medley of notes, melodies, riffs and tricks that will have the audience drooling for more; only to think, “I’ll never be able […]
Thin Lizzy Rosalee. Harmony Guitar.
Thin Lizzy Rosalee Unless you play regularly with other guitarists, whether it be in a band or around a camp fire, it is unlikely you will ever have the opportunity to play twin harmony lead guitar with someone else. If you execute it correctly, the sound of 2 guitars playing in unison and in harmony is a sound to behold. There […]
I Love Rock n Roll Guitar Riff
I Love Rock n Roll Guitar Riff Introduction Teach When Andy bought his first electric guitar, with a little practice amp that had an option to use distortion, the intro riff for I Love Rock‘n Roll by Joan Jett and The Blackhearts became the first warm up piece he would play before delving into something new. Why though? He tells […]
ZZ Top Guitar Riffs
ZZ Top Guitar Riffs We had such an overwhelming response to our David Bowie riff videos (playing three patterns, one after the other) in the last issue, that we have decided to do the same again with some classic ZZ Top guitar riffs; but this time we’re upping the ante and including a kick drum backing track so you can execute […]
Billy Gibbons Blues Licks
Billy Gibbons Blues Licks A man with such a beard and such a crazy collection of guitars is not often associated with such a deft touch and catchy songs of women and booze….actually that’s a lie, because ‘Revered Willy G’ is not only a rockstar, he is a connoisseur of the blues genre. Introduction Lick 1 Lick 2 Lick 3 […]
BB King Blues Licks
BB King Blues Licks Blues Backing Hi all and welcome to my first bag of blues licks! I’d like to tentatively call this ‘Blues for the Common Man’ because, after all, blues is about interpretation as well as heart and soul. What I’ve got here today is 6 licks over a 12 Bar Blues shuffle backing in the key […]
Sweet Home Chicago Guitar Riff
Sweet Home Chicago. Introduction Teach Written by Robert Johnson and released in August 1937, this song has been recorded by countless artists. The intro to the song has also had many versions, but Andy has chosen to teach the one released by The Blues Brothers, with the guitar being played by the great Steve Cropper. The Riff. Its greatness of […]
Sugar Mama Guitar Riff
Sugar Mama. Introduction Teach Who recorded it? Nine Below Zero are an English Blues band who were at their height in popularity in the early 1980s but continue gigging to this day, having built up a cult following throughout Europe. Sugar Mama is a departure from their normally hi-energy style, but is an introductory riff that the majority […]
JJ Cale. Call Me The Breeze
JJ Cale. Call Me The Breeze. Introduction Teach Backing Why J.J.Cale? As you have probably gathered, Andy is a massive J.J.Cale fan, which has prompted him to give you a brief insight into the type of riff he plays in between lines when he is not singing. Known for his great touch, feel and timing, J.J. Cale […]