Category: Riffs & Licks
Eric Clapton Bell Bottom Blues
Eric Clapton. Bell Bottom Blues. Introduction Bell Bottom Blues” was written by Eric Clapton and performed by the band Derek and the Dominos way back in the 70’s. It’s a simple but delightful melodic guitar riff. Teach
Improvisation On Guitar
Improvisation on Guitar. The ability to jam over backing tracks (or even with a live band) probably gives me more satisfaction, guitar-wise, than anything else. Sure it takes some time to master, so that is why I like to encourage my students to start at the very basic level, usually in the E minor pentatonic scale and build up their fretboard knowledge slowly but […]
Blues Licks: Eric Clapton Licks
Now we move on to the set of blues licks inspired by Eric Clapton, featuring a classic Cream vibe that focuses a bit more on aggression and boldness. Break each lick down once again into sections and make sure each one flows properly; these ones are based in the minor pentatonic territory and involve some […]
Blues Licks: BB King
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 of E. […]
David Bowie Guitar Riffs Medley
Everyone wants to play something recognisable when practicing, so what better way than to learn some great David Bowie guitar riffs. Bowie has employed some exceptional guitarists over the years, notably Mick Ronson and Earl Slick, both of whom have contributed to the great songs he has written, both in the studio and in a […]
12 Bar Blues In E
For the premier instalment of Solo Blues we are going to look at a 12 Bar Blues in the Key of E. This piece is centered around the open position of the E blues scale. The E blues scale is made up of the same notes as the E Minor Pentatonic with the addition of the flat 5th […]
AC/DC Rock ‘n Roll Train
This classic AD/DC Rock n Roll Train needs no introduction. Suffice to say if you turn up your amp, add some overdrive or distortion and have the ability to play A, D and G, you will be in rock ‘n roll heaven. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtUFRdThYLU What It Will Do For You. This is what Andy likes to […]
Sugar Mama 9 Below Zero.
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 of us would consider […]
Robert Cray: Phone Booth
Now this isn’t a riff, it is the beginning of Robert Cray’s beautifully played solo from his hit Phone Booth. Why Choose This? Andy really wanted to bring you something different and, in just a couple of bars, you can make out the distinct Robert Cray soloing style. This particular solo is played over […]
Top 10 Guitar Riffs
Top 10 Guitar Riffs: That Don’t Appear In Top 10 Lists Mr Brownstone No its not “Sweet Child O’ Mine” but the 5th track on Appetite For Destruction is a masterpiece in itself. The riff is simple, running up and down the scale and is a great driving mechanism for the track. The song in […]
Cocaine: Power Chords
OK let’s have a look at the Power Chords to start off with. Now Power Chords are also known as fifths. A Power Chord is ‘powerful,’ just as it is described. What we are actually doing is playing the lowest three notes of a major chord and making sure we use the root note for […]
Vertigo Guitar Solo
Learn to play the lead for Vertigo by U2. The lead solo in Vertigo is short and relatively easy to play, although it can be challenging getting the timing just right. Hopefully, when you’ve got bass and drums going along with everything, it’ll all fall into place. Also this is a good solo to have […]