Black Stone Cherry Style

Hello GMC!  I’m back! :) I recorded a lesson that has been requested in the forum and in my personal board many times:  Black Stone Cherry style!  

Their southern rock style but with a more Metal sound is based in powerful overdriven guitars and an awesome rocker voice. Pentatonic riffing, dropped D & C tuning, Zakk Wylde Style licks, fast bluesy licks & strong vibrato are some of the most important characteristics of this band’s guitars. Their main influences are Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pride & Glory and the Black Crowes.

In this lesson we will analyze their most used rhythms and techniques as well as some harmony & composition aspects.  We will combine riffing with soloing in order to develop your playing in a "real band situation". 

This tune must be played with an overdriven tone with enough sustain for the solo part.  You could push a compressor/booster when the solo starts and maybe a wah wah (if you have one). I added some chorus and reverb in the solo channel during the mix. I also doubled the rhythm guitar to make the mix sound more powerful.

Tuning:
Dropped D: (D A D G B E)

Techniques:
Palm Muting
Alternate Picking
Bending
Sweep Picking
Legato
Tapping

Scales:
D Pentatonic Minor + blue note
D minor

Structure:
The structure of this lesson is a reduction of what could be a complete song.  You have the intro, verse, pre chorus, the solo over the chorus progression and finally a bridge or what we usually call "part C".  This part C is usually before the last chorus (sometimes it's before the solo) and it is a singed part.  It uses to be the most emotive moment in a song. 

Chord progressions:
The intro and verse are riffs based in D minor. The solo's chord progression is: 
4/4// Dm (I )   / F (bIII )/ G (IV) / A# (V) / C (bVII) //
This progression is in D minor and is one of the most used progressions in this music style.  The other famous progression in this style is: / Imaj – bVIImaj – IVmaj /  You can check Sweet Home Alabama and many Pride & Glory and Zakk Wylde songs.

Ok! Here we go.  I hope that you enjoy this lesson!

Keep on rocking!

Gabriel.

PS: IF you are new at this style I recommend you these albums:
1. Black Stone Cherry - Black Stone Cherry [2006]
2. Pride & Glory - Pride & Glory [1994]
3. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Pronounced  [1973] // Second Helping [1974]
4. Black Label Society – Sonic Brew [1999]

D pentatonic minor:

D Minor: