Country n Blues Lesson
 Hi all and welcome to my first GMC lesson - a bit of Yee-har to kick things off :).
This lesson looks at some tasty Country/Blues style licks. The first piece utilizes a cool string bending technique that simultaneously bends two notes. One up and one down which produces a sound very reminiscent of a Pedal-Steel Guitar lick or a B-String Bender. This technique can be expanded on a lot and we'll look at some similar but more advanced uses of it in a later lesson.
Also covered are some typical Country sounding licks which can be used in a Blues setting too.
It can be difficult to get the right "feel" on these type of licks in the beginning, but once you get the feel for them, they get easy to run off (tastefully of course :).
These licks often target notes in the underlying chords and are not just using notes from a typical Country/Blues type Pentatonic scale. The typical country sounding Major Pentatonic scale is used in parts, but it's mixed in with chord tones.
Licks are played at a reasonably "slow" tempo in the main video (*94bpm) but they can be speeded up, and are very ear-catching when approached the right way (at any speed) - heads will turn when you blast out these on a Saturday night down at the local barn-dance :).
Best played on a Strat or a Telecaster to get that authentic Country-twang sound. Use the bridge pickup or the out of phase switch setting between the bridge and middle pickups on a Strat, with the nowadays standard 5-way selector switch.
Note: Original Strats only had a 3 way selector switch and it was a nice find that the switch could be "jammed" halfway between the pickups to achieve two new sounds. A happy accident as it turned out, as this was not intended in the original design.
Effects used are minimal using a clean sound with a touch of reverb (Quadraverb F.X. Unit) and delay pedal (Boss DD3). These licks sound good on a transistor or tube/valve amp.
Note: The Guitar Pro Tab had to be broken up into separate tracks for some of these special double bends, as it has problems reading them and playing them back. Because strings are being bent up and down simultaneously which it's not really designed for.
The best way to learn it is to study the vids and the normal tab, AND use your musical ear. The Guitar Pro tab can be used as an extra guidance for these bend licks, if you want to see them pulled apart string by string. The rest of the solo tabs fine as normal. Use a Fender Strat RSE sound in Guitar Pro and it sounds vintagely nice.
Look 4ward to answering any questions you may have on it and chattin' guitar. I love talking guitar like most guitar players and fans - or should I say fanatics :) ... see you on the forums!
***
Chords/Tempo in the main vid are as follows:
Country/Blues Licks Lesson 1
4/4 94 bpm
Key G
G / / / : B7 / / / : C / / / : A7 / / / x 2
G / / / : E7 / / / : G / / / : E7 / / / : G / / / : A7 / / / : G / / / : E7 / / /
*BPM = Beats per minute
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Lick 1 Double Bend 94 bpm
E||-------------------------|--------7------5----------|
B||-------------------------|----7b-----7b----5---7pbr~|
G||---------------7b--------|----7pbr-------------7b~--|
D||-------------------------|--------------------------|
A||-------------------------|--------------------------|
E||-------------------------|--------------------------|
D U D U D U D~
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Lick 1 Double Bend 94 bpm
The first G string bend is pulled away towards the floor with finger 2 - a 2 fret bend. Then "grab" the B string note on the 7th fret under the same finger, while still holding the bended G string note.
Then immediately return the bended G string note to rest pulling the B bend with it. This results in a 2 fret bend down for the G string, and a 1 fret bend up for the B string!
With the G string in "rest" position and the B string bend held, play the E string notes with the 3rd and 1st fingers.
Then bend the held notes back up (towards the floor). The B string is then in "rest" position and the G string is bent up 2. Add vibrato to this section for full effect.
It takes a bit of practice to "grab" the second note on the B string cleanly while holding the other note - but it get's easy enough after a while. As mentioned this technique can be enhanced with further crazy bends and so on.
b - bend
pbr - preBendRelease
~ - vibrato
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Lick 1 Double Bend Slow
E||-------------------------|--------7------5----------|
B||-------------------------|----7b-----7b----5---7pbr~|
G||---------------7b--------|----7pbr-------------7b~--|
D||-------------------------|--------------------------|
A||-------------------------|--------------------------|
E||-------------------------|--------------------------|
D U D U D U D~ |
Lick 1 Double Bend slow speed
This lick is harder to play in slow mo, than at full speed :).
b - bend
pbr - preBendRelease
~ - vibrato
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E||----------------------|--------------------------|
B||----------------------|-----5~-------------------|
G||------------------4S--|--5--5~-----------------5-|
D||----------------------|--------------------------|
A||----------------------|--------------------------|
E||----------------------|--------------------------|
D /S D/U D
-----------------------------||
--------5~-------------------||
--5b--------5(b)~------------||
-----------------------------||
-----------------------------||
-----------------------------||
D D U |
Lick 2 normal speed
Make sure to add vibrato to it when you are holding both notes and when you bend up the G5.
A nice "lazy feel" is used so don't worry about playing the notes right on the beat, they can be varied a little. Just use them as guidance. If it sounds right in your ear and fits in well with the backing, that's the important thing.
Listen to some Country master players like Albert Lee to hear this type of idea and get the feel for it.
Tip: Don't rely on Tab alone to "pick-up" the feel for it, as Tab doesn't include ear training. In other words beg, steal, buy, or borrow a version of a song or solo you want to learn on audio. Better still try watch a video of the player in question. Even better go see 'em live!
Other notable players in the Country field to listen out for and learn from would be Vince Gill, Chet Atkins, and The Hellecasters.
This technique is also commonly used in Blues soloing.
s - slide
b - bend
pbr - preBendRelease
~ - vibrato |
E||----------------------|--------------------------|
B||----------------------|-----5~-------------------|
G||------------------4S--|--5--5~-----------------5-|
D||----------------------|--------------------------|
A||----------------------|--------------------------|
E||----------------------|--------------------------|
D /S D/U D
-----------------------------||
--------5~-------------------||
--5b--------5(b)~------------||
-----------------------------||
-----------------------------||
-----------------------------||
D D U |
lick 2 slow speed
Pay particular attention to make sure the bends and vibrato are in tune. It's easy to overbend or underbend this lick until you get used to it.
s - slide
b - bend
~ - vibrato |
E||------------------------------------|
B||-------------------------8----7brb--|
G||-------------------0----------------|
D||--------------0-2h------------------|
A||------0-1h-2h-----------------------|
E||--3---------------------------------|
D D D D D D |
Open E Pentatonic Major run
Typical open string country-flavoured Pentatonic Major scale run. The chromatic note on the A string 1st fret fits in well (this note is not in the Major Pentatonic scale).
To play a Chromatic scale just play every note available on the neck in ascending or descending order. Notes from this scale can be used anywhere but they must be chosen carefully or they just sound like mistakes. If chosen carefully they sound great and add a lot of flavour to the mix.
Picking Pattern
Use all downstrokes and hammer-ons for this one - you can use alternate down-up strokes if you like. It's slow enough to play either way. Best to practise it both ways.
s - slide
b - bend
pbr - preBendRelease
~ - vibrato |
E||------------------------------------|
B||-------------------------8----7brb--|
G||-------------------0----------------|
D||--------------0-2h------------------|
A||------0-1h-2h-----------------------|
E||--3---------------------------------| |
Open E Pentatonic Major run - slo speed |
E||-------3------3------3------3-------|
B||--3h-5---3h-5---3h-5---3h-5---3-----|
G||------------------------------------|
D||------------------------------------|
A||------------------------------------|
E||------------------------------------|
--------9-------9-------9-------9------|
--8h-10---8h-10---8h-10---8h-10---8----|
---------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------| |
Lick 5 rolls 1 norm speed
These licks are called "Rolls" and can be often be heard used on the Banjo. In fact they are often called Banjo Rolls. They sound great on the guitar in country music and can also be rocked up.
Pay close attention to the feel, and the length of the notes. Think Country - throw in a "yee-har" on top of it if it helps :). This is the picking I find gives the best roll, although you can use alternate picking on it too:
Righthand Picking Pattern - Keep it nice and flowing
D = Downstroke
U = Upstroke
H = Hammer
D H D
U H D
U H D
U H D
U
x2 |
E||-------3------3------3------3-------|
B||--3h-5---3h-5---3h-5---3h-5---3-----|
G||------------------------------------|
D||------------------------------------|
A||------------------------------------|
E||------------------------------------|
--------9-------9-------9-------9------|
--8h-10---8h-10---8h-10---8h-10---8----|
---------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------| |
Lick 5 rolls 70bpm slow
A great way to get the feel for Banjo Rolls is to play them slowly with a metronome. When you get the right feel, then speed them up.
The slower you can play them without mistakes, the better they will sound when played at normal speed. This applies to all licks and music.
h - hammer |
E||-------3------3------3------3-------|
B||--3h-5---3h-5---3h-5---3h-5---3-----|
G||------------------------------------|
D||------------------------------------|
A||------------------------------------|
E||------------------------------------|
--------9-------9-------9-------9------|
--8h-10---8h-10---8h-10---8h-10---8----|
---------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------| |
Lick 6A both rolls 94 bpm
Here's the 2 x Banjo Rolls played at normal speed.
h - hammer |
E||--15p-12----12----------------------------------------|
B||---------15----15p-12-15p-12----12--------------------|
G||-----------------------------14----14p-12-14p-12------|
D||-------------------------------------------------14---|
A||------------------------------------------------------|
E||------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------|
--15p-12----12----------------------------------------|
---------14----14p-12-14p-12----12--------------------|
-----------------------------14----14p-12-14p-12------|
-------------------------------------------------14---|
------------------------------------------------------|
--15p-12----12----------------------------------------|
---------15----15p-12-15p-12----12--------------------|
-----------------------------14----14p-12-14p-12------|
-------------------------------------------------14---|
------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------|
--15p-12----12----------------------------------------|
---------14----14p-12-14p-12----12--------------------|
-----------------------------14----14p-12-14p-12------|
-------------------------------------------------14---|
------------------------------------------------------|
--15p-12----12----------------------------------------|------------|
---------15----15p-12-15p-12----12--------------------|--14--------|
-----------------------------14----14p-12-14p-12------|------------|
-------------------------------------------------14---|-(14)-------|
------------------------------------------------------|------------|
------------------------------------------------------|------------|
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Pentatonic run at 14th fret normal speed
The Pentatonic Major scale is a staple essential in Country music. Here we add some notes from the ending A7 chord to nail the sound and progression.
A nice "lazy" feel is used - avoid making it sound robotic. Listen to the backing track and "get into the groove" rather than concentrating too much on perfect tab note values.
Theoretically speaking, this run should be played using the 4th finger (using the 1 finger per fret rule), but it's common and perfectly normal to just use 3 fingers to play these type of Pentatonic Country or Blues runs. So don't worry about whether or not it's "technically correct" fingerwise, just make sure it sounds good and fits comfortably under your fingers.
Believe me, when some dude was wailing the Blues on his porch in the Mississippi Delta region back in the early 20th century, he wasn't worrying about which technical fingering to use ... just made sure it sounded righteous :)! Players like Eric Clapton and the like would never play something like this by the "technical book" (they didn't have 'books' in those days).
Adding the notes from the A7 chord at the end of the run, takes the lick out of boring Pentatonic only land :).
D P U D U P D P U D U P D P U
x5
On the last resolving note just use a downstroke. |
E||--15p-12----12----------------------------------------|
B||---------15----15p-12-15p-12----12--------------------|
G||-----------------------------14----14p-12-14p-12------|
D||-------------------------------------------------14---|
A||------------------------------------------------------|
E||------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------|
--15p-12----12----------------------------------------|
---------14----14p-12-14p-12----12--------------------|
-----------------------------14----14p-12-14p-12------|
-------------------------------------------------14---|
------------------------------------------------------|
--15p-12----12----------------------------------------|
---------15----15p-12-15p-12----12--------------------|
-----------------------------14----14p-12-14p-12------|
-------------------------------------------------14---|
------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------|
--15p-12----12----------------------------------------|
---------14----14p-12-14p-12----12--------------------|
-----------------------------14----14p-12-14p-12------|
-------------------------------------------------14---|
------------------------------------------------------|
--15p-12----12----------------------------------------|------------|
---------15----15p-12-15p-12----12--------------------|--14--------|
-----------------------------14----14p-12-14p-12------|------------|
-------------------------------------------------14---|-(14)-------|
------------------------------------------------------|------------|
------------------------------------------------------|------------|
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Pentatonic lick at 14th fret - slow 70bpm
Remember: if you can't play it perfect at slow tempo, it will sound wrong at normal speed.
p - pulloff |
E||-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B||----------------------14s--12--|---------------12---11---10---9--|
G||-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D||-----------------14---14s--12--|---------------12---11---10---9--|
A||-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E||-------------------------------|---------------------------------| |
Outro doubles - normal speed
This part of the solo uses what are called 6ths from the scale, plus chromatic notes. 6ths are just notes from a scale which are a 6th apart (don't worry about the theory end of it for now, it's enough to just be aware of it).
The pick and 2nd finger are used to play them - just pick as normal on the D string and simultaneously pluck the notes on the B string. This is a well used technique in this style of playing and can be taken further - we'll expand on this in a later lesson.
6ths sound great when you slide into or out of them.
Also chromatic notes are used which is another common technique used here. Again don't worry about the theory end of it for now, basically it just means playing notes and moving them up or down fret by fret. But you must be very careful which notes are played chromatically and more importantly WHEN they are used!
Played at the right time they can add a lot of colour to a solo, played at the wrong time, and they just sound like mistakes ... bad mistakes! :)
s - slide
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E||-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B||----------------------14s--12--|---------------12---11---10---9--|
G||-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D||-----------------14---14s--12--|---------------12---11---10---9--|
A||-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E||-------------------------------|---------------------------------| |
Outro 6th doubles slow 70bpm
s - slide |
G - 3 2 0 0 0 3
B7 - x 2 1 2 0 2
C - 0 3 2 0 1 0
A7 - x 0 2 0 2 0
E7 - 0 2 0 1 0 0
*** |
Country/Blues Licks Lesson 1 / Chords
4/4 94 bpm
Key G
G / / / : B7 / / / : C / / / : A7 / / / x 2
G / / / : E7 / / / : G / / / : E7 / / / : G / / / : A7 / / / : G / / / : E7 / / /
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Lesson Questions, Feedback & Comments |
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Mark Schiewe |
20th May 2007 |
Member
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Yea first comment, I really liked this!
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yuriy_boyko |
20th May 2007 |
Member
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nice lesson, welcome!
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gstan |
20th May 2007 |
Member
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Cool lesson but is anybody having troble opening the .gp5 file... I can't get it to open..
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Robin |
21st May 2007 |
Member
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Hurray for more blues/country/jazz!! Now GMC really starts to take form. Love this.
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David OToole |
21st May 2007 |
Instructor
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Hey thanx guys glad you like it and thank 4 the welcome!
gstan, I'll ask Kris to look into that .gp5 file - it seems to be opening up fine on my PC. Anyone else have a problem opening it?
cheerz
David
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Kaneda |
21st May 2007 |
Other side of the coin
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What a treat. Very cool, very "countryish" licks, and very informative and helpful notes on getting that country feel. Really like your commentary. I'll get started right away.
Great job, David!
Also, man, that strat has seen some action. Really makes mine look like some greenhorn chuck-eater.  |
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David OToole |
21st May 2007 |
Instructor
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Thanx Kaneda. Yeh it's been thru a few wars that Strat alrite - we've been through a lot together lol .
It's not actually that old in guitar speak world, s'from the 80s but it's been well customized. A bit of a Frankenstein as Eddie Van Halen might say. I'll keep that one 4 life I could never sell it.
David |
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The Uncreator |
21st May 2007 |
Fire Up The Blades, Moderator
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Wow, nice lesson and i love your phrasing! Excellent Stuff, great lesson please keep em comin!
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andrei.sz |
21st May 2007 |
Member
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wooww this is real sweeeettt lesson. i realy like the sound of it
cheers and welcome David!
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Pavel |
21st May 2007 |
Instructor
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The first lick kicks ass with the bending overlaying over each other! Awesome!
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stratman33 |
21st May 2007 |
Member
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Not my style but i still like lots of the licks in there!Welcome David!
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kiciolud |
22nd May 2007 |
Member
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When you will post your next lesson?
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LiveRust |
22nd May 2007 |
Member
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Great lesson!!!!
This lesson helps me out a lot.
Keep them coming.
I love all the different styles being added.
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Scott Gentzen |
22nd May 2007 |
Member
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Messed up licks on a messed up guitar. Or, rather, licks with character on a guitar with character. Either way, good stuff. I'm not a country guy but I can't stop listening to this and I can't wait to start working on it.
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David OToole |
24th May 2007 |
Instructor
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Hey guys thanx 4 the great feedback. I have a couple of lessons just about on the way.
2 interesting and very different styles I'm sure you'll find. Clue: 'TORTURED Strings on the Edge' .
gstan: did u get that gp5 file to open? Let's know wontcha.
stratman33: always good to see another Stratman . Well don't forget that the licks in this lesson can be used in many different styles - ya just gotta bend 'em to fit.
I'm going to do a lesson on that actually which really opens doors to players whatever style.
David |
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Kristofer Dahl |
24th May 2007 |
GMC Founder & Rocker
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Gstan: Have you tried to right-click the file, and coose "save target as", and then open the file on your computer? DavidO: Awesome lesson/solo |
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Scott Gentzen |
25th May 2007 |
Member
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"2 interesting and very different styles I'm sure you'll find. Clue: 'TORTURED Strings on the Edge'"
Ooh. I'm excited. I'm a big fan of guitar abuse.
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Andrew Cockburn |
25th May 2007 |
Theory Instructor & Moderator
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Hi DavidO - nice relaxing lesson to come back from my vacation to!
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Layzer |
25th May 2007 |
Member
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what pickup you have at the neck position?
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David OToole |
28th May 2007 |
Instructor
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what pickup you have at the neck position? The guitar is fitted with Bill Lawrence OBL stacked humbuckers - which give single coil sounds and a noise-free distortion/overdrive etc, which can be a big problem with the Strat sometimes. These things kick ass live with a hum-free sound! Each pickup is made for each position on the board. Not sure if they still do them or not. But there are plenty of other stacked-humbucker pickup brands with reputable names and sounds to choose from. Seymour Duncan are worth checking out. I find the Fender Strat Lace Pickups are pretty good in this area too. Let me know if you need any more info on that and I'll do a bit of homework on what's available out there at the minute if you like. Dual stacked humbucker, single coil size and sounds without the dreaded hum ... it's the best of both worlds . D 
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David OToole |
28th May 2007 |
Instructor
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what pickup you have at the neck position? Oh yeh I should mention that I added a small polethrow switch to the guitar. When you hit it, it activates a bridge and neck pickup configuration just like a Telecastor. Gives you that classic Tele "Honk" sound not available on the standard Strat pickup selector switch. I used it on one of the MP3 demos I have uploaded here at GMC. It's demo1, 2nd track in. The left side is on the bridge pickup, and the right side uses the switch config. You can get to the demos and have a listen to it here: http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...ic&tid=4138D
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Meho98 |
28th May 2007 |
Member
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The GP5 file works just fine and I love the strat.Was it new when you got it?
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David OToole |
30th May 2007 |
Instructor
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Yup it was new more or less when I got it. It was a shop sorta "Frankenstein Experiment" when I got it. Customized electronics etc. It was Candy Apple Red - looked nice.
But I decided a few years later when it got a bit worn looking to respray it. I stripped off the paint and drew out a rough sketch in ink of what I wanted the final design to be.
It's still at that stage . Nah I decided I liked it like that and stuck with it. Although it has aged a lot since then in looks due to a hard life and Rock n' Roll abuse .
David |
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kiciolud |
31st May 2007 |
Member
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Hello David! I still have problem with this "extremaly easy" lick on the begining. Is my finger to small or something? Any direction how to solve this?
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David OToole |
1st June 2007 |
Instructor
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Hello David! I still have problem with this "extremaly easy" lick on the begining. Is my finger to small or something? Any direction how to solve this? Hello kiciolud. Which one do you mean? The Country lesson one or the Edge one? David
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David OToole |
1st June 2007 |
Instructor
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The reason I ask is that there's no stretch in the Country one. Is that what you mean by "finger too small?".
David
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adam1302 |
15th June 2007 |
Member
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thats a nice lesson loved it.
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kiciolud |
28th June 2007 |
Member
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Hey man. Country of course. This nice "Nashville" like sound. I do not have problem with stretching, but with top of my fingers. I can not pick two strings the same time.
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David OToole |
19th July 2007 |
Instructor
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Kiciould it's very difficult to play this technique in the beginning for players so don't worry 'bout that.
If you practise it on a daily basis for a couple of days or weeks if needed, you will get it under control. The tips of your fingers need to toughen up for this one.
If you play this lick starting on the 12th fret it's a lot easier to play. The further you move towards the nut the harder it is to control and play. Too high up and it doesn't sound as authentic. So the 12th is a good place to practise it.
When you are comfortable with it on the 12th then start moving it around.
Let's know if that helps or if you need more info or suggestions on it.
David
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David OToole |
28th August 2007 |
Instructor
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Yo Kiciould
Just passing by and wondering if you had any progress on that 1st lick? Did you try it at the 12th fret?
Also a question I meant to ask you. What gauge strings are you using? This will make a big difference to playing this lick (or any actually).
David
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Carlos Carrillo |
25th February 2008 |
Instructor
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hey david!!!!nice lesson!!!very creative!!!thanks!!!
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Nick Kellie |
11th March 2008 |
Instructor
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nice one ! reminiscent of "the most beautiful girl"!
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