Black Stone Cherry Style Lesson

Black Stone Cherry Style

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  • 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:



    D Dorian:

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