| enigmatic_minstrel writes For this lesson, we will look at perhaps one of the best blues guitarist ever, "Stevie Ray Vaughan". His Style was an awesome mix of Albert King, Hendrix and Buddy Guy. His music is full of great licks, but we will look at a few of his trademark ones. The best way to play all the licks below is to keep your first finger on the double stop and use your third finger for the bends.
Use a heavy pick attack for the best effect. Also use the middle setting on your pickup selector switch for that Texas Blues sound. If you don't have a strat don't worry any guitar will do the trick.
The first lick is from the song "The House is Rocking". Its a common rock and roll type lick (check out Chuck Berry), a bend/double stop motif.
E------8--------8-------8----------------
B------8--------8-------8----------------
G-10^----10^-----10^----8^-----8-10^-----
D--------------------------------10------
A----------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------
The Next lick is from his song "Tightrope" based around a box pentatonic lick.
E---------7----7-------7-----------------
B------7----7----10^-----10--------------
G-9^--------------------------9-7--------
D----------------------------------9P7~--
A----------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------
Remember to bend the strings up a full step, and hit the vibrato note hard. You can improvise around the notes by adding bends and pull offs. This type of lick can be found in Cold Shot and Travis walk.
E----------13----------13---------------
B------13----13--16^------16------16----
G-14----------------------------15^-----
D---------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------
This lick is a slightly softer one from Riviera Paradise. Its an Octave lick, which is a very Hendrix-inspired trademark. Play it with your fingers.
E-------------------------------
B-------------------------------
G--------12--14--12--14--15-----
D--14----X---X----X---X---X-----
A---X----10--12--10--12--13-----
E--12---------------------------
These are all just brief tastes of Stevie Ray's soloing style. Practice them and improvise using the ideas shown here. Also practice similar licks in other keys.
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