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Solo blues

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(@akflyingv)
Honorable Member
Joined: 18 years ago
Posts: 406
Topic starter  

Most of the songs i've learned are blues songs from players like Albert King and B.B. King and i was just wondering how some of you play their songs. Neither of them play any of the rhythm and just add licks and fills during the song, so i was wondering how you pull this off on a solo guitar or does this have to be a two guitar thing?


   
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(@nhboy)
Eminent Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 15
 

Well, it'd definately be good to do it with another guitarist. But if I were playing one of their pieces solo, i'd probably play the rhythm part where i sing, and maybe play some licks in between. Just experiment and find something that sounds good.


   
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(@mrjonesey)
Honorable Member
Joined: 18 years ago
Posts: 470
 

JUst play some sort of 12-bar rythm parts during the verse and chorus and add licks and frills between the vocal phrases. Of course you need a nifty little intro, a cool solo and a snappy ending. All is good. If SRV can do it, anyone can (just kidding). Play with it and have fun!

"There won't be any money. But when you die, on your death bed, you will receive total conciousness. So, I got that going for me. Which is nice." - Bill Murray, Caddyshack ~~ Michigan Music Dojo - http://michiganmusicdojo.com ~~


   
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(@ignar-hillstrom)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 5349
 

Listen to some old blues, John Lee H. and the likes. They all play mostly licks with vocals, the idea of playing rhyhtm SRV-style developed way, way later. Espescially if you play on your own accoustically you can really freewheel around: play some licks, sing a line, play a variation, sing the same line, play another lick, complete the sentence. It won't sound as tight and polished as SRV, Gary Moore and such but hey, blues never was about that anyway.


   
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(@wes-inman)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 5582
 

Lots of Blues players strum chords and then play a little fill between. SRV played many songs like this. With a little practice, you will even find it easy to sing over the little riff. Try little variations in the riff as well.


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If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis


   
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