Blues Guitar Soloing Techniques – part 3
Back today with Blues Guitar Soloing Techniques – part 3.
If you have not checked out part 1 and 2, please do so by clicking here: https://vancouverguitarlessons.net/2022/04/07/blues-guitar-soloing-techniques-part-1/
and here: https://vancouverguitarlessons.net/2022/04/15/blues-guitar-soloing-techniques-part-2/
This time I am showing you more must see blues techniques to take the expression of your soloing to another level.
These are the techniques that blues masters like Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King etc. use to make their solos have so much feeling.
So without further adieu here is part 3 of Blues Soloing Techniques with video to follow below:
8. Finger picking
This technique involves picking the notes of a phrase with your fingers. This gives the notes a “snappy” sound that jumps out at the listener and adds texture to a blues guitar solo.
9. 6th intervals
This has an almost country music sound as it is a staple of country players but we can make it work in a blues too, particularly if we are playing over 12/8 rhythms like the examples.
I have written out how I harmonize a mixolydian scale which is the go to for playing over a major blues progression.
10. Tremolo picking
Tremolo picking is a great way to up the intensity of a solo. It sounds great on 3 string chords as the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan often did when bringing his solos to a climax.
There are generally two ways to achieve this, the first being stiffening the arm and alternate picking as rapidly as possible, the second being the way I am doing it in the video.
I am using my wrist completely by bending it inwards and changing the plane of rotation.
11. Glissando/Portamento
I like to use this when I want to break a solo up and bring contrast. It generally involves hitting the octave highest on the neck of the key in question. In this case the key is G so I hit a G and slide my finger down to a different riff.
Add a rake from the previous lessons for maximum impact.
Alright I hope you enjoyed this 3 part series and incorporate some or all of this into your own playing, it is well worth it.
Video component for the lesson is below: