It’s ironic that after all the trouble that Johnny Winter solo put me through I get a Duane Allman solo. But it’s not a slide solo! It’s “Whipping Post”, and this solo rocks. There are lots of really cool pentatonic ideas in here, and the occasional inclusion of the 9th really gives it a unique flavor. Dickey’s solo uses a lot of the same ideas, but today we’re focusing on Duane’s.
Category: Lessons
One and done – best string post wrap method
Here’s how I make sure my strings stay locked on the post with a minimum number of windings and slippage (as little as .5 works)
If you don’t want to watch the video, I’ll just explain:
1. Pull the string straight through the post. Pull it taught and let it relax.
2. Start winding.
3. Pass the free end of the string UNDER the standing end as it comes around.
4. The string should be in tune before the free end comes around a second time, but DO NOT CUT THE STRING YET!
5. The strings will settle a little bit. Play for a few minutes, then check the tuning again.
6. When the free end comes around a second time, pass it OVER the standing end.
7. Cut off the excess string.
The concave shape of the post will force the two windings towards the center, where they will grip the end of the string quite tightly. The strings tend to lock in well before that second winding though. I usually only have a 3/4 wrap around with the E A & D strings, but I can’t remember the last time I had a string slip out of the post.
How to play the James Bond theme
One of my students wanted to learn this song. He had already learned all the natural notes in first position, so I put together this arrangement that stayed in that area and introduced a few sharp notes.
It also stays almost entirely within the staff (he was having a bit of trouble reading the low E string notes, so I avoided them).
I’ll upload the notation/tablature later.
#87 – “Highway 61 Revisited” – solo & tutorial
No, I didn’t give up or quit making videos. I’ve just been busy and this was a hard song… the hardest yet actually! I’m not a slide player, as I say several times in the video, so this was completely outside my wheelhouse.
I imagine it’s quite simple for seasoned slide dudes, just as “Kid Charlemagne” was quite simple for me given what I normally play, but this one was really tough. I made a couple adjustments to my guitar that helped out (raising the action, putting a shim under the nut, and playing some heavier strings) but I’m still not quite satisfied with the feel of it. I’m not sure if I need to tweak the guitar some more or if I just need to play slide more often.
In any case, it was really fun. Hopefully some real slide players will catch this and throw some pointers my way.
“Black Velvet” – solo & tutorial
Taking a break from the 100 Greatest list this week. Next up is the Johnny Winter version of “Highway 61 Revisited”, and I’m not a slide player, so it’s some extra work. So we’re looking at Alannah Myles’ “Black Velvet”.
This was a request from somebody on YouTube. It’s pretty straight forward, all minor pentatonic stuff. Pretty short too, so try it out.
#88 – “Kid Charlemagne” – solo & tutorial
This solo has been one of my favorites ever since I first read something in a guitar magazine about it being one of the first recorded examples of tapping.
Of course, that’s not entirely true. A) there’s only a single tapped note in the whole thing, and B) Steve Hackett had been doing much more intricate tapping licks for years by the time this record came out (hell, Emmett Chapman was already building sticks!)
In any case, that’s how I first heard of this solo, and the inaccuracy of that statement in no way lessens its awesomosity.
I was always intimidated by it, but I was surprised at how easily it came to me. I imagine that won’t be the case for everyone, as the shifting positions and general lack of traditional solo boxes can be quite foreign to most people, but it was right at home for me.
It’s a great case-study in playing to the changes as well! Carlton does a fantastic job of navigating some odd chord changes without leaning too heavily on the roots.
Anyways, here ya go:
#89 – “Killing In The Name” – solo & tutorial
I uploaded this one a few days ago, but forgot to share it here!
It’s really easy, but you absolutely need a whammy pedal. It’s pretty boring without it (and doesn’t sound remotely close). I used the +2 octave setting on a Boss ME-80.
So if you’ve got a whammy (or similarly capable pedal), give this one a shot.
#90 – “Let It Rain” – solo & tutorial
Been a long time coming with this one… nearly a month. My schedule keeps getting tighter and tighter, leaving less time at the studio for me to record these videos. I’m not bailing on the idea, but my schedule may be a little erratic going forward.
Anyway, I’ve never been a big fan of Clapton’s playing. He’s had tons of great songs that I really dig, but his guitarin’ just never grabbed me.
Lots of good stuff in this song though (which I wasn’t familiar with before). People often have a hard time using major pentatonics; their phrasing pulls towards the 6th (implying the relative minor) rather than the tonic. It’s understandable, as most pentatonic licks people learn are for the minor, but even when improvising people will often try to resolve phrases on the wrong note!
This song is a gold mine of major licks utilizing a shape people typically associate with minor. Definitely worth a try.
#91 – “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” – part 2
Not much to say that hasn’t been said already.
After this solo you go into the chorus, then start improvisin’ untils you can’t do no mores improvisin’.
#91 – “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” – solo & tutorial
I actually recorded a lesson for this song last week, but the upload failed for some reason. It’s all good though, because I wasn’t entirely happy with it. My schedule keeps getting tighter, and I have fewer and fewer chances during my day to record these lessons, but I’m committed to doing all 100 of ’em.
Today is the first of John Fogerty’s solos in the CCR version of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”. There’s an 8 bar break after this, followed by another solo. I’ll post that one soon. There’s another REALLY long solo that closes the song that I’m not doing (seriously, it’s nearly 5 minutes). If you’re going to do a 5 minute guitar solo and not improvise any of it, you have problems. Plus, learning this and the next one will give you some ideas for how to approach the changes and a good insight into Fogerty’s lead playing. Lots of minor pentatonic stuff, only deviating to grab the major 6th or follow the bass line.
Good stuff.