LESSON > BEYOND BLUES
Fig. 2
44 &
w/ slide
oeoe
oe
oe
oe
oe
oe
oe
oe
oe
oe
oe
w
12
10
12
10
12
9
˙
12
9
12
10
12
10
12
Fig. 3
44 &
E7oeoeoe
oeoe
w/ slide
12 10
˙
12 10
12
oe oeoe ˙
10 12
12
12
oeoeoeoeoe
12 10
10 12
12
oe oeoe ˙
12
12 10
12
sliding! It should sound like you are playing
through the scale with fretted notes.
In Fig. 2 we start to connect some of
the notes in the scale. Muting is especially
important here, as you don’t want any of
the other strings to ring and create some
weird overtones. Keep the sound of each
note even and in time even though some
of the slides are longer than others. On the
last note try using some vibrato.
To create an even-sounding vibrato you
want to try to move the slide an equal
distance on either side of the target pitch.
Don’t worry if it isn’t completely perfect—
vibrato is unique to each player and it helps
to define your personal sound.
Now that the exercises are out of the
way, we can move onto some actual licks
in Fig. 3. As you can see, we combine elements of both Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 to create a
simple phrase over E7. For the second part
of the phrase, place your thumb on the 3rd
string, index on the 2nd string, and middle
on the 1st string. This will allow you to
mute the proper strings much more easily.
We have a “see-saw” lick in Fig. 4 using
the same pentatonic box. We dip outside
the pentatonic scale for the G# in the second measure. This note is the major 3rd
Fig. 4
44 &
w/ slide
E7oeoeoeoe
oeoeoe
oeoeoe# oe˙
12
10
12
12
10 12
12
12 13 9
˙
Fig. 5
44 &
w/ slide
E7
fi oej oe
ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ fi oej oe oeoe˙ fi oej fi oej oeoe oeoe˙
ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ
12
12 10
12
12
10
12
ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ
12
12 10
12
12
10
12
˙
of the E7 chord and gives the phrase a
nice, sweet quality. Create some separation
between the G# and the E by muting the
3rd string with your thumb.
In Fig. 5 we have a Duane Allman-
inspired lick that makes use of some grace
notes. A grace note is when you quickly
sound a note right before your target note.
With this example, the B is the grace note
and the A is the target note. These types of
phrases really show how you can get a vocal
quality with the slide. Just to prove it, try
playing the lick without the slide and see
how different it sounds. Slide on!
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PREMIER GUITAR FEBRUARY 2012 69
