DUANE ALLMAN LICK This non-slide Duane Allman lick is in the key of A and is played in fifth position. In the tab notation, r indicates the release of a prebend from E down to D. (To perform a prebend, bend the string before striking it.) E----5-------------------------8---8------ B------8---------------------------------- G---------9(r)7---5-----5---5------------- D--------------------7-------------------- A----------------------------------------- E----------------------------------------- "STORMY MONDAY" PROGRESSION Here is a chord progression for the Allman Brothers' version of "Stormy Monday": /G9/C9/G9 G#9/G9/C9/C9/G maj 7 Am7/Bm7 Bbminor7/Am7/Cm7/G9 C9/G9 D aug 7/. It has some nice chord changes you can improvise over. Start improvising with G pentatonic scales and note how the progression gives them a sophisticated sound. T-Bone Walker wrote the song, and he is a must-hear for all guitar players. STEVE CROPPER LICK Steve Cropper played guitar with Booker T and the MG's and many others. This lick in A is the introduction to "Hip-Hug-Her." Pull "toward the floor" for that three-note bend. Left-hand fingering: 1-4-3-4-3-1-3, 3, 3. In the tab notation, (h) indicates a hammer-on, (p) indicates a pull-off, and (b) indicates a bend. E---5------------------------------------- B------8-----------------7(b)8------------ G---------7(h)8(p)7---5--7(b)8------------ D------------------------7(b)8------------ A----------------------------------------- E----------------------------------------- PRACTICING A TRILL A trill is achieved by hammering on and pulling off rapidly on a note. The following lick is in the style of The Doors' "Love Me Two Times." Practice it slowly at first. In the tab notation, (t) indicates a trill. E--------------------------------------------------- B--------------------------------------------------- G--------------------------------------------------- D------0---0----0---2--------0(t)1--------0(t)1----- A---2----2----2------------------------------------- E---------------------0---0--------0---0--------0--- TURNAROUND IN G This turnaround can be used as an introduction to a blues or as a iii, vi, ii, V chord progression in G. The chords are Bm7, E7 flat 9, Am11, and D9. E---10---10---10---10------ B----7----9----8---7------- G----7---10----9---9------- D----7----9---10---10------ A-------------------------- E-------------------------- COUNTRY LICK IN E Here is a steel guitar-type lick that is a classic country phrase or ending. Play string 4 (D) with a pick and strings 3 and 2 (G and B) with the middle and ring fingers. E-------------------------------------- B-----12-----14----7-----9---4----5---- G-----13-----14----8-----9---4----4---- D--14----14------9----9------4----6---- A-------------------------------------- E-------------------------------------- DOUBLESTOP PHRASE IN A This is a doublestop phrase in the key of A. Play string 4 (D) with a pick and strings 3 and 2 (G and B) with the middle and ring fingers. In the tab notation, (h) indicates a hammer-on. E---------------------------------------------------- B-------------12--10--8------------8--7-----5-------- G-------------12--11--9------------9--7---5(h)6------ D--9--10--11-------------7--10--7-------------------- A---------------------------------------------------- E---------------------------------------------------- POWER CHORDS Power chords are generally two-note voicings played in the lower register of the guitar. Here are four basic power chords--E, B, D, and A--which you can use in a rock/pop format. Try down-stroking eighth notes (1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and) while slightly muting with the palm of your right hand. E B D A E---------------------- B---------------------- G---------------------- D----9---9---7---7----- A----7---6---5---4----- E---------------------- OPEN G STRUM PATTERN Here is a classic guitar rhythm with a root, third, fifth, and third melody in the bass. The low B is embellished by a hammer-on with the second finger. In the tab notation, (h) indicates a hammer-on. E-----3--3--------3--3---3--3-------3--3-- B-----0--0--------0--0---0--0-------0--0-- G-----0--0--------0--0---0--0-------0--0-- D----------------------0------------------ A-----------0(h)2-------------0(h)2------- E--3-------------------------------------- HARMONY CENTRAL An interesting music Web site to visit is http://www.harmonycentral.com It offers online lessons, chat rooms, new product reviews, and classified ads, as well as a detailed explanation of how to read guitar tablature. Check it out. BLUES INTRO IN A This little phrase sounds good as an intro to a blues in A. Play the bottom note with a pick and the higher notes with the ring finger. E--------------------- B---5---4---3----2---- G----------------2---- D---2---4---6----5---- A----------------0---- E--------------------- SWING BLUES LICK IN B FLAT This is a swing blues lick in B flat that incorporates the 6th (G) and employs doublestops. In the tab notation, (h) indicates a hammer-on. E------------------------------------ B------------6-----8-----6----------- G----------6(h)7---8---6(h)7--------- D-----5--8-------8---8-------8------- A--8--------------------------------- E------------------------------------ ANOTHER SWING BLUES LICK IN B FLAT This phrase in B flat works well as an ending in a swing blues. Try playing it in fifth position. All notes are eighth notes except the E (in parentheses), which is a quarter note. E--6----------------------------------6------ B-----8--5----------------------------8------ G-----------6-------------------------7------ D--------------8--5---------5--7--8---6------ A--------------------(7)--8------------------ E-------------------------------------------- II-V-I JAZZ CHORD PROGRESSION IN G This ii-V-I chord progression is in the key of G. We are embellishing the Am, D7, and G chord voicings to give them a jazzier sound. In the tab notation, (s) indicates a slide. E--------------------10---10------- B------------5---7--------10------- G---6(s)5----5---8---------9------- D---6(s)5----5---7---------9------- A---6(s)5-------------------------- E---------------------------------- THIRDS IN G Here is a G major scale that ascends one octave in thirds. It's a good exercise, but more important, it is a good vehicle for improvisation. Make a tape of Am7 (two strums), D7 (two strums), and G7 (four strums) and improvise over it, incorporating this scale in thirds as well as the basic G major scale. Left-hand fingering: 2-1-4-2-1-4-2-1-4-3-1-4-3-1-4. Play it ascending anddescending. E--------------------------------------------- B--------------------------------------------- G-------------------------------------2------- D---------------------2----4--2--5--4---5----- A-----2----3--2--5--3---5--------------------- E--3----5------------------------------------- MORE THIRDS IN G Here is another G major scale that ascends one octave in thirds. If you play it in sequence with the scale introduced in the previous tip, you will have a range of two octaves. Left-hand fingering: 4-3-1-4-3-2-4-4-2-1-4-2-1-4-2. Play it ascending and descending. E---------------------------2---3--2--5--3------ B-----------------3----5--3---5----------------- G------4--2--5--4---5--------------------------- D---5------------------------------------------- A----------------------------------------------- E----------------------------------------------- C6 to C9 CHORD INVERSIONS--PART 1 OF 3 You can go from C6 to C9 without changing your fingering. This progression includes the passing chord of B6 (the fourth chord in the tab notation). Try this picking pattern for a steel-guitar effect. This is the first of a three-part series that will cover all the sixth to ninth chords on strings 1 through 4. Play the triads with pick and middle and ring fingers. E---12--------12---11---10----------- B---13---13---13---12---11---11------ G---14---14---14---13---12---12------ D--------15------------------13------ A------------------------------------ E------------------------------------ C6 to C9 CHORD INVERSIONS--PART 2 OF 3 Here is the next set of C6 to C9 chord inversions. Play them in sequence with the chord voicings introduced in the previous tip. Play the triads with pick and middle and ring fingers. E---8-------8---7---6------------- B---9---9---9---8---7---7--------- G---7---7---7---6---5---5--------- D-------8---------------6--------- A--------------------------------- E--------------------------------- C6 to C9 CHORD INVERSIONS--PART 3 OF 3 This is the last installment of C6 to C9 voicings on strings 1 through 4. Playing each of the installments in sequence will give you smooth descending inversions of C6 to C9 all the way down the fingerboard. Transpose them to F and G. E---5-------5---4---3----------- B---5---5---5---4---3---3------- G---5---5---5---4---3---3------- D-------7---------------5------- A------------------------------- E-------------------------------