Page 140 - FLIPMAG.NET

ESSENTIAL BLUES LESSONS

LICK 3

Straight triplets were another trademark of SRV’s shuffle-heavy blues. This lick makes use of triplets for a speedy feel over a shuffling rhythm. At the
start of the second bar, beat 1 is split into a 16th-note triplet and a single eighth note (the 3rd fret on the low E). This covers the same length of time
as the eighth-note triplets throughout the rest of the lick.

LICK 4
Alongside the bend-laden pentatonic licks seen in bar 1, SRV also appended chordal playing to his lead work. The chord that lands over the first two
beats of bar 2 is essentially an E major triad – the open E string, with the B note on the 12th fret of the B and the G# on the 13th of the G string. The
second chord is an E7 (E, B, D, G#) without the G# note (the major 3rd). We could call this chord an E7no3.

LICK 5
The final example is a fiery pentatonic blues lick that features multiple doublestops and some string bends. Look out for the descending run in bar 2,
which features flurries on beats 3 and 4. These are played as 16th-note triplets followed by a single eighth note. Play the doublestop on the 12th fret
of the D and G strings and do the hammer-on and pull-off on the G string with your third finger.

TRY IT YOURSELF
These licks are marvellous ways to channel SRV’s electrifying brand of Texas blues. Don’t be afraid to showcase some attitude.
Check out some live videos of Stevie’s playing and you’ll see that he was never gentle with his instrument. Dig in and have fun!

140