This week I learned the solo on Give Me One Reason by Tracy Chapman. The guitarist who played this solo is Adam Levy. Adam has a great YouTube channel where he teaches guitar in his laid back style.
He isn’t a flashy guitarist, but his phrasing and note choice are something I aspire to. I highly recommend listening through his catalog of solo work.
The solo is played over a 12 bar blues progression in F# with a clean, focused tone. To try and emulate the percusive nature of the notes, I played this solo sans pick. I used my first and second fingers on my picking hand instead.
I like to do this every once in a while. Set the pick down, and see what that constraint does to my playing.
First, it makes me slow down since I can’t do a stacato speed run like I can with a pick.
Second, it makes me play much more legato. I use a lot more hammer ons, pull offs, and slides to get around the fretboard.
Finally, I can play a note much more percusively if I want to. If I dig in with the pad of finger, I can pluck it with more force and give the note a pop that is difficult to emulate with a pick.
The solo itself is a masterclass in restrained note choices that fit together perfectly. There aren’t any flashy runs in the solo, but each bar contains gems in phrasing and note choice.
As I learned each bar, I practiced the exact phrasing I was hearing on the record. Lots of dynamics between notes in a single bar. I believe playing with my fingers gives me more control of the dynamics between notes compared to a pick.
I played classical guitar in college. I spent countless hours practicing dynamics with just my fingers.
The solo has some memorable phrases as it loosely follows the melody. My favorite is the switch from minor pentatonic to major pentatonic in the middle of the solo. It brightens up the solo and gives the listener a shift that keeps them engaged in what the guitar is saying.
There are also a few country style bends in the solo, which using just fingers does help with. It is easier to grab a couple notes on different strings with the “claw” of two fingers at once than with a pick alone.
The solo ends with a nice bluesy lick to get back to the tonic note of F#. A simple solo, but one full of techniques and licks that can really add a lot to your repetoire if you take the time to sit down and really get them under your fingers.
What I Learned
- Set the pick down. For this one, try using your fingers instead of a pick to play it. Notice how it changes how you play the strings. Listen to how it changes your tone and phrasing.
- Learn a 12 bar blues solo. It is good to have a few blues solos under your fingers to learn how other guitarists flow over the form. This is a great one to start with.
- Commit it to memory. After learning this solo, try playing it over another 12 bar blues in a different key. Pull out your favorite licks and use them in your own blues solos. Try mixing up a few of the bars.
6 down, 46 to go.
See you next week!
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