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Michael Johnson >> Southern Rock Legends >> |
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Lesson Subject:
Southern Rock Legends I |
What you learn:
Lynyrd Skynyrd Style Part 1 |
Michael: Michael Johnson |
Michael: Welcome class to the lesson
series on Southern Rock Legends! In this lesson we will cover the style of
Lynyrd Skynyrd. Skynyrd has a very distinct guitar sound, using rock, blues and
country type licks, but having more "edge" to the guitar sound compared to other
southern rock bands like The Allman Brothers. Skynyrd featured 3 guitarists;
Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, & Ed King. Ed King later leaves the band and is
replaced by Steve Gains who was a very skilled player. Steve Gains and lead
singer Ronnie Van Zant died later in a
plane accident in 1977. The current line up consists of Gary
Rossington, Rickey Medlocke (Blackfoot) and Hughie Thomasson
(Outlaws). This lesson will be the first of a two part lesson series. You can hear the licks you will learn in these lesson in the lesson
sample.
Lesson
Sample - Highband - 3.2 Meg
Michael: Let's start with the rhythm guitar for
the 1st riff.
Part
1 - Rhythm Guitar
Michael: Notice you use a common Am, G and F
progression for the rhythm. In the 3rd bar you jump to the C chord. Here's the
looping jam track.
Looping Jam Track 1 - Lowband
Michael: Let's try some licks over this
rhythm. The licks will be in the key of A Minor:
Part 1 - Solo 1
Part 1 - Solo
1
Michael: This lick
starts in the A Minor Pentatonic pattern on the 5th fret. Here's the scale
pattern you use.
A
Minor Pentatonic
Michael: Now in bar
4 you shift up to the 2nd box pattern of the A Minor Pentatonic, here's the
pattern:
A Minor
Pentatonic - Box 1 & 2
Michael: Do you see how the 2 patterns are
related? These patterns are very common for
rock. Let's jump to the next set of licks:
Part 1 -
Solo 2
Part 1 - Solo
2
Michael: This lick
starts with a double stop slide within the 2nd box pattern of the A Minor
Pentatonic scale pattern I gave you earlier. Then you move using double note
intervals on the 2nd and 3rd strings. Then you jump back into the 1st box
pattern of the A Minor Pentatonic using a descending run that starts with a
bending note on the 3rd string/7th fret. In bar 4 & 5 you play the pull-off
lick again that was used in the 1st lick. You resolve the lick by playing a
variation on the double stop notes at the beginning of the
lick. Let's try another
lick:
Part 1 -
Solo 3
Part 1 - Solo
3
Michael: This time you play the double stop notes
in the 1st box pattern of the A Minor Pentatonic. You continue by playing the
lower notes of the same box pattern until bar 3, where you jump into the A Minor
scale. At this point you play a pull-off that ascends the related scale on the
middle two string (G & D). Notice how the pull-off lick adjusts the the
scale patterns as it ascends the middle 2 strings. Here's the patterns that are
used for the pull-off notes.
A Minor Pattern - G & D Strings)
Michael: See how all the notes are layered. This
allows you to play some very cool ascending and descending licks. Make sure
you play these licks over the looping jam track. Here's our next
lick:
Part 1 -
Solo 4
Part 1 - Solo
4
Michael: Now this lick uses the 4th box pattern
of the A Minor Pentatonic scale pattern. Here's the
pattern:
A Minor
Pentatonic - 4th Box Pattern
Michael: Notice in
bar 3 of the lick you add the 2nd note (B) of the A Minor scale in a repeating
descending run. In bar 4 you bend the 2nd string (B) with the 3rd finger, then
playing notes on the 1st string (E) using your 4th finger.
Let's try another rhythm.
Looping Jam Track 2 - Lowband
Michael: Let's try a lick for this rhythm
track.
Part 2 -
Solo 1
Part 2 - Solo
1
Michael: This lick is actually in the D Major
pentatonic. The rhythm guitar plays D, A, G, D, A, Bm, G. This lick
uses a perfect 4th note, which is not included in a D Major Pentatonic, this
extra notes sounds very cool when included with the Major
Pentatonic.
Frank: Michael, what
gauge strings are you using? And what kind of guitar?
Michael: For those of you wondering what guitar
and string gauge I'm using, it's a '50s RI Tele with .11-.52 gauge
strings. Well time to go! We'll continue this
lesson next week!
Frank:
Man, it's been absolutely great, Michael! Thanks so much!
Michael: Thanks, see you next
week!
Doug:
thanks
Markl:
thanks
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