COUNTRY-BLUES
FINGERSTYLE LICK

For some reason, while I'm waiting for my next student (at GIT) to show up, I often start playing my Strat using only my fingers—“palming” my pick with my right hand's index finger and “plucking” the strings using my thumb (i.e., “p”) and middle (i.e., “m”) fingers. Here's the type of thing that always seems to come out. It's played in open position, and revolves around E minor pentatonic pitches (E-G-A-B-D) and the E Mixolydian scale (E-F#-G#-A-B-C#-D), the latter of which is “spiced up” with the occasional chromatic passing tone. (Note: The specific “plucking” fingers used are indicated between the notation and TAB staves.)

Notice how the “plucking” action creates all sorts of snappy accents, mostly the result of the right hand's middle finger being used to pull on the string, then release it, forcing it to “snap” back against the fret board.

This lick kind of blurs the edges between country and blues styles. Probably works reasonably well in either one. It also sounds pretty cool on acoustic. Enjoy!

(*You can hear the lick FAST by clicking HERE*)

(*You can hear the lick SLOW by clicking HERE*)

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To help support this site's free online guitar lessons, please check out my new acoustic CD, INTERPRETATIONS—10 crazy versions of '60s and '70s classic rock cover songs (including Queen's “Bohemian Rhapsody,” reproduced “live” with a single guitar and voice!!) Thank you :)

1. “Bohemian Rhapsody” 6:03  2. “God Only Knows” 2:39  3. “Blackbird” 2:28  4. “Sweet Baby James” 3:52  5. “Hallelujah” 6:28  6. “She’s Always a Woman” 3:08  7. “Leader of the Band” 4:17  8. “Sister Golden Hair” 2:53  9. “Castles Made of Sand” 3:12  10. “Coconut” 3:44

Total playing time: 39:03 All songs used by permission. All rights reserved.

CD dedicated to my mother, Jeff Buckley, and a few of my friends.