Want to become a much more creative and expressive blues
guitarist? To do this, you must master the ability to play one of the
most commonly used blues guitar techniques: the double stop (where 2
notes are sounded at once while playing in a solo).
Even though these double stop patterns sound good, there are various issues that most guitarists have while trying to integrate them into their lead guitar phrases:
1. These types of double stops are very common and have been used countless times by blues guitar players. This makes your playing sound very unoriginal if you use them too many times
.
2. Most guitar players equate using double stops with using one of the patterns above and never think of new ways to apply to apply them in a blues setting. Soon, you will learn just how many options you have for personal expression while using them (it's a lot more than you think).
3. The unique intensity created by this technique is usually resolved as both notes in the lick are played in unison after the bend is finished. This takes away from the expressive potential of the technique to sound extremely intense and aggressive.
Intense Blues Guitar Element #1: Prolonging the dissonance in the lick
In general, most blues guitar double stop licks start with an intense clash between two notes that are a full step away from each other. Then the note of the lower string (in pitch) is bent up to create a unison with the higher note and eliminate the tension. As you saw in the video above, I played double stops using an opposite approach to this. The double stop lick begins with a note in the scale that sounds very stable and is then played together with another note to create a very harsh, intense sound. However, this tension is never eliminated as I allow it to continue until I am done playing the lick. This really emphasizes the intensity in the lick and builds up MASSIVE musical tension.
Creative Blues Guitar Element #2: Using various notes of the scale
Most guitar players play double stops in the exact same way, using two notes to essentially ornament the same note. A much more creative way to perform double stop technique is to incorporate various notes from the scale you are using. For instance, check out the tablature below:
Start by picking the note on the G string and bending it. Then play one of the notes on either the B or E string to complete the double stop. When you add this additional note into the lick, this is what makes it sound so intense and aggressive.
In the first tablature example above, you can allow the B string to sound since it is part of the scale. However, if you were playing in a different key you would need to mute this string by using the pointer finger of your fretting hand (while the notes of the G and E string sounded together).
Intense Blues Guitar Element #3: Wide Vibrato
Usually guitar players only consider adding vibrato to a single note of their licks and phrases. However, it is very easy to use vibrato on both the notes in your double stop as well. Listen to both of the samples below: In the first part of the audio you will hear a double stop played using no vibrato. In the second, you will hear the same lick played using vibrato on both pitches.
Notice: In order to apply balanced vibrato to each of the notes in the double stop lick, you need to have solid vibrato technique and/or use either a floating bridge or whammy bar. Keep your lick in tune and mute any strings that are not being played to prevent it from sounding sloppy.
Advanced Blues Guitar Idea: Using a barre to add more notes
To add an additional layer of depth to your intense double stop lick, use a barre to play more than two notes at once (as seen in the video above). An easy way to play this is to bend the note you are using on the G string and play 2 additional notes on the B and E strings. For instance:
Use a barre with your ring finger or pinky to play the notes on the 15th fret. Here are some more samples of what this sounds like:
It will be much easier to use vibrato technique to enhance these double stop licks with a floating bridge. Simply use your picking hand to push the bridge up and down (as seen in the video above). With this in mind, you can still apply the concepts of this article into your blues guitar playing even if you do not have a floating bridge.
To quickly get good at using the types of double stop licks in this article, practice them in isolation first before using them in your improvisation or lead guitar phrases. Then while you are soloing, use them to inject tons of intensity into your phrase.
After working on the ideas in this article for a while you will easily be able to apply blues guitar double stops into your phrases. But remember: knowing how to play cool blues guitar licks is just the beginning to becoming a great player.
Even though these double stop patterns sound good, there are various issues that most guitarists have while trying to integrate them into their lead guitar phrases:
1. These types of double stops are very common and have been used countless times by blues guitar players. This makes your playing sound very unoriginal if you use them too many times
.
2. Most guitar players equate using double stops with using one of the patterns above and never think of new ways to apply to apply them in a blues setting. Soon, you will learn just how many options you have for personal expression while using them (it's a lot more than you think).
3. The unique intensity created by this technique is usually resolved as both notes in the lick are played in unison after the bend is finished. This takes away from the expressive potential of the technique to sound extremely intense and aggressive.
Intense Blues Guitar Element #1: Prolonging the dissonance in the lick
In general, most blues guitar double stop licks start with an intense clash between two notes that are a full step away from each other. Then the note of the lower string (in pitch) is bent up to create a unison with the higher note and eliminate the tension. As you saw in the video above, I played double stops using an opposite approach to this. The double stop lick begins with a note in the scale that sounds very stable and is then played together with another note to create a very harsh, intense sound. However, this tension is never eliminated as I allow it to continue until I am done playing the lick. This really emphasizes the intensity in the lick and builds up MASSIVE musical tension.
Creative Blues Guitar Element #2: Using various notes of the scale
Most guitar players play double stops in the exact same way, using two notes to essentially ornament the same note. A much more creative way to perform double stop technique is to incorporate various notes from the scale you are using. For instance, check out the tablature below:
Start by picking the note on the G string and bending it. Then play one of the notes on either the B or E string to complete the double stop. When you add this additional note into the lick, this is what makes it sound so intense and aggressive.
In the first tablature example above, you can allow the B string to sound since it is part of the scale. However, if you were playing in a different key you would need to mute this string by using the pointer finger of your fretting hand (while the notes of the G and E string sounded together).
Intense Blues Guitar Element #3: Wide Vibrato
Usually guitar players only consider adding vibrato to a single note of their licks and phrases. However, it is very easy to use vibrato on both the notes in your double stop as well. Listen to both of the samples below: In the first part of the audio you will hear a double stop played using no vibrato. In the second, you will hear the same lick played using vibrato on both pitches.
Notice: In order to apply balanced vibrato to each of the notes in the double stop lick, you need to have solid vibrato technique and/or use either a floating bridge or whammy bar. Keep your lick in tune and mute any strings that are not being played to prevent it from sounding sloppy.
Advanced Blues Guitar Idea: Using a barre to add more notes
To add an additional layer of depth to your intense double stop lick, use a barre to play more than two notes at once (as seen in the video above). An easy way to play this is to bend the note you are using on the G string and play 2 additional notes on the B and E strings. For instance:
Use a barre with your ring finger or pinky to play the notes on the 15th fret. Here are some more samples of what this sounds like:
It will be much easier to use vibrato technique to enhance these double stop licks with a floating bridge. Simply use your picking hand to push the bridge up and down (as seen in the video above). With this in mind, you can still apply the concepts of this article into your blues guitar playing even if you do not have a floating bridge.
To quickly get good at using the types of double stop licks in this article, practice them in isolation first before using them in your improvisation or lead guitar phrases. Then while you are soloing, use them to inject tons of intensity into your phrase.
After working on the ideas in this article for a while you will easily be able to apply blues guitar double stops into your phrases. But remember: knowing how to play cool blues guitar licks is just the beginning to becoming a great player.
About The Author:
Tom Hess is a professional touring musician, recording artist and online guitar teacher who teaches guitarists from all over the world in his online guitar lessons. On his website, tomhess.net, you can get additional blues guitar riff videos, free tips about guitar playing, guitar playing resources, mini courses and surveys.
Tom Hess is a professional touring musician, recording artist and online guitar teacher who teaches guitarists from all over the world in his online guitar lessons. On his website, tomhess.net, you can get additional blues guitar riff videos, free tips about guitar playing, guitar playing resources, mini courses and surveys.
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