Quick Licks - Albert King

Guitars Lessons by Steve Trovato

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Quick Licks - Albert King: Mastering the Blues with Guitar Legend Techniques

Immerse yourself in the soul-stirring blues of Albert King with Licklibrary's "Quick Licks - Albert King" guitar lesson series. This tailored set of tutorials is designed for those who wish to enrich their playing with the essence of King's influential style, encompassing crucial guitar techniques such as string bending, vibrato, legato, and the use of minor pentatonic scales. This course is taught by Steve Trovato.

What You Will Learn In This Course

35 killer blues licks in the style of Albert King. This course also includes a backing track to play over. The techniques you will learn include:

  • String Bending
  • Vibrato
  • Legato
  • Minor Pentatonic Scales

Technique Breakdown

String Bending

The bending of strings is a technique that can convey emotion like no other, mimicking the human voice's rises and falls. In these lessons, you will learn how to execute bends with precision and feeling, just as Albert King did, to add a vocal-like quality to your guitar licks.

Vibrato

King's vibrato was wide, slow, and intentional, which became a signature of his playing style. By mastering vibrato, you will add richness and sustain to your notes, making your solos sing with the same depth and expression.

Legato

Smooth and flowing, legato playing involves transitioning from note to note with minimal picking, mainly using hammer-ons and pull-offs. These legato techniques contribute to a fluid sound and can help increase your playing speed without sacrificing clarity.

Minor Pentatonic Scales

The minor pentatonic scale is the backbone of the blues genre. This series will show you how to navigate these scales with ease, allowing for the creation of licks that sound inherently bluesy and soulful, much like the memorable riffs of Albert King.

Benefits of Learning These Licks and Techniques

Learning these licks isn't just about playing notes; it's about expressing emotion through your instrument. Each bend, vibrato, or legato run that you'll master will serve as a tool for storytelling. Whether you're improvising or composing, these techniques will enable you to convey feelings of sorrow, joy, or soulful contemplation through your guitar.

Practicing with a Backing Track

Each lesson includes a backing track, providing you with the essential experience of playing within a band context. Practicing over these tracks helps develop your timing, rhythm, and dynamics. Moreover, it gives you the chance to experiment with these licks in real-time, honing your ability to use them tastefully and expressively within a song.

Albert King's Lead Guitarist Legacy

Albert King was not just a guitarist; he was a pioneer who influenced the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton. His lead guitar work is characterized by deliberate string bends, often reaching up to a minor third above the original note, and his forceful vibrato that made single notes stand out with remarkable intensity. His playing was less about flashy technique and more about emotional impact, making each note count and every lick a story in itself.

Incorporating King's approach into your playing is not just about learning licks; it's about absorbing a piece of blues history and understanding how to communicate with your guitar. The "Quick Licks - Albert King" series offers a golden opportunity to step into the shoes of a blues legend and carry forward his legacy through your music.

Albert King, with his flying fingers and distinctive playing, is a titan in the world of blues guitar. Known for his expressive bends and soulful vibrato, King has left an indelible mark on the blues genre. "Quick Licks - Albert King" takes you on a deep dive into the nuances that made King's style unique and teaches you how to incorporate his legendary techniques into your own playing.

Conclusion

Albert King's influence on the guitar world is monumental, and the "Quick Licks - Albert King" series is your pathway to capturing the essence of his style. By mastering the licks and techniques showcased in these lessons, you will not only pay homage to a blues legend but also significantly enhance your own playing, both technically and expressively.

Guitar Techniques Used in These Lessons

As you embark on this blues journey, you will come across various techniques integral to the blues genre. Here's a comprehensive list of guitar techniques featured throughout the lessons:

By delving into these lessons and internalizing these techniques, you'll not only walk away with a piece of Albert King's magic but also with a robust set of skills that will serve you in any blues scenario and beyond.

Features multi-angle high quality video lessons

A screenshot of a guitar tuition course by LickLibrary A screenshot of a close-up of a guitar instructor explaining a fretboard.

All of our courses feature multiple camera angles, and online versions (lifetime streaming access and membership) additionally featured optimised device delivery, variable playback speeds and looping controls to make your learning experience even better!

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Technical Details

  • Code

    RDR0297

  • Artist

    Albert King

  • Media

    Online Stream, Download, DVD

  • Media format

    PAL + NTSC

  • Genre

    Blues, Traditional Blues

  • Skill level

    Suitable For All

  • EIN No

    5060088823675

  • TAB Included

  • NB: If purchasing as 'DVD', please ensure that your DVD player fully supports the 'Media format' (PAL + NTSC) that this product is available in, as indicated above.

About The Tutor

Tutor Profile

Steve Trovato

To fans of country music, Steve needs no introduction and as an educator Steve holds a fulltime position in the Studio Jazz Department of Southern California. Steve has had a huge impact on the guitar learning scene with his old country guitar video and his Voodoo Blues series of books...

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