Blues Headlines with richard Barrett

Tutor: richard barrett Gear used: Knaggs ssC, Vox AC15 C1

A 12/8 minor blues offers the soloist so many possibilities. The contrast between the slow tempo of the backing track and some slightly excitable phrasing can give explosive results, as Jimmy Page demonstrates on Since I’ve Been Loving You. However, I should point out that this solo is not a ‘soundalike’ or particularly based on his style, though there are one or two moments where it’s impossible not to be influenced by him. This is about exploring the space afforded by having such a slow tempo with relatively few chord changes to consider – though there are a couple of major chords hidden in there, which could be a trap depending on what note you land on when they occur!

Though I recorded quite a long solo for this (which you can view online), the transcribed phrases best encapsulate what I’m trying to demonstrate. Contrasting use of space, rhythmic phrases, melodic devices and a couple of flashier licks. Moving from neck to bridge pickup for the later part of the solo is another idea I borrowed from Mr Page, as it helps to up the urgency as the chord progression heads to a close. I haven’t used a particularly distorted tone, as that tends to suit the more ‘shreddy’approach, which I’m not knocking, but it’s less dynamic and experimental than what I’m trying to put across. Another thing that’s hard to put across without a live band is the way the players would react to each other – assuming they are indeed listening to each other! If you’re at a blues jam in the near future, bear this point in mind – it can be worth so much more than playing lick after lick. Having said that, I hope you enjoy these examples – see you next time!