GET GARY MOORE’S BLUES!
Widely hailed as one of blues rock’s most passionate lead guitarists, the late GARY MOORE had a brilliant touch and command of his instrument that could be both fiery and sensitive. Read on as we take a look at some of his signature soloing moves
A lesson (with audio) dedicated to the fiery blues stylings of the late, great Gary Moore
GARY MOORE TOOK up guitar at the age of 10, moving from his native Belfast, Northern Ireland, to Dublin at age 16 and becoming a professional player. While living in Dublin in the late Sixties, he caught all the latest bands live — John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream, among others. However, Moore’s biggest influence was Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green, who would become something of a mentor to him, later selling him Greeny, his famed 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard. This now-legendary instrument features
EVEN THOUGH HE RETURNED TO HIS BLUES ROOTS IN THE NINETIES, MOORE’S PLAYING STILL PACKED A HARD ROCK PUNCH, AND HIS HIGHVOLUME, HIGH-GAIN SOLOING STYLE REMAINED LARGELY UNCHANGED
ported one fret lower by the middle finger, to push the string up toward the inner strings while hooking your thumb around the top side of the neck for leverage. Bend the note up to its target pitch, hold it for a fraction of a second, then proceed to release the bend slightly, allowing it to dip down by approximately a quarter tone, then restore it to the target pitch. Do this repeatedly in an even and fairly quick rhythm to achieve the ultimate vocal-like bend vibrato.