Quick Licks - Stevie Ray Vaughan: Mastering the Blues Guitar

"Quick Licks - Stevie Ray Vaughan" is an in-depth guitar lesson series taught by Jamie Humphries designed for guitarists who aspire to master the fiery and soulful style of one of blues' greatest legends. This series focuses on the key techniques that define Stevie Ray Vaughan's (SRV) playing: Texas-style blues, string bending, blues shuffles, and vibrato. Each lesson is crafted to not only teach these techniques but also to imbue the same raw emotion and intensity that SRV brought to his music.

What You Will Learn In This Course

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

• Texas Style Blues
• String Bending
• Blues Shuffles
• Vibrato

Technique Breakdown

Texas Style Blues: The Raw Power of SRV's Playing

Texas-style blues is characterized by its bold, aggressive sound, and SRV is one of its most iconic practitioners. These lessons delve into the gritty, hard-driving rhythms and the blistering solos that are hallmarks of SRV's style. You'll learn how to infuse your playing with the same raw power and passion, understanding the nuances of Texas blues and how it differs from other blues styles.

String Bending: Expressive and Soulful

String bending is a pivotal technique in SRV's guitar arsenal, used to express a wide range of emotions. This series teaches you how to execute bends with precision and soul, mastering the technique to make each note sing with the emotional depth typical of SRV's playing. From subtle half-step bends to dramatic, soaring whole-step bends, you'll learn to use this technique to enhance your expressive capabilities.

Blues Shuffles: The Heartbeat of Blues Rhythm

Blues shuffles form the rhythmic backbone of many classic SRV tracks. These grooves, with their distinctive swing feel, are essential for capturing the essence of blues rhythm playing. The lessons break down various shuffle patterns and show you how to inject them with the same driving energy and swagger that SRV brought to his performances.

Vibrato: Adding Depth to Every Note

Vibrato is crucial in adding life and sustain to notes, and SRV’s vibrato was wide, intense, and full of feeling. This series teaches you how to develop a controlled, expressive vibrato, enhancing the emotional impact of your playing. You'll learn to vary the speed and amplitude of your vibrato to match the intensity of the music, much like SRV did in his memorable solos.

Practicing Over a Backing Track: Real-World Application

Each technique and lick is practiced over a backing track, providing crucial context for applying what you've learned. Playing with backing tracks helps you understand how these techniques fit within a song, enhancing your timing, rhythm, and improvisational skills. It’s a vital step in learning how to apply these techniques in live playing and jamming scenarios.

Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Guitar Style

Stevie Ray Vaughan is celebrated for his incredible guitar skills and his ability to convey deep emotion through his instrument. His playing style combines elements of blues, rock, and jazz, marked by raw intensity, technical proficiency, and deep soulfulness. Learning his style offers insights into not only playing with technical skill but also with heart and passion.

The Benefits of Learning These Techniques

By mastering these techniques, you will:

• Develop a powerful and aggressive approach to Texas-style blues.
• Enhance your expressive capabilities through masterful string bending.
• Gain a deep understanding of blues rhythms with shuffles.
• Learn to add emotional depth to your playing with soulful vibrato.

Guitar Techniques Used in "Quick Licks - Stevie Ray Vaughan"

Upon completing "Quick Licks - Stevie Ray Vaughan," you will have honed your skills in the following techniques:

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Double Stop Bends
• String Bending
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs

"Quick Licks - Stevie Ray Vaughan" is an essential course for any guitarist looking to delve into the soulful world of blues guitar. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, these lessons offer a comprehensive guide to mastering the style of a blues legend and infusing your playing with the same level of emotion and finesse.