Stray Cat Strut Guitar Lesson – Learn Brian Setzer’s Signature Style

Mastering "Stray Cat Strut" with LickLibrary

Brian Setzer’s "Stray Cat Strut" is an iconic rockabilly tune that showcases his virtuosic guitar skills, blending bluesy licks, jazz influences, and classic rockabilly techniques. Our note-for-note guitar lesson will teach you how to capture Setzer’s distinctive style, helping you develop a wide range of skills essential for rockabilly and beyond.

This lesson focuses on essential techniques used in "Stray Cat Strut," breaking them down into digestible parts so you can improve your playing, enhance your tone, and add more expressive nuances to your guitar playing. Whether you’re a fan of Setzer’s signature sound or just looking to improve your technique, this lesson will give you a well-rounded approach to mastering rockabilly guitar. Stuart Bull breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About Brian Setzer and His Influence

Brian Setzer, frontman of the Stray Cats, is one of the most influential rockabilly guitarists of all time. His playing blends elements of blues, jazz, and country with a high-energy rock-and-roll attitude. Setzer helped revive rockabilly in the 1980s, bringing a fresh, fiery approach to the genre and inspiring a new generation of players. His Gretsch guitar tone, fast yet articulate picking, and creative phrasing make him a standout figure in guitar history.

Techniques Covered in "Stray Cat Strut"

Hybrid Picking

Setzer’s signature sound often involves hybrid picking, combining a pick with fingers to create a snappy, percussive attack. This technique allows for greater dynamic control, making your playing sound more expressive and fluid.

Travis Picking

A fundamental element of the song’s rhythm is Travis picking, a technique that alternates between bass notes and melody. This approach enhances coordination and improves independence between the thumb and fingers, a crucial skill for finger-style players.

Slides

Slides add a smooth, vocal-like quality to licks and phrases. In "Stray Cat Strut," slides help create fluid transitions between notes, making your solos and fills sound more connected and expressive.

String Bending

Setzer incorporates tasteful string bending to add an emotional touch to his solos. Learning controlled bends improves intonation and expressiveness, helping your lead lines stand out.

Double Stops

A staple of rockabilly and blues, double stops allow you to play two notes at once, adding a rich and full sound to your leads. Mastering this technique helps create thicker, harmonically rich solos.

Chord Progressions

Understanding the classic rockabilly chord progressions in "Stray Cat Strut" enhances your ability to improvise and create your own music in a similar style.

Vibrato

Setzer’s tasteful vibrato adds warmth and sustain to his notes. Practicing this technique improves your ability to control pitch and dynamics, making your playing more emotive.

Palm Muting

Used in both rhythm and lead sections, palm muting helps control sustain and adds a percussive quality to notes, making riffs tighter and more rhythmic.

Syncopated Rhythms

The groove of "Stray Cat Strut" is based on syncopated rhythms, which give the song its laid-back yet driving feel. Developing this skill improves timing and groove, making your rhythm playing more engaging.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Vibrato
• Hybrid Picking
• Travis Picking
• Slides
• String Bending
• Double Stops
• Chord Progressions
• Palm Muting
• Syncopated Rhythms

Learn "Stray Cat Strut" Note for Note

With this detailed breakdown, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Setzer’s technique and be able to replicate his signature rockabilly style. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced guitarist, this lesson will give you the tools to improve your technique, rhythm, and soloing abilities.

Get ready to master "Stray Cat Strut" and take your rockabilly guitar skills to the next level!