Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton

Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton is a modern classic that showcases the raw emotion and soulful guitar work that defines Stapleton’s style. This lesson offers a deep dive into the intricate guitar techniques used in the song, allowing you to recreate the magic of this iconic track on your own guitar. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, you'll find valuable insights and techniques that will enhance your playing and deepen your understanding of country and blues guitar. Erik Holmbom breaks down this modern country classic in this exclusive Lick Library tutorial.

The Guitarists Behind "Tennessee Whiskey"

The guitar work on Tennessee Whiskey is a masterclass in restraint, tone, and feel. Chris Stapleton himself is an accomplished guitarist, known for his ability to fuse elements of country, blues, and Southern rock into a unique sound that is both contemporary and timeless. His playing on this track, combined with the contributions of guitarist Derek Mixon, creates a rich tapestry of sound that perfectly complements Stapleton’s powerful vocals. The influence of blues legends like B.B. King and Freddie King is evident in the expressive bends and vibrato, while the song's overall feel is steeped in the traditions of classic country music.

Breakdown of Techniques Used in the Lesson

String Bending

String bending is a fundamental technique used extensively in Tennessee Whiskey. Stapleton's bends are expressive and soulful, often mimicking the sound of a human voice. In this lesson, you'll learn how to execute clean and controlled bends, which is crucial for capturing the emotion in this song. Mastering this technique will also improve your finger strength and pitch accuracy, making your overall playing more expressive.

Vibrato

Vibrato adds a vocal-like quality to the notes and is used by Stapleton to enhance the emotional depth of his playing. This lesson will guide you through the process of applying vibrato to your bends and sustained notes, helping you add a new layer of expression to your guitar playing. Understanding vibrato is essential for any guitarist looking to play with more feeling and dynamics.

Slides

Slides are used throughout Tennessee Whiskey to connect notes smoothly and create a flowing, legato feel. You'll learn how to slide into and out of notes seamlessly, adding fluidity to your playing. This technique not only sounds great but also helps with transitioning between positions on the fretboard with ease.

Hammer-ons and Pull-offs

Hammer-ons and pull-offs are integral to the melody lines in Tennessee Whiskey. These techniques allow for fast, fluid note transitions and add a lyrical quality to your playing. In this lesson, you'll focus on achieving clarity and speed with your hammer-ons and pull-offs, which will help you in executing quick, articulate phrases.

Double Stops

Double stops are used to add harmonic richness to the song, particularly in the choruses and solos. In the lesson, you'll explore how to play double stops effectively, enhancing your ability to add depth and harmony to your playing. This technique is particularly useful in country and blues genres, where it helps to fill out the sound in a band setting or when playing solo.

Bluesy Bends

Stapleton's guitar work in Tennessee Whiskey is infused with bluesy bends that add emotion and tension to the music. This lesson will teach you how to execute these bends with precision and feeling. Learning bluesy bends will improve your understanding of phrasing and how to express emotion through your guitar.

Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

The song features beautiful arpeggiated chord progressions that give it its distinctive feel. You'll learn how to pick through the chords in a way that highlights the melody while maintaining the song's rhythmic integrity. Mastering arpeggios will allow you to add complexity to your playing and create more interesting accompaniments.

Finger-Picking

While not always the focal point, finger-picking plays a subtle yet crucial role in the overall texture of Tennessee Whiskey. This lesson will guide you through the basics of finger-picking as applied to the song, helping you develop a more versatile right-hand technique. Finger-picking is a valuable skill that enhances your ability to play more intricate and dynamic arrangements.

Why These Techniques Are Important

Learning the techniques found in Tennessee Whiskey will do more than just help you play the song note-for-note. These techniques are fundamental to country and blues guitar, and mastering them will give you the tools to express yourself more fully as a guitarist. Each technique—whether it's the controlled string bends, the expressive vibrato, or the fluid slides—adds a layer of emotion and complexity to your playing. By incorporating these elements into your practice, you'll develop a more nuanced and dynamic style that can be applied across a wide range of musical genres.

Guitar Techniques Used in "Tennessee Whiskey"

• String Bending
• Vibrato
• Slides
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Double Stops
• Bluesy Bends
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
• Finger-Picking

List of Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Slides
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
• String Bending
• Legato

By incorporating these techniques into your playing, you can achieve a more dynamic and expressive performance, making every note count. Join us at LickLibrary.com to unlock your potential and play "Tennessee Whisky" with the emotion and precision it deserves.