Lay Down Stay Down by Deep Purple - Guitar Lesson

“Lay Down Stay Down” by Deep Purple is a hard-hitting rock classic that showcases the incredible guitar work of Ritchie Blackmore. Known for its energetic riffs and powerful soloing, the song is packed with essential rock guitar techniques that every guitarist should master. In this lesson from LickLibrary.com, we break down the song note for note, focusing on techniques such as power chords, alternate picking, vibrato, and string bending. These skills will not only help you nail the song but will also serve as a foundation for improving your overall guitar playing. This song lesson is taught by Danny Gill.

Techniques in "Lay Down Stay Down"

Power Chords

Power chords are the foundation of rock and metal guitar playing, and "Lay Down Stay Down" is filled with these crunchy, heavy chords. A power chord consists of just two or three notes and is often played with distortion, giving it a full and powerful sound. In this lesson, you'll learn how to execute these chords cleanly and effectively, providing the backbone of the song’s rhythm section. Mastering power chords will allow you to play countless rock songs, as they are a staple in the genre. Power chords also help develop your hand strength and ability to switch between chords quickly, making them essential for any guitarist.

Alternate Picking

Alternate picking is a technique that involves alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes to play notes quickly and efficiently. In "Lay Down Stay Down," this technique is used extensively in the faster passages and lead parts. Learning alternate picking is crucial for improving your speed and precision on the guitar. By practicing this technique, you’ll be able to play intricate passages with greater accuracy and maintain a steady rhythm. This lesson breaks down the fast alternate picking runs in the song, helping you develop this essential skill while maintaining control and clarity in your playing.

Vibrato

Vibrato is a vital technique for adding expression to your guitar playing. It involves bending the string slightly back and forth after a note is played, creating a subtle variation in pitch. Ritchie Blackmore’s vibrato is a key element of his expressive style, and in "Lay Down Stay Down," it is used to bring certain notes to life, making them stand out and resonate with emotion. In this lesson, you'll practice different types of vibrato, learning to control the speed and width of the pitch variation to match the feel of the song. Mastering vibrato will enhance your overall musicality, giving your playing a more vocal, emotional quality.

String Bending

String bending is another technique used throughout "Lay Down Stay Down," particularly in the guitar solo. By bending the string, you can raise the pitch of a note, adding tension and drama to your playing. Blackmore’s use of string bending in this song is both melodic and expressive, allowing the guitar to mimic the nuances of a human voice. This lesson will teach you how to execute string bends accurately, ensuring that you hit the correct pitch and control the release. Learning to bend strings effectively will add a new dimension to your solos, giving you greater expressive control over your playing.

Why Learn These Techniques?

The techniques featured in "Lay Down Stay Down" are essential for any guitarist looking to develop their rock playing. Mastering these skills will not only help you replicate this iconic Deep Purple track but also improve your overall guitar technique.

• Power Chords: Essential for rhythm guitar, power chords provide the foundation for countless rock and metal songs. Learning to play them cleanly and accurately will give your playing a powerful and punchy sound.
• Alternate Picking: This technique allows you to play faster and more precisely, making it an essential skill for lead guitar playing and fast riffs.
• Vibrato: Adding vibrato to your playing will enhance the emotional expression of your notes, giving your guitar a more vocal quality.
• String Bending: String bending adds tension and release to your solos, giving you greater expressive control and allowing you to mimic the human voice on the guitar.

Each of these techniques will help you become a more versatile and expressive guitarist, whether you're playing rock, blues, or metal.

Ritchie Blackmore’s Influence on "Lay Down Stay Down"

Ritchie Blackmore’s guitar work is nothing short of legendary. As the lead guitarist of Deep Purple, his aggressive playing and classical influences helped shape the sound of hard rock and heavy metal. In “Lay Down Stay Down,” Blackmore’s use of power chords, fast alternate picking, and expressive vibrato is a masterclass in rock guitar technique. His distinctive tone and phrasing are unmistakable, blending blues-based rock with classical influences. Learning Blackmore’s playing style on this track will give you insight into how he crafted memorable riffs and solos that have influenced generations of guitarists.

List of Guitar Techniques Covered in This Lesson

• Power Chords
• Alternate Picking
• Vibrato
• String Bending

By mastering these essential techniques, you'll not only be able to tackle "Lay Down Stay Down" by Deep Purple but also apply these skills to a wide range of rock and metal songs. These fundamental techniques are the building blocks for any guitarist looking to improve their playing and express themselves fully on the instrument.