Best of My Love by The Eagles

The Eagles' hit "Best of My Love" is a masterpiece of gentle rock that captures the soul of 1970s music. For guitar enthusiasts, this song offers a rewarding challenge that brings out the best of acoustic guitar techniques. Learning this song on guitar provides an in-depth exploration of expressive techniques, rhythmic precision, and the mastery of dynamics, perfect for those looking to elevate their playing to a more professional level. This lesson at Licklibrary.com breaks down the techniques used in "Best of My Love" and allows you to fully capture the emotional depth and musical complexity of this classic song. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

The Guitar Players Behind "Best of My Love"

"Best of My Love" is primarily the work of Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey, who brought a smooth and soulful touch to the band's music. Frey’s guitar playing style was deeply rooted in rhythm and blues, with a strong influence from folk and rock traditions. His clean tone, careful note selection, and melodic phrasing create the song’s warm, laid-back feel, making his playing an ideal study for guitarists seeking to develop expressiveness and control. Frey's style in this song demonstrates the emotional power of subtlety, showing how guitarists can make a big impact with fewer, well-chosen notes. His influence has inspired countless players, and learning his techniques will enrich your ability to convey emotion through music.

Key Techniques in "Best of My Love"

Finger-Picking

In "Best of My Love," the gentle finger-picking technique creates a soft and smooth sound, perfectly suited to the song’s mellow vibe. This technique involves using individual fingers to pluck each string, allowing for nuanced dynamics and expression. Mastering finger-picking improves dexterity and finger independence, essential skills for any guitarist interested in adding subtlety and sophistication to their playing.

Slides

Slides add a smooth, legato transition between notes, which enhances the song’s relaxed and flowing quality. By sliding from one fret to another, you connect notes without breaking the sound, which is ideal for creating a continuous, singing line. Practicing slides refines your fretboard accuracy and helps you achieve a polished, seamless sound.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Hammer-ons and pull-offs are used in various passages throughout "Best of My Love" to add a gentle, flowing feel to the melody. These techniques allow for smooth, connected notes without picking each one, creating a legato effect that suits the song's laid-back feel. Learning these techniques will enhance your speed and control, giving your playing a smoother, more professional sound.

Barre Chords

The song’s harmony relies on barre chords to create full, ringing tones. Barre chords require pressing down multiple strings with one finger, which can be challenging but rewarding. Practicing barre chords builds finger strength and flexibility, enabling you to play a wider range of chords across the fretboard and adding depth to your harmonic vocabulary.

String Bending

String bending is a technique where you push or pull a string to change the pitch, creating an expressive, vocal-like quality. Although subtle in "Best of My Love," this technique adds emotional depth to key phrases in the song. Practicing string bending enhances finger strength, ear training, and vibrato control, helping you add character to your playing.

Vibrato

Vibrato is essential for adding emotion to long notes in "Best of My Love." By oscillating the pitch of a note slightly, vibrato creates a rich, sustained sound. Mastering vibrato allows you to express nuances in your playing and improves control over sustain and pitch, making each note sing with added feeling.

Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

Arpeggios are broken chords where each note is played separately, rather than strummed together. "Best of My Love" uses arpeggiated chord progressions to add a delicate and textured feel to the rhythm. Practicing arpeggios builds precision and timing, essential skills for clean and articulate playing.

Chord Progressions

The chord progressions in "Best of My Love" are foundational to the song's sound, with smooth, traditional changes that establish a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Understanding and practicing these chord progressions will improve your harmonic knowledge and help you recognise patterns that recur in many genres.

Benefits of Learning "Best of My Love"

Studying this song not only provides insight into Glenn Frey’s iconic style but also allows guitarists to hone essential techniques used in countless songs across genres. By mastering these techniques, you’ll develop a greater command of dynamics, control, and expression, all while building a versatile foundation for more complex pieces. "Best of My Love" is an excellent practice tool for both beginners and experienced players looking to refine their acoustic guitar skills.

Guitar Techniques List

Here is a breakdown of the essential guitar techniques used in the "Best of My Love" lesson:

• Vibrato
• Slides
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Barre Chords
• String Bending
• Finger-Picking
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
• Chord Progressions

Mastering these techniques will give you a deeper appreciation of "Best of My Love" and provide you with the skills needed to tackle a wide range of songs. Each of these techniques contributes to a more expressive, polished style, helping you build a rich, varied sound that connects with listeners on an emotional level. Dive into the lesson, and let your guitar playing reach new heights.