Luxury Liner - Emmylou Harris

Overview

Emmylou Harris' "Luxury Liner" is an exhilarating bluegrass-infused country rock song featuring intricate guitar work and fast-paced picking techniques that define the song's dynamic energy. Originally written by Gram Parsons, Harris’ version transforms it into an electrifying piece that showcases brilliant lead guitar lines, melodic licks, and rhythmic drive.

In this LickLibrary note-for-note guitar lesson, we break down the signature techniques that bring "Luxury Liner" to life. You'll explore the fast alternate picking, hybrid picking, double stops, and string bending that characterise the song’s fluid, expressive style. This lesson will provide you with essential tools for improving picking accuracy, hand coordination, and overall speed, making it an invaluable study for aspiring country, rock, and bluegrass guitarists. Lee Hodgson breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Guitarists on "Luxury Liner"

The standout guitar work on "Luxury Liner" is often attributed to Albert Lee, a master of fast country picking and one of Emmylou Harris’ most trusted lead guitarists. His virtuosic playing style blends country, blues, and rock elements, creating a signature "chicken pickin'" attack that has influenced countless guitarists.

Lee's precise articulation and melodic phrasing in "Luxury Liner" highlight his ability to navigate complex, high-speed licks while maintaining exceptional clarity and groove. Learning his licks provides a solid foundation in country and rockabilly techniques, making this an invaluable lesson for players seeking to enhance their right-hand picking efficiency and fluidity.

Key Guitar Techniques in "Luxury Liner"

Alternate Picking

Alternate picking is essential for executing the rapid-fire lead lines in "Luxury Liner." This technique alternates between downstrokes and upstrokes, allowing for smooth, even note articulation at high speeds. Mastering alternate picking improves picking-hand control and makes fast passages more efficient.

Hybrid Picking

This song utilises hybrid picking, where the pick is combined with fingers to pluck individual notes, making complex runs and chicken pickin’ licks more fluid and dynamic. This technique enhances your ability to switch between lead lines and chord stabs, making your playing more expressive and versatile.

Double Stops

Throughout the song, double stops add depth and harmonic richness to the guitar parts. Double stops involve playing two notes simultaneously, creating a fuller sound often heard in country and blues music. This technique strengthens finger independence and hand coordination.

String Bending

String bending is used to add expression and emotion to lead lines by bending notes to pitch. This technique is crucial for mimicking pedal steel guitar sounds, a defining characteristic of Harris' music. Learning proper bending control will improve pitch accuracy and finger strength.

Pull-Offs & Hammer-Ons

Fast country runs in "Luxury Liner" make use of pull-offs and hammer-ons to create fluid motion between notes. These techniques reduce picking-hand effort, allowing for smoother legato phrasing and increased speed.

Slides

Slides are frequently used to transition between notes seamlessly, adding a vocal-like quality to the guitar licks. Practicing slides improves fretboard navigation and enhances melodic phrasing.

Chord Progressions

The song's chord progressions feature classic country-rock movement, reinforcing harmonic understanding and rhythm guitar skills. Understanding how these chords flow will enhance your ability to comp and improvise effectively in similar styles.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Alternate Picking
• Hybrid Picking
• Double Stops
• String Bending
• Pull-Offs
• Hammer-Ons
• Slides
• Chord Progressions