Big Love - Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac’s Big Love is an iconic track, originally released on their 1987 album Tango in the Night. While the original studio version featured a heavily produced arrangement, it was Lindsey Buckingham’s mesmerising live solo acoustic performances that truly showcased the song’s intricate guitar work. His playing style on Big Love is a masterclass in percussive fingerpicking, rhythmic precision, and dynamic control—making it a must-learn for guitarists looking to expand their technical and expressive abilities.

Our note-for-note guitar lesson at Licklibrary.com breaks down every nuance of Buckingham’s virtuosic approach, ensuring you can capture the essence of this incredible song. Whether you’re a finger-style enthusiast or looking to refine your right-hand control, this lesson will provide invaluable insights into a unique and technically challenging style of guitar playing. Michael Casswell breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Lindsey Buckingham’s Influence on "Big Love"

Lindsey Buckingham is one of rock’s most innovative guitarists, known for his distinctive fingerpicking technique, percussive attack, and melodic sensibility. His playing on Big Love is a testament to his ability to blend rhythm and melody seamlessly, creating a full-band sound on a single guitar. Buckingham has been a major influence on modern finger-style players, bridging the gap between folk and rock with his unorthodox approach. His ability to execute fast, syncopated rhythms while maintaining expressive dynamics makes his playing on Big Love an essential study for any guitarist.

Guitar Techniques in "Big Love" and Their Benefits

Fingerpicking

Buckingham’s use of fingerpicking allows him to create a powerful percussive effect while maintaining a steady, intricate rhythm. This technique requires independence between the thumb and fingers, a skill that enhances coordination and fluidity across the strings. Developing fingerpicking proficiency will improve your ability to play complex acoustic arrangements without relying on a pick.

Hybrid Picking

While primarily a finger-style piece, some guitarists may benefit from incorporating hybrid picking, which combines pick use with fingerpicking. This approach can help in transitioning between finger-style and traditional picking techniques, improving overall dexterity and articulation.

Travis Picking

Big Love showcases elements of Travis picking, a fingerpicking pattern where the thumb alternates between bass notes while the fingers play melody and harmony. Mastering this technique strengthens your ability to maintain a steady bass rhythm while playing intricate melodies on top, a valuable skill for solo acoustic arrangements.

Syncopated Rhythms

One of the song’s defining characteristics is its syncopated rhythms, where accents fall on unexpected beats. Learning this technique improves timing and rhythmic awareness, making your playing feel more dynamic and engaging.

Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

Buckingham’s performance on Big Love heavily relies on arpeggiated chord progressions, where chords are played as individual notes rather than strummed. Practicing this technique refines accuracy and finger independence, allowing for a more expressive and articulate sound.

Slides

Smooth slides between notes contribute to the fluidity of the melody in Big Love. Learning how to execute controlled slides improves fretboard navigation and helps to connect melodic phrases naturally.

Sustain

Maintaining sustain in an acoustic performance like Big Love is crucial for creating a full, resonant sound. Developing sustain control ensures that notes ring out clearly, adding expressiveness to your playing.

Chord Progressions

The song’s chord progressions provide a foundation for its hypnotic movement. Understanding these progressions enhances your compositional skills and broadens your ability to create engaging, evolving harmonic structures.

Guitar Techniques Used in "Big Love"

• Fingerpicking
• Hybrid Picking
• Travis Picking
• Syncopated Rhythms
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
• Slides
• Sustain
• Chord Progressions

Whether you’re an aspiring finger-style guitarist or looking to challenge yourself with one of Lindsey Buckingham’s most technically demanding performances, our Big Love guitar lesson at Licklibrary.com is the perfect resource. Dive into the details, master the intricate techniques, and bring this legendary song to life with precision and passion!