Don't Stop by Fleetwood Mac - Note-for-Note Guitar Lesson

Our Don’t Stop by Fleetwood Mac guitar lesson on LickLibrary.com provides a note-for-note breakdown of this uplifting classic. Focusing on the guitar techniques that define Lindsey Buckingham’s iconic sound, this lesson covers essential techniques like hammer-ons, vibrato, slides, and string bending. Each technique is carefully demonstrated and explained to help guitarists capture the unique feel and expressiveness of Don’t Stop while developing skills they can apply to a wide range of musical styles. This lesson is taught by Michael Casswell,

Technique Breakdown

Hammer-Ons

Hammer-ons play a significant role in the melodic transitions of Don’t Stop, adding fluidity and motion to the song’s melodic lines. A hammer-on involves pressing down on a fret to produce a note without re-picking, allowing for smooth, legato phrasing. Buckingham uses hammer-ons to create seamless connections between notes, adding a subtle dynamic flow to his playing.

Practicing hammer-ons is essential for guitarists who want to build speed and finger strength while achieving a more connected sound in their melodic lines. Mastering this technique can also make your playing sound more polished and flowing, as it reduces the need for excessive picking and provides a natural feel.

Vibrato

Vibrato is one of Buckingham’s expressive tools in Don’t Stop, adding depth and emotion to sustained notes. Vibrato involves repeatedly bending a note slightly up and down to create a shimmering, vocal-like quality. Buckingham uses vibrato to give his playing a touch of warmth and sustain, emphasizing key notes and adding a dynamic quality to his lead lines.

For guitarists, learning vibrato is valuable for developing control and adding expressiveness to their playing. It’s a foundational technique that can bring a personal touch to solos and melodic lines, allowing you to make each note stand out with a natural, flowing sound.

Slides

Slides are another characteristic technique Buckingham uses to create smooth transitions between notes and add a dynamic movement to his lines in Don’t Stop. A slide involves playing a note and then shifting up or down the fretboard to another note without lifting the finger, creating a gliding sound effect that connects the two notes. Buckingham’s use of slides gives his playing a sense of flow and continuity, adding to the song’s upbeat, driving feel.

Learning to execute slides effectively builds finger control and accuracy. For guitarists, mastering slides opens up a new range of expressive options, allowing you to connect notes more fluidly and giving your playing a polished, professional sound.

String Bending

String bending is used sparingly but effectively in Don’t Stop, giving Buckingham’s melodic lines a slight vocal quality. String bending involves pushing the string across the fretboard to raise the pitch, allowing you to hit microtones or reach specific target notes with added emotion. This technique adds tension and release, making certain notes feel more powerful and expressive.

Practicing string bending is beneficial for developing finger strength, control, and precision. Mastering this technique enables guitarists to add a unique, personal touch to their playing, especially in solos and lead parts, where it can bring a more emotive, expressive sound.

About Lindsey Buckingham and His Influence

Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac’s lead guitarist, is widely known for his innovative and expressive guitar style. With a background in fingerpicking and an instinct for melodic rhythm, Buckingham brings a unique approach to the guitar, blending rock, folk, and pop influences. In Don’t Stop, his bright, rhythmic playing style is evident, incorporating melodic lines, syncopated rhythms, and expressive techniques like slides and bends that add warmth and character to the song. Learning Buckingham’s style in Don’t Stop provides guitarists with a window into the distinctive techniques that have influenced countless musicians and shaped Fleetwood Mac’s signature sound.

Guitar Techniques in Don't Stop by Fleetwood Mac

• Hammer-Ons
• Vibrato
• Slides
• String Bending