As the Years Go Passing By by Gary Moore – Guitar Lesson Breakdown

Delve deep into the emotional heart of blues guitar with our note-for-note lesson for “As the Years Go Passing By” by Gary Moore. Originally penned by Deadric Malone and first recorded by Fenton Robinson in the 1950s, the song has been interpreted by countless blues legends—but Gary Moore’s version is among the most powerful. Found on his Still Got the Blues album, Moore’s take is an intense, soul-drenched slow blues masterpiece, filled with vocal-like phrasing and spine-tingling tone. In this LickLibrary guitar lesson, we break down the essential techniques that make this track a masterclass in blues expression: string bending, pull-offs, vibrato, and hammer-ons.

This lesson by Jamie Humphries is essential for any guitarist looking to develop deeper musicality, dynamic control, and emotionally expressive lead playing.

Techniques Used

String Bending

String bending lies at the core of Gary Moore’s expressive phrasing. On “As the Years Go Passing By,” he uses bends to emulate the human voice—stretching notes for emotional tension, and using bend-and-release techniques to shape melodies with nuance. This lesson focuses on developing control and precision in your bends, improving your pitch accuracy, and helping you add drama and vocal-like expression to your solos. Whether it's subtle half-step inflections or wide, sustained bends, this technique is crucial to achieving the soulful sound Moore delivers in this track.

Pull-Offs

Smooth and articulate pull-offs are another tool Moore uses to maintain fluid phrasing and melodic continuity in his solos. In “As the Years Go Passing By,” pull-offs are used in bluesy runs and legato phrases, allowing notes to cascade naturally without constant picking. Our lesson demonstrates how to execute clean, dynamic pull-offs with clarity and intention, improving finger strength and phrasing control. This technique is essential for developing a smooth lead style and adding finesse to your blues vocabulary.

Vibrato

When it comes to vibrato, few players can match the depth and emotion of Gary Moore. On this track, his vibrato is wide, soulful, and perfectly controlled—often sustaining a single note and letting it speak volumes. Vibrato is what gives personality to every note, and this lesson walks you through Moore-style vibrato techniques, from slow and wide to quick and intense. Mastering vibrato will instantly elevate your soloing, helping your notes sing with emotional weight and dynamic control.

Hammer-Ons

Hammer-ons play a supporting but crucial role in Moore’s phrasing, allowing him to move between notes fluidly while maintaining tone and expression. In this song, he uses hammer-ons to add melodic motion to slower lines, creating legato passages that contrast beautifully with more aggressive bends and vibrato. Our lesson helps you strengthen your fretting hand, improve timing, and integrate hammer-ons into expressive phrases that feel natural and musical.

Why Learn “As the Years Go Passing By”?

This track is a textbook example of how to build a solo with feel, space, and purpose. Every note in “As the Years Go Passing By” has intention behind it—there’s no flash for flash’s sake, only emotional storytelling through tone, phrasing, and touch. Learning this song gives you the opportunity to practice phrasing over a slow blues groove, use bends and vibrato effectively, and approach lead guitar playing with restraint and sensitivity.

Our LickLibrary lesson will take you through each section of the song with detailed breakdowns of every lick, phrase, and transition. You’ll learn how Gary Moore crafts tension and release, how he paces his solos, and how to apply these techniques to your own blues improvisation. If you want to learn how to play the blues like you mean it, this song is a perfect place to start.

About the Guitarist: Gary Moore

Gary Moore was one of the few guitarists capable of blending technical excellence with deeply emotional expression. Known for his soaring tone, wide vibrato, and emotionally intense solos, Moore transitioned from hard rock to blues later in his career—cementing himself as one of the most passionate modern blues players. “As the Years Go Passing By” showcases his ability to stretch a single note into a cry of sorrow or a shout of defiance, drawing inspiration from the likes of B.B. King and Peter Green while adding his own fiery signature. Moore’s performance on this track is a masterclass in phrasing and tone that continues to inspire blues and rock guitarists worldwide.

Guitar Techniques Featured in This Lesson

• String Bending
• Pull-Offs
• Vibrato
• Hammer-Ons

Learn to channel the raw emotion and soulful phrasing of Gary Moore in “As the Years Go Passing By.” This lesson gives you the tools to play with heart, expression, and musical maturity—exactly what the blues is all about.