King of the Blues by Gary Moore – Guitar Lesson Breakdown

Learn to channel the soaring tone, expressive phrasing, and emotional storytelling of blues legend Gary Moore with our note-for-note lesson on “King of the Blues.” Featured on Moore’s iconic Still Got the Blues album, this track is a heartfelt tribute to the greats of blues guitar while firmly showcasing his own distinct style. From blistering bends to intricate lead runs, “King of the Blues” is a showcase of tone, feel, and technique. In this LickLibrary guitar lesson, we dive into the key techniques that bring this song to life: string bending, string skipping, vibrato, and hammer-ons.

Perfect for intermediate to advanced players, this lesson from Jamie Humphries is designed to help you unlock expressive blues soloing, refine your articulation, and master the melodic techniques that define Gary Moore’s signature style.

Techniques Used

String Bending

Few techniques are as essential to blues guitar as string bending, and in “King of the Blues,” Moore takes this technique to emotional extremes. His wide, pitch-perfect bends mimic the nuances of the human voice—crying, wailing, and soaring through the chord changes. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to execute bends with total control, focusing on pitch accuracy, bend-and-release phrasing, and vibrato integration. These skills are vital for creating tension and release in your solos and developing the expressive phrasing that defines great blues playing.

String Skipping

One of the more technically demanding elements of this track is string skipping—used to navigate larger melodic intervals and jump between octaves with precision. Gary Moore’s use of this technique gives his solos a dynamic, unpredictable edge, allowing him to move seamlessly across the fretboard without relying solely on linear motion. Our lesson breaks down the key passages where string skipping adds emphasis and contrast to Moore’s lead lines. Mastering string skipping improves your accuracy, alternate picking control, and fretboard fluency—especially useful in crafting modern blues licks with melodic variation.

Vibrato

Perhaps no guitarist is more associated with expressive vibrato than Gary Moore. His ability to sustain a note and make it sing through precise, emotional vibrato is on full display in “King of the Blues.” This lesson helps you develop a consistent vibrato technique, focusing on depth, speed, and rhythmic control. You’ll learn how to apply vibrato to both bent and unbent notes, transforming basic phrases into emotionally charged statements. Vibrato is essential for creating musical identity, and Moore’s style offers the perfect example to emulate.

Hammer-Ons

While Moore’s playing is often intense and aggressive, his hammer-ons bring a touch of fluidity and grace to his lead work. These legato articulations help him move smoothly between notes, building longer phrases without constant picking. In “King of the Blues,” hammer-ons are used in both quick flurries and slower, expressive runs. Our lesson walks you through executing clean, dynamic hammer-ons that maintain volume and tone while contributing to phrasing flow. Hammer-ons help improve fretting hand strength, accuracy, and speed—all while adding a smoother feel to your solos.

Why Learn “King of the Blues”?

“King of the Blues” is more than just a guitar showcase—it’s a masterclass in musical storytelling. Moore demonstrates how to use dynamics, phrasing, and tone to craft solos that captivate from start to finish. Every lick serves a purpose. Every note has weight. Learning this song will help you develop better melodic awareness, stronger articulation, and a deeper emotional connection to your playing.

With our LickLibrary lesson, you’ll get a comprehensive breakdown of the riffs, solos, and phrasing approaches used throughout the track. From the slow-burning intro to the explosive climaxes, this is your opportunity to internalize Moore’s techniques and apply them to your own blues vocabulary. If you're aiming to play the blues with conviction, power, and finesse, this lesson is essential.

About the Guitarist: Gary Moore

Gary Moore is remembered not just for his technical brilliance, but for the soul and conviction he brought to every note. A former rock and fusion shredder, Moore returned to his blues roots with Still Got the Blues, a landmark album that redefined his legacy. On “King of the Blues,” Moore pays tribute to the legends—Albert King, B.B. King, Freddie King—while simultaneously asserting his own place among them. His fiery tone, wide vibrato, and phrasing drenched in emotion influenced an entire generation of blues and rock guitarists, from Joe Bonamassa to Slash. Learning this track is an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of a true blues master.

Guitar Techniques Featured in This Lesson

• String Bending
• String Skipping
• Vibrato
• Hammer-Ons

Capture the soul, fire, and finesse of Gary Moore with our note-for-note breakdown of “King of the Blues.” This lesson is a deep dive into emotional expression, technical precision, and the kind of phrasing that defines a true blues icon.