Parisienne Walkways (Live Version) - Gary Moore

Licklibrary presents a note-for-note guitar lesson for Gary Moore’s legendary live version of Parisienne Walkways—a masterclass in expressive blues phrasing, soaring sustain, and emotional vibrato. This iconic song, known for its spine-tingling bends and melodic phrasing, is a must-learn for any guitarist looking to develop a deeply expressive soloing style.

This lesson breaks down every nuance of Moore’s playing, from his signature slow bends to his rapid-fire legato licks. You'll explore essential guitar techniques that will elevate your playing, helping you build better control, sustain, and emotion in your solos. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Gary Moore and His Influence

Gary Moore was one of the most expressive and technically gifted guitarists of his time, blending blues, rock, and shred techniques into a unique and powerful style. Originally gaining fame with Thin Lizzy, he later became a blues-rock icon with his solo career. His playing on Parisienne Walkways is a masterclass in phrasing, showcasing his signature wide vibrato, lyrical bends, and sustain-driven melodies.

Moore's influence extends across generations of guitarists, inspiring players like Joe Bonamassa and John Sykes. His ability to blend raw emotion with technical brilliance makes studying his work essential for any serious guitarist.

Guitar Techniques Covered in This Lesson

Vibrato

Moore’s vibrato is wide, expressive, and vocal-like, adding emotion and sustain to his phrases. Mastering this technique will enhance your soloing by making notes sing and sustain beautifully.

String Bending

Parisienne Walkways is filled with dramatic, slow bends that hit precise pitches, imitating the expressiveness of a human voice. Practicing bends will improve your pitch accuracy and add a soulful touch to your playing.

Legato

Fast, fluid runs in the solo utilise legato to maintain smooth note transitions with minimal pick attack. Learning this technique will increase your speed and efficiency while maintaining a clean tone.

Unison Bends

One of the song’s defining moments features unison bends, creating a powerful, soaring sound. This technique strengthens your bending accuracy and adds a dramatic flair to solos.

Pinched Harmonics

Moore’s aggressive lead style often includes pinched harmonics, producing sharp, squealing overtones. Mastering this will help you add extra bite and excitement to your playing.

Double-Stop Bends

These bends involve bending one string while keeping another note stationary, creating a rich, expressive blues sound. This technique is great for adding harmonic depth to your solos.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Moore’s fluid phrasing incorporates hammer-ons and pull-offs, reducing pick strokes and allowing for seamless, expressive licks. These techniques enhance your speed and legato playing.

Sustain

Few guitarists command sustain like Gary Moore. His ability to hold a note and let it sing is crucial to the song’s emotional power. Learning to control sustain helps you develop better dynamics and phrasing.

Slides

Seamless slides between notes and phrases make the melody flow effortlessly. Practicing slides will improve your phrasing and connectivity between licks.

Trills

Rapid alternations between two notes using trills add tension and excitement to the solo. This technique strengthens finger dexterity and control.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Vibrato
• String Bending
• Legato
• Unison Bends
• Pinched Harmonics
• Double-Stop Bends
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Sustain
• Slides
• Trills

By studying Parisienne Walkways (Live Version) note for note, you will develop a deep understanding of expressive blues-rock soloing, helping you build better control, phrasing, and emotional depth in your playing. Dive into this lesson and start mastering the legendary techniques of Gary Moore today!