Texas Strut by Gary Moore – Guitar Lesson Breakdown

Unleash fiery blues phrasing and Texas-flavoured swagger with our detailed note-for-note guitar lesson on “Texas Strut” by Gary Moore. This powerhouse instrumental, featured on the Still Got the Blues album, is Moore’s high-octane tribute to the Lone Star blues legacy—drawing inspiration from the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert Collins. With its infectious groove, aggressive tone, and expressive lead lines, “Texas Strut” is the perfect vehicle for developing technical control and emotional articulation. In this LickLibrary lesson, we focus on the core guitar techniques that make this track shine: string skipping, double stops, vibrato, and hammer-ons.

If you’re looking to expand your blues-rock soloing toolkit and play with real attitude, this is the lesson for you. This lesson is taught by Jamie Humphries.

Techniques Used

String Skipping

String skipping is one of the standout techniques in “Texas Strut,” giving Moore’s lead playing a dynamic, unpredictable edge. Rather than relying solely on linear movement across adjacent strings, Moore leaps between non-neighbouring strings to build angular licks and wide-interval lines. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to execute clean string skips that retain articulation and groove. Practising this technique improves your fretboard awareness, alternate picking accuracy, and phrasing variety—perfect for taking your solos beyond standard pentatonic boxes.

Double Stops

Double stops are an essential part of Gary Moore’s blues vocabulary, and in “Texas Strut,” they’re used to inject punch and grit into his rhythm and lead playing. Whether it's raking into sliding sixths or aggressive bent dyads, Moore uses this technique to give his solos a fat, expressive tone. This lesson teaches how to play double stops cleanly and in time, and how to integrate them into blues phrasing for maximum impact. Learning double stops strengthens your left-hand coordination and adds harmonic depth and rhythmic weight to your playing.

Vibrato

Vibrato is one of Moore’s defining characteristics—and in “Texas Strut,” it’s used to full effect. His wide, controlled vibrato gives each sustained note emotional resonance and clarity. Whether it’s a slow bend at the climax of a lick or a short stab mid-phrase, Moore’s vibrato turns static notes into powerful statements. In this lesson, we focus on developing vibrato technique through hand control, motion consistency, and musical application. Vibrato is what gives your solos character, and Moore’s example is the gold standard for expressive lead guitar.

Hammer-Ons

Fluid, connected lines in “Texas Strut” often feature precise hammer-ons that allow Moore to move effortlessly across the fretboard with minimal picking. Used in both rapid-fire blues runs and more lyrical phrases, hammer-ons enhance the legato feel of his playing and give dynamic shape to melodic ideas. This lesson covers hammer-on execution, timing, and integration with picking techniques to build smoother, more expressive lines. Hammer-ons are key to developing flowing phrasing and are foundational for blending power and subtlety in your playing.

Why Learn “Texas Strut”?

“Texas Strut” is a showcase of Gary Moore’s aggressive blues-rock playing at its peak. With its infectious groove, dynamic phrasing, and technical demands, it offers players a chance to explore a more fiery, rhythmic side of blues guitar. Learning this track teaches you how to build tension and excitement in a solo, how to use rhythm and space effectively, and how to channel the raw emotion that makes blues music so powerful.

Through our LickLibrary breakdown, you’ll get a step-by-step guide to mastering every lick, riff, and solo section from the track. You’ll learn how to control articulation, use dynamics, and combine multiple techniques in one cohesive, hard-hitting performance. “Texas Strut” isn’t just a song—it’s a platform for developing control, groove, and expression.

About the Guitarist: Gary Moore

Gary Moore was a rare combination of fiery technical ability and searing emotional depth. Whether performing hard rock, jazz fusion, or heartfelt blues, Moore’s guitar playing always cut straight to the soul. His transition to blues in the late ‘80s didn’t just mark a shift in genre—it unlocked a deeper, more expressive voice. “Texas Strut” is Moore at his most energetic, channelling the spirit of Texas blues through his own blistering British lens. With his unmistakable vibrato, vocal-like phrasing, and explosive solos, Moore remains a towering figure in modern blues guitar. His playing continues to influence generations of guitarists seeking that elusive blend of technique and feel.

Guitar Techniques Featured in This Lesson

• String Skipping
• Double Stops
• Vibrato
• Hammer-Ons

Master the blues-rock fire of Gary Moore with our note-for-note guitar lesson for “Texas Strut.” Packed with technical flair and expressive power, this lesson helps you channel attitude, precision, and feel—all in the spirit of one of blues guitar’s greatest voices.