Walking By Myself by Gary Moore – Guitar Lesson

Step into the high-energy world of blues-rock with our note-for-note guitar lesson of “Walking By Myself” by Gary Moore. This track is a powerful showcase of Moore’s fiery technique, lightning-fast licks, and signature blues phrasing. Our in-depth lesson takes you through every lick and riff found in this electrifying rendition, helping you build technique, precision, and style in your own playing.

Whether you’re looking to tighten up your rhythm chops or want to unleash scorching lead guitar lines, Walking By Myself is the perfect song to learn and master key lead guitar techniques like alternate picking, hammer-ons, vibrato, and string bending. This lesson is taught by Jamie Humphries.

Technique Focus

Alternate Picking

The fast-paced shuffle rhythm and scorching lead lines in Walking By Myself demand precise alternate picking. This technique, where you alternate between downstrokes and upstrokes, allows for speed and clarity when navigating rapid passages.

Developing solid alternate picking improves your efficiency, timing, and stamina. It’s essential for tackling fast riffs and solos with confidence and precision.

Hammer-Ons

Hammer-ons are scattered throughout Gary Moore’s lead work in this song, especially in ascending runs and blues licks. Used both in slow phrases and fast passages, hammer-ons create smooth, connected notes that add speed and fluidity to your solos.

Practicing hammer-ons helps build finger strength, enhances your legato playing, and allows you to play faster passages with less picking effort.

Vibrato

A key expressive element in Moore’s style, vibrato gives life to his sustained notes. His vibrato is wide, confident, and loaded with emotion. In this track, vibrato helps elevate even the simplest note into a powerful statement.

Mastering vibrato will significantly improve your expressive control and give your playing a more polished, professional feel.

String Bending

Moore’s string bending technique is on full display here. Used in combination with vibrato and blues phrasing, his bends are vocal and dynamic, capturing the essence of the blues with every movement of the string.

String bending develops pitch control and finger strength, allowing you to express emotional nuance and drama in your solos.

Why Learn This Song?

Walking By Myself is the ultimate track for anyone wanting to blend technical prowess with bluesy grit. It’s fast, fun, and full of essential lead guitar techniques that will sharpen your playing in multiple areas. Whether you're aiming to become a better soloist or simply want to play with more intensity and expression, this lesson offers the tools to get there.

You’ll walk away from this lesson with not just the ability to play a killer blues-rock tune, but also the skills to enhance your tone, timing, and musical phrasing across the board.

About the Song and Gary Moore

Originally written by Jimmy Rogers in the 1950s, Walking By Myself is a blues standard that has seen countless renditions over the decades. However, it was Gary Moore’s explosive version—featured on his 1990 album Still Got the Blues—that brought the song to a whole new generation of blues-rock fans. His version blends traditional blues structure with searing lead guitar lines, underpinned by a relentless shuffle groove.

Gary Moore was a powerhouse guitarist known for blending the soul of blues with the energy of rock. His phrasing, attack, and deep emotional expression have inspired players across genres. In this track, Moore’s technical precision and raw passion shine through, making it a must-learn for guitarists aiming to sharpen both their skill and stage presence.

What You’ll Learn in This Lesson

This guitar lesson takes a close look at all the technical and musical elements that make Walking By Myself such an exciting and rewarding song to play. You’ll not only learn how to play every note exactly as Gary Moore did, but you’ll also gain insight into how to phrase and articulate blues solos with power and conviction.

The song is especially valuable for players wanting to improve their alternate picking speed and accuracy, strengthen their legato techniques, and master expressive lead guitar fundamentals.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Alternate Picking
• Hammer-Ons
• Vibrato
• String Bending

This lesson is ideal for guitarists who want to level up their speed, control, and expression through one of Gary Moore’s most electrifying performances. Ready to learn it note for note? Let’s get started.