Brush With The Blues – Jeff Beck

"Brush With The Blues" by Jeff Beck is a masterclass in expressive guitar playing, showcasing his unique approach to blues improvisation, touch sensitivity, and dynamic phrasing. This note-for-note lesson from LickLibrary breaks down the signature techniques that make this song an unforgettable piece in modern blues guitar. Whether you're looking to develop smoother phrasing, enhance your note articulation, or master Jeff Beck’s touch-based style, this lesson will help refine your playing and expand your blues vocabulary. Michael Casswell breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorail.

About Jeff Beck and His Influence

Jeff Beck is one of the most influential and innovative guitarists of all time, known for his ability to blend blues, rock, and fusion with unparalleled expressiveness. Unlike many guitarists who rely heavily on picks and aggressive strumming, Beck’s approach is rooted in finger-style playing, subtle vibrato, and a nuanced control of tone and dynamics. His work has inspired countless musicians, from Eric Clapton to Joe Bonamassa, demonstrating how blues can evolve into a highly personal and expressive art form.

Guitar Techniques Featured in This Lesson

Finger-style and Touch Sensitivity

Jeff Beck’s signature approach to playing involves using his fingers rather than a pick, allowing for an incredible level of control over dynamics and articulation. This technique enables fluid transitions between soft, delicate notes and aggressive, percussive attacks, making the guitar almost "speak." Learning this technique helps improve expression and makes phrasing more natural and connected.

Vibrato

Beck’s vibrato is unique, often wide and vocal-like, giving his notes a singing quality. He achieves this by subtly manipulating the pitch with his fingers, adding emotion to each note. Developing a strong vibrato technique enhances sustain and allows for a more expressive playing style.

Slides

Slides play a crucial role in Beck’s phrasing, helping him connect notes in a smooth and flowing manner. By sliding between different notes and positions, he creates a legato feel that makes his playing sound effortless. Mastering slides improves fluidity and helps build a more lyrical approach to soloing.

Bluesy Bends

A defining characteristic of Beck’s playing is his ability to bend notes with extreme precision. Unlike standard string bends, Beck often bends to microtones, creating an expressive and vocal-like quality. Learning this technique helps develop pitch accuracy and emotional depth in blues solos.

Unison Bends

By bending one string while keeping another stationary, Beck creates a rich and slightly dissonant tension that adds intensity to his phrasing. Unison bends are an essential blues-rock technique that enhances the expressive quality of solos.

Pinched Harmonics

Beck frequently adds pinched harmonics to his phrases, producing sharp, squealing overtones that cut through the mix. This technique adds an aggressive edge to blues playing and is useful for creating contrast between softer and more powerful notes.

Tremolo Picking

Used sparingly in "Brush With The Blues," Beck’s tremolo picking technique allows him to sustain notes with a rapid, fluttering effect. This is particularly useful for building intensity in solos and creating dramatic climaxes.

Double-Stop Bends

Another key element of Beck’s style is his use of double-stop bends, where two notes are bent simultaneously to create a powerful bluesy harmony. This technique adds thickness to lead lines and enhances the vocal-like quality of solos.

Rakes

Beck often uses rakes to add percussive attack before striking a note, creating a sense of drama and anticipation. This technique improves picking accuracy and adds an aggressive flair to blues phrasing.

Two-Handed Tapping

Although not as prominent in traditional blues, Beck occasionally incorporates two-handed tapping to create unique melodic runs. This technique allows for rapid note articulation and adds a modern touch to blues solos.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Fingerstyle
• Vibrato
• Slides
• Bluesy Bends
• Unison Bends
• Pinched Harmonics
• Tremolo Picking
• Double-Stop Bends
• Rakes
• Two-Handed Tapping

By mastering these techniques, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Jeff Beck’s unique playing style and enhance your overall expressiveness on the guitar. Whether you're a blues enthusiast or a rock player looking to add more finesse to your solos, this lesson will provide the tools needed to elevate your guitar playing.