Cryin' by Joe Satriani

Joe Satriani’s "Cryin’" is a beautiful, emotive instrumental ballad that showcases Satriani’s deep mastery of expressive guitar techniques. With its melodic phrasing, intricate dynamics, and soulful articulation, "Cryin’" is a must-learn for guitarists looking to develop control over expressive elements and lead guitar techniques. This song lesson focuses on key guitar techniques that are not only vital to Satriani’s style but also essential tools for any guitarist wanting to enhance their expressiveness, precision, and creativity.

In this breakdown, we'll cover the specific guitar techniques used in "Cryin’", with a focus on how each technique contributes to the song and the benefits of mastering them. These techniques range from vibrato and legato to more advanced methods like tapped harmonics and whammy bar tricks, which allow players to fully express the depth and feel of the song. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Joe Satriani

Joe Satriani, one of the most influential guitar virtuosos in rock and instrumental guitar music, is known for his ability to blend technical proficiency with emotive playing. He has influenced generations of guitarists with his innovative use of the guitar, incorporating a wide variety of techniques into his playing. Satriani's fluid phrasing, melodic sense, and technical precision are trademarks of his style. "Cryin’" exemplifies his ability to combine both soulful expression and technical prowess, making him an enduring influence on players across genres.

Techniques Covered in This Lesson

Vibrato

In "Cryin’", Satriani makes extensive use of vibrato, where the pitch of a note is subtly bent back and forth to add emotion and sustain. The vibrato technique is essential for giving the notes a "voice," making your playing sound more lyrical and dynamic. Learning vibrato enhances control over sustain and expressiveness, allowing guitarists to convey deep emotion with every note.

Legato

Another prominent technique used in this track is legato, where notes are smoothly connected without the use of heavy picking. In "Cryin’", Satriani uses hammer-ons and pull-offs to create fluid, seamless runs. Mastering legato will help you improve the fluidity of your playing, allowing for fast, smooth passages that are essential for melodic solos.

Tapped Harmonics

Tapped harmonics add a unique, bell-like sound to the track, allowing notes to chime out with clarity and a sparkling harmonic quality. Satriani often employs this technique to add texture and complexity to his solos. Learning tapped harmonics can significantly expand your tonal palette and make your playing stand out in both lead and rhythm sections.

String Bending

String bending is an expressive technique that Satriani uses throughout "Cryin’" to push notes beyond their normal pitch, evoking vocal-like qualities. String bends allow the guitarist to create tension and release within a solo, adding to the emotional impact. This technique is essential for those looking to improve their lead playing, as it adds dynamic variation and expressiveness.

Whammy Bar Tricks

Satriani is famous for his creative use of the whammy bar, and "Cryin’" showcases several of his signature whammy bar tricks. By using the whammy bar for pitch modulation and dramatic dive bombs, Satriani adds dramatic expression to his playing. Mastering whammy bar techniques gives you a wider range of sound manipulation, making your solos more dynamic and unpredictable.

Alternate Picking

While much of Satriani's soloing in "Cryin’" features smooth legato runs, sections of the song also require precise alternate picking. This technique involves picking down and up strokes alternately, improving speed and efficiency. Alternate picking is critical for developing speed and precision, especially in faster melodic runs.

Hammer-ons and Pull-offs

Used in combination with legato, hammer-ons and pull-offs are integral to many of Satriani's flowing phrases in "Cryin'". These techniques reduce the need for picking every note, helping to create smooth and fast melodic lines. Incorporating hammer-ons and pull-offs will enhance your ability to play fluidly across the fretboard with less effort.

Pinched Harmonics

Satriani’s solos often feature pinched harmonics, which produce sharp, high-pitched squeals by using the edge of the thumb on the picking hand. These harmonics add an aggressive, biting edge to notes, especially during the more intense moments in "Cryin'". Mastering pinched harmonics will give you the ability to add distinctive tonal variety to your playing.

Slides

Slides are used throughout "Cryin’" to smoothly transition between notes and add a vocal-like quality to the melodies. This technique helps to connect different parts of the fretboard with minimal effort, adding a sense of continuity and fluidity to your playing. Learning slides enhances your ability to create seamless transitions between notes and phrases.

Tremolo Picking

In some sections of "Cryin’", Satriani uses tremolo picking to add intensity to the melodies. Tremolo picking involves rapid alternate picking on a single note, creating a sustained, dramatic effect. This technique is crucial for building tension in solos and adding a sense of urgency to the music.

Double Stop Bends

Double stop bends are another key technique used in the song, where two strings are bent simultaneously to create harmonically rich and expressive sounds. Learning to execute double stop bends effectively will add more depth and complexity to your solos.

Guitar Techniques Used in "Cryin'"

Here’s a list of the guitar techniques covered in this lesson that you can explore further:

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Tapped Harmonics
• String Bending
• Whammy Bar Tricks
• Pinched Harmonics
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Slides
• Double Stop Bends
• Tremolo Picking

Each of these techniques plays a crucial role in shaping the expressive and technical nature of "Cryin’", making it an invaluable song for guitarists aiming to push their playing to the next level.