Need Your Love So Bad - Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac's "Need Your Love So Bad" is a blues classic that showcases delicate guitar work filled with emotion and technique. This song is a perfect study piece for guitarists who want to develop their blues playing, focusing on soulful bends, tasteful phrasing, and a deep connection to the music. In this detailed lesson, we break down each of the core techniques found in this piece, allowing players of all levels to truly master the song and take their playing to the next level. Michael Casswell breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

The Guitarist Behind "Need Your Love So Bad"

The original recording of "Need Your Love So Bad" features the iconic guitar work of Peter Green. Known for his emotional depth and soulful blues playing, Green was a founding member of Fleetwood Mac and one of the most influential British blues guitarists of the late 1960s. His playing is marked by its simplicity, restraint, and deep, emotive quality, and this song is a prime example of his ability to convey feeling through every note. Peter Green's use of tone, phrasing, and subtle techniques like vibrato and string bending set a blueprint for many guitarists who came after him. Learning his style can offer invaluable insights into phrasing and blues guitar expression.

Song Breakdown & Techniques Covered

String Bending

The art of string bending is integral to the expressive nature of this song. Peter Green’s use of string bends in "Need Your Love So Bad" adds an emotional, vocal-like quality to the lead lines, allowing him to "speak" with his guitar. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to execute smooth and controlled bends that are in tune, which will help you develop a more expressive lead guitar voice. Mastering string bending not only improves your feel for the guitar but also enhances your ear for pitch, which is crucial for all lead players.

Vibrato

Vibrato is another essential technique you’ll focus on in this lesson. Green's subtle and controlled vibrato is a signature of his playing, adding a layer of richness and emotion to each sustained note. Vibrato involves oscillating the pitch of a note by slightly bending and releasing the string in rapid succession. Learning this technique helps you sustain notes more effectively and adds a professional, polished sound to your playing.

Slides

In "Need Your Love So Bad," Green frequently employs slides, seamlessly connecting notes for a fluid, smooth sound. Sliding between notes creates a more legato feel, giving your playing a natural and lyrical quality. Mastering slides will not only improve your fretboard navigation but also enhance your ability to move gracefully between phrases.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Hammer-ons and pull-offs are subtle but essential techniques in this track. These legato techniques allow you to create quick note changes without picking each one, which is useful for faster passages or smooth transitions between notes. By incorporating hammer-ons and pull-offs into your playing, you can increase your speed and fluidity, making your solos more dynamic and expressive.

Double Stops

Double stops are a critical technique used in this song's lead and rhythm parts. Double stops involve playing two notes simultaneously, often harmonising them for a fuller sound. In this lesson, you'll learn how to incorporate double stops effectively, adding a rich, harmonised texture to your soloing and rhythm work. This technique is perfect for expanding your blues vocabulary and making your playing sound more sophisticated.

Bluesy Bends

Green’s use of bluesy bends—bending notes to achieve the microtones that fall between traditional notes—is another hallmark of this track. This bending style gives your playing an authentic blues feel, helping you to emulate the vocal-like qualities of blues guitar. Practicing bluesy bends helps refine your finger strength and ear for pitch, crucial skills for any guitarist serious about blues.

Sustain

In "Need Your Love So Bad," sustain plays a vital role in delivering the song's emotional impact. Sustain refers to the length of time a note rings out after being played. This lesson will teach you how to achieve the perfect amount of sustain, whether through amp settings, pedal use, or technique, ensuring that each note sings out with clarity and emotional weight. Improving sustain is particularly beneficial for creating longer, more expressive solos.

Chord Progressions

Lastly, the chord progressions in this song are classic examples of blues harmony, with smooth transitions between minor and dominant chords that evoke a melancholy and soulful mood. Understanding and mastering these chord progressions will deepen your knowledge of the blues and expand your ability to play in a variety of musical settings.

Guitar Techniques in this Lesson

Here is a list of guitar techniques used in the "Need Your Love So Bad" lesson:

• String Bending
• Vibrato
• Slides
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Double Stops
• Bluesy Bends
• Sustain
• Chord Progressions

Learning and mastering these techniques will not only help you to play "Need Your Love So Bad" with confidence but will also develop your overall guitar skills, allowing you to bring more emotion and finesse to your playing. By the end of the lesson, you'll be able to capture the essence of Peter Green's emotive and soulful style while expanding your own guitar vocabulary.