Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen

"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen is a timeless classic, blending rock and roll with Freddie Mercury's infectious energy. This Licklibrary guitar lesson meticulously breaks down the song, teaching you how to replicate its signature sound and providing invaluable insights into its techniques. Each section focuses on techniques that build not only your ability to play this iconic track but also improve your overall guitar proficiency. Michael Casswell breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Brian May

Brian May, Queen’s legendary guitarist, delivers a masterclass in tasteful playing with "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." Known for his versatility, May blends rock, blues, and country influences in the song, showcasing his ability to complement Freddie Mercury’s vision. His guitar parts highlight his signature tone and technique, adding depth and texture to the track. Studying May’s work in this song provides an excellent opportunity to explore melodic phrasing, rhythmic precision, and expressive techniques.

Breakdown of Techniques in the Lesson

Chord Progressions

The song heavily relies on classic chord progressions that echo the 1950s rock and roll era. Learning these progressions not only helps you master the song but also deepens your understanding of how chords create mood and movement in music.

• Benefit: Mastering chord progressions enhances your ability to recognize patterns in songs and compose your own music.

Finger-Picking and Hybrid Picking

Brian May incorporates delicate finger-picking patterns in some sections, blending them with hybrid picking to achieve a unique tone.

• Benefit: Developing finger-picking and hybrid picking strengthens your right-hand technique and increases your ability to play rhythmically intricate parts.

String Bending

The song includes tasteful string bending to add expression to the lead parts, a hallmark of Brian May’s style.

• Benefit: Mastering string bending improves pitch control and emotional expression in solos.

Slides

Smooth slides are integral to connecting phrases in "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," providing fluid transitions between notes.

• Benefit: Practicing slides enhances your ability to move across the fretboard seamlessly.

Palm Muting

The track’s rhythmic drive owes much to effective palm muting, which keeps the strumming tight and percussive.

• Benefit: Mastering palm muting improves your control over dynamics and adds punch to rhythm playing.

Barre Chords

Mastery of barre chords is essential for playing the song’s rhythm guitar parts. These versatile shapes enable you to navigate the fretboard efficiently.

• Benefit: Practicing barre chords builds finger strength and increases your chord vocabulary.

Syncopated Rhythms

The song’s rhythm features subtle syncopated rhythms, adding a touch of swing and complexity.

• Benefit: Learning syncopated rhythms improves your timing and ability to groove with the music.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

The solo includes fluid hammer-ons and pull-offs, creating fast, melodic passages.

• Benefit: These techniques increase your finger agility and ability to play smooth legato phrases.

Techniques Covered in This Lesson

• Chord Progressions
• Finger-Picking
• Hybrid Picking
• String Bending
• Slides
• Palm Muting
• Barre Chords
• Syncopated Rhythms
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs

This lesson is not just about learning "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" but also about equipping yourself with a toolbox of essential guitar techniques. Perfect for guitarists of all levels, this comprehensive breakdown ensures you master the song and take your playing to the next level!