'In The Morning' by Razorlight: A Complete Guitar Lesson
Razorlight’s song "In The Morning" is a powerful rock anthem that blends catchy melodies with intricate guitar work. For any aspiring guitarist looking to master the techniques used in modern rock, this Licklibrary lesson provides an in-depth, note-for-note breakdown of the song. Through this lesson, you'll explore a variety of essential guitar techniques that are not only crucial to mastering the song but also valuable for improving your overall playing style. This lesson focuses on key elements such as alternate picking, chord progressions, slides, and more. Michael Casswell breaks down this classic indie track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.
About the Guitarist: Johnny Borrell and Razorlight's Influence
Johnny Borrell, Razorlight's frontman and lead guitarist, is known for his distinctive approach to indie rock guitar playing. His work on "In The Morning" showcases a blend of rhythmic chord progressions and melodic riffs, creating a raw yet polished sound. Razorlight rose to fame during the early 2000s, influencing the indie rock scene with their straightforward yet expressive guitar work, often leaning into techniques that combine rhythmic precision and emotive leads. Borrell’s playing is notable for its ability to strike a balance between technical complexity and accessibility, making his style an inspiration for many guitarists.
Key Guitar Techniques in 'In The Morning'
Alternate Picking
One of the foundational techniques used in "In The Morning" is alternate picking. This technique involves alternating between downward and upward strokes with your pick, offering speed and precision. In this song, alternate picking is used extensively in the main riffs to create a tight, rhythmic feel. By mastering alternate picking, you'll develop greater control over your picking hand, allowing for more speed and accuracy in your playing. This is a great exercise for building endurance, particularly in faster passages.
Chord Progressions
The driving force behind the rhythm section of the song is its chord progressions. Razorlight uses open chords mixed with some barre chords to create the song’s punchy and energetic feel. Understanding how to navigate different chord shapes and transition smoothly between them will not only help you play this song but also improve your overall rhythm playing. Chord progressions are the foundation of countless rock songs, making this an essential technique for any guitarist.
Slides
Throughout "In The Morning", slides are employed to add fluidity between notes, especially in the intro and verse sections. Sliding between notes helps to maintain a smooth connection between chords and melodic phrases. It’s an excellent way to make your playing sound more expressive and less rigid. Mastering slides will give your lead lines a more connected and lyrical quality, adding emotion and sophistication to your solos.
String Bending
String bending is used in some of the lead sections of the song to give the notes an expressive, vocal-like quality. Bending notes allows you to reach pitches between frets and is a cornerstone of rock and blues guitar. In "In The Morning", these bends are subtle but add emotional depth to the melodic lines. Learning string bending will improve your ability to articulate melodies with more feeling, making your solos stand out.
Power Chords
Like many rock songs, "In The Morning" heavily utilises power chords to give the song its driving energy. Power chords are simple, two-note chords that are essential in rock music, providing a full, punchy sound. This lesson will help you perfect the use of power chords across the fretboard, giving you the skills to play many other rock and punk songs with ease.
Vibrato
Johnny Borrell uses vibrato to sustain notes and add expression, particularly in the song's more melodic sections. Vibrato involves subtly bending and releasing the note to create a wavering pitch, making sustained notes sound more dynamic and alive. Mastering vibrato will give you better control over your tone and add emotion to your solos.
Palm Muting
The verses of "In The Morning" incorporate palm muting, a technique where you lightly rest your palm on the strings near the bridge while picking. This mutes the strings slightly, giving the rhythm a more percussive, controlled sound. Palm muting is crucial for creating dynamics within a song, allowing you to switch between quieter, more rhythmic passages and loud, open strumming sections. It’s also an essential technique for controlling distortion in rock music, helping you shape the overall feel of the song.
Conclusion
Learning "In The Morning" by Razorlight will introduce you to a range of essential guitar techniques that are useful not only for this song but for expanding your rock guitar toolkit. Whether it’s mastering the rhythmic precision of alternate picking, exploring expressive techniques like vibrato and string bending, or perfecting the use of power chords and palm muting, each of these techniques will make you a more versatile guitarist.
Guitar Techniques Covered:
By diving into these techniques, you'll not only be able to play "In The Morning" accurately, but you'll also improve your overall guitar playing, opening doors to other rock classics.
