Dive Deep into the Blues: Learn "Right Next Door" by Robert Cray with LickLibrary

At LickLibrary, we are thrilled to offer an exclusive guitar lesson for the blues classic "Right Next Door" by Robert Cray. This song, renowned for its emotional depth and technical finesse, provides an excellent platform for guitarists to enhance their skills through a variety of techniques such as string bending, hammer-ons, vibrato, and slides. Each lesson is crafted to help you not only play the song note-for-note but also to understand and implement these techniques in your playing style. This lesson is taught by Mitch Laddie.

Understanding Key Guitar Techniques in "Right Next Door"

String Bending

String bending is a pivotal technique in blues guitar, adding expressive vocal-like qualities to your playing. In "Right Next Door," bending is used to reach emotional peaks and add intensity to phrases. Learning to bend strings accurately helps in achieving the correct pitch and expressive depth, making your solos sound more fluid and emotionally resonant.

Hammer-Ons

Hammer-ons contribute to the legato, smooth sound of many guitar licks within this song. This technique involves plucking a string and then "hammering on" a finger to a higher fret without picking again. Mastering hammer-ons will allow you to play faster and more fluidly, increasing your efficiency in finger movements on the fretboard.

Vibrato

Vibrato involves slightly oscillating the pitch of a note to enhance its sustain and emotional expression. In "Right Next Door," vibrato is used to enrich the soulful passages and long-held notes, giving them a dynamic and living quality. This technique is essential for adding expression and can be the difference between a note that sings and one that falls flat.

Slides

Slides are seamlessly incorporated into the song to transition between notes and phrases gracefully. This technique, where you slide a finger along the string to another fret, creates a smooth, connected sound and is useful for emphasizing the fluidity of the blues scale.

The Influence of Robert Cray

Robert Cray stands as a monumental figure in the blues genre, known for his crisp guitar playing and soulful vocal abilities. His approach blends traditional blues with a modern sensibility, making his music accessible yet deeply rooted in blues traditions. Learning his songs offers not only a deep dive into refined guitar techniques but also a lesson in the emotional storytelling found in blues music. His influence is vast, inspiring guitarists around the world to explore the emotional depths of blues music through the guitar.

Benefits of Learning These Techniques

By focusing on these guitar techniques, viewers can expect several benefits:

• Enhanced Expressiveness: Techniques like vibrato and string bending allow for more expressive playing, making it easier to convey emotions through music.
• Improved Technical Skill: Skills such as hammer-ons and slides enhance general playability and technique, making complex passages more manageable.
• Versatile Playing Style: Mastering these techniques ensures that you can adapt to different styles of music, making you a more versatile and capable musician.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

At the end of this detailed study, you'll have a richer understanding and ability to perform the following guitar techniques, integral to many of our lessons at LickLibrary:

• String Bending
• Hammer-Ons
• Vibrato
• Slides

Embark on this musical journey with LickLibrary to master "Right Next Door" by Robert Cray and enrich your guitar playing with essential blues techniques. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn new skills or an advanced player aiming to polish your technique, this lesson is designed to elevate your musical prowess and deepen your connection to the blues.