Running Up That Hill - Solo Guitar Arrangement by Sam Bell

Kate Bush’s iconic song "Running Up That Hill" is a timeless piece that blends deep emotion with rich musical textures. In this exclusive guitar lesson, Sam Bell delivers a masterful solo guitar arrangement, breaking down every detail to help guitarists play the song note for note. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, this lesson brings the beauty of the song to life through a combination of essential guitar techniques and expert guidance.

Sam Bell’s arrangement retains the spirit of Kate Bush’s original while adding nuances that make it an exciting solo performance. In this detailed lesson, Sam guides you through the technical aspects of the song, making complex parts accessible while focusing on the essential skills needed to perform this piece convincingly.

Key Techniques Covered in This Lesson

Slides

One of the prominent techniques in "Running Up That Hill" is the use of slides. Slides allow for smooth transitions between notes, giving the piece a flowing and seamless feel. This technique also helps add an expressive touch to melodies, emulating the vocal qualities of Kate Bush’s original performance. Learning slides improves your finger control and your ability to shift quickly between positions on the neck, enhancing overall dexterity.

Legato

Legato playing is essential in this song for creating the continuous, connected phrasing that mirrors the synth-driven ambiance of the original track. By practicing legato, you will develop smoother transitions between notes without the need for heavy picking. This will enhance your musical phrasing, giving your playing a more fluid and polished sound.

Arpeggios

Sam Bell’s arrangement also incorporates arpeggios, breaking down chords into individual notes to capture the harmonic richness of the song. Arpeggios are a powerful tool for guitarists, helping you develop precision in picking and fretwork. They are also crucial for adding texture to your playing and expanding your knowledge of chord structures across the fretboard.

Vibrato

Vibrato is a key expressive tool in the arrangement, adding depth and emotion to held notes. This technique allows the player to give life to sustained notes, making them resonate with warmth and feeling. Learning vibrato helps in developing a personal touch in your playing, allowing you to express more emotion through subtle finger movements.

String Bending

In this lesson, Sam focuses on accurate string bending to hit the desired pitch perfectly, an essential technique when playing the melody lines. String bending, when done right, adds drama and expression to your playing. Practicing this will help with pitch control, allowing you to confidently bend to specific notes while maintaining tuning accuracy.

Hybrid Picking

Hybrid picking, combining the pick and fingers, is used to bring out certain melodic lines while keeping the bass notes grounded. This technique allows for a more dynamic and textured playing style. Mastering hybrid picking can enhance your versatility as a guitarist, enabling you to play complex passages with greater speed and efficiency.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Hammer-ons and pull-offs are used in various sections of the song to add fluidity to the notes and maintain the rhythmic pulse. These techniques help increase finger strength and dexterity, which in turn leads to smoother, more connected playing. Incorporating them into your repertoire will allow you to execute faster, more intricate passages without relying solely on picking.

Guitarists on "Running Up That Hill"

Though Kate Bush is primarily known for her ethereal vocals and keyboard work, the guitar plays an important, though subtle, role in "Running Up That Hill." The atmospheric textures and carefully chosen guitar parts in the original track help build its dynamic range. Although guitarists may not be at the forefront of Kate Bush's original recording, their contributions add crucial elements to the song’s ethereal soundscape.

Throughout her career, Bush has worked with various top-tier musicians, including guitarist Alan Murphy, known for his session work and contribution to 1980s music. Murphy's fluid, textural playing style helped shape the atmospheric sound of Bush's work, influencing countless guitarists who seek to combine technical skill with emotional expression. While "Running Up That Hill" is known more for its synthesizer lines, the guitar arrangement for this lesson captures the song’s haunting beauty in a way that can only be experienced through string and fretboard.

Why Learn These Techniques?

Learning the guitar techniques from "Running Up That Hill" offers several key benefits. Not only will you be able to play a beautifully arranged version of this classic song, but you'll also develop essential guitar skills that are applicable across genres and styles. Whether it's mastering legato for smoother phrasing, slides for expressive transitions, or arpeggios for chordal richness, these techniques form the foundation of a well-rounded guitarist’s toolkit.

By the end of this lesson, you'll have a deeper understanding of musical expression on the guitar, better control over dynamics and phrasing, and the ability to tackle more complex solo arrangements with confidence.

Guitar Techniques Covered

Here’s a comprehensive list of guitar techniques used in Sam Bell’s lesson on "Running Up That Hill." Click the links to dive deeper into each technique and enhance your playing:

• Vibrato
• Slides
• Legato
• Arpeggios
• String Bending
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Hybrid Picking

This lesson not only covers the technical aspects of "Running Up That Hill" but also offers a rewarding exploration of the emotional depth that the song conveys. Take your playing to the next level with these indispensable guitar techniques!

List of Guitar Techniques Used

• Fingerpicking
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs

This structured lesson is designed to elevate your playing skills and musical understanding, making it a must-try for every guitarist looking to push their boundaries and explore new musical territories. Join us at Licklibrary.com and take your guitar playing to the next level with "Learn to Play Running Up That Hill by Sam Bell"!