Just Looking by Stereophonics

"Just Looking" by Stereophonics is an iconic track that brings together melody, depth, and impressive guitar work to create a distinct rock sound that resonates with listeners. At LickLibrary, our note-for-note guitar lesson for "Just Looking" gives players the tools to replicate and appreciate every nuanced note, chord, and technique that make this song unforgettable. This lesson is designed to help guitarists capture the essence of Stereophonics’ style by focusing on a range of guitar techniques, enabling players to develop their skills and enhance their musical expression. Danny Gill breaks down this indie anthem in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitar Player

Stereophonics’ lead guitarist on "Just Looking," Kelly Jones, has a distinctive playing style that blends traditional rock influences with a gritty, soulful touch. His technique often incorporates raw, melodic phrasing with a focus on dynamic chord voicings and rhythmic depth. Kelly’s guitar work on this track is a mix of rhythmic power and melodic sensitivity, bringing life to the song’s emotional themes. His approach to guitar playing has inspired countless musicians, and learning his techniques can add a new dimension to any guitarist's toolkit, helping players expand their versatility and interpretive skill.

Technique Breakdown

Power Chords

Power chords are foundational to the driving rock sound of "Just Looking." These chords emphasise the root and fifth notes, providing a robust, powerful sound without complex harmonics. Learning power chords not only equips players to tackle rock songs but also builds finger strength and improves hand positioning. Power chords are essential in rock music and are relatively easy to learn, making them great for beginners and experienced players alike.

Palm Muting

The use of palm muting in "Just Looking" creates a rhythmic, percussive sound that adds texture and dynamic control to the song. Palm muting is achieved by lightly resting the palm on the strings near the bridge, reducing the note's sustain. Mastering this technique allows players to add punch and clarity to their playing, making it a versatile tool for creating rhythmic depth and improving timing.

Slides

Slides are used throughout "Just Looking" to add smooth transitions between notes, enhancing the song's fluidity. By sliding fingers up or down the fretboard, players create a legato effect that is both expressive and dynamic. Practicing slides can improve finger strength and dexterity, helping guitarists create seamless connections between notes in any piece they play.

String Bending

String bending is a technique that gives "Just Looking" its emotive, bluesy feel, particularly in the song’s solo and melodic passages. By pushing or pulling a string sideways, players can raise a note’s pitch, often to create expressive vibrato. String bending not only builds finger strength and control but also enhances a player’s expressiveness, helping them convey emotion and nuance.

Vibrato

Vibrato is essential in Kelly Jones' expressive style, adding warmth and sustain to individual notes. By oscillating the pitch slightly, vibrato breathes life into otherwise static notes. For guitarists, mastering vibrato allows for greater emotional range and sustain, giving notes a vocal-like quality that is invaluable in solos and lead lines.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Hammer-ons and pull-offs are used throughout the riffs in "Just Looking" to create fluid, legato phrasing. These techniques allow players to play notes without picking each one, producing a smooth, continuous sound. Practicing hammer-ons and pull-offs improves finger agility and coordination, essential for fast passages and melodic phrasing.

Barre Chords

Barre chords play a prominent role in the song’s chord progression, allowing for a fuller, more comprehensive sound. Mastering barre chords can significantly improve a guitarist's versatility, enabling them to play complex chord voicings anywhere on the fretboard. Barre chords also enhance finger strength, making it easier to switch between different chord shapes and maintain rhythm.

Alternate Picking

To keep up with the song's tempo and rhythmic demands, alternate picking is a vital technique used in "Just Looking." This involves alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes, providing greater speed and efficiency. Learning alternate picking is beneficial for any guitarist aiming to improve their precision, timing, and stamina, particularly in faster passages or complex rhythms.

Octave Melodies

"Just Looking" features octave melodies that provide harmonic richness and add depth to the guitar’s role in the song. By playing the same note in two different octaves simultaneously, octave melodies create a fuller sound that enhances the song’s atmosphere. Practicing this technique helps with fretboard knowledge, finger placement, and finger independence, making it easier for players to navigate complex melodies.

Benefits of Learning These Techniques

Each technique in "Just Looking" offers unique benefits to developing guitarists. Mastering power chords strengthens hand position and provides a foundational rock skill, while palm muting adds percussive elements to one’s playing, essential for creating rhythmic depth. Techniques like slides and string bending introduce melodic fluidity and emotional expressiveness, key to enhancing phrasing. Vibrato and hammer-ons/pull-offs refine a player’s control over notes, making it easier to convey subtle dynamics and articulate complex phrases. Barre chords and alternate picking improve versatility and timing, and octave melodies deepen fretboard knowledge and add harmonic richness. Each of these techniques builds upon the other, helping guitarists develop a well-rounded and expressive playing style.

List of Guitar Techniques in "Just Looking"

• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Slides
• String Bending
• Vibrato
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Barre Chords
• Alternate Picking
• Octave Melodies

Each of these techniques plays a crucial role in making "Just Looking" by Stereophonics a remarkable track for guitarists to learn and master. Through this lesson, guitarists can experience Kelly Jones’ unique style while honing essential skills that will enhance their playing across various musical genres.