Mary Had A Little Lamb - Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan’s rendition of Mary Had A Little Lamb is a masterclass in Texas blues guitar. This song, originally written by Buddy Guy, showcases Vaughan’s fiery, articulate playing, filled with expressive blues phrasing, intricate rhythmic patterns, and iconic lead techniques. At Licklibrary.com, our note-for-note guitar lesson teaches you how to play this blues classic, focusing on the essential techniques that make Vaughan’s style so legendary.

From smooth string bends to expressive double stops, this lesson provides an in-depth breakdown of Vaughan’s approach to rhythm and lead guitar, helping you to refine your blues playing and expand your overall technique. Jamie Humphries breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About Stevie Ray Vaughan & His Influence

Stevie Ray Vaughan was one of the most influential blues guitarists of all time. With his fiery technique and deep, soulful tone, he redefined blues guitar in the 1980s, blending Chicago blues, Texas blues, and rock influences into a unique and powerful style.

Drawing inspiration from legends like Albert King, Jimi Hendrix, and Buddy Guy, Vaughan popularised modern blues guitar, bringing it back into the mainstream with raw energy and technical prowess. His playing was characterised by aggressive picking, soulful vibrato, and incredible phrasing, setting the gold standard for blues-rock guitarists. Mary Had A Little Lamb is a perfect showcase of his signature Texas shuffle rhythm and fiery lead work, making it an essential song to learn for any aspiring blues guitarist.

Guitar Techniques Covered in This Lesson

Texas Shuffle Rhythm

One of the key elements of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s playing is his Texas shuffle rhythm. This technique involves a driving, syncopated rhythm pattern that gives the song its signature swing feel. Mastering this style will help improve your groove, timing, and right-hand control, allowing you to play with a more dynamic and engaging feel.

String Bending

Vaughan’s string bends are expressive and full of attitude. Learning to execute bends accurately ensures that your playing is both expressive and in tune. This technique helps develop finger strength, pitch control, and vibrato, all crucial for blues lead playing.

Double Stops

Double stops are used throughout Mary Had A Little Lamb to add depth and power to Vaughan’s blues licks. Mastering this technique allows you to incorporate rich harmonies into your solos and rhythm playing, making your guitar lines sound fuller and more dynamic.

Vibrato

SRV’s vibrato is one of the most defining aspects of his style. A controlled, expressive vibrato adds emotion and sustain to your notes, helping your solos to sing and stand out. Learning this technique will improve your ability to convey feeling and expression through your playing.

Slides

Slides are used extensively in Vaughan’s lead work, creating fluid and seamless transitions between notes. This technique enhances smooth phrasing and dynamic control, helping your solos flow more naturally.

Hammer-Ons & Pull-Offs

Hammer-ons and pull-offs contribute to the fluidity of Vaughan’s phrasing, allowing for rapid, legato-style runs. Mastering these techniques will help increase your speed and efficiency, enabling smoother, more connected note transitions.

Bluesy Bends

Vaughan often bends notes with microtonal precision, adding subtle blues inflections to his phrasing. This technique improves ear training and control, allowing you to add greater expressiveness to your lead playing.

Syncopated Rhythms

The rhythm guitar work in Mary Had A Little Lamb is driven by syncopation, meaning notes are played off the beat to create a swinging groove. Learning syncopated rhythms helps improve timing, feel, and right-hand coordination.

Open String Riffs

The song’s main riff features open strings, which add a snappy, percussive quality to the sound. Incorporating open string riffs into your playing improves dexterity and picking accuracy.

Palm Muting

Palm muting is used subtly to control dynamics and emphasise rhythmic accents. Developing this technique will give you greater control over your attack and tone, allowing you to switch between soft and aggressive playing styles seamlessly.

Chord Progressions

Understanding the blues chord progressions used in this song is essential for grasping how Vaughan constructs his rhythm parts. Learning these patterns will improve your ability to jam, improvise, and write blues-based music.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

Here’s a list of techniques covered in this lesson with links for further exploration:

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Double Stops
• String Bending
• Slides
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Syncopated Rhythms
• Open String Riffs
• Palm Muting
• Chord Progressions
• Bluesy Bends

By mastering Mary Had A Little Lamb, you’ll gain valuable blues guitar skills that will enhance your playing across multiple styles. Whether you're a blues enthusiast or just looking to refine your technique, this lesson from Licklibrary.com will give you the tools to play with authenticity and confidence.

Start learning today and bring Stevie Ray Vaughan’s legendary blues tone into your own playing!