Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan

The "Texas Flood" by Stevie Ray Vaughan is one of the most iconic blues tracks of all time, showcasing Vaughan’s extraordinary command of the guitar and his signature Texas blues style. This song, from his debut album Texas Flood (1983), captures the essence of blues with its raw emotion, dynamic guitar work, and soulful phrasing. Our in-depth guitar lesson will teach you to play this classic note-for-note, focusing on a variety of essential guitar techniques that define Vaughan’s sound.

In this lesson, you’ll learn several advanced techniques that will not only help you master this song but also enhance your overall blues guitar playing. Jamie Humphries dives into the breakdown of the techniques you will encounter in this song.

About Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan, a Texas-born guitar virtuoso, is revered for his powerful, soulful blues playing and his ability to channel emotion through the guitar. Vaughan was heavily influenced by legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, and Buddy Guy. His aggressive, yet precise playing style and his ability to blend Texas blues with rock and jazz elements left a lasting mark on the world of guitar. His playing on “Texas Flood” is a perfect showcase of his technical ability, emotional depth, and mastery of blues guitar.

Techniques Explored in Texas Flood

String Bending

One of the most prevalent techniques in "Texas Flood" is string bending. Vaughan’s ability to bend strings and hit the perfect pitch is a key feature in his playing, allowing him to add expressiveness and tension to his solos. By mastering string bending, you'll develop greater control over your guitar’s sound, enabling you to make each note sing with emotion.

Vibrato

Stevie Ray Vaughan's vibrato is unmistakable, giving his notes a rich, singing quality. He uses a wide, controlled vibrato that adds depth and sustain to his playing. Learning how to execute a strong vibrato is essential for any aspiring blues guitarist as it adds personality and feel to your solos. This lesson focuses on helping you develop your own unique vibrato style.

Double Stops

Double stops are a staple of Vaughan’s playing in "Texas Flood". This technique involves playing two notes simultaneously, often bending one note while keeping the other static. It creates a rich, harmonic texture that gives the solo a fuller, more dynamic sound. Mastering double stops will enhance your ability to play more complex, bluesy passages and fills.

Slides

Slides are another key element in Vaughan’s phrasing. Sliding into notes adds fluidity to his playing, making his licks sound seamless and connected. This lesson covers how to use slides effectively, enabling you to transition between notes with grace and precision, which is essential in blues playing.

Bluesy Bends

Bluesy bends are a defining feature of Texas-style blues. Vaughan’s use of half-step and full-step bends brings out the soulful nuances of each note. By mastering these bends, you'll be able to replicate the same kind of emotion-packed phrasing found in “Texas Flood.”

Hammer-ons and Pull-offs

Hammer-ons and pull-offs are frequently used in Vaughan’s solos to create fluid, legato passages. These techniques allow for fast, smooth note transitions, which are critical for blues improvisation and phrasing. Practicing these will give your playing a more polished and professional sound.

Rakes

Vaughan also incorporates rakes into his solos, a technique that involves muting the strings with the palm of the hand before striking the notes. This adds a percussive, aggressive attack to the notes, giving the solo a raw, edgy sound. Learning to execute rakes will add power and intensity to your playing.

Alternate Picking

In this song, Vaughan uses a combination of alternate picking and legato to achieve fast, fluid passages. Alternate picking involves alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes, which increases speed and precision. This lesson will help you build your picking hand technique, ensuring you can play fast blues runs with accuracy and consistency.

Open String Riffs

Vaughan frequently employs open string riffs throughout "Texas Flood", which adds a droning, resonant quality to certain passages. This technique is particularly effective in blues, as it allows for rhythmic and harmonic interaction between fretted notes and open strings.

Chord Progressions and Barre Chords

The foundation of "Texas Flood" is its classic 12-bar blues chord progression. This lesson breaks down the progression and explores how Vaughan uses variations of barre chords to add subtle texture and variation. Mastering these chord progressions is vital for any blues guitarist, as they form the backbone of countless blues songs.

Guitar Techniques Used in Texas Flood

Here’s a list of all the guitar techniques you'll explore in our "Texas Flood" lesson. Each of these techniques plays a crucial role in recreating Vaughan's legendary sound:

• String Bending
• Vibrato
• Double Stops
• Slides
• Bluesy Bends
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Rakes
• Alternate Picking
• Open String Riffs
• Barre Chords
• Chord Progressions

By focusing on these essential guitar techniques, this lesson will not only teach you to play “Texas Flood” note-for-note but also improve your overall ability to play the blues with style, precision, and emotion. Whether you are a beginner looking to expand your skill set or an experienced player seeking to refine your technique, this lesson will provide valuable insights into the guitar mastery of Stevie Ray Vaughan.