"Waitin' For The Bus" by ZZ Top - Note for Note Guitar Lesson

ZZ Top’s “Waitin’ For The Bus,” the opening track from their legendary 1973 album Tres Hombres, is a high-energy blues-rock anthem that showcases Billy Gibbons’ signature guitar style. With its infectious groove and gritty tone, the song is built on a foundation of essential guitar techniques such as altered tunings, vibrato, slides, and string bending. In this note-for-note guitar lesson, we’ll break down these techniques to help you master “Waitin’ For The Bus” and improve your overall guitar playing. This lesson is taught by Danny Gill.

Techniques Used

Altered Tunings

One of the key features of “Waitin’ For The Bus” is its use of altered tunings. ZZ Top often employed non-standard tunings to create unique chord voicings and tonal textures, and this track is no exception. In “Waitin’ For The Bus,” Billy Gibbons uses a tuning that helps emphasize the song’s bluesy feel, allowing for open-string riffs and fuller-sounding chords that give the song its signature punch. Altered tunings also allow for easier access to certain chords and fingerings, which contribute to the track’s flowing rhythm.

Learning to play in altered tunings opens up new sonic possibilities and can inspire creativity in your guitar playing. It allows you to explore different chord shapes, intervals, and open-string riffs that are difficult to achieve in standard tuning. Altered tunings are often used in blues, rock, and folk music, and mastering this technique will expand your tonal palette, helping you discover new ways to approach rhythm and lead playing. By using altered tunings, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the fretboard and develop a more versatile skill set.

Vibrato

Vibrato is one of Billy Gibbons’ most defining techniques, and it’s featured prominently in “Waitin’ For The Bus.” Vibrato involves oscillating the pitch of a note by moving the fretting hand back and forth, creating a singing, sustained sound. Gibbons applies his signature wide vibrato to long, sustained notes, giving them an expressive, vocal-like quality that enhances the emotional depth of his playing. The vibrato in this song adds warmth and character to the melodic lines, especially during the solo sections.

Vibrato is essential for adding expression and personality to your playing. It allows you to hold notes for longer periods and gives them a more dynamic, engaging feel. Vibrato also improves your control over pitch and dynamics, allowing you to shape your notes more creatively. Mastering this technique will greatly enhance your lead playing, giving you the ability to add depth and emotion to your solos. Vibrato is a key element in blues and rock guitar playing, and learning it will take your guitar skills to the next level.

Slides

Slides are another key technique used throughout “Waitin’ For The Bus.” A slide involves pressing down on a note and then gliding your finger up or down the fretboard to a new note without lifting your finger. Billy Gibbons uses slides to create smooth transitions between notes, adding fluidity and movement to the song’s lead and rhythm guitar parts. Slides help connect different phrases and give the song its distinctive bluesy flow.

Slides allow you to move between notes seamlessly, giving your playing a more connected, flowing feel. This technique is perfect for adding a smooth, legato quality to your guitar lines, making them sound more natural and expressive. Learning slides will also improve your fretboard navigation, helping you develop better control over dynamics and tone. Slides are a staple in blues and rock guitar, and mastering this technique will add fluidity to your playing, making your solos and riffs sound more polished and professional.

String Bending

String bending is a signature technique in Billy Gibbons’ playing style, and it’s featured prominently in “Waitin’ For The Bus.” A string bend involves pushing or pulling a string to raise its pitch, giving the note a vocal-like, expressive quality. Gibbons uses string bending to create bluesy phrases that give the song its emotional depth. His bends often aim for pitches between standard notes, adding a “soulful” touch to his solos and lead lines.

String bending is essential for adding emotion and expression to your solos. It allows you to manipulate pitch in a way that mimics the human voice, making your playing more dynamic and engaging. Learning to bend notes accurately will improve your finger strength and control, helping you achieve the desired pitch with confidence. String bending is a cornerstone of blues and rock guitar, and mastering this technique will enhance your ability to play expressive, emotive solos that stand out.

The Guitarist Behind the Song

Billy Gibbons, the driving force behind ZZ Top’s iconic sound, is renowned for his unique blend of Texas blues, rock, and psychedelic influences. Gibbons’ playing on “Waitin’ For The Bus” showcases his ability to fuse gritty, powerful riffs with tasteful, melodic lead work. His use of altered tunings, vibrato, slides, and string bending creates a rich, textured sound that defines ZZ Top’s music. Gibbons has influenced generations of guitarists with his minimalist yet highly effective style, combining technical skill with raw emotion.

Gibbons’ innovative approach to guitar playing helped shape the sound of blues-rock in the 1970s and beyond. His use of techniques like altered tunings and vibrato adds a distinctive flavor to his playing, while his mastery of slides and string bending gives his solos a soulful, vocal-like quality. Learning to play “Waitin’ For The Bus” is a great way to explore Gibbons’ unique style and develop your own guitar skills.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Vibrato
• Slides
• String Bending
• Altered Tunings

By mastering the techniques found in “Waitin’ For The Bus,” you’ll not only learn to play one of ZZ Top’s most iconic tracks but also improve your overall guitar skills. Altered tunings will open up new tonal possibilities, while vibrato and string bending will add depth and emotion to your solos. Slides will help you create smoother transitions between notes, making your playing sound more fluid and connected. These techniques are essential for any guitarist looking to explore blues, rock, and beyond, and they will take your playing to new heights. Dive into this lesson and unlock the secrets of Billy Gibbons’ masterful guitar work!