Fellow BGU’er and my good friend Lloyd (Paparaptor on the forum) asked me about this particular technique that SRV uses in many places, but it’s really obvious on this tune he played with Albert King many years ago…
Check it out first, and listen when Stevie takes a solo at about 1:48 seconds in…
Now even though Lloyd only asked me for the rake part at the very end of that first 8 bar solo, I went ahead and transcribed the whole thing because it’s a great example of “less is more” in soloing. Stevie doesn’t use a lot, but he uses it well.
Check it out:
Download the video – WMV | MP4
Download the TAB – PDF
Oh… by the way… Lloyd wrote a great article on his experience at Blues Guitar Unleashed Live this year. I meant to send it out but got sidetracked… you should read it here when you have a few minutes, it’s really great and I think you’ll be able to relate to quite a bit of it 🙂
56 replies to "Ask Me No Questions – SRV Rake Lick"
Great lesson Griff now I will go work on it.
awesome lesson!! Thanks Griff
Great lesson my friend, keep it coming.
What a shame he died so early unreal talent he is truly missed
OK…I can die now. They made my day.
Sunny and warm today, and a perfect way to start the day.
Sorry I’m so late.I just wanted to say that old video you put on the other day when you were just starting to post was unbelievable. I’ve replayed that a bunch.Im filing that so I can learn it.You definitely nailed it. Thanks for keeping me going.Sometimes I need a kick in the butt and that’s just what you did.
Wow Griff, for such a riff the explanation takes soo long .. doing my head in. Playing SRV will never be straight forward so stepping back into my place in the minor league leaves me somewhere to aspire too without driving myself insane trying to play beyond what is realistically achievable at the moment….BUT ….the time will come. Hey my favourite SRV song is a nursery rhyme ” Mary had a little lamb “
Copied the pdf Tab, watched the videos, tried following it using a DiPinto Galaxy 4 thru a Fender Super Champ X-2 with the Voice set on #7, (65 Deluxe TM), and tried all the F/X Select Settings: Could never make it sound anywhere near you or SRV.
Do try all of your lessons….shows different styles. Now, back to trying to play “Spent Money Blues”……(Been working on it 30-60 minutes a day since i got it….a challenge in memorization for me)
Hi Griff, thanks for this lesson. I have the Session DVD – awsome, to say the least.
And as for Lloyd aka Paparaptor – that was a GREAT solo man….I don’t see why you’ve got chills before playing. I REALLY enjoyed watching that video and hearing you play. WEll done !!!!
Griff , Thanks for bringing back this lesson . A couple years ago , there was an SRV documentary , and they showed this video . The way you break down this technique is so helpful . Thanks again , Mike Z
I’m struggling with playing with a pick. I seem to gravitate to strumming with my thumb (Wes Montgomery style) . Not sure what to do about this.🤔 I seem to hit the wrong string. I don’t have this difficulty when I’m using my thumb. Also the pick falls out my fingers and lands inside the sound hole of the guitar or on the floor.
Short answer: Don’t do a darn thing about it! Play the way feels best to you, and practice other stuff as you go (such as using a pick). Show me one of the old blues guys – Robert Johnson, Blind Lemon, etc., etc. – who used a pick. They did alright for themselves, and birthed American guitar playing as we know it while they were at it (which then birthed every other style of modern guitar around the world, really). I wish I had spent more time doing fingerstyle, it’s tough for me now. What I get for starting out as an 80’s hair-band metal dude. Anyway, you’re all good brother, as long as you keep on playing…and listening to Griff, of course! 🙂
I also had hard time with pick especially in the beginning and eventually threw it down and went with my thumb and as I got motte natural with my thumb my hand seemed to learn how far away the strings are and it became natural then I started usually a pick again on a good days and was able to do both no worries fighting to do things that don’t come natural get better with time as we build confidence and our hands realize where the strings are without looking then when having a good session try adding pick back a little at a time ! I know do both and it resolves itself just have fun and don’t fight it
Great video. It is not impossible to learn it AND PLAY IT!
Once again Griff you make me happy I love that video and your break down of it Thanks and Keep it coming.
Hi Griff,
Awesome lesson as always.
I’ve been trying to play Gary Moore’s ‘Still got the blues’ which has a little raking in it. I couldn’t get my head around it but now I understand.
Off to have another go…..
Griff,
Great lesson!
Thanks for all you do to help those of us who play guitar – play better!
Old School & Still Rockin’
I find that difficult
Bueno! Mucho bueno!
Notice how Stevie has his thumb over the neck to fret notes on the lower strings. Ain’t so with Albert. Is this allowed in Blues guitar playing?
Hi Ravi
Albert King is a left handed person. he plays with the strings upside down, all strings in reverse order. Thin high E string is up by Albert’s thumb, there are no lower strings anywhere near Albert’s thumb. By the way just about anything is allowed in Blues Guitar as long as it sounds bluesy.
Thanks Phil. You explained it well.
How does SRV play behind his back? I saw another video of him doing that trick.
Cheers Griff
For the lesson will save it for later
Welldone Lloyd
Now back to my courses ?
Just what I like say you are about SRV but nobody be leave me now they do
in 1969 i learned guitar, i didn’t have a rythem, so my teacher thought me rythem, the 4,4 rythem, i am 65 years old, I play the guitar decent, but i only speed up or slow down my rythem for each song. i thought i wanted to play blues, but the first thing requested is changing the rythem, can’t do that. if at all possible, i would like to return your lessons, but if that is not possible , I will just give them away to somebody. don’t want to cause you any problem, cause you are a great blues player. Jonny
Hi Jonny
I had the same problem but stick at it I found tapping my foot
Got me through my problem and of course Griffs Rhythm course
Hope this helps all the best
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy 4th of July!
Hey Griff,
Great Lick and I have saved it for later when I go through my repertoire of your Video lessons for Fun time. But keeping to my learning schedule with your course at present apart from your Road Map to Jam. All very inspiring with these lessons keep them coming.
Michael- St Andrews – Australia
Thks Griff for the refresher now June 2016. Great lesson.
Michael-St Andrews-Australia
Great stuff mate keep it comin cheers
Great less is more lesson example, wow taught by the giants!
Will have a go tomorrow, good stuff
Tried to leave a message at Loyd’s blog but no luck. Is his solo tab ,notation, available?
I tabbed the first part of it out when I did the solo. That was part of the deal when I did it, but I don’t think it’s still on my computer.
Yo, that was a great video. I was lucky enough to have seen Albert King at a Blues festival he had headlined at Penns Landing, more than 30 years ago. Now I have to ask since I can’t really see it. Albert obviously plays left handed. But is that Flying V strung for right hand? It looks as if he is reaching his fingers up to hit “high notes”.
And Lloyd, that was great. Good for you man. I too, am an “OFPG”. Very inspiring.
Griff, you are the best. Happy Fathers Day to you as well.
Pete, that’s right. Albert plays left handed on a guitar normally strung for a right-hander. Yup, don’t try to copy that fingering 🙂
Griff just seen this post for your beginning blues guitar DVD set. Today is Friday and I’m working a 48 hour shift for the Milwaukee fire Department. Will try to order tomorrow if time permits. Hope the 3 payments might still be available? This is so right on with what will finally get me going in the right direction. Not sure how this found my phone but I’ve picked up my strat late at night and found myself saying I got to go to bed it’s 1 in the morning.
Thanks Teach, always great to pick up new techniques to change things up a bit. Loved the Stevie and Albert video also 🙂
I still struggle with muting strings. Thanks for helping with this critical aspect of right-hand technique, Griff! I really appreciate the breadth and scope of the tips and lessons you bring to your students. Thanks a million.
Awesome lesson as usual. Thanks Griff!
… you know that open slide SRV does quite a bit? I once had a guitar player tell me that was Stevie’s way of mimicking Albert King’s vocal “Wooo” that he often does. Not sure if its true or not but, ever since then, I cannot listen to either of them without drawing the connection… it does make sense!
Now, that was cool! Thanks Griff … I do believe that’s the first time I’ve ever seen a Flying V used for blues. Wish I’d kept my Ibanez!
i am french , have a Ibanez to….
I’ve seen this session from beginning to end and at one point Albert asks Stevie if he really wants to play the blues. They start a slow blues in the key of G and if you listen closely before his solo Stevie counts under his breath 3and a 4 and a. So I guess no matter how good you are, when you’re playing with Albert King you better count! Thank you Griff for hammering counting into our lessons!
Thanks, great lesson
Isn’t that Albert King, not Albert Collins?
Isn’t that Albert King?
Yes..it is
Thanks a bunch for this one, Griff! I know what I’ll be doing this weekend!
rakin it nice . how about how SRV and HENDRIX do the voodoo they do oh yeah Kenny Wayne Sheperd too. doin the chunk a chunk sounds. think maybe the same closely but not . lets go listen
Yup I did this almost the same old box one thing minus the rake yesterday.Believe it er not . You did this real good . I know this stuff is really sinkin in . Keeping this one and checkin it over again
cause its a cool iconic move not used too much think the women dig it like also if you get a high note to squeal . un-conventional
Had this dvd for long time and great to see the break down of this. This Griff.
Hi Griff,
10/10 for this – very clearly explained!! Just in passing, the move to the Gb chord (bar 4) can be substituted with a diminished to give it even more spice – the jazz chords included in this piece take it up to a totally different melodic level!
Hey Griff. Thx for all the videos. I’m a lurker and a dreamer. I don’t spend as much time with my guitars as I would like and that’s both due to life and scheduling I suppose. I really enjoyed Lloyd’s experience on his blog as well as the video “proof” of it actually happening. I particularly liked how you reacted to the solo, getting the crowd going as well as a fist bump to Lloyd. It made me smile and that is what I would want in a guitar instructor, teacher or “mentor”, someone who is in my corner and there for me when I’m able to put it all together and create something wonderful. Since she handles our budget, I’m asking the wife if we can swing your beginners blues package and so far it’s unattainable but those 3 payments are looking appealing. =) Thx for listening and keep the vids coming!
WOW, what a great video with S R V and Albert. thanks to Lloyd for findin g this,and thanks to Griff for breaking it down. Great lesson.