When most folks talk about how BB King solos, they tend to refer to what I call the “house” pattern, sometimes also known as the “BB Box.”
It’s basically a grouping of notes that can be easily morphed into either a major or minor pentatonic/blues sound, but that’s not the point of this video – I have others that delve into that sound…
No, instead, today I want to take you back to 1974 and BB King playing live. I stole these 3 licks fair and square, and they will show you how BB King was also a master of good old Box 1 and Box 2 and moving brilliantly between the 2 sounds.
I hope you dig the video, feel free to skip ahead 30 seconds or so if you want to get around the intro and just go to the lesson.
If you want the TAB to the licks it’s here – PDF
31 replies to "3 BB King Licks That Don’t Use The House Pattern"
Ah, BB King. Check out Live at Cook County Jail, “How Blue Can You Get?” Best live blues recording ever. IMHO, of course. 🙂
Old School BB?? Live at the Regal (’64) is one of the greatest live albums ever, even if less than 35 minutes long!
Who’s BB KING??????
*CHAD MODE ACTIVATED*
Im really hoping that you don’t play the blues and not know who BB King is.
Riley “BLUES BOY” King is one of the three Kings of the blues, the other 2 being Albert and Freddie, known his legato technique, voice, and touring and ungodly amount of days per year well into his 70s. oh and his guitar, Lucille.
Who’s BB King?
That was fun! Thx Griff!!
awesome lesson Griff, My favorite album of BB is live in Japan circa 1971!!
HA! Those licks elicited some facial expressions!
Nice one. Can yo do something from ON THE ROAD, Withe Eric Clapton and BB King ?
Great CD.
So You must have a big Chester Draws for all your T-Shirts Griff. LOL !
GREAT! Sometime if you prepared a course on ‘BB-like’ Blues, I’d snap it up in a second!!
Great that you not only like BB King but can explain some of his tricks to us all.
Always a pleasure to check in on your videos Griff.
nice, love it!
thank you Griff
Nice Griff…
I love it when you provide the TAB! :~)
Thanks
A motif like pattern I believe it`s cool i dig it. Somehow it has a stormy Monday like sound . The 8 to 9 hammer on . I am sure You could find this all over the neck .
Sounds great grief enjoying seeing you play and the tab at the same time keep up the good work.
Sounds great Griff enjoy seeing you and seeing the tab at the same time. Keep it up
Hi Griff,
The second BB King lick that you played is also played twice by Stevie Ray Vaughn at the introduction of Texas flood at the 5th and 10th positions. The only difference is that SRV ends the lick by hitting a chord twice instead of the descending 3 notes at the end of the BB King lick.
You are cool, even without an extensive social media awareness.
Tks Griff , every lick you teach I appreciate I try to digest them and use them when I practice . I’ve made great strides the last
Couple of years , you keep me interested every day I see your email . Tks again . Jamming with my son tonight and tomorrow
And it’s been a while .
Enjoyable. Following your suggestion : playing those licks as often as possible can generate so much creativity….Thank you so much.
Great facial grimaces, Griff! 🙂 🙂
Love the second and third lick. So very BB. Thanks for sending the tab with the lesson.
Working my way through BGU 2 right now. Before purchasing the course I watched many of your videos. Just the fact that you give so much to so many through these videos for free indicates how much you love music and want to share it with everyone. Thanks for another great video.
your getting low on amplifiers
love that lick. love bb king! Lately griff, you seem to be more happy and a bit tipsy.
you don’t need more stinking amps!! lol! thanks Griff!
Great quick lesson. Thanks
Thanks Griff for that great BB lesson.
Pretty cool! Thanks, Griff!
3/21/19
Just a note to say, the video has not come through to me for some reason! . . . Thanks for all the awesome lessons though and I’ll be buying your packages as soon as I can afford to!
Regards,
Grant from Scotland!
Great lesson, Griff!
THOUSANDS THANK U’s ..U have me playing again..had finger surgery. learning to compensate.. lIKE SHE SAID..PLZ!! DNT STOP!! lol.. Bless U..