There are very few blues players that can do what BB King did…
He could play just a handful of notes with more soul than most of us will ever be able to come up with.
This lick is a throwback to the good ole’ 4 note solo, but straight out of “The Thrill Is Gone.”
BB King used that little 4 note pattern better than anyone, and this is an excellent example of it.
It’s a quick lick you can learn easily and put to use right away:
23 replies to "BB King 4 Note Lick"
Lovin this lick Griff, BB was definitely the master of notes in the 4 note realm. As one who listens to some Native American Woodwind music this definitely is right there with it. Awesome! Thanks for all you do!!!
Less is more. Sometimes the notes that are not played are more important than the notes that are played!
Wow, that thing starts on a B , finishes on a B B, it is full of B’s. Probaly written by a B.B. King.
Griff, at 48 seconds you started the lick on the one count. You teach us not to do that – what gives, lol?
Great stuff Griff! I’ve been concentrating on 4 note solos/licks to simplify my playing and I think it really adds more soul to the sound. (And for longer solos, I’ve been experimenting with playing combos of four note solos on the different areas of the board…which has been a fun exercise)
Wow I learned a BB King inspired lic and it showed me it in A . For some reason I believed it was done that way . Now today I realized it is actually in Bm . One of my friends looked at Me kind of funny when I played it now I know why. I do know I was derailed . One thing for sure is that the one cord is Bm and should have known that . I will have to play it today and hear how the cords and solo blend together . I am glad that YOU go and replay some of the older video`s .
Thanks Griff, for your musical inspiration. Great lesson and you explained very well. Gonna check out your guitar courses.
Thanks Griff—we’d all like to channel BB’s artistry. Great lesson.
It starts on one too. 😉
Is there any reason why I’ve stopped getting Emails from you? The last one was quite a few weeks ago. I seem to have got left off the list.
Great lesson
Hi Griff thanks your the best.I Love how you show and explain things.I have a lot of your DVDS very helpful.Peace
Your patience and understanding of the different competency levels of your students makes your lessons relevant to all your subscribers. Even telling us the key you are playing in sets you apart from other tutors, who simply tell folk where to place their fingers.
I got to shake BB King’s hand years ago when he played The Strand in Redondo Beach. I thought maybe I’d get a little of his mojo transferred to my hands from this experience. . . No suck luck . . . lol. Still working on his licks all these years later. Thanks Griff, for the lessons.
Griff, your notes always sound so crisp and clear, and there is not the slightest trace of string noise between notes. Your notes are so well “annunciated” that it almost sounds like a woodwind instrument is playing!
Rodney
He’s got a great rig! Also I notice the better you get the clearer your notes sound
Thanks Griff, if it weren’t for you guys who give freely of your time and talent I’d be in trouble. Social security disability doesn’t pay enough to afford courses, so I’m very thankful for these little lessons
robert, i also am on disability! this site has really helped! e-mail me sometime Siur!God-Blees Steven Kington
Thanks griff, just ran across a recording of a solo I did after my first year with your courses. It was fairly simple and except for maybe adding a little more vibrato here and there, I actually think my phrasing was better when I knew less licks. Now that I know more licks it seems like I tend to try to cram them all into my solos. Since I actually prefer players who use less in their solos( b.b. etc..) I needed this also as a reminder to stick to what works for me. Thanks again.
I was watching an interview with Derek Trucks and he hit upon the topic of cramming everything you have into every tune. He says he doesn’t want to wear out his audience out; pace yourself and relax.
Derek is a great example. He can stand there hardly moving on stage and have you totally enraptured with his playing. One of my very favorites!
Great link
A great example of how less is sometimes more……