There’s no denying that BB King was a HUGE influence on me as a guitar player, but what a lot of people don’t realize is that the way BB King puts on a show was pretty much the ideal that I’ve always held for my own band.
The first time I saw BB King was probably around 25 years ago and it absolutely blew my mind. And if you’ve never seen him, please take the first chance you get to do so. At 88, he’s still touring extensively (though he’s slowed down from approximately 250 dates a year) and Laura and I just saw him do his thing last year and it was definitely worth the trip.
Here’s a clip of BB doing his most famous classic, “The Thrill Is Gone.”
And to top it off, here’s a video I did on how to play some of the introductory lick using my “4 Note Solo” blues block…
This style of soloing lends itself really well to the “4 Note Solo” approach. So if you’re one of those people who seem to have a hard time getting going with blues soloing, you’ll probably get a lot out of my Soloing Without Scales course.
89 replies to "Happy B-Day BB!"
I saw BB in a night club in Trenton, NJ summer of 1960, I was standing about 4 feet from him at the foot of a small stage and he was just as good then.
I’m originally from Trenton. Do you remember the name of the nightclub?
Awhe only BB can make it work!
Thanks again Griff for bringing this fine video in our homes
You have given the best in your style of learning how to and it’s made a world of difference
Great video of BB King! Love the man and love the song. One of the coolest videos I’ve seen of BB live, was when he played at a club with Gary Moore. They both interacted with “The Thrill is Gone” and traded it back and forth, while BB did the sing’in. One of the best video clips I’ve ever watched. Talk about the Masters at play, heh…Awesome! You can easily find it on youtube and you won’t be sorry. Thanks for this post, Griff. You’re the Best, and have helped me more than you can imagine. Look forward to a long time under your fantastic tutelage, and appreciate all that you do.
Thanks for great BB clip–mesmerized by the way his fingers move, the sweetness of the tone, the subtlety. the grace. 88! just looked at his upcoming schedule…gotta be the blues zone that keeps him going.
Aloha,
Temple
Thanks Griff. Remember when he recorded it. Bb and lucille have always been #1in my book
BB Once Told Me , ” We’re Going To Have To Get Together And Jam” A Nice Thing For Him To Say To This Old Long Haired Indian Boy. ( I Had Showed Him A Picture Of My 6/4 Double Necks & Explained How I Play Both Necks At The Same Time – Ray Flores Sr -^^^- – yokutsnayshun@yahoo.com
BB Once Told Me , ” We’re Going To Have To Get Together And Jam” A Nice Thing For Him To Say To This Old Long Haired Indian Boy. ( I Had Showed Him A Picture Of My 6/4 Double Necks & Explained How I Play Both Necks At The Same Time
all your’e teachings are very easy to follow in small steps.and very clear.
I saw BB twice, once was on his 80th birthday. He’s always been an amazing musician & always will be!!!!
BB doing what he does best! He’s such a great performer and has such a good time doing it, he’s like a duck in water! Keep on slayin’ ’em , BB, you’ve still got many, many years to go!
Not sure if it’s my computer but I couldn’t get the videos to play!!! Wonder if you could re-post the video?
The first time I saw BB King was also at the l968 Fillmore West show in SF. I don’t remember the $2 entry fee but it wasn’t very much. Although I love the guy, his show was heavily R&B rather than blues, with a large horn section. The best blues clip I ever saw was BB King and Gary Moore jamming on The Thrill is Gone in London. Incredible.
Just ordered your blues unleashed lesson. I was wondering if in a future video you would go over setting your amp and other equipment to get the sound you want. Everyone has a different sound that is their sound but there needs to be a starting point to develop that sound from.
Thanks again Griff for a very informative video
That was great Griff! It gave me a lot of ideas to try.
Can you help explain the use of the cycle or circle of 5ths?
It is supposed to tell you what to pay in a chord progression I have been told,
but I don’t know how to use it? It seems complicated to me?
How does it help my playing?
Hey griff thanks for the lesson I’ve been using your videos for aboutvtwo years now and I think I’m a pretty good guitarist now but I guess that subjective just want say thanks it fun I could send a video but not sure how thanks agian
Thanks Griff looks like moveable bar chords so to speak just up and down the the fret broard
The best idea I got from this video was the way you were moving to the octave. 2 frets down and 2 strings up or three frets if crossing the B string. Thanks for the tip I never thought of finding the octave this way. I can also see how much help on navigating the entire fret board. Greg in Seattle.
P.S. Nice little solo.
Thanks Griff for another great blues session that you have put together,I saw BB King years ago he was hypnotic.
His playing is SO laid back, he’s almost in a coma. He doesn’t need to fly up and pown the fret board at 100 mph, to make his guitar sing. fantastic style, much copied never beaten.
Paul. P———-London
Thank you. BB is such an inspiration.
ty cool lick
enjoyed bb thanks so much also the lesson is great regards pete
BB King just chokes me up watching and listening to him play, that effortless style of his is inspirational.
As for the lesson, Great. Have been all over the neck with this one, expanding it into a much longer piece as I went along. Been doing this for nearly 3 hours and loving it, but it’s 11:30 pm and I’ve got to go and pick the good lady up from work. Keep these coming. Regards, Ray (UK).
Thanks Griff for all you do! Happy Birthday BB King!!!!!
think you leting me know about the king of the blues mr. R KING, BB
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Hi Griff,
I really enjoy your Emails and lessons. My wife and I play everything in the key of E Major. Do you have any discs that deal with this key exclusively? Thanks again. Peace + Joy + Love.
Love to be able to say I thought it was easy but, not yet.
This is simple and very nice…thanks Griff
Saw BB last June in Wabash IN at the Honeywell Center. Amazing that he’s still playing and singing. He is a very gracious entertainer.
Griff, My brother and I along with our wives, were privileged to see BB alongside the Crusaders at the Royal Festival Hall in South London, England, sometime in either the late 80’s or early 90. I cannot recall the exact date, but I can still feel the vibe. What a night. B.B. King with Joe Sample on keyboards, Wilton Felder on Saxes; musical heaven. I even remembered the meal we had afterwards. You can never forget experiences like this. All the best for as long as you survive Mr King. You have given us countless hours of musical pleasure.. Byron . PS. Grif I thank you for giving me this opportunity to express my emotions for a great man and brilliant musician..
inspirational Griff
smooth!!! It’s not how many notes you play it’s how you play them. Mr. King is a living legend. Lucille is a beautiful guitar! I pray you grace us with your talent for many years to come.
Thank you for sharing Griff
Thanks for posting this! I didn’t realize BB King is 88 year old. Think about being 88 years old and still doing all he does! That’s amazing and a gift from God, especially being as humble as he is.
Getting the blues out of your system must be the secret to staying young!
I really hope I get to see him live as I know he’s touched the lives and played with so many legends, going back to the beginning of electric blues guitar. He’s played with Hendrix along with just about ALL the greats, many that have passed on to the eternal paradise and BB King so revered by the best, all because he can pierce your heart with one note.
Time is running out. Please pray I get to see him and I will pray for you too.
Thanks Griff and I much appreciate you sharing your talents with us, helping to enrich our lives.
Jim
Loveland, CO
Happy birthday, BB King. I have enjoyed your music.
May God grant you many more happy, healthy and successful years.
Nice little lick to travel around the guitar with. Thanks, Kitty
Griff. . .
My wife and I are celebrating our 30th anniversary in NYC and we have tickets to see BB at his 42nd street club. This is really a bucket list item for me. Given that we live in Melbourne, we’ll never see him live again.
Many thanks
Yes sir Griff I have had the fortune of seeing both BB w/Buddy twice over the past 10 yrs & while BB may not play as much these days, being in the presence of greatest far exceeds my expectations. I also have a Lucille resting in a showcase signed by BB in our music room with a photo with him also in the case. A treasure to behold and a real delight to those who have come by to visit. Thank you for posting. PS: also have A Fender Polka Dot strat in case signed by Buddy & photo w/him as well. I am a blessed fan!
Thanks Griff! Keep it simple stupid (KISS) really says it all when it comes to music. Once you have it down simple, then you can get crazy. Thanks for the “simple” so that we can mix it up later.
Saw BB KING ( live this year. What a great concert. I just tarted working with your lessons. I love the guitar. I’m hoping someday to be able with your help to play somewhat like you do. Thanks Griff. David Sholl.
This is broken down really well! Thank you, Mr Hamlin! 🙂
very cool man i love it keep up the good work for us seanors see ya
missed him 2 times in new York. across the street from my motel. could not ditch work. and other places over the years. wife got us front row center in Ft Worth for my birthday couple of years ago. holy crap…. best ever. play on Sir… That Is The Way It Is Done!
Thanks for posting this. I am looking forward to seeing him in December in Beverly Hills and I definitely can’t wait! He is truly one of the blues legends who obviously loves entertaining.
I have been fortunate to see him twice at his place in Memphis over the years. There are many great players but few who can voice as much with so little movement. Remember many times less sounds best. If you’ve got feeling, you can ride a few notes into the heavens and be great……
A while back, I recall that one of the moderators at the BGU Forum once remarked, in reply to one of my queries that “…Carlos Santana built a career off of the Phyrgian mode.” Well, if that’s true, then BB has built a fabulous career off of the pentatonic scale, with of course, his unique embellishments, namely, his vibrato.
Come to think of it, I have never heard BB play ANYTHING outside of the pentatonic constellation! Truthfully, I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing! I suppose in part…it depends on how you measure success…money earned over years or the creation of a “sui generis” musical identity, or perhaps…both! Interesting (for me, at least), is the fact that BBK will never be remembered as a “shredder”!
I am still struggling with trying to establish “MY” musical identity and intuitively believe that, although pentatonics will be an integral part of my musical persona, there HAS TO BE something more…isn’t there?
Tarquinnian
I practiced this for two days now & love it. Thanks Geoff & thanks & Happy Birthday to The King BB KING
RIC
I could never figure out why BB could not play and sing at the same time. It doesn’t seem to matter though, he can rock the house anyway.
Going to see him in a small opera house setting in November. I have seen him twice before but never in this intimate of a venue.
can you expand more on the octives portion?
Happy Birthday BB and thanks for proving that with guitar playing on many occasions “Less is More”.
And thanks Griff for teaching us guitar students how to use the minimalist style that BB uses so effectively.
Happy birthday to THE KING OF BLUES, B.B. KING. Saw him a few days ago on Tavis Smiley program. At 88 the man is sharp as a razor yet. Because of BB King, I became interested in the blues because he plays with heart and soul. He can play fast and that is my point, HE DON’T HAVE TO. He can say more with 5 notes than shredders can with a thousand.
Thanks to you and these videos of yours Griff, I can play a few things now with just a few notes that are well placed so you get a big credit for getting me on a more heart felt path.
Very nice…..always enjoy these lessons…….and one day I’ll “get it.”
Happy Birthday BB. Thanks for all the inspiring music over the years. And thanks, Griff for the great teaching. It’s always good to learn another lick. I used to have a Gibson ES 335 years ago and always regretted getting rid of it. Now I have an Epiphone ES 335 DOT which I think is just as good. I love the warm tones that BB gets and I find this guitar can do the same. I love the way you teach Griff.
BB is certainly the best…. Thanks so much for helping celebrate the “Man”….
Boy,it’s amazing what you can do with 4 notes ans a little bending.thanx for sharing that with us.Happy Bitrhday to Mr.BB.King.
I have seen BB King several times. It’s hard to believe that the first time was in 1968, at the Fillmore West, in San Francisco. He was “only” 43 then. The playbill was 3 performers, 6 hours of music, for $2.00. Those were the days!
Happy Birthday, my hero!!! Saw you live a year ago at Casino Rama and what a fantastic concert!! You put the young ones to shame, your voice is so powerful!!
Anyway have one hell of a birthday!
Happy Birthday BB King !! Your blues are really great !! I saw you play at the Milwaukee Summer Fest a numbers of years back in Milwaukee, Wi. I have an ES-335 Gibson somewhat similar to what you play, I love the sound it gets .I am 60 years old and still play guitar. I love your music .
Gary Apitz
Happy birthday to one of the all time greats BB King.
I saw BB in concert about 10 years ago and what an experience. Following the show my wife went back stage and got me a pick. She is much prettier, not to mention younger than me and she can get away with things like that.
You see I’m 68 and BB’s 88, so what an inspiration.
I saw him once in an interview on television and he confessed that he never really practiced that much and commented if he had he probably could have been a better guitar player. That’s funny isn’t it.
The music world is a better place because of BB!!!
Thanks Griff for everything you do to help those of us who play guitar – play a little better.
Old School and Still Rockin’…Gary
Happy Birthday, Mr King. I have enjoyed your music for many years!
I’ve been blessed to see BB several times in my life, and he’s always great. He is a national treasure, in my mind. happy Birthday BB, and thanks Griff for all the great video lessons.
Great video and 4 note solo uses.
Saw BB when he was 71, the best blues show I’ve seen.
Saw him do an interview on TV last Saturday, still going strong, hopefully for many years to come.
He is still ” the gentlemen of the blues.”
I’ve been lucky enough to see BB 3 times I took my son with me when he was just starting to appreciate music and BB had an enormous impact on him. BB always gives an excellent show that he guarantees is family friendly so if you get the chance take your kids
BB still radiates that special vibe and of course “the sound”. I am a couple of decades younger and trying to find “a sound”. When I listen to BB’s “The Thrill Is Gone” the hairs on the back of my neck tingle.
Brilliant.
Have you thought of your courses as app downloads to IPDADs etc?
Thanks for the BB vid and the cool 4 note solo lesson.
Happy Birthday Mr King. Had the good fortune to attend earlier concerts in Vancouver B.C. A true artist and gentleman, live long and thanks for the memories not to mention the signing of my “Cook County Jail LP, Beautiful!!
BB is always great. Thanks for sharing
Griff,I never had the chance to see BB. I know he comes here in the Cleveland area often,but as you know,tickets sell very fast ! Another fine lesson,and it is fun to play too. Thanks again. Mike
Happy Birthday BB!
I took my son to see him play last month in Cincinnati. While he only played a few songs, it was electric.
Thanks Griff
Hi Griff,
I was lucky enough to see ‘THE KING’ at the Hollywood Bowl about 5 years ago. Some night out.
The atmosphere was electric and we were really taken by the way everyone enjoyed themselves wining and dining at the tables on a very balmy Californian evening.
Great! A bit different from where I live in Scotland!!
Happy Birthday to one of my greatest influences, you are a legend in every respect of the word, blues on big man
Wow … I first got turned on to BB King back in the very early 70’s. Most guys his age have long retired; so glad he didn’t.
Perfect!
Awesome article…. Well done;)
I had the pleasure of meeting BB 1981 after his early show and while he was into his late show, to my surprise, he dedicated The Thrill Is Gone to me…. Needless to say, I was floored!
Happy Birthday BB …. Keep Playin On ~~~~
Excellent, Griff. Just had an “epiphone” with this one. (the light just turned on above my head).
thanks big guy
Excellent stuff….Thanks!
I too have always loved BB Kings music. Last year I paid $168 for my wife and I to see him in San Diego. He came on, played 4 songs, then threw guitar picks to the audience while his band played for the next hour and a half without him. I have never been more disappointed. The 1 man dobro guitar warmup show was better than his band. He did not appear to be sick, which could make it forgivable, so I would not attend a concert of his again. I still love his recordings.
B.B. has family in our home town Mansfield, Ohio. Thanks for the tribute to a great guy Griff! Your lessons are excellent!
Hola Griff,I live in southern Spain in the province of Andalucia,I was fortunate to see “The King” live at Lorca castle when he was 83 years young-His show was awesome,long may he reign.Feliz Cumpleaños BB
Well explained; now we know about how to find the notes. Sadly, even a teacher of your ability can’t tell us how Lucille talks, sings and weeps in his hand!
BB is so cool and smooth, truly lives up to his name KING.
Griff: You always have a knack to add much more to every lesson segment!! Super job!!
Jim
the best ever
BB is one of the Greatest!
Thanks Griff.