238658923659

Figure 12-8 shows an example of how B.B. executes his brand of vibrato over
a minor blues. To play like B.B. King, work to make every vibrato count, no
matter how brief. That means applying a different intensity (rate of bend and
depth of bend) to the note at hand, based on the tempo and feel of the groove.
B.B. King has had the best commercial success of any traditional electric blues
player, having appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and American Bandstand, and
enjoying a Top 40 hit with 1969’s “The Thrill Is Gone.” Today, he may seem
like a kindly elder statesman when you see him on TV commercials, but back
in the day, B.B. was a formidable force — tearing up stages, clubs, airwaves,
and recording studios wherever he went. He was a complete player, who
fused his many influences: Delta blues, the jazz of Charlie Christian, R&B, superior
guitar technique, and a deep understanding of how to harness the full emotional
power of the blues. He remains hardworking, humble, prolific, and his
playing hasn’t lost one technical step through the years.
Am
Track 85
T
A
B
5
5 8 10
10 10
5 5
10
1 1 1
8 8 5
8 5
7 5
7
5 8 10 10 (10) 8
Figure 12-8:
The blues
lead style
and
hallmark
vibrato of
B.B. King.
Dm
1
10 10 8 10
10
226 Part IV: Sounding Like the Masters: Blues Styles through the Ages TEAM LinG
1 1
10 (10) 8 10 8 10 10 10
(continued)