THE CROSSROADS BB King
Guitar Techniques|August 2023
For this month's Crossroads, John Wheatcroft meets the Chairman of the Board, as he explores the string bends, vibrato, note choices and feel of a blues legend.
John Wheatcroft
THE CROSSROADS BB King

BB King devoted his life to performing the blues in every corner of the world, and he was perhaps the genre’s greatest ambassador. His remarkably expressive sound, rhythmically inventive, melodically sophisticated and incredibly influential style, spoke to audiences ranging from prison inmates to presidents and everything in-between. BB did so for well over 50 years and never lost his infectious enthusiasm, vitality and commitment to performing. His work earned him numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album, plus an induction into both the Blues and the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. He even has a museum in his honour, the BB King Museum and Delta Interpretive Centre, in Indianola, Mississippi.

A huge part of King’s almost universal appeal lay in his undeniable ability to communicate his ideas to everyone in the audience. While musicians love his playing, with a list of devoted A-lister fans too vast to list here, he also had massive appeal with non-players. You really don’t have to be a guitar player to get BB’s playing. The emotional intent, beauty, touch and feel of his sound came across loud and clear. One way that King managed to convey his intentions so articulately, along with his beautiful tone, was in the way that his phrasing evolved in a logical and highly compelling way. Each musical idea was explored fully, using repetition, question and answering, theme and variation and motivic development to allow him to say such a great deal, and often within a fairly restricted selection of notes.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2023 من Guitar Techniques.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2023 من Guitar Techniques.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من GUITAR TECHNIQUES مشاهدة الكل
THE MOODY BLUES
Guitar Techniques

THE MOODY BLUES

This month Stuart Ryan delves into the picking style of this British prog legend whose acoustic guitar has powered many a Moody Blues song.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
WAYNE KRANTZ
Guitar Techniques

WAYNE KRANTZ

This issue Nick Mellor provides an insight into this brilliant jazz stylist, focusing on his approach to improvising over static chords.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
OPEN G TUNING
Guitar Techniques

OPEN G TUNING

Open tunings are great fun and can help create exciting new ideas. Simon Barnard shows how to incorporate open G tuning into your playing.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
RODRIGO GOUVEIA
Guitar Techniques

RODRIGO GOUVEIA

Last month we featured Mateus Asato, and mentioned the importance of the neo-soul style in his playing. Here we turn to his fellow Brazilian, the master of neo-soul fusion.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024
MARK KNOPFLER
Guitar Techniques

MARK KNOPFLER

Our topic this month is a master craftsman as both guitar player and songwriter. His style is unique and his influence spreads far and wide.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
U2
Guitar Techniques

U2

Martin Cooper checks out the chiming pedal delay tones of this stadium-filling band from Dublin, Ireland, and guitarist The Edge.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
LUTHER ALLISON
Guitar Techniques

LUTHER ALLISON

It’s blues with a touch of soul this month, as David Gerrish explores the dynamic, expressive style of an often overlooked Chicago bluesman.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
JOHANN KASPAR MERTZ Capriccio
Guitar Techniques

JOHANN KASPAR MERTZ Capriccio

This month Declan Zapala explores the music of Austria at the turn of the Romantic period with a fiery caprice to level up your fingers and unlock your inner virtuoso.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
THE CROSSROADS Michael Landau
Guitar Techniques

THE CROSSROADS Michael Landau

John Wheatcroft explores the playing of a session ace _ and blazing blues-rock maestro who graces the top-flight m band of singer-songwriting legend, James Taylor.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
VIDEO MASTERCLASS Troy Redfern
Guitar Techniques

VIDEO MASTERCLASS Troy Redfern

This month GT welcomes this slide guitar virtuoso. If you've been wanting to take your slide playing to the next level then this is one's for you. With Jon Bishop.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024