Let’s learn some licks in the styles of the masters. Freddie King has the reputation of being one of the funkiest players ever. Albert Collins also has some very funky lines. Albert has a knack for sneaking his licks into the holes in the music. A lot of blues guitarists play constantly, regardless of what’s going on in the song, whereas a master like Albert Collins is a good listener and plays only when it’s appropriate. This is a great quality and shows maturity as a player.
In the Style of Freddie King
Play the following licks with lots of attitude. They will all work over an E9 chord, but try them in different keys as well.
In the Style of Albert Collins
Albert Collins has a very percussive style. The following licks are meant to be played with an aggressive attitude. You should play staccato, meaning the notes are sharp and separated. To get the best tone for these, use your treble pickup (closest to the bridge) and dig in with your pick. This will give you the crisp, aggressive, high-end sound that is one of Albert’s trademarks.
Funk Blues Solo and Jam Track
Check out the following funk blues solo. On the audio track, the solo is played the first time through, then the band continues on. Play the solo as written, then try to incorporate some ideas in the styles of Freddie King and Albert Collins (of course, these ideas will have to be transposed to work with the chords in this progression).
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