Slides - Rockin' In A Jam Track

This jam track puts your new phrasing techniques into practice over a 12-bar blues in A. The focus is on using box two (the house shape at frets 8-10) and combining slides, vibrato, and hammer-ons into musical phrases.

What You'll Learn:

• How to use box two (the house shape at frets 8-10)

• The two-fret slide lick and how to repeat it effectively

• Hammer-on and vibrato combination techniques

• How to phrase like Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac

• The Charleston rhythm moved half a beat later

• How to contrast different rhythmic patterns in solos

• Muting techniques with index finger vibrato

• How to start improvising with the stabilizers off

• Building licks into musical phrases

• Taking inspiration from classic solos without copying note-for-note

Box Two Focus

While box one sits at the 5th fret, box two (the house shape) sits at frets 8-10. This lesson uses the top portion of box two, taking advantage of the higher register without moving too far up the neck. The position is comfortable and gives you access to expressive bends and slides.

The Slide Lick

A simple two-fret slide becomes an entire lick when repeated effectively. The key is in the repetition and the space between repetitions - not cramming too many notes in, but letting the phrase breathe. Lindsey Buckingham's solo in "You Make Loving Fun" is a masterclass in this approach, using simple techniques with sophisticated phrasing.

Combining Techniques

Hammer-ons combined with vibrato create a different texture than picked notes with vibrato. Slides with muting create yet another sound. This lesson shows how to mix these techniques within the same solo, creating variety and interest. Each technique has its place, and knowing when to use which one is what makes a solo musical.

The Charleston Rhythm Variation

The Charleston rhythm from earlier in the course appears again here, but shifted half a beat later. This rhythmic displacement creates a different feel while using the same basic pattern. Recognizing and using these rhythmic variations adds sophistication to your soloing.

Taking Off the Stabilizers

After learning the core licks, the jam track gives you space to improvise freely using the A minor pentatonic scale and extensions. There's no single "right" answer - the goal is to explore and create your own phrases using the techniques you've learned. Taking inspiration from great players without copying them note-for-note is the path to developing your own voice.