In this video
Ready to move beyond the basics? This bonus lesson focuses on the electric guitar parts that happen between the signature fuzz riff – the fills and rhythmic playing that Keith Richards uses in the verses.
What You Will Learn:
• How to play the verse sections authentically without strumming
• A major pentatonic fills between chord changes
• The "Drive My Car" style riff variation
• E major pentatonic entry licks higher up the neck
• When to play and when to hold back during vocals in the verses
The Verse Technique
When the Stones play live, they don’t only strum open chords during the verses – Keith will instead play these signature riffs weaving around the chords. The foundation is using classic lead-fill positions (on strings 5 and 4) focussed on an Open A chord, utilising a slide on string 5 too. These techniques use A major pentatonic and demonstrates those subtle, instinctive and effective fills Keith can drop in between lyrics.
The Riff Variations
You'll learn the variation on these A major pentatonic riffs which is again totally transferrable into your own playing as it’s just classic tasteful lead playing! This fill riff bears a striking resemblance to The Beatles' "Drive My Car" and goes to show how these blues-based techniques connect across rock music.
When to Play
A crucial skill in Rolling Stones guitar (and most guitar playing!) is knowing when to play and when to hold back. The fills happen between vocal phrases – when Mick sings, you hold back; when there's space, you fill it. Listen for the "Hey hey hey" and the drum-break section as your cue to turn the fuzz pedal off and prepare for the Main Riff!.
E Major Pentatonic Entry Licks
The second verse introduces a higher position lick at frets 9 and 11 (strings 5 and 4), serving as an entry into the E5 power chord (root 5), thus using the E major pentatonic scale for this lick - so it’s either A for A and E for E to keep it simple – and if you’re wondering, ‘Major Penatonic?!’ just think of this as the same major-y sound as "My Girl" by The Temptations.