This 80's track is an absolute guitar fest! It takes us back to a time when the more guitar harmonies you could squeeze into a record, then better it was sounding! This song features some unbelievable playing from Gary Moore, including an awesome riff and a breathtakingly fast solo to work on!
Let's start by learning the chords for the song. Below is a list of all the chords we are using in the song (for all the sections).
All the way through the track we are using a variety of rhythms, which Simon guides you through in the video. The lesson to take away from this is just how much you can get from a different rhythm pattern. For example, when Gary Moore switches from the single strummed notes to all down strumming with a touch of palm muting, it really adds a new dimension and drives the track. As you start to play along with the song, bare this in mind as it really helps with your own songwriting.
Don't forget about that glorious key change at the end of the track, where we take the whole song up by one tone. In this section we use the following chord shapes:
For the main riff, we are using out D natural minor scale combined with the D minor pentatonic scale. We are very much using the 1st scale shape based on the 10th fret in this case (As the key is D minor). Here are those scale shapes:
During this section we are essentially playing a lead line in the key of D minor that moves as the chords do. We are now using the 3rd and 4th shapes of the D minor scale, as pictured below. See if you can match the notes to the lick!
By the time we get to the outro section we have moved into the key of E minor and are using our E natural minor scale to play this lick. The scale shape that is being used is actually a 3 note per string scale shape in E minor, which is shown below:
For the first lick we are using the D minor scale in the 4th and 3rd position. Make sure that you can match the lick with the notes in the scale as that will allow you to take these licks into your own playing.
For the second lick we are using the D minor scale in the 1st, 5th, 4th and 3rd position as we smoothly glide across the neck. Make sure that you can match the lick with the notes in the scale as that will allow you to take these licks into your own playing.
This is the BIG lick! It's super fast lick across the entire fretboard and it's therefore very hard! We're breaking this run down into 4 licks to make it more manageable. The focus of our first section is a pattern that involves playing in groups of 4, as Simon walks through slowly. As for scale shapes, we are using 3 note per string patterns in D minor.
We now slightly change the pattern but we bring in a more legato and fluid runs (using hammer ons and pull offs). Be sure to use the exact hammer ons and pull offs that Simon takes us through, otherwise you'll struggle to get the pace!
We now rapidly fly through the high part of the fretboard culminating in an epic bend at the top! This section is particularly challenging, but still, make sure you note which shapes you are using! They are as shown below, continuing the idea of 3 note per string scales.
To complete this solo we will stay in this high position on the fretboard. The only difference here is that we are using a D harmonic minor scale for the final part. Here are the scale shapes as we see them during this lick:
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Every great guitar player has a classic riff that almost defines a career, and for Gary Moore, this is probably it! The intro lead part is one of the most recognisable pieces of guitar playing across the world and it's great fun to learn. Simon walks you through the lead part as well as the chords in this beautiful Gary Moore track.