Guitar Study
Learning to Play Guitar like Guthrie Govan
Instructors: Mike Salow, Rick Graham
Total lessons in study:
Guthrie Govan is known as one of the most versatile and talented guitarist in the world. In this study, you'll get special insights into his unique playing.
1. Playing Licks like Guthrie
Hey guys!
Thought I'd throw out another 'Licks in the Style of...' tutorial!
This time we're covering the amazing Guthrie Govan! Personally, Guthrie is a huge influence on my playing and I had a lot of fun making this tutorial.
One thing that is very apparent in Guthrie's style is the way he chooses to use chromatic note...Read More
Lick 2!
This is a fast one! I actually use this lick a lot in live situations.
The way I'm thinking of this lick is being based around three pentatonic shapes to which I've added either chromatics, the blues note, or notes from dorian.
Make sure to pay attention to the slides that are happening. The slides give this lick...Read More
Lick 3!
This one is Guthrie at his core. It uses a lot of different techniques and some interesting note chooses.
The really nutty part is the sweep that happens in the middle of this lick. It utilizes the major 7 (G#), bringing outside for that one millisecond. :)
Take this very slow! The tab is exact and there is a lot...Read More
Lick 4
The last lick is a tapping lick that uses some 7th chord arpeggios.
Very similar to the video on Guthrie's arpeggios that a did I while.
If you've not mastered the technique previously it would be beneficial to take this slow and use each arpeggio as an exercise in itself.
Have fun with these licks!Read More
Save
Complete
Free
5. Licks in the Style of Guthrie Govan: Backing Track
Improvising
Fusion
Intermediate
Have fun with the backing track guys. Practice hard!Read More
2. A Song Excerpt in the Style of Guthrie
Yo! and welcome to my latest tutorial this time focusing on the style and techniques of the amazing UK guitarist Guthrie Govan.
This lesson was created with inspiration from the following:
Blues Jam Tracks Cornford Records
I first came across Guthrie Govan when he won the UK Guitarist of the Year back in 1993 with his...Read More
Alrighty, let's kick off the proceedings with the first lick.
Guthrie tends to use this kind of idea within his improvisations with great effect. I really like that kind of unexpected burst of notes and to achieve the same effect, it is very important to get the rhythm dead on. Practice this very slowly maintaining control...Read More
OK, time to take a deep breath as this one is a challenge!
I try to see this whole pattern as one entire lick rather than segments pieced together. Of course, it will be necessary to subdivide the parts so that you can put them together when you are ready to do so but it really helps me to see it as one lick.
There are a ...Read More
This final Lick is very reminiscent of Guthrie's style of playing and is one that he uses on a regular basis.
It is made easier by the fact that the shapes used on each successive string are exactly the same. The lick will test your ability to shift positions with accuracy so practice carefully! Muting is also essential he...Read More
OK let's nail this solo!
One of the most important aspects of this first section is the string bending and control of intonation. You must practice with the aim of getting perfect intonation and complete control over your manipulation over the strings. It will not cut it even if you are a fraction out so make sure you are ...Read More
Ok let's continue!
Notice how the motifs start developing here. Including motivic development within this solo was a vital part of capturing the style of Guthrie's playing. If you analyse any of his solos, the majority of which I feel are improvised, you will find a masterful control over motivic development. It is essenti...Read More
Lets continue further into the world of Mr Govan!
Again the use of motivic development occurs here in a sequential chromatic pattern which ascends on the top e string by step. With these legato patterns try to keep as light a touch as possible as this will yield the best results.
Righty then, lets seperate the men from th...Read More
OK, the legato madness continues to greater heights!
This section is where the solo reaches its dynamic peak in the tapped string skipped arpeggio again commonly used by Mr Govan!
At this point I'd like to comment on uhe use of string damping tools. During these kind of tapped passages which invariably present some challe...Read More
Hang in there guys we're almost there!
This final section includes a very often used 'Guthrie-ism' in the final string skipped tapping lick.
The actual pattern is based on the pentatonic scale and the beauty of this kind of pattern is that once you have learned it on one string, when you skip strings to play it an octave ...Read More
Here's the backing track for you. Once you feel that you have nailed every lick of the solo, try it at full tempo along with the backing track. Be sure to post any recordings, be it audio or video, for everyone at the forums to check out. Good luck!Read More
3. Arpeggios in the Style of Guthrie
Hello again guys!
In this tutorial we'll be discussing tapped arpeggios ala Guthrie Govan.
Tapping 7th chord arpeggios this way can give your line a very unique sound.
Keep in mind that all of these arpeggios are being played in 3rd inversion with the 7th of the arpeggio being played first.
For example a Cmaj7 has C - E...Read More
Save
Complete
17. Tapping 7th Chord Arpeggios like Guthrie Govan: Cmaj7, Fmaj7
Scales
Fusion
Advanced
So onto our first 4 arpeggios diatonic to C major.
They again are Cmaj7 - Dm7 - Em7 - Fmaj7. ( I - ii - iii - IV )
Again these will all be played in 3rd inversion so:
Cmaj7 - BCEG
Dm7 - CDFA
Em7 - DEGB
Fmaj7 - EFAC
Make sure to play all of these arpeggios slow and dynamically even between each note.Read More
Now onto our other 3 arpeggios within C major.
G7 - Am7 - Bm7b5.
Again, in 3rd inversion.
G7 - FGBD
Am7 - GACE
Bm7b5 - ABDF
Same goes for these arpeggios, slow and dynamically even between each note!Read More
These licks are nothing special but I thought it would be a quick easy way to start using these arpeggios.
Remember to start slow and gradually speed up. Also, focus on keeping the taps, hammer ons, and pull offs dynamically equal!Read More
Save
Complete
20. Tapping 7th Chord Arpeggios like Guthrie Govan: Backing
Improvising
Fusion
Beginner
Like I said this track may sound familiar since it has been used in several other of my tutorials but it fits since we're in C Major.
Enjoy! :)Read More