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www.premierguitar.com/articles/21369-twang-101-8-essential-double-stop-licks
Levi Clay
August 30, 2014
One of the greatest things about the guitar is that unlike the saxophone, flute, or oboe, we play a truly
polyphonic instrument. This means that we’re able to play single-note phrases (monophonic) and chords. Chops: Intermediate
Sadly, this is a feature that’s often underutilized by our kin, and that’s a true shame. Theory: Beginner
Lesson Overview:
Now while these licks may have a strong country vibe, the concept isn’t just for hoedowns and barn
• Learn how to play
dances. Double-stops and chords can be used in any musical context—guitarists as diverse as Brian Setzer
double-stop phrases in the
and Kirk Hammett embrace them—but it’s important to know which sounds work and which don’t.
style of Brent Mason and
If you’ve read my previous lessons, you’ll know I’m a big advocate of the CAGED system, so expect these Johnny Hiland.
licks to fit easily into those chord forms. For those unfamiliar with this approach, each of these licks will fit • Improve your hybrid
neatly around basic positions of bigger chords that you probably know in barre form. This really allows us picking.
to play licks all over the fretboard because if you can picture the chord, you can play the licks. Check out • Create longer phrases
“The Guitarist’s Guide to the CAGED System” if you need a refresher. that move through
different positions using
Our first example (Ex. 1) fits around an A7 chord using the “E” shape. When using the CAGED system, the CAGED system.
pay attention to how the lick fits within the chord shape—that’s an essential concept. It begins with a half-
step slide into the chord before descending down an A7 arpeggio. The next little double-stop could be Click here to download a
considered part of a D triad (creating a D/A sound). However, it’s actually a lot better to think of it as two printable PDF of this
notes from the A Mixolydian scale (A–B–C#–D–E–F#–G). As with all the double-stops in this lesson, it lesson's notation.
helps to use hybrid picking. In the audio examples I’m using my middle and ring fingers in addition to my
pick.
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Twang 101: 8 Essential Double-Stop Licks | 2014-08-29 | Premier Guitar https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/print/21369-twang-101-8-essenti...
open A chord.
Levi Clay is a London-based guitar player, teacher, and transcriber. His unique approach to learning keeps him in
constant demand from students the world over, and his expertise as a transcriber has introduced his work to a whole new
audience. For more information, check out leviclaycom.
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Twang 101
By Levi Clay
premierguitar.com
Ex. 1
˙
4 5 7 4 5 7 4 5
5 6 7 5 6 7 5 6
7 5 7 5 7
7 7 7 7
Ex. 2
A
# #4 œœ ˙˙
 œœ œœ œœ nœœ œœ
œ nœ #œ œ œ œ
˙
5
2 2 2 4 6 6
2 2 4 5 7
0 3 4 0 0 0
Ex. 3
# #4
A7
œœ nbœœ œœ
& # 4 œj œ #œœ œ
3
œ nœ œ œ n œ # œ œœ ˙˙
˙
5 4 3 2
6 5 4 2 2
5 7 5 4 2 2
5 7 3 4
Ex. 4
# #4
A7
& # 4 n œj # œ œ œ œœ œ nœœ œ œ œ
3
œœ œœ nbœœ #nœœ ˙˙
˙
2 2 2 3 4 5
2 0 2 4 5 6
2 4 4 4 2 4
3 4
Ex. 5
nœ #œ œ
### 4 œ œ nœ œ #œ œ œ# œœ œœ œ œ œ œœ nœœ #œ
A7
& 4 œ œ nœ œ #œ nœ
n œ # œ œ œ nœœ œ ˙
œ
8 9 9 6 7
˙
9 10 10 7 9 7 5 2
12 9 9 7 7 5 6 0
11 11 9 7 7 5 2 4 4
7 6 5 0 3 4
Twang 101
By Levi Clay
premierguitar.com
Ex. 6
### 4 n œœ nœ #œ œ œ œœ œ œœ œ œ œ #œ œ
A7
œ œ œ
& 4 #œj œ nœ œ œ œ œ # œ œ nœ
3
Ó
3 3
7 9 9
˙
5 8 10 10
6 7 9 9 11 11 11 9 8 9
5 7 7 9 10 11 12 10 11
6 7 10
Ex. 7
œœ
# #4 œ n œœ œœ œœ j #œ
A7
œ ¿
& # 4 œ #œ nœ ¿ œ
nœ œ ˙
P.M. ¿
˙
14 12
14 12 14 14 14
12 13 14 14 X 14 13 12 10 11
X 12
Ex. 8
### 4 œœ nœœ œœ
A7
œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ nœ #œ
& 4 œ nœ #œ J J nœ #œ œ J J
˙
2 3 5 5 7 8
2 4 6 6 7 9
2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11
8 9
9 10 12 9 10 10
12 10 11 12 8 9 9
12 10 11
12 10