Teacher: Hello class!, this is our 2nd lesson on
the style of Brian May of Queen, covering his techniques from the early Queen
days. Brian May used all kinds of revolutionary techniques that many guitarist
later adopted. In this lesson we'll learn how he could layer guitar tracks using
various effects. Check out the lesson sample of what you will
learn
Lesson
Sample
Teacher: Most of these licks are actually pretty
easy to play, it's how you layer them to the other tracks, in this lesson
I'll show you how to build the individual tracks and then you can practice over
the jam tracks to get the feeling of how to play over multi-layered guitar
tracks to experience how it works, this should be fun, so let's get
started!
Teacher: First let's start with the basic track
of the first part of the lesson sample, you basically play the Csus2 and A5
chords:
Part 1 -
Intro 1
Teacher:
Here's the jam track
Looping Jam Track 1 - Intro 1
Teacher:
Now you can play a descending arpeggio over the C and A
chords
Part 1 -
Intro 2
Part 1 - Intro
2
C & A Minor
Pentatonic Scale Patterns
all-thumbs: you're right that is pretty
easy!
Teacher: Each of the arpeggios are based on the
Minor Pentatonic scale patterns, here's the pattern for each scale, try playing
it over the jam track now
Looping Jam Track 2 - Intro 2
Teacher:
It sounds pretty cool when you play to the other tracks
all-thumbs: sounds great!
Teacher: OK, let's add another guitar part. This
next part is a simple melody you can play over the other
parts
Part 1 - Intro
3
Part 1 - Intro
3
Teacher:
In this lick you basically bend up to an E which is Maj 3rd to the C
of the chord progression. Then you later bend to C# which is the Maj 3rd of the
A progression, you then play a descending scale in the A Major scale. Here's
the jam track
Looping Jam Track 3 - Intro 3
Teacher:
OK, in the last jam track you hear all the harmonies, well it's the same exact
melody I sent you, but I added a effects processor called a digital harmonizer,
this effect automatically adds extra harmonies to your guitar. I use a
Digitech IPS-33b that adds two harmonies. You can find these processors on Ebay
for around $150 on up. Here's the same melody, but using the
Harmonizer
Part 1 -
Intro 3 - Harmony
Teacher:
Notice it's the same lick, but with the thick layered sound that Brian May gets,
I set the processor to the key of C, with a 3rd and 5th harmony than plays over
the original melody, that is one way of getting the Brian May sound. Most
multi processors have this feature. Now I also added another lead track to the
rhythm, harmony and arpeggio tracks
POD_GOD: So does Brian use this effect when he's in the
studio, or does he record each harmony separate and layer
em?
Teacher: In the early days he used multi-tracks,
as the technology became more advanced he would use processors, along with
his tape delays (Echo-Plex) to create harmonies, which we'll cover in
another lesson. Here's the lead track
Part 1 - Intro 4
Part 1 - Intro
4
Teacher:
Now this track has a delay added, set on 600 Millsec, Delay level 100% and
Feedback 50%. You can hear how the effects sustain the note and then then you
can hear the delay stand out on the ascending scale run
Looping Jam
Track 4 - Intro 4
Teacher:
Here's the jam track with all the parts, hear how the jam track comes alive with
all the parts, you can practice the various licks you learned over this
track
all-thumbs: that's a lot of
layering
Teacher: That's one of the secrets to the Brian
May/Queen sound
POD_GOD: How the heck does he reproduce it
live?
grolschie:
Lots of layers on the recordings, but he still sounds phat live
also.
Teacher: Great question, that brings up a good
subject, Brian equipment, of course Queen sounded more raw in concert, but Brian
May was able to pull off a lot of these tracks with his guitar
setup
grolschie:
"Brighton Rock" live used the tape delay thingamee.
Teacher: Brian used 6-9 Vox AC-30s, actually
using 3 at a time the others as backup, because AC-30s can be temperamental and
break down. Brian used Mestro Echo-Plex tape delays, one on the 2nd amp,
another Echo-Plex on the 3rd amp with different delay setting on the second
and third amp, he could create a wall of harmonies. He also used
phasers, flangers, Wah-Wah and I assumed harmonizers in his later days. His
guitar was custom built by Brian and his dad, using a kind off hybrid
Stratocaster design. He authorized Guild guitars and later Burns Guitars to
recreate his design
(burnsusa.com).
Teacher: OK, let's jump to the next
riffs
all-thumbs: But what kind of pick did he use?
j/k
grolschie: 5 pence for a
pick
Teacher: Yes, thank you for answering that
question grolschie!
Part 2 - Riff 1
Part 2 - Riff
1
Teacher: Now this
riff uses a descending in the E Minor blues scale
E Minor
Blues
Teacher:
Brian May was influenced by Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles, you can hear the blues
influence. Here's the jam track
Looping Jam Track 5 - Part 2
Teacher:
Notice the riff ends in C which leads us in the next section. First, here's the
chords for the rhythm track
Part 3 - Rhythm
Teacher: There are some interesting transitions
in this chord progression, you play standard chords but use various intervals to
tie the progression together, giving it a classical feel, notice how the D/F#,
E/G#.... tie the chords together. Brian May used this technique in his songs all
the time, Freddie Mercury was a classically trained piano player as well and
would incorporate these changes all the time
all-thumbs:
those chords sound just a little off until the next chord is played .....sounds
good.
Teacher:
Exactly all-thumbs, they are considered "transition" chords. Here's the same chords, but they are played in a
"gallop" or "triplet" type rhythm pattern, check out the jam
track:
Looping Jam
Track 6 - Part 3 - Rhythm
Teacher:
Now you can add a melody over the rhythm track.... Here's the first part of
the single note melody
Part 3 - Solo 1
Part 3 - Solo
1
Teacher:
Now you might notice the melody adjusts to the rhythm pattern, this is very
common in classical, here's the 2nd part of the melody
Part 3 - Solo
2
Part 3 - Solo
2
Teacher:
They are actually very basic melodies, but are very melodic when played over the
rhythm track. Here's a jam track with the harmony guitar added, you can
still play the original melody over these tracks.
Looping
Jam Track 7 - Part 3 - Harmony
Teacher: I hope this
lesson gives you a deeper understanding in how Brian May achieves his
sound. OK, time to go, I hope to see you at the next
lesson!
all-thumbs: thx
grolschie: Thanks man!
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