Blues Guitar – The Slowhand

By: James Duclos

For many blues guitar enthusiasts, the most fascinating style of blues is slowhand blues. Instead of playing more notes using more rhythms, slowhand players play fewer notes, but pack the notes that they do play full of style and feeling.

Kirk Hammett uses the blues scale and pentatonic scale frequently; however, he is not a good example of a slowhand blues guitar player. B. B. King, the man himself, is the quintessential slowhand player. King plays only a few notes, but each note has its own feeling. Rather than adding more notes, slowhand players incorporate bends, vibratos, and slides into their solos to create expression. Another way blues players can create a mood in their music is by playing slightly off beat and behind the downbeat. Playing behind the beat and delaying licks are good methods to achieve a laid-back and careless impression. Audio Clip Under the pretext of expression, you can even play out of time if you feel the music leading you in that direction.

Slowhand playing is a great way to learn blues. Since it is laid–back and casual you will not feel rushed to keep the notes pumping out. Instead, you can simply take your time and play nothing if that is what you feel; in solos, space is as important as the notes. Short A jabbing notes are used as well. Just a quick two–note phrase is not rare in blues playing, nor is a long drawn–out bend with plenty of vibrato. Multiple players may also switch solos and perform a sort of duel every other bar using the slowhand style. However, they will not duel to see who can play faster or more complicated music; instead, they will play long lead lines that are full of emotion, attempting to complement each other’s playing rather than prove that one guitarist is better.

Given the relaxed tempo and pace of slowhand blues, you may think it is difficult to become intense and exciting, but think again. With fast vibratos and huge bends, the slowhand blues can be just as intense as any other style of music. Slowhand players use licks and arpeggios similar to fast lead players, but slowhand players will just… well, play them more slowly. Most licks and phrases end with a bend up or a staccato note.

Eric Clapton is a great slowhand player and has the nickname of “Slowhand” as well as an album titled Slowhand. If you are looking to join the slowhand blues scene, definitely look up music from Eric Clapton and B. B. King.