101 Doggone Good Country Guitar Licks in the Honky Tonk Style
101 Doggone Good Country Guitar Licks in the Honky Tonk Style
This fine Red Dog book features 101 country guitar licks (phrases) that can be applied to standard chord progressions in thousands of songs. The licks are primarily for the electric guitar and were recorded with a Fender Telecaster. The licks can be applied to an unlimited variety of popular country songs from all eras including acoustic, honkytonk, and contemporary Nashville. In addition, the licks are a perfect match for the country-flavored pop stylings of artists like the Eagles, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, and similar musicians. Each example is written in standard notation and also tablature, and recorded on the companion CD. This is a book for early intermediate and intermediate guitarists who are enthusiasts and players of the classic country music of artists like Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens,Johnny Bond, Bobby Bare, Roy Acuff, Johnny Cash, Billy Byrd, James Burton, Jim Ed Brown, Alan Jackson, Ferlin Husky, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Emmylou Harris, Vern Gosdin, Don Gibson, Little Jimmy Dickens, Moon Mullican, Hank Locklin, Waylon Jennings, Sonny James, Stonewall Jackson, Hank Snow, Carl Smith, Connie Smith, Rose Maddox, Jean Shepard, Marty Robbins, Mel Tillis, Hank Thompson, Marty Stuart, Mel Street, George Strait, Wynn Stewart, Gary Stewart, Red Steagall, Red Sovine, Moe Bandy, Leroy Van Dyke, Porter Wagoner, Ian Tyson, T. Tex Tyler, Conway Twitty, Ernest Tubb, Floyd Tillman, Randy Travis, Vince Gill, Mel McDaniel, Faron Young, Dwight Yoakam, Tammy Wynette, Bob Wills, Asleep at the Wheel, Hank Williams Jr., Don Williams, Jimmy Bryant, Gene Watson, Susan Raye, Johnny Horton, Billy Grammar, classic Dolly Parton, Lloyd Green, Jim Reeves, Gram Parsons, the Desert Rose Band, Skeeter Davis, Cowboy Copas, John Conlee, Tommy Collins, David Allan Coe, Hank Cochran, Chris Hillman, Curly Chalker, Don Helms, Ralph Mooney, Leon McAuliffe, Loretta Lynn, Lynn Anderson, John Anderson, and similar classic country artists. For Cajun music and rockabilly fans too.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars So many great country licks!
I just finished playing every lick in this book over the course of several days. Why so long? I found that with about every other lick new ideas would be sparked or they would tie into licks I already play and I’d create new licks! This is exactly the type of instructional book I really love – one that is a spark that starts a raging fire of creativity.
The notation in the book is very well explained and there are great suggestions for students in the intro section. The intro section also includes an example of how various licks in the book can be used in a standard country song. The final section of the book would be an excellent resource for someone looking for suggested listening in the country genre, from the 1920’s to the present and all styles. I do agree with the reviewer who said the piano was a little high in the mix on the CD, however it is only in one channel and a quick adjustment of the balance knob on the stereo was all it took to make the mix perfect.
The licks are arranged in sections for playing over standard country chord changes and transitions. There are also some great into and outro licks. Even if the user of this book has been playing coutry for years they will likely get something out of it. This book was recommended to me and I’m so glad I got it. Now I will recommend it to you.
5 Stars It’s back, and about time
I own a copy of the original edition, and I guard it well. I use it to get students into Nashville electric guitar type music. I don’t move on to something more difficult until (a) they have them all down cold, and (b)They start altering them. These are starting points, not the final destination. I agree with another reviewer who said that these licks are hard enough to be interesting and simple enough not to discourage the person learning. I once picked up a book of Albert Lee licks, and I couldn’t believe that Albert could play them. (of course he can, but he’s not human) If you are looking for help on your way to being scary, this is the right book. Learn the licks dead cold, and then make them yours.
4 Stars Good meat and potatos stuff
This is a collection of really standard “Honky Tonk”, Bakersfield telecaster style licks. If you allready play guitar and want to play/explore this style or classic country in general, this book will get you there.
What i liked: 1) the tracks on the cd match numerically the licks in the book i.e. “lick 34″ is “track 34″ sounds simple but a lot of books screw this up. 2) spiral bound!! Yay! Lays flat. 3) Everything is in one key. (C)Licks are presented as going from the I chord to the IV, V to IV etc. And 90% of the licks are easily moved around the neck for other keys. (If this makes sense to you, you’ll like this book)
4) The material is intermediate, meaning not too simple and not too difficult. Too many of these type collections are simply too flashy. This one is useful and playable.
What I don’t like..1) Piano is used to keep time with the guitar on the cd. Piano is mixed too loud. 2) A few examples of the lcks used in a complete solo would be helpful.
Really, overall, this is a good deal. The licks fall inot three catagories for me. Ones that I allready know, others that are variations of things I play, and finally ones that make me say “Wow. That’s simple, but sounds sooooo good! Why Didn’t I think of that?”
