Stevie Ray Vaughan in many ways followed in Jimi Hendrix’s footsteps, and loved to emulate many elements of Jimi’s style of playing. For one, he loved to tune down like Hendrix did. Also, by playing with a rhythm section (Double Trouble) similar to Jimi’s, Vaughan was able to create similarly “large” sounding rhythm parts that could really fill up the sound.
One of his most distinctive approaches to the three-piece band format were his very large and powerful shuffle licks. These were largely accomplished by playing a bass part that was then answered by huge backbeat strokes that created the “shuffle” part of the lick.
We will cover these patterns in this lesson, but you’ll see that they’re not as easy as they first seem. The accuracy required is quite difficult and, I would say, unique to guitar playing in general. This is a very intense and dynamic style that Stevie really had “down,” and I hope you will feel the same after you learn them. Enjoy!—Arlen Roth
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