• Registered: 2010-01-25
  • Posts: 28

Topic: Joe Bonamassa Pentatonic sequencing

Hey guys,
     I'm finally starting to dive into Joe's playing style after cutting my teeth on a healthy does of Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor. I want to build off of what I already know phrasing wise and add some of Joe's speedy pentatonic runs. Are his runs 16th notes? I heard that he plays groups of five notes like Eric Johnson. Are these groups of 5 played as 16th notes or is he squeezing 5 notes in one beat? Does anybody have any tabbed out Bonamassa licks along with the appropriate note values, and what is the best way to go about practicing these runs?

Thank You

  • Registered: 2012-02-27
  • Posts: 43

Re: Joe Bonamassa Pentatonic sequencing

I don't have any tabbed examples, but I've slowed down a few songs and found that Joe's runs seem to form around groupings of four or six, depending on which note he puts the emphasis. I'm sure he does some clusters of 5, but I hear a lot less than that in his playing.

I dug out these YouTube clips which will help you. One is a typical 6-note pattern, the other is multiples of 4, or 16ths.

In the 16th example, the player uses pull-offs, but for that authentic, almost percussive style joe uses, alternate picking is necessary, as is some muting of the strings to prevent unwanted notes sounding. Your best bet is to practice these types of licks slowly, to get the picking mechanics right and to build your muscle memory. I find it more gratifying to do it to music, but each to their own.

Hope this helps.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iHTgK6PjuXA

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dqDDeE9ke5A