A New Way Of Driving: Guitar Tab

This track gives students a direct window into B.B. King's guitar voice without overwhelming them with harmonic complexity. The tab format removes transcription barriers, letting players focus entirely on capturing his phrasing, bending technique, and the conversational quality between his vocal and instrumental lines.

Confident and conversational, with King's guitar speaking in complete musical sentences. The song carries the warmth of lived experience, blending straightforward storytelling with sophisticated melodic sensibilities that feel both accessible and deeply soulful.

Intermediate to advanced guitarists ready to study authentic blues phrasing and soloing from a master. This works equally well for students building their improvisational vocabulary and for those approaching the blues from a transcription and analysis perspective.

• Shape your bends with intentionality. King's signature vibrato comes not from speed but from controlling the bend so it sits just above or below the target pitch before settling in.
• Listen to the original recording multiple times before touching the guitar. Pay attention to where King spaces his notes and where he holds silence. The gaps matter as much as the notes.
• Approach dynamics as a storytelling tool. Vary your attack and volume to mirror the emotional arc of his vocal melody, creating continuity between the singing and playing.
• Experiment with tone controls throughout the performance. King famously used his amplifier's settings and touch to shift the character of his tone, not just effects pedals.

Assign this during a blues unit to demonstrate how a master craftsman builds a complete solo from simple harmonic territory. It also serves well as a model for students exploring call-and-response structures and the integration of vocal melody with instrumental accompaniment.

• Blues bending and vibrato control
• Phrasing and rhythmic placement in the pocket
• Call-and-response arrangement between melody and accompaniment
• Tone shaping through touch and amplifier interaction
• Listening for and replicating nuanced articulation