As I may have mentioned in this blog before now, I really have a thing for country music and in particular the absolutely dizzying "shredneck" styles of Nashville's finest. It's a slightl irony the that this month the spotlight falls on a man who's name is synonymous with some of the most blistering country guitar playing ever put to tape - but hails from...
... Herefordshire.
And grew up in London's Blackheath district.
So, quite a way from the Deep South of Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama et al. But despite that, you can't deny the man's staggering ability or rootsy authenticity. Steeped in a rich heritage of James Burton, Cliff Gallup, Scotty Moore and Jerry Reed, Alberts gravity defying scattershot country licks are one of the definitive sounds of Nashville "hot country" guitar playing, and his playing had influenced a huge raft of guitarists including none other than fellow blog subject Zakk Wylde!
So as is customary by this point, first a little potted history before we get to the licks. Born, December 21 1943 in Blackheath as mentioned and to a musician father, Lee originally began on the piano aged 7, before receiving a guitar for his 15th birthday - presumably enamoured by the ease of transporting a guitar instead of a piano - and left school the following year (1959) with the intent of making a living full time as a musician.
A succession of local pub & bar bands followed, including a stint with UK R&B legend Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds, but by 1968 things had crystallised for Lee and he knew playing country music was his true calling, joining British country rock band Head, Hands & Feet where he really began to make his mark as a blistering Telecaster wielding guitar hero. Session work followed, becoming a noted sideman for the likes of Emmylou Harris (replacing his idol James Buton in the Hot Band) and Eric Clapton Eric Clapton in his solo years during the late 70s and 80s Since then, Albert has carved out a successful career for himself as a solo artist, with his most recent album released in 2008. Along the way he won the Guitar Player magazine "Best Country Guitarist" award on no less than five consecutive occasions and swapped the Telecaster for his own Music Man signature model (I tried one and it's lovely..).
So there we are, he may not be a household name on Radio 2 like his former boss, but this is a man who's carved out a very successful music career in his chosen niche... simply by being extraordinarily good at it!
So let's have a look at how he does it.
I would be remiss if I missed out his signature track, "Country Boy" from the Head, Hands & Feet days, so let's begin there. This will make more sense when you see the demo video (Like, Share & SubscribeSubscribe, folks!) - and revolves around a couple of variations on the G chord, featuring the ambiguity between b3 & major 3 (Bb and B), embellishing the G arpeggio with elements from the major pentatonic (R 2 3 5 6 G A B D E) along with the b7 (F).
Changing key to E, we can see a lot of similar Albert Lee ideas in the intro riff to "Fun Ranch Boogie" wit the use of the unison E notes on the 5th freb and open E, the use of the 6th, 2nd bent to minor 3rd and octave E notes - note also the use of the funky little mute, another hallmark of Albert's phenomenally precise and rhythmic playing.
So with that in mind, I shall bid you adieu, gentle reader - check in on the YouTube channel for the deminstration video and see you next month!
