Wednesday, January 15, 2025
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BRIAN MAY’s 31 Greatest Guitar Techniques! (plus one bonus technique)


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:47 Modulated Arpeggios
1:30 3-Part Harmony
2:20 Cascading Pattern Licks
2:57 The May Vibrato
4:11 Pre Bends
4:58 Violin Scale Runs
5:31 Single Note Rhythms
6:22 Musical Speed Patterns
7:21 Staccato Picking
8:21 Rhythm Fills
9:39 Slash Chords
11:09 Pedal Tone Triads
12:12 Cry Bend
13:20 Playing Behind the Beat
14:25 Syncopated Rhythms
15:25 Delay Soloing
16:20 Chromatic Climbing Licks
17:30 Trill Licks
18:40 Extra High Pinch Harmonics (not listed)
19:39 Speed Sequences (picking)
20:37 Speed Sequences (pulloffs)
21:21 Pre Bend Replacement
22:32 Standard Tuning Slide
23:44 Pluck Tapping
24:37 Lead Motifs as Riffs
25:08 The “Stones” Chord Change
25:53 Mimicking The Bassline
26:21 Funky Strumming
27:06 Harmonized Bends
27:57 Major 3rd Trill
28:50 Rakes
29:30 Single String Muting

#BRIAN #MAYs #Greatest #Guitar #Techniques #bonus #technique

Originally posted by UCXdG2bTITo_9dH0heqkXlDQ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2E2D6V5k-M

48 thoughts on “BRIAN MAY’s 31 Greatest Guitar Techniques! (plus one bonus technique)

  • I went back to put the timecode in the description and realized I didn't title one of the techniques. It's the "Extra High Pinch Harmonics Technique" so I guess we can call that a bonus. haha.

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  • I know this is an older video but thanks for this.

    I started in my teens and I had the Star Licks VHS you're referencing, but I spent a few years pretty much going nowhere.

    Last October I'm trying again after a 10-15 year hiatus, with the Internet a lot easier to access now I'm able to look up exercises and other information on the fly, and having a concise compendium of BMs techniques in one place is fantastic.

    Thanks again.

    Reply
  • BRIAN MAY pochi giorni fa e stato declassato dalla rivista Rolling Stone USA dalla ventiseiesima posizione alla trentatreesima posizione tradotto MAY e peggiorato notevolmente la terza sberla e stata tremenda dopo le prime due e scarso e lui medesimo lo dichiara senza problemi più suona più diventa un bidone della spazzatura ritirati a vita privata vale anche per Taylor e non infangate il nome del povero FREDDIE immondizia umana vergognatevi

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  • for those who want a Brian May-ish sound try to get a guitar with mini humbuckers, also get a treble booster

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  • A lot of people have argued with me about this but I heard Billy Corgan say in an interview that he's been trying to achieve Brian Mays tone.
    Side note, those up strokes that Brian May uses i used to use for playing Four Horsemen by Metallica back in the day.
    Great video.

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  • Just realized that you look like late Pete Huttlinger. He was a great fingerpicker and great guy.

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  • I love how you dissect the technique. I try to duplicate it and just have even more respect and awe of Brian May's talent and yours too.

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  • 20:00 Brian actually just holds an A chord there and moves two fingers only while palm muting! I'd say that is way easier than having to move 3 fingers to play it.

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  • Aside from a very accurate breakdown of his techniques I'm amazed at how close you got the tone… I'm assuming the Jaguar was for the phase switch but surprisingly the SG did it for most of the riffs/licks… Any special EQ configuration?

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  • Cool video. Brian is the most brilliant guitarist there is. By the way, has anyone ever told you that you resemble John Cusack? He played my other favorite Brian, Brian Wilson in “Love and Mercy”.

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  • Great Video. Many thanks for taking the time to research this and put it all together in one place.

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  • Watching this again. It really is a great brealdown of brians techniques! Thank you!

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  • i used a coin as a pick just to see what it was like but i really like it so im using it all the time now

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  • man, what a brilliant lesson !
    I love the analysis of these little details of Brian's style very much.
    And you playing is stellar in my opinion and also the sound that you have dialed in is stellar imo ????

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  • If John Cusack and David Duchovny had a child, it would be you
    Great playing by the way.

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  • I never play any queen stuff. But it looks like I'm way too familiar with all this style.

    Hmm maybe i should try practicing some queen stuff

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  • HI most of the time he doesnt use a silver six pence he just uses his fingers for picking

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  • Could you please make a video on how to dial in the sound of Brian May? Sounds pretty close

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  • Great tips there Mike. This will help me de-construct exactly what is going on in my favourite Queen song (Killer Queen). Most of it is coming together through practicing various lessons; but it's really good to pin down specific sounds as you have demonstrated ????.

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  • Brilliant. Loved the 1:35 Orchestral triple harmonies, 4:10 Pre bend vibrato but for whole step above 4:56 Violin (blatant) scale runs 5:29 Classical single-note rhythms 7:21 Sharp hit staccato immediate pick-stops 12:09 The unique May cry bend 13:21 Playing behind the beat 16:20 Chromatic climbing riffs 18:36 Squealing but on higher strings/frets 19:37 Speed sequencing (takes years) 20:39 Speed pull offs 21:23 Pre Bend replacement next fret 27:55 Major 3rd Trill in Pentatonic 28:53 Rake to the note

    Reply
  • Treat yourself to a BMG guitar, you don’t have to get a red one and you certainly won’t be disappointed ????????

    Reply

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