Learn B.B. King’s Iconic Guitar Style – Free Interactive Exercise

September 16 marks the birthday of B.B. King, one of the most influential blues guitarists of all time. What better way to celebrate the King of the Blues than by playing a lick inspired by his unmistakable style?

B.B. King was famous for his expressive phrasing, his singing vibrato, and his ability to say more with just a few notes than others did with many.

To celebrate B.B. King, we’ve prepared a free interactive guitar exercise inspired by his style. Slow it down, practice it section by section, play along with the backing track, and get instant feedback as you practice.

A lesson in saying more with less

B.B. King is a great example for guitar students who think good improvisation means playing more notes. His playing shows the opposite: a carefully bent note, a well-placed pause, and expressive vibrato can say more than a long run of notes.

Try giving students a small set of notes and asking them to create a complete blues phrase using only phrasing, bends, vibrato, and space.