Would You Like to Play Like Jeff Beck? – 418

Ever wonder how Jeff Beck made just one bend sound better than a whole solo? In this episode, I explore what made his playing so tasteful—and how trying to capture that same emotional feel is reshaping my approach to guitar.

How This Started…

This episode picks up from last week's YouTube lesson where I wrote an eight-bar solo using the whammy bar in a subtle, vocal way — something that surprised me while writing it.

I wasn’t planning to make a Jeff Beck-style solo… but that’s what came out.
It was slow, expressive, and didn’t need speed or flash. It just felt right.

That got me thinking: what makes Jeff Beck’s playing so special?

What Makes Jeff Beck’s Style So Powerful?

He played with his fingers, not a pick — more dynamics and control
He detuned and swooped into notes, but it never felt messy
He said more with fewer notes — often, one well-placed bend spoke volumes
He left space — his restraint created emotion

His gear was dialed in to serve the playing — but the real magic came from intention.

My Tremolo Bar Setup

I used to avoid the whammy bar — mine never worked right. Now with Wilkinson floating tremolos, I’ve got control.

Here’s what I discovered:

High E string: Pulling back doesn't even give a full half step — better for subtle vibrato
B string: Can pull back a full half step easily
G string: Pulls up a full whole step — super expressive
D string: About a half step
A string: Somewhere between half and whole
Low E string: Can pull up a full step

That’s huge — different strings give you different intervals when pulling up.
Use this knowledge to plan which strings to phrase on.

Tone Talk: Gear I Used

Amp/IR: Boss IR-200, Marshall-style basket weave cab
Drive Pedals: Line 6 HX Effects – OCD-style Compulsive Drive + Scream 808
Delay: Post-drive for sustain and ambiance

I'm not chasing Jeff’s tone exactly — but aiming for that Andy Timmons-like floating delay with mid-gain sustain and responsiveness. Beck-style playing demands gear that’s expressive without being too much.

Technique Takeaways

Here’s how I applied what I learned:

Start under the note and pull into pitch — mimics the voice
Add space between licks — let the notes breathe
Play fewer notes, but make each one count
Practice with intention — know why you’re playing a note

This solo wasn’t flashy, but it told a story. And that’s the kind of playing I’m chasing now.

What If You Thought Like Jeff Beck?

It’s not just about playing like him. It’s about thinking like him.

Ask yourself:

What if you left more space in your solos?
What if you played every note with intention?
What if your guitar phrased like a voice — swoops, vibrato, emotion?

That’s what I’m exploring, and I invite you to try it too.

Want to Practice Like This?

If this kind of phrasing excites you, start with my free course:

Blues Solo Breakthrough: 6 Steps to Confident, Killer Solos
It’ll help you unlock the phrasing tools, musical feel, and confidence to start creating solos that move people.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to be flashy. You don’t need to play fast.
You need to play with intention, space, and soul.

If your solos feel stale or chaotic, maybe it’s not a technique problem.
Maybe it’s time to think more like Jeff Beck.

Thanks for listening to this week's Play Guitar Podcast.
If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it — or drop a comment letting me know what you’re working on.

See you next week.

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