Learn to Play Bryan Adams - A Comprehensive Guitar Lesson Series

Expand your guitar prowess and dive deep into the music of Bryan Adams with this comprehensive "Learn to Play Bryan Adams" series, brought to you by LickLibrary.coms veteran tutor Jamie Humphries. Known for his passionate songwriting and meticulous, melody-driven guitar work, Adams' music is not just catchy but provides a remarkable ground to learn, enhance and master various guitar techniques.

Overview

This series is designed to guide guitarists through note-for-note lessons for five classic Bryan Adams' songs - "Summer of 69", "Run to You", "Heaven", "It's Only Love", and "Can't Stop This Thing We've Started". Each lesson breaks down the songs, taking a close look at the scales used, analyzing guitar solos, and explaining in detail the techniques employed. Keith Scott, the lead guitarist for Bryan Adams, contributed significantly to the success of these songs. His unique style and rhythmic precision are a treasure trove for every guitarist, and we dive deep into his contribution throughout this series.

Summer of 69

It's impossible to start a Bryan Adams' journey without "Summer of 69". The song is based on the D major scale, utilizing a variety of chords including D, A, and Bm for the main progression. One of the highlights is the solo which employs pentatonic scales and includes a series of string bends and quick hammer-ons, giving it a dynamic, energetic sound.

Run to You

"Run to You" is another classic, predominantly built on the E major scale. It features a memorable riff that uses a combination of power chords and palm-muting techniques to create a pulsating, rhythmic drive. The solo, in contrast, is more melodic, making ample use of the E minor pentatonic scale and string-bending techniques.

Heaven

In "Heaven", Adams veers into the territory of power ballads. Here, the song is in the key of C major, with a chord progression that includes C, G, Am, and F. The finger-picked arpeggios in the verses provide a gentle contrast to the power chords in the chorus. The solo, while short, showcases effective use of vibrato and bends.

It's Only Love

"It's Only Love" is a duet with Tina Turner, filled with energetic rhythm guitar work and bluesy bends that add character to the song. The song is in the key of C# minor, with the solo using the minor pentatonic scale to create a soulful, passionate vibe. The main riff is a testament to the power of syncopated rhythms and alternate picking.

Can't Stop This Thing We've Started

"Can't Stop This Thing We've Started" is a song that combines energetic strumming patterns and intricate lead guitar work. Set in the key of A major, it includes a mixture of open-string riffs and power chords in the rhythm section. The solo, focusing on the A major scale, includes a number of hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides, giving it a fluid, lyrical quality.

Keith Scott's Contribution

Keith Scott's influence is integral to Bryan Adams' sound. His rhythm and lead guitar work across these songs showcase his ability to provide a strong rhythmic foundation, and at the same time, deliver memorable, melodic solos. From using alternate picking to maintain a steady rhythm to using string bends and vibrato to bring solos to life, Scott's versatile approach to guitar playing is a masterclass in tasteful rock guitar.


Guitar Techniques Used

Below is a list of the techniques used in this lesson series:

Learn, practice, and master these techniques and more with the "Learn to Play Bryan Adams" series at LickLibrary.com. Enjoy the journey of exploring the timeless hits of Bryan Adams and Keith Scott, and add a new dimension to your guitar playing!

About The Tutor

Tutor Profile

Jamie Humphries

Jamie is one of the mainstays of LickLibrary, having a stream of hugely successful best selling DVDs, Jamie is best known as Brian May's sideman who he's played shows with all over the world. Aside from this Jamie is a hugely popular clinician working all over the world with Ernie...

View More