Learn to Play Judas Priest

Licklibrary is excited to introduce the much-anticipated Learn to Play Judas Priest guitar lessons, a comprehensive course designed by Danny Gill to demystify the iconic sound of one of the most influential bands in heavy metal history.

This course offers note-for-note lessons for five classic Judas Priest tracks: Breaking the Law, Living After Midnight, Victim of Changes, The Green Manalishi, and Beyond the Realms of Death. You will not only be learning to play these tracks, but also gaining an in-depth understanding of the techniques and scales used by the band's legendary lead guitarist, Glenn Tipton.

Breaking the Law

Breaking the Law, a major hit off the British Steel album, is recognized for its catchy main riff and the driving rhythm guitar work. Predominantly based in the E minor pentatonic scale, this song presents an excellent introduction to power chords and palm muting, forming the heart of the heavy metal rhythm guitar style. The solo, short but impactful, is a splendid introduction to the world of guitar solos, featuring string bending and vibrato.

Living After Midnight

Living After Midnight, another classic from the British Steel album, is a celebration of the hard rock riff. The song centers around a sequence of power chords and open-string riffs, based in the A major scale. The solo is a primer on how to construct a memorable lead, emphasizing strong melodic development over technical flash. String bends, slides, and vibrato are all crucial techniques employed here.

Victim of Changes

Victim of Changes is a showcase of Judas Priest's progressive leanings. Its complexity is in its structure and changing tempos, with a mix of minor pentatonic and natural minor scales. The song features fast alternate picking passages, intense legato runs, and Tipton's signature pinch harmonics. The solo contains multiple sections with different techniques, making it an ideal practice piece for mastering articulation and phrasing.

The Green Manalishi

The Green Manalishi, a Fleetwood Mac cover, is a darker, heavier interpretation of Peter Green's original. The song contains galloping rhythms and uses both the E minor pentatonic and E minor natural scales. In the solo, Tipton uses a combination of alternate picking, string bending, and fast legato phrases to build tension and release, culminating in a furious climax.

Beyond the Realms of Death

Beyond the Realms of Death, a track from the album Stained Class, is a power ballad with a series of arpeggiated chord progressions. The song combines clean and distorted guitar tones, making it a wonderful study in dynamics and tone control. The solo is a masterclass in emotional lead guitar playing, with extensive use of vibrato, bends, and legato phrases, shifting from the B minor scale into the B minor pentatonic scale.

Lead Guitarist - Glenn Tipton

Glenn Tipton's contribution to these songs, and Judas Priest in general, cannot be understated. Known for his aggressive, melodic solos and heavy riffs, Tipton's style is characterized by fast legato phrases, extensive use of pinch and natural harmonics, alternate picking, and his innovative use of the whammy bar. His ability to construct memorable, singable solos while maintaining a high level of technical proficiency is a significant factor in Judas Priest's enduring popularity.

Techniques Used

In this course, you will learn and master the following guitar techniques:

1. Vibrato
2. Alternate Picking
3. Legato
4. Pinch Harmonics
5. Power Chords
6. Palm Muting
7. String Bending
8. Slides
9. Galloping Rhythms
10. Open-String Riffs
11. Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

This in-depth and comprehensive course on Judas Priest's iconic tracks is designed to improve your guitar playing skills while giving you insights into one of the most significant bands in heavy metal history. Buckle up and prepare to ride into the realms of metal mastery with Learn to Play Judas Priest!