Learn to Play The Police with Licklibrary.com

Immerse yourself in the iconic tunes of The Police and learn the guitar prowess of Andy Summers, the band's lead guitarist. Summers' unique approach and innovative techniques helped shape the sound of The Police, blending rock with reggae and punk elements, producing a distinct and influential style. This lesson course is taught by Michael Casswell.

Roxanne

The key to "Roxanne" lies in its syncopated rhythms and minor scale usage, mainly the Dorian scale. The verses are characterized by a constant, bouncing reggae rhythm, giving the song its distinct drive. Summers' use of staccato chords paired with Sting's melodic vocal line creates a counterpoint that gives the song its memorable charm. The subtle but effective use of slides and hammer-ons in the solo section brings out a melodic line that speaks volumes in simplicity and musicality.

Every Breath You Take

"Every Breath You Take" is a masterclass in arpeggiated chord progressions. The song is structured around a continuously flowing, syncopated 8th-note guitar line, based on a handful of chords. Summers makes clever use of the major pentatonic scale during the solo, demonstrating his ability to craft memorable lines with few notes. Andy also employs palm-muting to help create the rhythmic feel that propels the song.

So Lonely

The "So Lonely" lesson covers a wide range of techniques, starting with the galloping rhythms in the song's introduction and verses. The core of the song revolves around a handful of power chords, played with a rhythm that combines elements of punk and reggae. Summers' use of octave melodies in the chorus further enriches the song, adding depth to its sonic landscape. The solo section showcases Summers' bluesy bends, proving that rock and blues can seamlessly fuse into reggae.

Walking on the Moon

"Walking on the Moon" showcases Summers' ability to create ethereal textures with his guitar. The song's main riff is a simple yet effective chord progression with the high strings left open, allowing for a ringing, spacious sound. The lead lines are a mixture of double stops and bluesy bends, with the minor pentatonic scale giving it a rock edge. The use of a delay pedal is integral in achieving the spacious, atmospheric sound of the song.

Message in a Bottle

"Message in a Bottle" features one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock history. The main riff is a sequence of arpeggiated chord progressions, played with an alternate picking technique. The unique string skipping pattern of the riff can be challenging but is worth the effort for its iconic sound. Summers’ creative use of the mixolydian mode gives the song a compelling sonic character. During the solo, Summers employs a variety of bends and vibrato, adding an expressive quality to his lines.

Andy Summers' playing style is one of the most distinctive in rock history, blending elements of punk, rock, and reggae into a unique sonic blend. He isn't just a lead guitarist but a sonic architect, sculpting soundscapes that serve the song while pushing the boundaries of what is possible on the guitar.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson:

• Syncopated Rhythms
• Hammer-Ons
• Slides
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
• Palm Muting
• Galloping Rhythms
• Power Chords
• Octave Melodies
• Bluesy Bends
• Double Stops
• Alternate Picking
• Vibrato

Each technique listed has a dedicated lesson on Licklibrary.com to help you master it. Learn to play The Police, and in doing so, expand your musical horizons and guitar technique vocabulary. Whether you're an aspiring guitarist or a seasoned player, this comprehensive course will help you develop your skills, enhance your musical vocabulary, and dive into the timeless catalog of The Police.