A Design For Life - Manic Street Preachers

The song "A Design for Life" by Manic Street Preachers stands as a powerful anthem of the 90s Britrock era, showcasing the band's ability to blend introspective lyrics with dynamic, emotional instrumentals. For guitarists, the song offers an array of techniques that create its rich, layered sound, making it an excellent learning experience for players looking to expand their skill set. In this Licklibrary guitar lesson, we will break down the techniques used in "A Design for Life," providing an in-depth analysis of how these approaches contribute to the song's unique texture and feel. Jamie Humphries breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Guitar Techniques in "A Design For Life"

Power Chords

A key element of "A Design for Life" lies in its use of power chords. These simple but impactful chord shapes create the driving energy of the song, especially in the chorus, where the band's anthem-like sound shines through. Power chords allow guitarists to focus on the root and fifth, eliminating dissonance while producing a full, resonant tone. Mastering power chords helps guitarists develop strength in their fretting hand and lays the foundation for playing rhythm guitar in rock and metal genres.

Palm Muting

Palm muting is another integral technique in this song, giving the verses their subdued, controlled sound before the full power of the chorus is unleashed. By lightly resting the palm of your picking hand on the strings near the bridge, you can produce a muted, percussive effect that contrasts nicely with the open chords in other sections. This dynamic control is crucial for creating tension and release, a hallmark of effective songwriting in rock music.

Alternate Picking

Throughout the song, alternate picking is used to maintain a steady, driving rhythm. This picking style involves alternating downstrokes and upstrokes with the pick, ensuring both speed and precision. In "A Design for Life," alternate picking keeps the rhythmic patterns tight and consistent, making it essential for maintaining the song's momentum. For learners, alternate picking is an invaluable technique that improves timing and picking accuracy, essential for faster and more complex passages in many musical styles.

Slides

Guitar slides feature prominently in the transitions between chord changes and melodic lines. Sliding from one note to another adds fluidity and expression to your playing, allowing notes to blend smoothly without the sharp attack of picking each one. In "A Design for Life," this technique is used to add a sense of movement and continuity, especially in the lead guitar sections. Mastering slides can also enhance your ability to create legato phrases, giving your playing a more connected, lyrical quality.

String Bending

In the lead guitar parts, string bending plays a significant role in expressing the emotion of the song. By bending the string to raise the pitch of a note, guitarists can add an expressive, vocal-like quality to their solos. In this song, string bending helps emphasise key moments in the melody, adding depth to the arrangement. Practicing string bending improves finger strength and intonation, which are essential for any aspiring lead guitarist.

Vibrato

To further enhance the emotive power of the song, vibrato is applied to held notes in the lead parts. Vibrato is the subtle oscillation of pitch achieved by rapidly bending and releasing a note. It adds a personal touch to your playing, as every guitarist's vibrato has its unique character. In "A Design for Life," vibrato adds warmth and expression to the lead lines. Developing a strong vibrato technique will give your playing more dynamic range and emotional impact.

Chord Progressions

The chord progressions in this song are foundational to its anthem-like feel. Moving between major and minor chords, the song creates a rich harmonic structure that supports the lyrical themes of struggle and aspiration. Learning these progressions will give guitarists a deeper understanding of harmony, enabling them to play more diverse and emotionally resonant music.

About the Guitarist

The guitar work on "A Design for Life" is primarily handled by James Dean Bradfield, the lead guitarist and vocalist of the Manic Street Preachers. Bradfield is known for his ability to blend aggressive, punk-inspired rhythms with melodic and anthemic leads. His style is characterised by a mix of power and precision, balancing raw energy with technical proficiency. Bradfield’s playing has influenced many rock guitarists who aim to combine emotion and technique in their music. His ability to create memorable riffs and soaring leads makes him a key figure in 90s rock music.

Why Learn These Techniques?

Learning the techniques used in "A Design for Life" offers numerous benefits to guitarists at any level:

• Power Chords develop strength and precision in rhythm playing, foundational for rock and punk styles.
• Palm Muting teaches dynamic control, adding versatility to your rhythm playing.
• Alternate Picking improves speed, accuracy, and timing, essential for fast passages.
• Slides and String Bending enhance your lead playing, making your solos more expressive.
• Vibrato adds a personal touch to your playing, deepening your musical expression.
• Chord Progressions help you understand the harmonic foundation of a song, enabling more creative songwriting and arrangement ideas.

Techniques Used in These Lessons

Here’s a list of the guitar techniques covered in the "A Design for Life" lesson, along with links to more detailed explanations:

• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Alternate Picking
• Slides
• String Bending
• Vibrato
• Chord Progressions

By mastering these techniques, you’ll not only be able to play "A Design for Life" note-for-note, but you'll also have the tools to tackle many other songs in the rock and alternative genre.