"You're My Best Friend" by Queen: Guitar Lesson

"You're My Best Friend" is one of Queen's standout tracks from their iconic album 'A Night at the Opera'. As with many songs in Queen's repertoire, the guitar work—both rhythmically and in lead segments—offers a delightful complexity that beckons a deeper understanding.

The song is predominantly driven by John Deacon's electric piano, but Brian May’s contribution on guitar cannot be understated. May’s guitar work often intertwines with the piano, sometimes subtly supporting it, and at other times, taking the spotlight with graceful solos and fills. Sam Bell breaks down the guitar parts of this iconic radio hit.

Chord Progressions & Scales:

The song is built around a series of essential chord progressions. The chords used are largely standard major and minor chords like C, Dm, E, Am, F, etc. There's also a tasteful usage of the Bb6 chord which adds a touch of flavour to the progression. The song's melodies lean heavily into the C major scale. This foundational scale helps ground the track, making it both memorable and easily approachable.

Brian May frequently employed the major and minor pentatonic scales when crafting solos, and there are glimpses of this in "You're My Best Friend". These scales, with their five-note structure, offer a blend of soulful tones and straightforward fingering which are apt for expressive solos.

Guitar Solo Analysis:

The guitar solo in the song is quintessential Brian May. It isn't the flashiest in his oeuvre, but it's melodically strong and serves the song. He starts with a clear, melodic line, echoing the song's main melody. The tonality of his signature Red Special guitar combined with the Vox AC30 amplifier gives the solo a bell-like clarity.

The usage of double stops is evident, giving thickness to certain notes. He also employs slides to transition between notes smoothly, and gentle string bending for expressiveness.

Brian May: Lead Guitarist and His Playing Style:

Brian May's style is very identifiable. It's a blend of rock ferocity with a touch of classical sensibility. His degree in Astrophysics might have nothing to do with his playing, but there's certainly a celestial, expansive quality to his solos. May's preference for the sixpence coin instead of a traditional pick gives his notes a sharper attack and distinctive tone.

His love for multi-tracking his guitar parts created the 'guitar orchestra' effect, a hallmark of the Queen sound. In "You're My Best Friend", though the effect isn't as pronounced as in other tracks, attentive ears will still catch layered harmonies and tones which enrich the sonic texture of the song.

List of Guitar Techniques (as relevant to the song):

1. Vibrato: A technique where the string is rapidly bent and released to give a pulsating effect to the note.
2. Chord Progressions: A series of chords played in a sequence.
3. Arpeggios: Playing the notes of a chord in a sequence instead of simultaneously.
4. Pull-offs: Technique of plucking a string by "pulling" the string off the fret.
5. Barre Chords: A type of chord where one or more fingers are used to press down multiple strings across the guitar neck.
6. Slides: Smoothly moving from one fret to another.
7. Hammer-ons: Technique of playing a note by forcefully hammering a finger onto the fretboard.
8. Double Stops: Playing two notes simultaneously.
9. String Bending: Pushing or pulling a string to change the pitch.
10. Syncopated Rhythms: A deviation from the regular expected rhythm.
11. Open-string Riffs: Riffs that incorporate unfretted strings played openly.

While "You're My Best Friend" is not the most guitar-centric song in Queen's catalog, it beautifully demonstrates how a guitar can both support and enhance a song's core elements. Brian May's work here serves as a lesson on musicality, taste, and how to seamlessly integrate with other instruments for the greater good of a track.