Pressure and Time – Rival Sons

This Lick Library note-for-note guitar lesson on Pressure and Time by Rival Sons dives deep into one of the band’s most recognisable and hard-hitting tracks. Rooted in raw blues-rock attitude with a modern edge, the song is a masterclass in riff-driven songwriting, groove, and expressive lead playing. This lesson is designed to help guitarists capture both the technical detail and the unmistakable feel that defines the track.

Rather than relying on excessive speed or flashy technique, Pressure and Time showcases how strong riffs, tone control, and phrasing can carry a song. In this tutorial, you’ll learn every rhythm and lead part exactly as performed, while also developing the stylistic tools that make this track such a powerful statement. The lesson focuses on timing, articulation, and dynamics, all essential skills for any guitarist looking to strengthen their blues-rock foundation. Nick Jennison breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Song Structure and Guitar Approach

The song is built around a punchy main riff that sets the tone immediately. The guitars sit front and centre, locking tightly with the rhythm section to create a driving, almost hypnotic groove. Throughout the track, the guitar parts alternate between gritty rhythm work and expressive lead phrases, demanding both precision and feel from the player.

This lesson breaks the song into manageable sections, allowing you to understand how each riff and phrase fits into the wider arrangement. You’ll explore how subtle variations in attack, muting, and note length can dramatically change the impact of a riff. By learning the song note for note, you’ll gain insight into how simplicity, when executed with conviction, can be far more effective than overplaying.

Core Guitar Techniques and Their Benefits

Power Chords

Power chords form the backbone of Pressure and Time, delivering the thick, aggressive sound that drives the song forward. Learning to play these shapes cleanly and consistently will improve your rhythm accuracy and help you develop a stronger, more confident right-hand attack. Mastery of power chords is essential for locking in tightly with a band and maintaining a solid groove.

Palm Muting

Palm muting is used throughout the main riffs to control dynamics and add percussive punch. This technique teaches you how to shape your sound using your picking hand, creating contrast between tight, muted notes and open, ringing chords. Developing good palm-muting control enhances rhythmic precision and gives your playing a more professional, polished feel.

String Bending

Expressive string bending plays a key role in the lead phrases. These bends add vocal-like intensity and emotion to the guitar lines. Practising accurate bends improves pitch control and ear training, helping you deliver expressive solos that sound intentional rather than approximate.

Vibrato

Vibrato is essential to sustaining notes and adding character to held phrases. In this song, vibrato is used tastefully rather than excessively, teaching you restraint and control. Learning effective vibrato will instantly make your lead playing sound more confident and expressive.

Slides

Slides are used to connect notes smoothly and add a sense of movement to riffs and fills. This technique helps develop fluidity across the fretboard and encourages a more legato, vocal approach to phrasing.

Bluesy Bends

The blues influence in Pressure and Time is unmistakable, particularly in the use of bluesy bends that sit slightly outside strict scale shapes. Learning these bends helps you understand blues phrasing concepts and adds grit and authenticity to your playing.

Open-String Riffs

Open strings are incorporated into several riffs, adding resonance and width to the guitar sound. This technique teaches you how to use the natural sustain of the guitar to your advantage while maintaining tight timing and control.

Sustain

Sustain is a crucial element of the song’s lead work. Learning how to maximise sustain through finger pressure, vibrato, and picking technique helps you create fuller, more expressive lines without relying on excessive gain.

The Guitarist and His Influence

The guitar work on Pressure and Time is performed by Scott Holiday, whose playing style blends classic blues influences with modern rock power. Holiday draws inspiration from vintage blues and hard rock players, but his approach is unmistakably his own—focused on tone, feel, and attitude rather than technical excess. His work with Rival Sons has helped reintroduce raw, riff-based rock guitar to a modern audience, influencing a new generation of players to prioritise groove and expression over complexity.

Why This Lesson Matters

This Lick Library lesson is ideal for guitarists who want to improve their rhythm feel, blues-rock vocabulary, and expressive lead playing. By learning Pressure and Time note for note, you’ll strengthen your ability to play with authority, control dynamics, and deliver parts that truly serve the song. The techniques covered here are transferable to countless other styles, making this lesson a valuable addition to any guitarist’s repertoire.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• String Bending
• Bluesy Bends
• Vibrato
• Slides
• Open String Riffs
• Sustain