Love Is Only a Feeling – The Darkness

"Love Is Only a Feeling" by The Darkness is a masterpiece of modern glam rock, characterised by its intricate guitar work and emotive musicality. Our note-for-note guitar lesson on this track dives deep into the techniques used, helping you master the song's signature style while enhancing your overall guitar skills. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

The Guitarists Behind the Song

The Darkness, fronted by Justin Hawkins, are known for their energetic performances and meticulous guitar craftsmanship. The song's guitar parts showcase Hawkins' blend of technical brilliance and melodic sensibility, along with contributions from Dan Hawkins, whose rhythm work anchors the track. Together, they create a sound that harks back to the golden era of rock while adding their unique flair. The Hawkins brothers' influence can be heard in their dynamic interplay, seamlessly balancing melody, rhythm, and drama.

Techniques Highlighted in "Love Is Only a Feeling"

String Bending

The song features expressive string bending, creating soaring, vocal-like phrases. This technique involves pushing or pulling the string to raise its pitch, adding emotion to solos and melodies. Mastering string bending improves your control and enhances the expressiveness of your playing.

Slides

The use of slides is integral to the fluidity of the solos in this track. Slides connect notes smoothly, contributing to the song's lyrical and flowing guitar lines. Learning this technique refines your ability to transition between notes seamlessly.

Vibrato

Hawkins employs vibrato to bring sustained notes to life, adding depth and dimension. Vibrato, achieved by oscillating the pitch of a note, is key to developing a personal and emotive touch.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

The song incorporates hammer-ons and pull-offs, essential elements of its melodic phrases. These techniques enhance legato playing, allowing you to play notes smoothly and efficiently.

Double Stops

Double stops add harmonic richness to the guitar parts. By playing two notes simultaneously, this technique creates a fuller sound and introduces tonal variety to melodies and riffs.

Arpeggios

The clean guitar section of the song prominently features arpeggios. Arpeggios, or broken chords, highlight individual notes, creating intricate, melodic textures. Practicing arpeggios enhances finger dexterity and precision.

Open String Riffs

The introduction and main riffs employ open string riffs for a ringing, resonant sound. Incorporating open strings into riffs creates a fuller tone and adds complexity to rhythm playing.

Power Chords

As a rock anthem, the rhythm parts rely heavily on power chords. These two-note chords provide the foundation for the song's driving energy and are indispensable for any rock guitarist.

Palm Muting

The rhythm guitar uses palm muting to create dynamic contrast. By muting the strings with the edge of your picking hand, you can achieve a punchy, percussive sound that tightens up riffs and rhythm patterns.

Benefits of Learning These Techniques

• Enhanced Expression: Techniques like vibrato, string bending, and slides help convey emotion and add personality to your playing.
• Improved Dexterity: Mastering hammer-ons, pull-offs, and arpeggios refines your finger coordination and speed.
• Rhythmic Versatility: Palm muting and power chords lay the groundwork for tight, rhythmic playing in a variety of genres.
• Compositional Insight: Learning the techniques in the context of this song provides inspiration for incorporating them into your compositions.

Guitar Techniques in "Love Is Only a Feeling"

Here’s a list of the key guitar techniques taught in our lesson, along with links to learn more about each:

• String Bending
• Slides
• Vibrato
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Double Stops
• Arpeggios
• Open String Riffs
• Power Chords
• Palm Muting

Dive into our "Love Is Only a Feeling" guitar lesson to unlock the techniques that define this iconic track and elevate your playing to new heights.