Love Me Two Times – The Doors

The classic song "Love Me Two Times" by The Doors has captivated guitar enthusiasts for generations. Known for its unique blend of blues-rock and psychedelic elements, this song offers a variety of guitar techniques that showcase the talent and creativity of guitarist Robby Krieger. In this lesson, we break down "Love Me Two Times" note for note, covering each technique used in the song. By mastering these techniques, guitarists will not only be able to play this iconic track but also add new skills to their repertoire, enhancing their overall guitar-playing ability. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

The Guitar Genius Behind the Song: Robby Krieger

Robby Krieger, the guitarist for The Doors, brought a distinct sound to the band’s music, mixing rock, blues, jazz, and flamenco influences. Known for his unconventional style and deep understanding of multiple genres, Krieger’s playing on "Love Me Two Times" is characterised by smooth bluesy bends, dynamic slides, and a rhythmic energy that drives the song. His use of fingerpicking and unique approaches to chord progressions adds depth to the track, making it both challenging and rewarding for guitarists to learn. Krieger’s influence extended beyond The Doors, inspiring guitarists worldwide with his fluid technique and innovation in rock guitar.

Breaking Down the Guitar Techniques in "Love Me Two Times"

Vibrato

One of the defining aspects of Robby Krieger’s guitar style is his subtle yet expressive use of vibrato. In "Love Me Two Times," vibrato adds a soulful, bluesy feel to the notes, enhancing the song’s emotional tone. Mastering vibrato helps guitarists add depth to their sound, creating a more vocal-like quality. Vibrato also improves finger control and helps players develop a personal touch in their playing, allowing notes to resonate with feeling.

String Bending

String bending is another essential technique in this track, used to add character and a vocal-like quality to certain phrases. Krieger’s tasteful bends bring out the blues influences within the song, giving each note an expressive quality. Learning string bending improves pitch accuracy and strength in the fingers, helping guitarists add a personalised voice to their solos and lead playing.

Slides

Slides are used throughout "Love Me Two Times" to create smooth transitions between notes and chords. By shifting from one fret to another in a single motion, Krieger generates a fluid and connected sound. Practicing slides is excellent for developing fretboard accuracy and finger strength, as well as helping guitarists achieve a more seamless and connected style.

Finger-Picking

Krieger’s unique finger-picking approach is one of his hallmarks, and it adds an intricate, percussive quality to "Love Me Two Times." Rather than using a pick, he plucks the strings with his fingers, creating a more intimate and controlled sound. This technique encourages guitarists to explore different tonal possibilities and offers improved dexterity and independence for each finger. Finger-picking is also beneficial for players who want to delve into genres like folk, blues, and jazz.

Chord Progressions

The chord progression in "Love Me Two Times" is relatively simple yet effective, driving the rhythm and adding harmonic interest to the melody. By studying the chord shapes and progression used in the song, guitarists can improve their knowledge of harmony and gain a deeper understanding of how to structure their own chord progressions. This technique is invaluable for rhythm guitar playing and composition.

Bluesy Bends

Bluesy bends are used frequently throughout the song, creating a distinctively bluesy feel and highlighting the genre’s influence on Krieger’s playing. These bends give certain notes a vocal quality, emphasising the “call and response” feel typical in blues music. Practicing bluesy bends can greatly improve a guitarist’s emotional expression and control over pitch, making it easier to evoke emotion through their playing.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

"Love Me Two Times" also incorporates hammer-ons and pull-offs, adding smoothness to certain melodic phrases. Hammer-ons and pull-offs allow players to produce notes without picking each one individually, enhancing speed and fluidity. These techniques are excellent for improving finger strength and coordination, enabling players to perform complex passages more seamlessly.

Rakes

Rakes involve muting specific strings while playing others, creating a unique rhythmic effect and accenting certain notes. In "Love Me Two Times," Krieger uses rakes to add a percussive element to his playing, emphasising specific beats and phrases. Learning to rake allows guitarists to explore new textural sounds and improves their rhythmic precision and control over muting.

Benefits of Learning "Love Me Two Times"

Learning to play "Love Me Two Times" allows guitarists to explore a wide range of techniques, each adding new dimensions to their skillset. From the bluesy bends that add emotional depth to the slides and finger-picking techniques that enhance musicality, this song is a gateway to mastering classic rock and blues guitar styles. Robby Krieger’s inventive approach to melody and rhythm in this song makes it both challenging and rewarding for players of all levels, offering lessons in expression, dynamics, and technique.

By mastering the techniques in this song, guitarists will not only be able to perform an iconic track but will also gain the skills to apply these techniques across various genres. The song’s unique blend of rhythm, melody, and harmonic depth provides a comprehensive learning experience for any guitarist looking to expand their style.

Guitar Techniques Used in "Love Me Two Times"

• Vibrato
• String Bending
• Slides
• Finger-Picking
• Chord Progressions
• Bluesy Bends
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Rakes

By diving into these techniques, guitarists can fully appreciate and replicate the iconic sounds of "Love Me Two Times," all while gaining valuable skills that enhance their playing across genres.