Natural Thing by UFO

The "Natural Thing" guitar lesson dives deep into one of UFO's classic rock masterpieces, allowing guitarists to explore the distinctive techniques and style that define the song. This song, from UFO’s album No Heavy Petting, showcases the powerful, blues-infused hard rock guitar playing that made the band a pioneer in rock and metal music. This in-depth lesson takes guitarists on a journey through each note and phrasing technique, offering a close-up look at the skills needed to replicate this iconic song. Below, we break down the techniques covered in the lesson, including their benefits and specific ways they contribute to the song's energy and style. Dave Kilminster breaks down this classic UFO track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitarists: Michael Schenker's Influence

"Natural Thing" features Michael Schenker, a guitar legend known for his inventive phrasing and melodic sense that helped define UFO's sound. Schenker’s work with UFO in the 1970s laid the groundwork for modern rock and metal, inspiring countless guitarists with his innovative approach to solos, phrasing, and riffing. His influence can be seen across genres, inspiring artists from Metallica to Iron Maiden. This lesson honours Schenker’s influence by focusing on his signature techniques, giving guitarists a toolkit of expressive skills they can use to capture the unique blend of rock aggression and melodic sophistication that Schenker brought to the track.

Techniques in “Natural Thing”

String Bending

One of the essential techniques in "Natural Thing" is string bending, which gives the solo a dynamic, vocal-like quality. Bending involves pushing or pulling a string to raise its pitch, adding a powerful, expressive feel. Learning string bending enhances finger strength and pitch control, key skills for developing a personal style.

Vibrato

Schenker's signature vibrato technique is also explored in this lesson. Vibrato involves rapidly varying the pitch of a note, adding depth and emotion. Mastering vibrato is crucial for any guitarist aiming to infuse their playing with character and soul, as it brings a fluid and personal touch to held notes.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

To play "Natural Thing" effectively, you’ll also dive into hammer-ons and pull-offs. These techniques allow smooth note transitions without the need for continuous picking, creating a fluid and speedy flow. Hammer-ons and pull-offs are perfect for adding speed and fluency, especially in solos and fast riffs, helping guitarists enhance their legato playing.

Power Chords

Power chords are a staple in rock guitar and are heavily featured in “Natural Thing.” These chords use a simplified structure, giving a thick, powerful sound that defines the rhythm sections of the song. Practicing power chords improves timing, rhythm, and the ability to lock in with a band, essential skills for rock guitarists.

Palm Muting

Palm muting is used to create a tight, percussive sound, especially in rhythm sections. This technique adds intensity and control to your playing, allowing for a sharper and more defined tone. Palm muting is crucial for rock and metal styles, making it an essential skill for achieving a clean, precise sound while maintaining rhythmic energy.

Slides

Slides are prevalent throughout "Natural Thing," allowing Schenker to smoothly transition between notes and add a dynamic, flowing feel to his solos. Practicing slides improves finger mobility and helps create a seamless, fluid sound across frets, adding an expressive quality to lead parts.

Arpeggios

The arpeggios in “Natural Thing” give the song a melodic depth and richness, allowing each note of a chord to be heard distinctly. Practicing arpeggios helps guitarists understand chord shapes and improves hand coordination, essential for creating complex, layered melodies.

Double Stops

Double stops involve playing two notes simultaneously, adding a fuller and more harmonic sound to solos and riffs. This technique enriches the melody and enhances the song’s harmonic texture. Mastering double stops helps guitarists add complexity to their playing and can make solos sound more powerful and harmonically interesting.

Harmonics

"Harmonics" are used in sections of "Natural Thing" to add a bright, bell-like quality to specific notes. By lightly pressing a finger on certain points of the fretboard, harmonics create unique tones that stand out in a mix. Learning harmonics helps guitarists understand their fretboard better and adds versatility to their tonal palette.

Pinched Harmonics

Another expressive technique, pinched harmonics, allows you to create sharp, squealing overtones that give emphasis to select notes. This technique is used to punctuate certain phrases, adding aggression and excitement. Pinched harmonics are great for advanced players looking to add a gritty edge to their solos.

Benefits of Learning "Natural Thing" Techniques

Each technique in “Natural Thing” is not only instrumental to the song but also foundational for rock guitarists. Here’s a breakdown of the benefits:

• String Bending and Vibrato: Enhance expressiveness and control, key for creating a personal sound.
• Hammer-Ons, Pull-Offs, and Slides: Improve fluidity and speed, crucial for smooth soloing.
• Power Chords and Palm Muting: Build rhythm skills and add intensity to playing, making it easier to play rhythmically tight with a band.
• Arpeggios and Double Stops: Develop harmonic understanding and finger coordination, helping guitarists create richer textures.
• Harmonics and Pinched Harmonics: Expand tonal range and allow for more expressive soloing, great for creating unique sounds within rock and metal.

Guitar Techniques in "Natural Thing"

The following list highlights all guitar techniques used in this lesson, each linking to further resources to help deepen your understanding of each concept:

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

This lesson on “Natural Thing” is perfect for guitarists who want to explore Schenker’s dynamic playing style and improve their foundational rock techniques. Each technique covered adds a layer to your playing skill set, helping you recreate not only the notes but also the energy and character that made this song a rock classic.