Bright Side Of The Road – Van Morrison
Licklibrary.com is proud to present a detailed, note-for-note guitar lesson for "Bright Side Of The Road" by Van Morrison. This upbeat, soulful track is a masterclass in groove, feel, and tasteful guitar playing, and this lesson is a must for players who want to capture the authentic sound of classic rhythm and blues guitar.
Our lesson breaks down every nuance of the guitar part, ensuring you capture the unique playing style that makes this track so special. Whether you're a seasoned guitarist or just starting your musical journey, this tutorial will deepen your understanding of musicality, rhythm, and expressive playing. Lee Hodgson breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.
Song Overview
Released in 1979 on Van Morrison's Into the Music album, "Bright Side Of The Road" is a feel-good track driven by infectious rhythm guitar and warm, blues-infused phrasing. The guitar sits beautifully in the mix, complementing Van's soulful vocal delivery and adding bounce and texture to the arrangement.
Featured Guitar Player: Bobby Tench
While Van Morrison is at the heart of the song, the guitar work on Bright Side Of The Road is often attributed to Bobby Tench, a respected British guitarist and vocalist known for his work with Jeff Beck and Humble Pie. Tench’s playing here is both understated and brilliantly effective, showcasing the importance of groove, articulation, and rhythmic precision over flashy solos.
Tench’s style is rooted in soul, blues, and R&B, and his influence shines through in the subtle bends, pocket-driven strumming, and occasional melodic flourishes that punctuate the track. Learning this song helps you absorb the touch and tone that define some of the most expressive rhythm guitar work in popular music.
Key Techniques Covered in the Lesson
Chord Progressions
"Bright Side Of The Road" is driven by a rich series of chord progressions that form the backbone of the song’s soulful rhythm. Learning how these chords move and interact will improve your fretboard knowledge and help you play more fluently in keys that are common in blues and soul.
Benefit: Understanding chord progressions gives guitarists a stronger sense of song structure and harmonic flow—ideal for composing, jamming, or improvising in any genre.
Slides
Throughout the track, tasteful slides are used to connect chord shapes and melodic fragments, enhancing the song’s smooth, vocal-like quality.
Benefit: Practicing slides improves finger control and fluidity, allowing for a more expressive and connected style of playing.
Hammer-Ons & Pull-Offs
The lead licks and fills in this track make frequent use of hammer-ons and pull-offs, giving lines a legato, flowing quality that complements the song's relaxed feel.
Benefit: Mastering these techniques helps you play faster and more fluidly while reducing the reliance on picking every note.
Finger Picking
Some guitar parts feature gentle finger-picking techniques that give the music a delicate touch and rhythmic detail, especially in the intro and breakdown sections.
Benefit: Finger-picking builds independence between the fingers and thumb, expanding your rhythmic vocabulary and dynamic range.
Barre Chords
The rhythm guitar work includes cleanly-voiced barre chords that move across the fretboard. Properly fretting and transitioning between these chords is key to capturing the song’s infectious groove.
Benefit: Learning barre chords helps you play in all keys, unlocks movable chord shapes, and strengthens your fretting hand.
Syncopated Rhythms
"Bright Side Of The Road" grooves hard thanks to its use of syncopated rhythms. Strumming slightly off the beat creates a driving pulse that’s both tight and relaxed.
Benefit: Playing syncopated rhythms boosts your timing and groove, making you a more dynamic rhythm guitarist.
Why This Lesson Is Perfect for You
Learning “Bright Side Of The Road” is not just about copying licks—it’s about understanding how to make rhythm guitar feel good. This track is a perfect study in restraint, touch, and tone, offering guitarists of all levels a chance to refine their sense of time, space, and dynamics.
The techniques used in this song are incredibly useful for developing your confidence in styles like soul, R&B, and blues, and they translate beautifully to your own compositions or live performances.
Whether you're chasing the warm, organic tones of classic soul or aiming to enhance your rhythm playing across genres, this lesson delivers practical skills and deep musical insight.
Guitar Techniques Featured in This Lesson
Ready to walk on the bright side of your guitar journey? Dive into the full lesson today and let your rhythm playing shine!
About The Tutor
Tutor Profile
Lee Hodgson
"Lee's contribution here at LickLibrary is a masterclass in classic guitar playing, from Hank Marvin to Simon & Garfunkel, but that certainly isn't the limit of his skills. In reality, Lee is one of the most technically able country guitar players we've ever seen, in fact his book ""Hot Country""...