I Got The Six by ZZ Top – Guitar Lesson Breakdown

ZZ Top’s I Got The Six is a fast-paced, riff-fuelled rock 'n' roll banger taken from the band’s 1983 hit album Eliminator. While the album is best known for its synth-heavy singles like Legs and Gimme All Your Lovin’, I Got The Six is a throwback to ZZ Top’s raw, no-frills Texas blues roots—delivered with a harder-edged, rock-oriented punch. At LickLibrary.com, our note-for-note guitar lesson gives you the tools to master every riff, fill, and chord change just like Billy Gibbons played it, with detailed breakdowns and expert guidance.

In this lesson, we shine a spotlight on four key techniques that are used prominently in I Got The Six: slides, power chords, double stops, and alternate picking. Together, these techniques form the foundation of not just the song’s distinctive sound, but also Gibbons’ entire rhythmic and lead guitar approach. By focusing on how these techniques are used in this high-energy track, guitarists can expand their control, coordination, and stylistic fluency. This lesson is taught by Danny Gill.

Technique Breakdown

Slides

Slides are used throughout the track to create fluid transitions and melodic movement in both rhythm and lead parts. Gibbons uses quick slides between chord shapes and notes to add a sense of urgency and swagger to the riffs.

Benefit to the player: Slides help improve fretboard navigation and phrasing control. They add a vocal-like quality to your playing, allow for smooth transitions between positions, and bring more fluidity to lead lines and fills.

Power Chords

Power chords are the backbone of I Got The Six. Gibbons uses them to deliver the punch and groove of the main riff, muting and accenting to drive the track with rhythmic precision.

Benefit to the player: Power chords are essential for any rock rhythm guitarist. Mastering them improves your muting, timing, and dynamics, giving your rhythm parts clarity and drive. This is a must-have tool for writing and performing punchy riffs.

Double Stops

Double stops appear frequently in Gibbons’ playing and are used in I Got The Six to create harmonically rich fills and rhythmic accents that elevate the lead and rhythm interplay.

Benefit to the player: Double stops help expand your harmonic vocabulary and make your solos and fills sound fuller. They improve finger independence and fretboard knowledge, making them a staple in blues, rock, and country guitar.

Alternate Picking

Alternate picking plays a key role in the tight, galloping rhythm guitar parts in this song. The fast-paced riffing demands clean, economical picking for precision and speed.

Benefit to the player: Alternate picking enhances right-hand control, efficiency, and speed. It’s crucial for executing fast riffs and syncopated passages cleanly, especially in rock and metal styles. Practicing this will greatly improve your rhythm and lead articulation.

About the Song and Guitar Style

I Got The Six charges out of the gate with one of the punchiest intros on Eliminator, setting the tone with tight rhythm guitar, syncopated fills, and gritty Texas blues attitude. The tempo is brisk, the riffs are sharp, and Billy Gibbons wastes no time establishing the driving, riff-centric groove that powers the entire track.

The guitar tone is unmistakably Gibbons: fuzzy, compressed, and perfectly balanced between clarity and grit. His playing in this track is rooted in simplicity but executed with precision and swagger. The song's combination of driving power chords, snappy double stops, melodic slides, and sharp alternate picking gives it a feel that sits somewhere between blues rock and early heavy metal—a sound that’s raw, confident, and distinctly ZZ Top.

About the Guitar Player – Billy Gibbons

Billy Gibbons, ZZ Top’s lead guitarist and frontman, is a legend of tone, phrasing, and groove. Across the band’s discography, he showcases a masterclass in blues-rooted rock guitar that blends technical subtlety with raw edge. Known for making simple ideas sound huge, Gibbons focuses on feel, space, and tone more than flashy complexity.

On I Got The Six, Gibbons leans into a more aggressive, stripped-back style that highlights his tight rhythmic chops. His use of short, percussive power chords and classic blues licks dressed up in a modern rock outfit show how he was able to evolve with the times without losing his roots. Learning his parts from this song gives guitarists insight into how to play with conviction and control while keeping things fun, fast, and gritty.

Summary

Our I Got The Six guitar lesson at LickLibrary.com is a high-energy workout that sharpens both your rhythm and lead chops. Packed with classic rock riffing, bluesy accents, and modern attitude, this track is an essential study for anyone looking to channel the power and grit of Billy Gibbons’ guitar style.

By focusing on slides, power chords, double stops, and alternate picking, this lesson delivers a tight, riff-driven toolkit you can use across countless rock and blues tracks. It’s a perfect piece for developing right-hand precision, improving your control with basic shapes, and learning how to make simple ideas sound big, bold, and unforgettable.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Slides
• Power Chords
• Double Stops
• Alternate Picking

Plug in, crank up, and get ready to rip through I Got The Six with full confidence using our detailed lesson at LickLibrary.com—the home of true note-for-note guitar mastery.