Alvin Lee Guitar Tab - Signature Licks

Tab by Steve Bander



The following are a few of Alvin Lee frequently used guitar licks as interperated by the author. The picking patterns have not been verified by Alvin Lee or anyone in his family, although I did have a dream when I was 16 that Alvin Lee gave me a guitar lesson. In the dream he showed me the patterns listed below. He then proceeded to drink all of my beer and left with my girlfriend. In retrospect she was a fair trade for these licks. 

KEY TO SYMBOLS: 

<p - Pulloff from previous note ^ - Upward picking V - Downward picking 

LICK 1: (Key of E) The following is a common Alvin Lee lick which originated (I think) from Frank Beecher, the guitar player for Bill Haley and the Comets. The lick below is from Good Morning Little SchoolGirl. It is in the key of E and played in the 12th position. The symbol "p" represents a pull off from the previous note. In order to make this sound right your picking hand has to be very relaxed. 

V p ^ V p ^ V p ^ V p ^ V p ^ V p ^ V p ^ 

<e:--------12-15-12-12-14-12-12-15-12-12-14-12-12-15-12-12-14-12-12-15-12-12-|
B:-12-15--------------------------------------------------------------------|
G:--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D:--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A:--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E:--------------------------------------------------------------------------| 

LICK 2: (Key of A or C) I have shown the lick below with two picking options. The 1st option, and the way I think Alvin picks it, is strict alternate picking. A good example of this is the version of Going Home off the Undead album during the finale. Option 2 is an alternate (and easier) picking pattern that other guitar players such as Johnny Winter or Jimmy Page has used. It has a different sound to it. It is a little easier going and can sound more bluesy. Alternate picking is very difficult and like most Alvin Lee licks your right hand has to be very relaxed. There are many applications for both methods. 

Option 1: Alternate picking 

v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v 

e:-8--11-8--10-8-----8--11-8--10-8-----8--11-8--10-8-----------|
B:-----------------10----------------10------------------------|
G:-------------------------------------------------------------|
D:-------------------------------------------------------------|
A:-------------------------------------------------------------|
E:-------------------------------------------------------------| 

Option 2: Skip picking 

v ^ p v p ^ v ^ p v p ^ v ^ p v p 

e:-8--11-8--10-8-----8--11-8--10-8-----8--11-8--10-8--|
B:----------------10----------------10----------------|
G:----------------------------------------------------|
D:----------------------------------------------------|
A:----------------------------------------------------|
E:----------------------------------------------------| 

LICK 3: This lick is classic Alvin. It can be used both as a transition lick or a repetative lick. Alvin uses it both ways in the Woodstock version of I'm Going Home. I have included two picking patterns. I think that Alvin uses Option 2, Sweep picking. I have always had trouble performing it this way so I use a modified alternate picking method. Lay your 1st finger across the three high strings, slide from the 4th to the 5th fret on then hammer on the notes on the B string. This is one of my favorite Alvin licks. It can be used in jazz, blues and rock. 

Option 1 - Alternate Picking 

v s ^ h v ^ s v h ^ v s ^ h v 

e:------------5------------5------------5---| 
B:-------5-7----------5-7----------5-7------| 
G:--4/5----------4/5----------4/5-----------| 
D:------------------------------------------| 
A:------------------------------------------| 
E:------------------------------------------| 

Option2 - Sweep picking 

v s v h v v s v h v v s v h v 

e:-----------5------------5-----------5------| 
B:------5-7----------5-7---------5-7---------| 
G:-4/5----------4/5---------4/5--------------| 
D:-------------------------------------------| 
A:-------------------------------------------| 
E:-------------------------------------------| 

LICK 4: This is a lick that Alvin plays just goofing around prior to Classical Thing off of TYA Live. It sounds very jazzy. It reminds me of Charlie Christian's solo in Air Mail Special. Charlie was one of Alvin's early influences. 

Key of C 8th Position _________10th Position________8th Position 

e:--------8-------------------------------------------------------------8---|
B:-8-10-8---11\10-8------------------------------------------------8-10--11/|
G:------------------8-9----------------------------------------7/8----------|
D:----------------------10-----------------------10-10-10---10--------------|
A:-------------------------10-9-8-------10-12-10----------------------------|
E:--------------------------------11/12-------------------------------------| 

13th Position 
e:---11b(12)---| 
B:13-----------| 
G:-------------| 
D:-------------| 
A:-------------| 
E:-------------|