Hey everyone! For those looking to nail that iconic ZZ Top sound, I’ve got something awesome for you. I recently used a Donner Jazz Telecaster to record a playthrough of “La Grange,” and I’m excited to share the guitar tab with you. This Donner guitar is seriously impressive, especially for anyone starting out. It’s got a fantastic humbucker tone and plays like a dream – definitely worth checking out if you’re an aspiring guitarist. You can find links to the guitar and the Donner website in the description.
Let’s dive into the “La Grange” tab. This song is a classic for a reason, and getting it right is all about capturing Billy Gibbons’ feel. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you learn this tab:
Mastering the Intro Bend
In the intro, Billy Gibbons often adds a subtle bend to the G string at the 5th fret, about a quarter step. It gives it that signature bluesy cry. However, it’s not always consistent in recordings. To keep things straightforward for learning, the tab is written without this bend. But, if you’re feeling adventurous and want to add that extra bit of Gibbons flavor, try subtly bending that C note. It’s all about the feel!
Solo Fingerpicking Techniques
During the first solo, you might wonder about Billy Gibbons’ picking technique. It’s a bit of a mystery whether he switches between his pick and middle finger, or even his ring finger. For me, using my middle finger feels most natural and gets me closest to that sound. Experiment with your middle or ring finger to see what feels best for you and helps you capture that raw, bluesy solo.
Nailing Those Pinch Harmonics in the Final Solo
The last solo is packed with those sizzling pinch harmonics that are so characteristic of Gibbons’ playing. The tab accurately shows the fret positions for these. Getting every single pinch harmonic to sound exactly like Billy Gibbons is incredibly tough – it would take ages of practice! Instead of aiming for perfect replication, I focused on capturing the essence of those pinches. Most of them are in the tab, giving you a great starting point to develop your own feel for these iconic squeals.
That’s it! Dive into the tab, have fun learning “La Grange,” and get that ZZ Top groove going!
