If you want to start playing some tasty, southern fried Texas blues, then you must start learning the blues guitar licks of the late electric blues guitar master, Albert Collins. In this blues guitar lesson, I’ll show you how to play the blues scale in the style of Albert Collins.
Albert had an intense blues guitar style that relied heavily on vibrato and phrasing. He always used a capo and only played with his fingers. To my ears, his sound is often imitated but never duplicated. Johnny Lang is one guitarist that often copped the sound of the late blues man, as well as SRV.
Albert made expert use of the Blues Scale. He often played licks found in this scale on many of his very poplular recordings. If you haven’t listened to his albums, then you are truly missing out on some great blues music.
My favorite albums are “Ice Picking” and “Cold Snap“. One listen to either of these albums and you’ll know why Albert is referred to as The Iceman, and The Master of the Telecaster. Noteworthy tracks include “Master Charge“, “I Ain’t Drunk” , and “I’m Tired“. All these tracks exhibit Albert’s expert use of the Blues Scale.
Here is how you can play the Blues Scale in the key of G.
And here’s one more version of it.
Here’s a blues lick in the style of Albert Collins using the Blues Scale in the Key of G.
So what do you think of Albert Collins? I want to hear your comments, and let me know what your favorite Iceman songs are below.
By learning the blues licks of this blues guitar legend you will take your playing to a new level. I highly recommend listening to his masterful blues guitar style.
For more info on Blues Guitar please visit Learning Guitar Now.
The first time I heard “I ain’t drunk”, I was blown away. Albert Collins was an entertainer in the truest sense of the word. He was Redd Foxx, Buddy Guy and Albert King all rolled into one.
He played some SCREAMING guitar, and his tone is unmistakeable. He was one of a kind, and is missed.
He wasn’t called “The Master of the Telecaster” for nothin’.
John, thanks for the great podcasts. Keep ’em coming.
I sure like the ice man. he’s got quite a show. good stuff john. thanks brad
I used to see Albert live at a little club called the Golden Bear, across the street from the pier in Huntington Beach, Ca. This was in the early to mid 70’s. This was before wireless guitar hookups. Albert must have had a guitar cord that was over 300 feet long. He would kill the crowd by walking out the front door and duck walking down Pacific Coast Highway, with most of the audience following behind him. I had never seen anything so original before or since. Thanks for the memories.
Thanks for the comments guys. He was an awesome performer, guitarist, and singer. There will never be another like him.
Well – its hard to pick Alberts tunes as being my favourites:
Put Your shoe on the other foot
Travellin South
A good fool is hard to find. (Also translated into Danish by me) – a good original version is found on youtube taken from a Dave Letterman-show in 1986 backed by Pauls wonderful band.
If trouble was money