Molly Ayala
La Grange is a blues rock song by the American rock band ZZ Top, from their 1973 album Tres Hombres. The song is known for its iconic guitar riff, which is played on the bottom three strings of the guitar using a combination of downstrokes and upstrokes. To play the riff, you start by placing your first finger on the sixth fret of the low E string. The song is in the key of A major, with a tempo of 116 beats per minute, and makes use of the boogie woogie rhythm. To play La Grange on electric guitar, a pick is required.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song | La Grange |
| Artist | ZZ Top |
| Album | Tres Hombres |
| Year of Release | 1973 |
| Genre | Blues rock |
| Length | 3 minutes and 35 seconds |
| Key | A major |
| Tempo | 116 beats per minute |
| Guitar | Gibson Les Paul, Fender Stratocaster |
| Technique | Use a pick, combination of downstrokes and upstrokes |
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What You'll Learn
Use a pick and play the riff on the bottom three strings
To play La Grange on an electric guitar, you'll need to use a pick and play the riff on the bottom three strings. This will require some finger dexterity, so make sure you're comfortable with your hand positioning.
First, place your third finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string. This is the A string. Play this note with your middle finger. Then, bring your pinky down to the same string and play the 5th fret again, this time using both the pinky and middle fingers of your right hand. In between these notes, play the open A string with your pick to add a little character to the sound.
Next, keep that A chord playing and quickly play the open A string, followed by the 3rd fret on the 5th string, and then the 5th fret on the same string. Loop these notes around, and you'll have the first part of the riff.
Now, let's move on to the secondary part. Keep your pinky on the 5th fret of the 4th string and add your third finger to the 5th fret of the 1st string. Play these notes alternately, moving down to the 4th and 3rd frets and then ending on the 5th fret again. This will create a bluesy turnaround lick.
Finally, continue practicing and improvising with the C minor pentatonic scale. This will help you bring it all together and play La Grange on your electric guitar!
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Use downstrokes and upstrokes for the riff
To play the riff in "La Grange" by ZZ Top, you'll need to use a combination of downstrokes and upstrokes. This will create the driving, energetic feel that the song is known for.
Let's start by placing your third finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string. This is the A string. Now, play this note using a downstroke. Next, we're going to move to the 1st string, 5th fret, using an upstroke. This will be played with your pinky.
Here's where the fun starts: we're going to use a combination of downstrokes and upstrokes to play the next few notes. Move back to the 4th string and play the 4th fret with a downstroke, then move to the 3rd fret of the same string with an upstroke. Finish off this sequence by playing the 5th fret of the 4th string again, this time with a downstroke.
As you play these notes, focus on maintaining a steady rhythm and alternate between downstrokes and upstrokes smoothly. This will ensure that the riff sounds tight and groovy. Remember to practice slowly at first and then build up speed as you get more comfortable with the pattern.
Additionally, feel free to experiment with adding a little pull or vibrato to the notes, especially with your pinky on the 5th fret of the 1st string. This can add some expression and character to your playing, giving it that signature bluesy feel.
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Play the verse with a down-up-down picking pattern
To play the verse with a down-up-down picking pattern, start by placing your third finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string. Then, put your third finger on the 1st string's 5th fret. Move down to the 4th and 3rd frets and finish by placing your finger back on the 5th fret. This pattern should be played with a down-up-down picking style.
Another way to play the verse is to use a hybrid picking style with your right hand. This involves placing your second finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string and your third finger on the 1st string's 5th fret. Then, move your third finger down to the 4th and 3rd frets before ending on the 5th fret again.
You can also try a variation of this pattern by reaching your pinky up to the 5th fret of the 4th string and playing that note with your middle finger. Then, bring your pinky down and play both notes with your right hand, using a pick. This will give the note some character.
The song also features some solo lines in the key of C, utilising C minor pentatonic. Start on the 11th fret of the 2nd string with a whole-step bend and then descend to the 8th fret. Play the C minor triad by rolling your finger from 10 to A to 10. You can also try a bluesy turnaround lick by hammering on the A string and then playing 10, 8, 10, sliding to 8, 6, and then back up to 10.
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Play the chorus with a down-up-down-up pattern
To play the chorus of La Grange, you need to start by reaching your pinky up to the 5th fret of the 4th string. Play this note with your middle finger, then bring your pinky down. Use both fingers with your right hand, and in between those notes, play the A-string with a pick. You can give a little pull with your pinky on the 5th fret for a little character.
Next, you want to keep that A chord playing. Play the open A string as a quick note, then 3 on the 5th string, 5 on the 5th string, and back to that A chord quickly. Keep looping this section. You can also do the first part with a pinky reach at the beginning.
The song then moves to the next lick, which is an A hammer to 10, 8, 10, slide to 8, 6, backup 10 to 10. This is all in the key of C minor pentatonic, and you can practice improvising within this scale.
Finally, we come out of the guitar solo and into a bluesy turnaround lick. For this, you'll be using hybrid picking with your right hand. Put your second finger on the 5th fret of the 4th string, then put your third finger on the 1st string, 5th fret. Move down to 4 and 3, and then end.
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Learn the Billy Gibbons lick
To learn the Billy Gibbons lick in La Grange, you'll need to master several essential guitar techniques that define the sound of the song and the artist. La Grange, performed by ZZ Top, is a classic blues-rock anthem that showcases the band's signature style and the prowess of lead guitarist Billy Gibbons. Gibbons is known for his gritty, raw tone and impeccable blues phrasing, blending Texas blues, rock, and southern swagger.
The riff in La Grange is a C minor groove (C, Eb, and F power chords), so you'll want to use the C minor pentatonic and blues scales. The key to this lick is to get the pull-offs right and keep them in time – most people rush the pull-offs, so be careful of that. You'll also want to master the song's signature boogie shuffle groove, iconic Texas blues licks, and the gritty tone that made Billy Gibbons a rock legend.
In La Grange, Gibbons combines straightforward yet powerful riffs with subtle techniques, creating a compelling, groove-laden masterpiece that captures the essence of blues-rock guitar. The backbone of the song lies in its driving power chord riff, which is foundational in rock music, providing a thick, powerful sound without the complexity of full chords. This involves proper finger placement and muting techniques.
String bending is another key element of Gibbons' style in La Grange, giving the solo sections their expressive, soulful quality. This technique involves pushing the string up or down to change its pitch, allowing for more vocal-like phrasing. Gibbons is known for his mastery of bending, so this is an important aspect to focus on. Additionally, Gibbons' use of pinched harmonics gives the guitar notes a sharp, squealing sound. These harmonics are produced by striking the string in a specific way with the pick and thumb, creating a higher-pitched overtone.
By learning La Grange and the Billy Gibbons lick, you'll be tapping into the stylistic elements of a guitarist who has influenced countless players worldwide, from Eric Clapton to Joe Bonamassa.
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Frequently asked questions
The riff is played on the bottom three strings of the guitar, using a combination of downstrokes and upstrokes.
'La Grange' has a moderate tempo of 116 beats per minute.
'La Grange' is in the key of A major.
