BRIAN MAY's 31 Greatest Guitar Techniques! (plus one bonus technique)

It's finally up. Thanks for all the requests. :)
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:47 Modulated Arpeggios
1:30 3-Part Harmony
2:20 Cascading Pattern Licks
2:57 The May Vibrato
4:11 Pre Bends
4:58 Violin Scale Runs
5:31 Single Note Rhythms
6:22 Musical Speed Patterns
7:21 Staccato Picking
8:21 Rhythm Fills
9:39 Slash Chords
11:09 Pedal Tone Triads
12:12 Cry Bend
13:20 Playing Behind the Beat
14:25 Syncopated Rhythms
15:25 Delay Soloing
16:20 Chromatic Climbing Licks
17:30 Trill Licks
18:40 Extra High Pinch Harmonics (not listed)
19:39 Speed Sequences (picking)
20:37 Speed Sequences (pulloffs)
21:21 Pre Bend Replacement
22:32 Standard Tuning Slide
23:44 Pluck Tapping
24:37 Lead Motifs as Riffs
25:08 The "Stones" Chord Change
25:53 Mimicking The Bassline
26:21 Funky Strumming
27:06 Harmonized Bends
27:57 Major 3rd Trill
28:50 Rakes
29:30 Single String Muting

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I went back to put the timecode in the description and realized I didn't title one of the techniques. It's the "Extra High Pinch Harmonics Technique" so I guess we can call that a bonus. haha.

[@lala-everyonescrazyaunt]

Pinch harmonics... my kryptonite. 😩

[@XtremeKillah101]

@@lala-everyonescrazyaunt me too. Especially when trying to learn gojira songs, they always throw some abrubt/random pinch harmonics in their songs

[@vaibhavvivek]

The-Art-of-Guitar there literally are 222 likes and 2 dislikes, OMG!!!

[@roverwaters3875]

would you believe stupid people believe Freddie wrote the BohRhap guitar solo on PIANO!!!

[@leemcdaid6537]

Doesn't Brian use his out-of-phase pick-up configuration to better realise those harmonics? EDIT: Loved the video by the way, especially the section on "cry bends"... very illuminating. Thank you

[@Wiplash12345]

It’s pretty cool how Brian plays with a coin instead of a pick, awesome!

[@ceesdirks9507]

same as slash

[@oscarwagner4515]

@@ceesdirks9507 really?didnt know that

[@grahampick1954]

Cees Dirks bollocks slash doesn’t play with a coin he uses Dunlop heavy gauge picks

[@realmrjangoon]

I try to play it but my pickups magnetically attract it😂😂

[@juanchopolo131]

Real Mr Jangoon some coins are attracted by the pick ups, I had that problem too

[@domdom9496]

Brilliant. Loved the 1:35 Orchestral triple harmonies, 4:10 Pre bend vibrato but for whole step above 4:56 Violin (blatant) scale runs 5:29 Classical single-note rhythms 7:21 Sharp hit staccato immediate pick-stops 12:09 The unique May cry bend 13:21 Playing behind the beat 16:20 Chromatic climbing riffs 18:36 Squealing but on higher strings/frets 19:37 Speed sequencing (takes years) 20:39 Speed pull offs 21:23 Pre Bend replacement next fret 27:55 Major 3rd Trill in Pentatonic 28:53 Rake to the note

[@MyTube4Utoo]

Great video. I've loved Brian May's playing since the first note I heard him play. He's got incredible tone, he's inventive, and a fantastic all-around musician. If there's anyone that doesn't know the history of his guitar (Red Special/Fireplace/Old Lady), it's a cool story. Brian, along with Simon Bradley, even wrote a book about it: *'Brian May's Red Special: The Story of the Home-Made Guitar that Rocked Queen and the World.'* It's even got it's own Wikipedia page.

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

I've been inspired by Brian since I first picked up the guitar. I honestly feel that just watching him gave me much more precision in my right hand. He has this thing he does with his right hand where his hands come down and delicately pick out every note with precision. It's more of a pluck than it is a back and forth motion, almost like someone plucking lint from his jacket one piece at a time. When I was young, I copied that just because it looked cool and Brian was one of the few guitarists at the time I really knew about. I didn't really know what I was doing but I think it really helped me anyway. No one sounds like Brian. His tone, whether its in his fingers or in his gear, is all his own. And it's superb. Just the sound of his guitar, forgetting for a second that he's an amazing guitarist and just focusing on the way his guitar actually sounds, is just exquisite. You'll have to forgive me. I could kiss Brian May's ass all day.

[@wfmg7235]

I feel the same way about Brian Shaw. Maybe not the ass part. I think I'd die.

[@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020]

12:28 you know you’re a Brian May fan when you know this technique without any explanation needed.

[@hjonkhjonkamgoose]

thats what i was thinking

[@amonsuiko9761]

Brian May has a really iconic sound and it’s super nostalgic

[@peterdankelson4311]

This is PERFECT! I’m in a Queen tribute right now and am really liking Mays style!

[@christianmiller9980]

John Deacon played the rhythm guitar on Another One Bites

[@lucasvdh1938]

Christian Miller lol that’s cool to know!

[@m95antonio0_4]

Then who played bass???????

[@gruesomewolfgaming4735]

@Jink Kefka Dave Grohl

[@codythedoggo7671]

@@gruesomewolfgaming4735 Prince

[@ettoremacca2927]

@@m95antonio0_4 Joe

[@schifoso]

Great episode. You did an excellent breakdown of the genius of Brian May. He was the hit of the 2012 Olympics closing ceremonies, and your breakdown illustrates some of his techniques that were used at the ceremony.

[@dingledanarmy7402]

That threat at the beginning is making me feel.... UNDER PRESSURE

[@smithson8806]

Guess what your mum will be if you don't sub..... UNDER PRESSURE

[@aliteral_watermelonz3940]

Yeah I'm going to go Stone Cold Crazy

[@Exterminate265]

Boo!

[@brianloher7617]

Hey buddy you're one of the better guitar teachers Ive seen.. I've been playing for almost 25 years plus. Picking up a few things you're showing. Thank you sir

[@SelectCircle]

Man - I'm just glad to see a young person demonstrate knowledge of May's sheer existence - let alone do a thorough study! O_O

[@johnfowler9424]

sheer... a SHEER HEART ATTACK?

[@regolithia]

Heck yes!!! I’ve been waiting for this one. Bless you!!

[@realmrjangoon]

"Is this telecaster or strato?" "yes"

[@Stepbro126]

This is amazing! Thank you for listening to your community! I’ll do my part and share this will all my guitarist friends!

[@xthatghomiex2939]

I've been itching for this video! I've always loved Brian's vibrato.

[@smittylarson913]

Thanks mike, i love brian May's style, your video makes me wanna learn his technique

[@marcozuniga2551]

Thank u so much to listening to requests. I grew up listening to queen and i just want to thank u for this.

[@tokunagaster]

Me, too. I grew up with Queen’s IInd, IIIrd and IVth album, turning their records on my parents’ stereo system endlessly. These hours fixed the firm image of how guitar should be sounding on my ears. I disliked this type of music in my later teen years and the years followed after them but recently returned to it in a big way. I must admit it has a lot to do with resurgence in the popularity of their music by the success(?) of the Hollywood movie which depicted Queen’s ups and downs in her best years. Well, I remember and even admit the negative responses from my classmates at school when I introduce Queen at school playing her record in the music class. Well, one girl did respond marvelously well asking me who played the music on the record and was dying to get hold of it ASAP. You could tell by the look of her eyes and the fact that she never spoke to me before!? That is the power of music.

[@XtremeKillah101]

Wohoooo. You finally did it, I asked for this in another video. Thanks for making this :D

[@HunteyDrojasLocas]

I've been waiting for this so much time, thank you, love it.

[@Iceman-xx1kh]

Nice vid! Brian is underrated imo..there's so much to his playing. He built the guitar to feedback and boy does it!! Am i a May fan? Hell yes 🎸

[@emefcue]

Watching this again. It really is a great brealdown of brians techniques! Thank you!

[@ianbuxton525]

Great Video. Many thanks for taking the time to research this and put it all together in one place.

[@67er_matze97]

man, what a brilliant lesson ! I love the analysis of these little details of Brian's style very much. And you playing is stellar in my opinion and also the sound that you have dialed in is stellar imo 👍

[@njkf]

What a great compendium of Brian May thechniques!

[@amarks4383]

Thank you so much for all these techniques man

[@northcanuck4631]

I love how you dissect the technique. I try to duplicate it and just have even more respect and awe of Brian May's talent and yours too.

[@BrandonStonerAEP]

Love all of your content. You're an insane player and guitar mind, thanks so much for everything!

[@Juliang61]

Some great ideas. Thank you so much for this video!

[@paulsimmons5726]

Great video, thanks for sharing your insights!

[@amsalespush]

That is a great one, thanks. I remember listening to the Star Licks audio cassette in 1987 or so...

[@KashouWannabe]

I know this is an older video but thanks for this. I started in my teens and I had the Star Licks VHS you're referencing, but I spent a few years pretty much going nowhere. Last October I'm trying again after a 10-15 year hiatus, with the Internet a lot easier to access now I'm able to look up exercises and other information on the fly, and having a concise compendium of BMs techniques in one place is fantastic. Thanks again.

[@DanThomasUK]

That harmony trill thing from A Kind of Magic was actually recorded by the drummer, Roger Taylor (BM's own harmonies tend to be less linear) Brilliant video and all spot on :-)

[@JungiOlympia]

There's another great trick of his that I love. When he needs a long note to really sing, scream and stand out he frets the note with his index on the high e or on the b string and frets the lower neighboring string one whole step lower with his ring finger and then slowly bends that up to the same pitch into a strong vibrato so he starts on a strong dissonance, getting worse and then goes into this huge singing sound. For example: He frets a d in the tenth fret of the high e string and a C in the 13th fret of the b string, picks them both at the same time and then bends the c on the b string up to a d. He uses that technique very prominently on a chromatic downward line at the end of the solo on "the show must go on" right before the bridge (my wings are painted...). And live all the time at the end of songs.

[@nevv7130]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I've been finding a way to do a pinch harmonic on that Bohemian Rhapsody solo!!!

[@sightseeing7993]

I swear, I can hear 2 notes and immediately know exactly what you're playing during this video. May licks just stick in my mind forever.

[@alexjungeee7500]

It’s about damn time, thanks Mike !

[@Hoscitt]

At last!!! !looking forward to this one buddy 😁👍

[@chadridgway4327]

I have waited so long for this.

[@richprincipe749]

This was excellent!! Thanks!!!

[@aliasc2593]

Always wanted to see how good he really was, thanks for the vid!

[@cobain_92]

Technique N°1: Buy a red special

[@user-qg9ug7fk2b]

Build a Red special

[@bloodmoonyt1901]

Steal the Red Special

[@pussinslippers7130]

kidnap brian may

[@Nopper23]

And use a sixpence coin

[@alanriot2099]

Make yourself a Red Special

[@Guitarplugandplay]

How so many awsome guitar players can live in your fingers ??? Thank you so much for sharing your talent and skills !

[@supersonic3341]

Thanks man! Appreciate it really, I'll now just sit down and practice.

[@SaxJockey]

Great tips there Mike. This will help me de-construct exactly what is going on in my favourite Queen song (Killer Queen). Most of it is coming together through practicing various lessons; but it's really good to pin down specific sounds as you have demonstrated 👍.

[@benjaminsmall8446]

Awesome as always you rock literally

[@MarcelZuzan]

Great video !

[@grahamlewis4884]

This series is amazing!

[@falcohuebner9624]

Great Video 👌

[@charliebadger]

Superb demonstration :)

[@BrettLaFemina]

6:23 is so useful for that solo, thank you!

[@martyjames6204]

excellent video - thanks!

[@BurningFlame08]

Queen's bassist John Deacon actually did the funk strumming in Another One Bites The Dust!

[@theonlyredspecial]

awesome work - great video

[@nine9whitepony526]

A lot of people have argued with me about this but I heard Billy Corgan say in an interview that he's been trying to achieve Brian Mays tone. Side note, those up strokes that Brian May uses i used to use for playing Four Horsemen by Metallica back in the day. Great video.

[@Piskopattroll]

Mann you are the best thank you so much! One of my favorites

[@diegoscaffardi3688]

Congratulations on the video it's great! Very clear and detailed. Can you tell us a bit more about how you set your guitar tone for this one? Congrats again!

[@MrMrJameskeegan]

Excellent teacher really good, excellent well done. A talented player, who inspires others.

[@martinscalici1905]

This video is very helpful

[@robertkottage7538]

I think I heard some "It's Late" in there. Great solo, couldn't place it for a minute. Thanks for this video! You are clearly very skilled and a great listener.

[@fachryhakiki]

24:20

[@groovex73]

I don't think you covered it in the vid but Brian May also does a semitone bend from outside the scale to a scale note. eg. Bending from an Eb to E when the key is Em. Or say from G (minor 3rd) to G#(Major 3rd) in the key of E. Great vid!

[@orsozapata]

Cool video! Great stuff. Just wanted to point out: the funky guitar in Another One Bites The Dust (at 26'00) was actually played by bassist John Deacon!

[@douglasmijangos3327]

👏🏻 thank you ... awesome

[@christianmiller9980]

This is a great video BTW, your examples sound very May-ish. Not an easy sound to imitate, even where the notes are straightforward. I think you are an excellent musician. Really loved the Beatles vid too.

[@GenerationGap69]

diggin the tone out of that SG

[@dcsabi1]

funny fact...3 part harmony lick in K.O.M. is Taylor. His idea and played by himself. Anyway Bri is a genius of harmonizing :)

[@lala-everyonescrazyaunt]

Thanks! 👍✨

[@Memnoch67]

dude, your last video was removed, i was afraid your account got snuffed. Good your still here.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I have to remix it, my hearing has been off the last week or so, I'll reupload asap.

[@frgproductions6165]

Finally!

[@centurionmusic11]

Guitarists you need to do on this show: John Petrucci Alex Lifeson Billy Corgan Jerry Cantrell Billy Gibbons

[@danopticon]

I’m loving your videos, thank you for posting them! Would you consider doing _Robert Fripp’s Greatest Guitar Techniques_ someday? He used to actually give lessons himself, in group sessions called Guitar Craft, which seems a little like having Jimi Hendrix teach you guitar, kinda this unbelievable gift to the world. I was all set to go to one of these retreats in New Jersey, but someone I’d hired to fill in for me at work proved utterly incapable, so at the last moment I had to bow out of the Fripp lessons and stay home … then those sessions in New Jersey turned out to be the last retreat Fripp ever held in the USA and the second-to-last he ever held in the whole world, as he disbanded Guitar Craft entirely the following year, after about 25 years of having led it. I’ve felt crushed ever since. In particular, Fripp is a master of an interesting-sounding cross-picking technique in which I think he somehow pivots the plectrum with the ball of his thumb while holding his hand relatively still, allowing him to articulate series of individual notes unbelievably quickly. If you can find out more about that and relay it, I’d be sooooo grateful! Peace! ✌🏼

[@MrZombieslayer229]

Great video! I think there’s a lot to learn from Don Felder and Joe Walsh id love to see that!

[@SirEpifire]

I like how you just snuck the solo to It's Late in there on the vibrato taps.

[@AreEnTee]

THANK YOU\m/

[@donloder1]

one really cool example i think of the single note rhythm is the second chorus on the prophet's song.

[@virgilrw]

Brian May is one of my favorite guitarist of all time but can you do a session on Terry Kath of Chicago! Right off the top of my head... Thanks!

[@thepissyblissey8962]

Great video as always, was wondering if you’d ever do one of these on Billy Corgan? Especially since the pumpkins just got back together and released a new album

[@AspenTruth]

Great stuff. That playing behind the beat explanation should been described as “triplets” laid back. Nice stuff either way. Thank You.

[@Jeff_H_the_Guitarist]

Watching the 3-part harmony part of your video at 50% speed to catch that lick better. Man, at 50% you sure sound drunk. :) Another great video. Thanks!

[@vickielawson3114]

Cool video. Brian is the most brilliant guitarist there is. By the way, has anyone ever told you that you resemble John Cusack? He played my other favorite Brian, Brian Wilson in “Love and Mercy”.

[@dondocentone1334]

Marty Friedman has really specific and original technique, for example arpeggio combinations and so on

[@pinball-wizard]

for those who want a Brian May-ish sound try to get a guitar with mini humbuckers, also get a treble booster

[@acdc-rox4341]

If possible, a Rick Nielsen verson would be super awesome! Thank you so much for your time!!

[@breathinginsilence]

That subscription reminder was a lot more raunchy than I would've expected in any of these videos.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

It’s a Queen song title.

[@breathinginsilence]

@@TheArtofGuitar now I know!

[@WizardOfArc]

Nice tone with that SG - sounds a bit like May!

[@regolithia]

Could you analyse the triad-shredding style of Marty Friedman? He’s incredibly unique.

[@jasonz8096]

You should do a vid on Steve Hackett, he had many great techniques, and not many people give him enough credit

[@bleromafia]

love his delay stuff. sounds like he plays with 3 versions of himself

[@davebain2656]

As Brian himself said, it basically sounds like 3 guitars being played at the same time

[@twodoubletriple745]

Thank you! , Gracias!, Спасибо!, Merci! , Danke dir!, Hvala!, Dank u wel! , Tack! Takk skal du ha!, Grazie!, Cпасибі!, Dziękuję Ci!, Mulțumesc! ευχαριστώ! Ačiū!

[@redxiii1049]

Awesome thank you! Do you think you could do Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top's greatest Guitar techniques?

[@gabriellarrubia1006]

Aside from a very accurate breakdown of his techniques I'm amazed at how close you got the tone... I'm assuming the Jaguar was for the phase switch but surprisingly the SG did it for most of the riffs/licks... Any special EQ configuration?

[@snottydoggmlgdank]

lmao i was watching brian may videos randomly and then this pops up in my subbox

[@GIBKEL]

Have you thought about Jonny Greenwood video. Not considered a shredder but he plays mean and he means it and he’s rarely covered in these types of “how to” videos. Great tips and instructions-thanks

[@robsummers8344]

The magic sixpence ✌🏻🎸🎶 .... and a brain the size of a planet 😉😂🇬🇧✌🏻

[@poweredbynoise]

I've been trying to learn how to my guitar squeal like Dimebag Darrell and Kerry King. If you haven't already, can you make a video on Kerry's techniques or Darrell's techniques?

[@franciscorojas6891]

Josh homme guitar techniques please!!!!!

[@Log-On-Line]

i used a coin as a pick just to see what it was like but i really like it so im using it all the time now

[@darmap8489]

If John Cusack and David Duchovny had a child, it would be you Great playing by the way.

[@TVeitch75]

Fantastic video. Thanks. Any chance of analysing John Squire from The Stone Roses?