Soloing Secrets - Billy Gibbons

Hey everyone! Here's the next episode of Soloing Secrets with a special look at the playing style of Billy Gibbons. I've had numerous requests to feature more of ZZ Top's music and Billy's ideas, so I figured featuring him in the new Soloing Secrets series would be a great idea - so let's dig in!
Billy Gibbons is a complete guitar legend filled with great licks, tricks, tones, and ideas for days. For a player that's been on the scene and vibrantly active since the late 1960s, it's really saying something that BIlly can still bring down the house with his emotive blues-rock playing. Complete with that signature soulful bending/vibrato attack, not to mention his outstanding gritty vocals that really deliver the ZZ Top sound.
The ideas in this lesson center around various common areas within Billy's lead guitar style and this includes hitting the core essentials with a few secrets sprinkled in along the way. The ideas shared here include using pentatonic "pockets" to build licks/phrases, exploring/using the pentatonic "highway" along the fretboard, a hybrid picking primer, various slip-n-slide licks/phrases, how to locate Billy's favorite double-stops, and much more!
Needless to say, if you're a ZZ Top and/or Billy Gibbons fan, or just a player searching for some insight into the playing style of an absolute guitar legend - look no further, this lesson is totally for you! Give this episode a view, leave some comments/feedback, and please subscribe to Late Night Lessons - THANK YOU!
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[@bghammock]

Tasty boogie there David. Thanks

[@midiman5045]

Kool Stuff David, It's all about connecting the correct dots. LOL.

[@chriss1492]

Billy GIbbons, like David Gilmour, is a great testimony to the fact that blazing speed and sweeps aren't the be all and end all of guitar playing. Sure, that stuff is cool and impressive, but give me a player like Gibbons and Gilmour who convey soul and tasty phrasing any day. I'd love to see a Neil Schon lesson sometime.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

John Fogerty too ... guitar rhythms and solos for the song and the jam first!

[@thehomefront1905]

You're talking absolute shite again.

[@stevengrinold3203]

Yes, Neal Schon Dave!

[@johnc.8298]

Yes, the melodic phrasing is so musical. If you can follow the tones as they're playing it, then they've allowed you into the music just like if you can hear and understand the words a singer is singing. Neither Billy or Gilmour (or Carlos) were stellar maestros when it came to complex phrases and fast, precise passages such as Satriani, Gambali, etc. but just using those five simple notes with creativity they put together great melody lines and musical compositions all the same. So simple, yet so musically satisfying.

[@stevengrinold3203]

@@johnc.8298 well said John. Music is a VAST topic and there is room for many styles. I choose to love great players like Billy G., Gilmour and the more technically advanced like Satch and Gambale and also Dave Brewster. It's all good!

[@sergedenovo2389]

My cursor arrow has a mind of it's own and just automatically goes to "like". I'm glad. saves me the work.

[@Jojoslayer15]

You're hands down one of the greatest guitar teachers on KZbin.

[@frankiecalabro2617]

Dave is such an amazing guitarist and teacher....it’s amazing how he cops the essence of all these players.

[@rv6205]

thats the key is getting a good teacher .....but when youre a new player , you cant tell good from bad

[@seanemmettfullerton]

Right?! that flavor... sabor :)

[@gergemall]

Agreed

[@TMoody]

That is a sweet Les Paul right there.

[@10stringcharley24]

That D string vibrato !!! That’s Billy all day !!

[@mikeking453]

Great playing in the intro

[@30pitchcleaver]

ZZ Top "Live" Dallas in the 80s - White Les Paul - A show I will Never forget.

[@petew.1418]

I had the opportunity to chat briefly with Elwood Francis years ago online. (We have a mutual friend.) He was their tech at the time. He confirmed that Billy has an extremely light touch with fretting and picking. He rarely goes out of tune, according to Elwood.

[@thejamnasium6447]

how could you not love Billy Gibbons

[@dziglavs]

My type of playin.Really good lesson

[@jamesruch4355]

Billy is constantly in the pocket! He is the perfect example of don't over do it!

[@j11smith]

billy himself in an interview in guitar world in 2013 taught me the highway, and this lesson is the next page he never explained.

[@davidcoward7462]

"💡" just went off for me when you shared the pockets and how they inch up the neck!!! Thank you!

[@jasonashley4579]

Billy F Gibbons has been my favorite guitarist for all my life. Tv dinners there's nothing else to eat.

[@simonvanderheijden432]

I saw an interview with Mr Gibbons were he said he started to use .008 gauge strings and he had problems with strings breaking all the time. After he switched to .007's that problem was solved. Dunno how, dunno why but that's what he said. And thanx for another great lesson Dave!!

[@jacobdowler1]

Yes rest in peace Dusty! i missed out on seeing him unfortunately in 2021 right after i bought my ticket he passed. i was very sad but still rocked the house in Dayton Ohio! took my wife and we had a blast! i could not believe i even got to see them even once let alone twice! lol shortly after seeing them in Dayton my Dad asked me to go to see them again in Cuyahoga falls up by Cleveland! i shid my pants just about at that show because it was such a damn good time and we sat close!!!!

[@stratman9449]

i suppose we all have said it before...but there is just some original "magic" in ZZtops music and paricularly Billy Gibbons and his guitar playing....and you just have to love it....well.I DO...:-)...and yes i was sad to hear about Dusty passing away....things just won't be the same again....but...that's live...forever moving on....cheers Dave... intersting to hear that Billys dad had a recording studio and thus Billy met all these music greats...awsome...imagine growing up like that....wow...

[@Dan-zq5wt]

I love the pentatonic blues rock players with nasty nasty tones and badass attitudes: Gibbons, Page, Cream Clapton, Ace, Angus, Kossoff, Humble Pie Frampton, Lesley West, Joe Perry - all my favorites! Balls + melody.

[@aristocaster]

Billy Gibbons is ridiculously great blues guitar player, and will never get enough credit for that, because his playing is so subtle on those great blues songs ZZ Top has written, but what a wonderful guitar playing they contain.

[@Ppuffdiddleydangdoof]

I 100% agree, except that Billy won't get enough credit. Every guitarist on the planet loves him and his playing. They have sold 10 gazillion records. They played 320+ shows a year for decades to adoring fans. But you're otherwise right, and well said.

[@campfireguitars]

You hit the spot with this one, my favorites... RIP Dusty

[@scottbivins4051]

Know that we have established that you may be King of cutting heads in your state this ZZ TOP lesson is something I can sink my teeth into. You just showed all the basics of dirty nasty boogie rock. Thank You.

[@sventextor1309]

Thanks for giving some love to Billy Dave...he is a master guitar player....his feel....tone and taste is unmatched.......Hendrix asked the world to watch this guy and for good reason....."Blue Jean Blues" always struck me as a song so immersed in feel and emotion.....the subtle technique combined with some stinging notes and understated depth always impressed.....I feel sad after the passing of Dusty Hill and think Billy on his passing will be "rediscovered" rather than truly appreciated in his own life time Gibbons Hill and Beard will never be repeated.

[@sergedenovo2389]

You interrupted my going down the line giving everyone here thumbs up and gonna have to check it out. thank you. :)

[@whatarefriends4]

All true and not only that the songwriting. A slew of hits all in the unmistakable ZZ Top style. Clever catchy rock tunes all about nothing.

[@billd9667]

I’ve learned to appreciate Billy over the years. He is crisp and expressive in his playing with a great sense of rhythm. I was expecting him to be Hendrix-like, but happy that he went his own way.

[@thomasstevens9551]

Thanks for remembering Dusty! That was a nice pithy and classy tribute. RIP Dusty!

[@starfleet1126]

There's a Clip on KZbin were Jimmy Hendrix was ask who his favorite guitar is and he says Billy Gibbons! Billy Gibbons Da' Man! The TONE!

[@natediggidy6070]

I love Billy. Blue Jean Blues is epic. Thanks for the tips.

[@davethelawyer2268]

Thanks a million for this!! I've been in the dark about this for 33 years of playing. I can't thank you enough! This is the grand guitar mystery solved.

[@RF944]

The Reverend Billy G, a top five guitar slinger for sure. Thanks David.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Billy is a living legend.

[@Dr_Reason]

I actually get what you are doing. I am impressed how you broke down this concept.

[@ramseyomery]

that was awesome! the double pentatonic highway and the pentatonic pockets was definitely something new for me

[@bassface12348]

Oh man soloing secrets of Jimmy Herring? That would be soooo awesome 👌 👏 😎

[@rorylisbon4723]

Tres Hombres will always be their masterpiece album. Tone for days, pinch harmonics, memorable short tasty licks, I can listen to them forever. Yeah, bending 7's on a 24.75" scale too, ha. Truly iconic player.

[@andy100hp]

What does bending 7 on 24.75 means?

[@simonvanderheijden432]

@@andy100hp Billy Gibbons plays string gauge .007 (but i'm not sure he did in the early days, let's say the first 3 albums) and 24.75" is the scale length of a Gibson guitar (Fender uses 25.5" scale length). But it means that string bending is very easy (with 7's on 24.75"), it doesn't require a lot of strength and it gives you way more control (overbending, vibrato etc..). Some people would say that thin strings will hurt your tone but there's nothing wrong with Billy's tone, I've seen him live just a couple of years ago and his tone is awesome. Rick Beato did a video on string gauge which is kind of an eye opener. On a semi-clean Strat I would have to agree that thinner string will hurt your tone. But that's just my opinion. And y'all know what the say about opinions.. ;)

[@andy100hp]

@@simonvanderheijden432 Thank you for this answer I think Gibbons is the one told BB King about using thinner strings tho if I'm not wrong (Why you work so hard?) Also I agree on the Gibson thing, everything just sounds better and more in-your-face with gibson, in my humble opinion

[@simonvanderheijden432]

@@andy100hp You're welcome. But that's funny 'cause I heard it the other way around, that BB king asked Mr Gibbons why he was working so hard. 😂

[@andy100hp]

@@simonvanderheijden432 haha maybe you're right, I heard that long ago

[@myoldmate]

First heard ZZ TOP early 70's on Alan "Fluff" Freeman's Saturday Rock Show. It was La Grange, I was blown away and to this day it's still one of my favourites. One other tune of theirs which, imo, features Billy's effortless rockability is a track that I never hear anyone else mention and that's Planet Of Women. If your in your car and everything's good, put that on at max bearable volume and headbang down the highway.

[@bluesdude1194]

That was a great radio show back then.

[@myoldmate]

@@bluesdude1194 It was. Another band that show introduced me to was Bachman Turner Overdrive, in particular the track Second Hand off the Album Not Fragile. Ridiculous use of the wah pedal on that which I liked..a lot.

[@mike42441]

David, thank you for doing another video on Billy Gibbons. This guy is one of kind and I hope you do more Billy videos in the future. So many guitar greats out there, but hearing Billy's playing brings me back to my guitar roots every time!

[@guitarzan2201]

Billy is definitely an original and a master of his gear to achieve some amazing and killer tones. Thank you for this Dave.

[@voronOsphere]

More Soloing Secrets!!!! Billy Gibbons!!! Thanks, David!

[@rickowenkennedy]

You come the closet to nailing BFGs licks, chords, and tone for that matter,...that I've heard yet. Great Lesson! Thank You .

[@sergedenovo2389]

I love Lagrange with Slash! That’s cool!

[@joelghuggins]

I’ve been a session player in Nashville for 20+ years. This is the first “Billy video” ever on KZbin, where his early album tones are demonstrated in spades!! ( dark and saggy) Every other video I’ve seen people have a bright tight tone. Drives my buddy’s and I crazy!! 🤪 Fantastic video! Keep it up brother ❤❤

[@johnc.mitchelljr.2716]

DON'T LOOK ! 7"s BOING ! 👏👏👏

[@if6turnedouttobe9]

Billy is always a treat...Thank u Dave...

[@Magnetron33]

I saw ZZ last Tuesday. Same old Billy! Tasty licks the whole show. My 49th year of seeing him and Frank. Elwood is doing a great job too!

[@Craig_Fussell]

Thanks for this man! Huge BFG fan! For me, touch, feel and phrasing is how he puts his stamp on ZZ Top songs. Ever noticed how instead of starting a solo with low notes on “the highway,” and building up higher, he tends to start with a screaming high bend, especially on “boogie” types of songs? Classic example is La Grange, but there are plenty of others! Awesome!!✌🏻🎸🎶

[@-jeffk3339]

Thanks David - love the Pentatonic Hwy. approach. Your lessons are great for the blues-rock fans like myself.

[@brythecracker]

Brewster, I challenge you to use these for a couple weeks and see if you can break the 7s, I’m betting on Dunlop you won’t. I started using them 2 years ago, and eventually stringed up all my guitars with them. Pros: I bend everything now, a wrong note is always just a bend away from being right. Breaking strings is not an issue, I’m not sure what Dunlop’s secret is but I’ve never broke one. In the past I’ve broken 10’s regularly, but not these Mexican Lottery strings, and most my playing is bending riffs. If you’re an older player and the digits hurt when bending, do yourself a favor and go for the 7s. Your hands won’t ache as much if any afterwards. Cons: its easy to bend chords out of tune if 7’s aren’t your regular gauge strings, you just won’t have the touch sensitivity for the lighter gauge. If you stick with them for a few weeks you’ll get used to them and may never go heavy again.

[@stevenblakeakahashburns]

Brilliant lesson! From this alone; I’m going to grow my beard back! Not my back beard….that’s a different thing altogether!😆 Shut up Steve! Oh ok

[@xavierortiz2690]

This is my kinda lesson!

[@shanekiesewetter5593]

Thank you. This is an absolutely fabulous lesson. Maybe 20 lessons wrapped in one. Awesome!

[@uncleremus5046]

His tone & phrasing put him in the Stratosphere with Carlton & Beck! As always awesome 🍺’ski.🤘

[@davidhoward8951]

I remember when strings and things in Memphis Tennessee made a guitar shaped like Texas for Billy Gibbons

[@robhead22]

Awesome! I really appreciate this lesson!! Thank you!

[@preppintrucker6005]

Oh this is awesome, I appreciate this one, I can understand this well. I struggle to learn scales but this seems different, better 👍

[@timemerson2691]

Thank you. That was super helpful. Love your videos.

[@nicolasmaurin182]

This lesson is awesome ! I love it from first minute to the last one. So cool. Thanks

[@j.r.martin5468]

Best Explanation I've seen so far, Thank You so much !

[@JeffCrowell11]

This is great stuff. Thanks for sharing.

[@chrisvilardi650]

Great Lessons I have a lot for them ! and they all have been filled with a info. Thanks

[@dougstubbs4351]

Great lesson. Love this channel. Thanks 🙏🙏🙏 for everything brotha

[@stevencrash]

You're such a great teacher, Thank You!

[@boufd2008]

Great video. Thx 4 sharing your knowledge

[@JDShellnut39]

This is the best lesson / explanation I've ever seen! Thank you sir.

[@jaredwren9304]

Great lesson, thank you!

[@colokor]

Excellent lesson Thank You!

[@hailamb521]

really like how you present these lessons!

[@daveg5857]

This is an extremely helpful lesson. Love it! Thanks, David.

[@michaelpal7641]

Hell Yess!! As always David-you never fail to inspire with great lessons! Thank you.

[@121band3]

Great job…great playing and tone. Thank you for sharing.

[@Mike6StringsIn]

Really enjoyed that.

[@jackdellad4602]

Always great stuff on here, always demonstrated with great skill and perfect phrasing. I've refined my ear a whole lot more on the back of the precision on show here. Thanks so much.

[@MJ-iz6dc]

Thanks for this Dave..and for simplifying it and showing how one pattern is tide into the next!

[@martinwiedemann3494]

OMG, you are awesome. Love all your interessting videos. Best regards from Germany

[@breathtimebreath4934]

Beyond grateful and beyond GENIUS!!!!!!!!🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@jasonroberts3353]

your'e billy gibbons lessons are the best !

[@mikeking453]

Another great lesson,thanks for posting

[@guitarjr]

Outstanding lesson!!

[@robertdyer8517]

Thanks for the visuals 👍

[@dart3409]

Excellent video! Very insightful! Very well laid out. Keep it up.

[@frankiedonofrio5438]

Absolutely Love Soloing Secrets.....Thank You

[@jsauce311]

This channel always hits right when I need it.

[@gobodega5226]

What a great lesson. I love it 😍 many thanks David 👌

[@2000SkyView]

Great lesson!!!!

[@alasdairhalliday6792]

Awesome, man. Thank you!

[@Tomsdrawings]

Thank you for your teachings, David! All the best.

[@greggunther]

Nice lesson. I've bookmarked it for when I got my guitar.

[@davidmuir6849]

Fantastic instruction ,thanks for sharing Cheers Dave from Scotland

[@ciachetti]

Amazing lesson!!!!

[@mikeprince6045]

Love this channel man…. Ive progressed so much because of your style of teaching…. The Best bar none….. thanks brother…. Until the next time. C ya

[@Chuuckification]

Thanks for this, really cool stuff! Inspiring AF

[@tmitz73]

Your lessons Rule Bruddah!!

[@fox_exley-jarvis]

Brilliant lesson. Honestly this tied up the whole pentatonic idea together. great job man

[@Chance-ry1hq]

This is the first video of yours I have watched. All I have to say is thanks. As soon as I digest this video, I’ll be watching you other videos.

[@richybryan4652]

As always... World class

[@robcaveman2908]

Excellent Content, Thanks, Dave.

[@toneking6555]

Love your approach to guitar playing Dave. Thank you so much for sharing, I learn so much from you. Peace!

[@userjasker76]

Man this lesson is gold for me. Highways for the pentatonic. Love it.

[@BobIrving2]

Fabulous lesson, sir! You break it down so well.

[@sjb454]

Just wanted to say Thank You for the time and effort you put into your videos. I watch a LOT of guitar related KZbin and I really learn the most from yours. Keep up the great work. 🤘