Practice Log
The "Pretty Woman" lick, played 4 different ways
Lesson #183
Video Overview
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Editorβs notes
I just saw βA Star is Bornβ (the 2018 version), which features a quick scene with βOh, Pretty Womanβ being played at a Roy Orbison tribute within the movie. This very distinctive riff gets the spotlight for a crucial scene, and at once I knew I had to learn how to play it. It didnβt take me long to uncover a few different approaches to the riff that different online teachers suggested. Even though all the approaches played the same notes, they differed when it came to the frets, fingers, and strings played to make it all happen. Over the practice session that followed, I played this riff in a few different ways β working with what was suggested, pulling certain versions apart, putting other versions together. Hereβs my notes from that session, showing the different ways to play it. Each of these has something to teach us, and depending on your goal I hope some (or all) of these are helpful if youβd like to play the riff too.
Exercise 1: Easiest possible way to play the riff
Letβs start simple. Here, weβre going to utilize the open strings as much as possible (i.e., the strings where no fret is pressed down). Youβll only need your left index (2nd fret) and left ring finger (4th fret) for this exercise. This keeps things easy! I would guess that many advanced players would pass this version by, since the open strings donβt give you a lot to work with when it comes to the nuanced βsoundβ of the riff (when it comes to bends, slides, muting, etc). See the exercises below to learn what I mean here.
E βββββββββββββ E βββββββββββββββββββ
B βββββββββββββ B βββββββββββββββββββ
G βββββββββββββ G βββββββββββββββββββ
D ββββββββββ0ββ x2 D ββββββββββ0β4β2β0ββ ...repeat
A ββββββββ2ββββ A ββββββββ2ββββββββββ
E ββ0β0β4ββββββ E ββ0β0β4ββββββββββββ
Exercise 2: Getting the pinky involved
This version forsakes the open 4th string, replacing it with the 5th fret of the 5th string (played with the pinky). The difficulty here is turned up quite a bit, as the pinky coordination can be hard to muster! But this is a great exercise to strength your pinky, as well as work on its dexterity and flexibility. Also, I found the overall βsoundβ of this version (and the versions below) to be much more consistent, given that weβve gotten rid of the open 4th string - which has a different quality-of-sound than the fretted notes surrounding it.
E βββββββββββββ E βββββββββββββββββββ
B βββββββββββββ B βββββββββββββββββββ
G βββββββββββββ G βββββββββββββββββββ
D βββββββββββββ x2 D ββββββββββββ4β2ββββ ...repeat
A ββββββββ2β5ββ A ββββββββ2β5βββββ5ββ
E ββ0β0β4ββββββ E ββ0β0β4ββββββββββββ
Exercise 3: Moving up the fretboard
In this version, weβre going to move things between the 4th and 7th frets. This version moves the tough stretch over to our index finger (which has to hit the 4th fret of the 6th and 4th string). Weβre still using our pinky, but the stretch is a bit more natural in my opinion. Try this version along side exercise #2, and pay attention to the different feelings they have (when it comes to your fingers stretching, etc).
E βββββββββββββ E βββββββββββββββββββ
B βββββββββββββ B βββββββββββββββββββ
G βββββββββββββ G βββββββββββββββββββ
D βββββββββββββ x2 D ββββββββββββ4ββββββ ...repeat
A ββββββββββ5ββ A ββββββββββ5βββ7β5ββ
E ββ0β0β4β7ββββ E ββ0β0β4β7ββββββββββ
Exercise 4: Adding as many slides as possible
This one combines some of the phrases from exercise #2 and #3 β and does so in a way where three of the notes within the riff are βslidβ into. This creates a very distinct effect, making things sound a bit more elegant and complex (but you donβt want to overdo it). Note that this comes with an extra degree of difficulty. For one, youβll need to adjust the left hand fingers-you-use slightly from the prior exercises (see my video for reference) β this is so you can execute each slide while setting your fingers up to perform the slides that come afterwards. It can be tricky to learn, but at the same time very rewarding if you can master it.
E βββββββββββββββ E ββββββββββββββββββββββ
B βββββββββββββββ B ββββββββββββββββββββββ
G βββββββββββββββ G ββββββββββββββββββββββ
D βββββββββββββββ x2 D ββββββββββββββ4βββββββ ...repeat
A βββββββββ2β/5ββ A βββββββββ2β/5βββ/7β5ββ
E ββ0β0β/4βββββββ E ββ0β0β/4ββββββββββββββ
Parting thoughts
The main takeaway here: there can be multiple valid ways to play any song. Donβt think of these are βrightβ or βwrongβ in an absolute sense. Instead, understand that each version offers different opportunities! What worked for the composer (when they wrote the song) may not be a match for you, given equipment or skill level or anything else. Play the version that makes sense depending on your goal, and youβll be in good shape.
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