Phrasing and "call and response"

BB King, and many other blues guitar players, uses a technique that is known as "call and response". BB sings a little idea or "phrase" which is the question or "call" that leaves the listener waiting for some kind of conclusion. Then he responds back with a guitar lead phrase. Sometimes the response does not conclude the phrase but instead leaves the listener wanting more. This can go on for some time and sound natural because of how this technique mimics conversation.

Notice in this video how BB King uses the "call and response" technique like a conversation. He sings a phrase and responds back with a guitar lead phrase. The notes, phrasing, space, dynamics and use of call and response are what to focus on. These are important concepts to understand so take your time to internalize them.

Here are some of the Study notes that I took while watching the video.

Key

C minor

Temp

120

Rhythm

12 bar minor blues chord progression

1m-4m-1m-b6-57-1m

Lead scale(s)

The lead is mainly based C pentatonic minor scale which is pattern 5. ** The b5 note is used sparingly to bring out the blues sound.

Here is pattern five in the key of C minor. The numbers below the guitar tab are the left hand finger numbers.

Additional notes

There is quite a bit of space between phrases.

The call is with a lyric line that is sung and the response is with short lead ideas "licks".

Incredible feeling with varying dynamics throughput the song.

Plays short licks with wide vibratto and uses downstrokes most of the time.

At 5:44 to the end BB plays with a distorted tone, digs in a bit more and plays louder to build intensity.

More to come. Thanks for your patience.