Mastering Killer Guitar Solos by Emulating King Diamond's Vocal Techniques - Part 2

Introduction

Studying the techniques of iconic vocalists can significantly enhance the emotional depth of your guitar solos. In the first part of this series, we explored four ways to incorporate King Diamond's vocal style into your guitar playing. Here, we present three additional techniques to further refine your skills.

Layered Harmony in Guitar Solos

The Power of Harmony

Harmony, the simultaneous combination of different musical notes, can add a rich, complex texture to your solos. Layered harmonies, in particular, can make your guitar phrases more captivating and dynamic.

Practical Exercise

1. Set Up: Use a metronome set to a moderate tempo. Record an "A" note on the 14th fret of the G string, letting it ring for ten beats.
2. Add a Layer: On the third beat, record a "C" note on the 13th fret of the B string. This creates a harmony with the "A" note.
3. Final Layer: On the fifth beat, record an "E" note on the 17th fret of the B string, adding a third layer to the harmony.

This exercise helps you create a layered harmony for an A minor chord, spreading the notes over several beats rather than playing them simultaneously.

Real-World Example

King Diamond frequently uses layered harmonies in his music. For a practical demonstration, check out the segment from 7:23 to 8:54 in this video.

Enhancing Lead Guitar Phrasing with Texture

Textural Variety

King Diamond is renowned for his diverse vocal delivery, seamlessly transitioning between clean singing, growls, and screams. This variety adds texture to his vocal lines, making them more engaging.

Applying Texture to Guitar

You can mimic this effect by using double stops—playing two notes simultaneously—in your guitar licks. This technique adds texture and serves as a contrast to single-note melodies.

Practical Exercise

1. Create a Lick: Develop a short guitar lick of no more than five notes.
2. Add Double Stops: Incorporate double stops at strategic points in the lick to add texture.

Mastering Pitch Variation and Phrasing Fluency

The Importance of Pitch Variation

King Diamond's vocal style is characterized by a seamless blend of high falsetto, screams, growls, and layered harmonies. This variety creates musical tension and excitement.

Developing Phrasing Fluency

Phrasing fluency involves the ability to combine various techniques to create pitch variation, making your solos more dynamic and interesting.

Practical Exercise

1. List Techniques: Write down all the guitar phrasing techniques you know.
2. Create a Lick: Improvise a short guitar lick and play it repeatedly.
3. Apply Techniques: Use different phrasing ornaments on the first and last notes of the lick. For example:
   • Play notes in a higher octave unexpectedly.
   • Use different types of vibrato (delayed, wide, narrow).
   • Harmonize notes using double stops.
   • Apply vibrato to both notes in a double stop.

Real-World Example

For more ideas on how to incorporate these techniques, check out this guitar solo video.

Conclusion

By studying King Diamond's vocal techniques, you can add emotional depth and complexity to your guitar solos. Whether it's through layered harmonies, textural variety, or pitch variation, these methods will help you create more engaging and dynamic guitar solos.

Interesting Stats

• According to a study by the University of Southern California, musicians who practice varied techniques show a 30% improvement in their ability to improvise (source).
• A survey by Guitar World found that 68% of guitarists believe that studying vocal techniques has improved their soloing skills (source).

By incorporating these advanced techniques, you'll not only enhance your guitar playing but also bring a new level of emotional expression to your music.