David Bowie: Lead Solo

David Bowie:
Suffragette City

In this lesson I want to cover the technique of String Bending. And to make it more interesting and fun, i’m going to teach you how to play the lead solo from David Bowie’s Suffragette City.

String bending is one of those real fundamentals for any Lead Guitarist. However getting your bends just right takes some real practice. You’ll see what i mean when you start playing this solo. Anyway let’s get started!

Today I have a number of resources to take you through this Step by Step:

1. An introduction to String Bending
2. The band playing Suffragette City
3. The Tab for the solo, and the song structure
4. The Lead Solo teaching video
5. The Drums and Bass practice video

Remember, please do leave me a comment below and let me know how you’re getting on. Have fun! Andy.


Step 1. An introduction to String Bending technique.

This video is taken from one of our String Bending lessons, so you’ll have to ignore the fact that I say you can now learn to play the Sultans of Swing Riff. Maybe I’ll realease that video soon :)

Step 2. The Band playing Suffragette City
Note: the Lead Solo kicks in around the 1min 30 point in the song

Step 3. The Lead Solo Tab and Song Structure
You can download the Solo Tab and the Song Structure here. They are both in pdf format.
solo_tabs

song_structure

Step 4. The Lead Solo Lesson
So here’s the actual lesson to teach you just the Lead Solo.

Step 5. The Drums and Bass and Rhythm jam video
In this video we’ve taken out the Lead Guitar, so you can step right into the band and have a Jam! Get ready for your lead solo which kicks in at the approx 1minute 32 seconds point in the video. Have fun!

Your comments please…
Hope you’re enjoying the videos, but please do remember to leave us a comment below. We really need and value any input you can provide – even if it’s just to say if you think this is ‘the best thing ever’ or just OK. Whatever your comment, we’d love to hear from you. Thanks – and have fun! Andy


Related posts:

  1. The Beatles: Lead Riff Lesson

Leave A Reply (186 comments So Far)


  1. peter
    7 days ago

    i have learned quite a bit from your lessons and i thank you for that,but a few of your teaching vidios
    come up “MISSING PLUG IN” what plugin is it i need for this. I have adobe plug ins,is there another
    one i need, if so could you tell me which one it is so that i can see your vidio clips,the ones that i have seen up till now have been very helpfull . (PLEASE HELP)

    Thank You
    Peter.


  2. Peter LaRing
    167 days ago

    it’s so great what a great stuff that you improvised./
    I love it very much…
    I am really empowered by searching this web and studying your lessons.


  3. dean robinson
    204 days ago

    thanks again andy..


  4. Steve
    266 days ago

    Hi andy,im steve 54 years old and id like to say You are the absolute business !! ive learnt more from you than anyone in the past Cheers Mate !!!!


  5. Jerr
    282 days ago

    Like John said “I would like some slow blues also” Nice through explanation of bending. Some of the same explaining of barre chords would be nice and “Pivoting fingers” for easy chord changes too. Thanks much for the tips!


  6. Chaliq
    283 days ago

    It seems like a double bend 2 strings bent at the same time nice.


  7. ERROL CARROLL
    352 days ago

    HI ANDY STRING BENDING IS SOMETHING THAT CAN MAKE OR BREAK AGOOD NUMBER Y0U MADE IT LOOK SIMPLE WELL DONE ERROL


  8. Eddie
    388 days ago

    Hi Andy ! Brilliant as usual from you. I really find the fretboard showing the dots useful. I’ve always thought your attitude to us newbies great !

    Keep it up and keep ‘em comin. Matey !

    Cheers . . . Eddie.


  9. Paul
    403 days ago

    …i like your teaching skills Andy, and i’m getting ready to buy
    an SG G-400 limited edition similar to yours but alpine white with a
    black pick guard…cheers, how about a few acdc songs like SPELLBOUND
    that maybe u could teach your mate in Pennsylvania…cheers!


  10. john
    477 days ago

    you are not onnly a fantastic guitar player but a realy good teacher iv,e learnt more in the few short lessons you have given me than in all the time iv,e been trying to play lke john 77 i,m john 61 (age) i would love some slow blues thanks for everything
    John


  11. kev
    484 days ago

    hi andy, really cool shit (i don’t really understand it!) but it’s cool!
    (i’m more into the power chords ‘n rhythm guitar)
    -kev


  12. lj
    495 days ago

    yes andy I am learning a lot man O man your bending vibratto slide I just love them; by the way hOW about some BOB MARLEY stuf ? when you find it convient ALSO SOME BLUES STUF i AM WILL BE 73 IN JANUARY 12th AND STILL LOVE TO ROCK M, WELL ANDY keep up the good work ‘ you are the best yet by lj


  13. Thomas Schmidt
    497 days ago

    Hope you are getting my comments. This is the third one and I can’t confirm that they are being sent. Perhaps a confirmation note from your webmaster would help.
    Rock on Andy!


  14. Thomas Schmidt
    497 days ago

    Hey Andy, I just wrote a big comment and some personal experiences and right when I was about to close, my PC blinked and my entire message was gone. So suffice to say, there is nothing I can say that hasn’t been said already. Your site is “spot on” and I haven’t seen any better on the web. And my search is over. Thank you for doing what you do! As a 54 year old rhythm player(wanna-be Lead Player) and am not currently disabled, I have some time to finally work on my guitar again. It’s been almost 20 years since my last band, in which I was the lead singer(1st time ever!)so I am really excited to learn and you are making it so easy and sensible. BRAVO ANDY!


  15. Reid
    504 days ago

    Hey man, I been bending strings for decades and I still enjoy learning new material. Your presentation is quick to learn, thanks.


  16. Lawn Aerator
    522 days ago

    David Bowie is a classic, i like all his songs during the old days. ‘-.


  17. Marcel
    523 days ago

    i cant wait for the part of sultan of the swing that is my favorite song


  18. Willie Mac
    528 days ago

    nice job Andy and cannny wait to begin this tutorial, as Bowie is my hero.
    good clear instructions and relaxed with too.


  19. Isaac
    549 days ago

    Hi handy,your lessons are really great and helpful not only for beginners but also for pros.I will really appreciate it if you can make the vedio lessons downloadable because I had problem playing the vedios,it’s actually taking a long time to play.thanks!


  20. Nadine
    551 days ago

    Hey Andy,
    I am self taught, but you are just what I needed to pull it together. I am one of the few grandmas that play electric guitar. Thanks to you, I rock now.


  21. john
    551 days ago

    At 77 years young I am still trying to play this thing, great watching you doing solo but the noise from the band at my age absolute hell bring back Muddy Waters & co. You have a nice easy attitude with your teaching, would love some slow old blues.

    John


  22. ray
    562 days ago

    Andy – many thanks lessons are a revelation & clear .
    me being from Bert Weedon / Lonnie Donegan era [ How long ? ]
    just starting out again after many many years


  23. albear
    563 days ago

    good clear instruction easy to understand and play


  24. Dave H.
    573 days ago

    Andy,
    I stumbled upon your site via Songsterr while I was looking for bass tabs for a song. I have to say even, though I strictly play bass, I really enjoy the quality of your lessons and I’m envious that such quality lessons are not available for bass. I might just pick up the guitar again….
    Thanks,
    Dave


  25. Dan
    576 days ago

    Hey Andy, I wish I had an eletric guitar instead of just an accoustic. It relly helps to sustain the notes,but you make it fun to learn no matter what. Thanks, these lessons are really great and it’s cool because you’re such a down to earth kind of guy.


  26. Stuart Maclean
    583 days ago

    Hi Andy. I am a guitar teacher and admire your down to earth atitude.


  27. Alexa Stewart
    584 days ago

    david bowie has this weird stuff character on him but he is cool’.,


  28. Harry
    599 days ago

    good song, nice lead. fine tone. helpful.


  29. m. alan johnson
    600 days ago

    Really enjoying the stuff…lessons. More like fun than lessons. I’m considered a professional and yet these basics are really hitting home.


  30. edward simmons
    602 days ago

    Thanks great lesson


  31. BobBaker
    605 days ago

    What happened to the Sultans of swing riff?


  32. terrance
    606 days ago

    good stuff andy thanks.


  33. terrance
    606 days ago

    this is real healpfull for me thanks for the time andy.


  34. elvis
    608 days ago

    Andy, I really love the string bending lesson, it seems simple and I’m sure that I can do it exactly. Thanks a million!


  35. TimBit
    611 days ago

    thank you for taking the time to do this for people
    it’s nice to see.
    keep up the good work


  36. mark
    616 days ago

    Andy, once again I am able to play these songs just like that. Thanks for the awesome instruction.

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Today we're looking at Power Chords and the classic JJ Cale song Cocaine. Although this is very much more in the style of the Eric Clapton version.

BandJammer
April 5, 2012 at 10:48 pm

Sad news................"The Father of Loud" Jim Marshall, the founder of Marshall amps, died today aged 88. Slash tweeted "The news of Jim Marshall passing is deeply saddening. R & R will never be the same w/out him. But, his amps will live on FOREVER!"

I say, set up yer stack and rock heaven 'till it shakes.

That man defined the heavy rock guitar sound.

Andy

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March 21, 2012 at 10:56 pm

Yes it's happy birthday to Johann Sebastian Bach...born in 1685. Did he influence any great rock guitarists????