Doubtless BB King’s signature song, The Thrill Is Gone was in fact written in 1951 by singer/ pianist Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell - long before BB’s 1969 recording for his Completely Well album. Reaching 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, BB’s version enjoyed moderate chart success, subsequently becoming a blues standard and a staple in the late guitarist’s famously gruelling touring schedule until his final shows in 2014.
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The track highlights BB’s dazzling guitar style, and the delivery of his phrasing is key to nailing his feel. For example, in bar 7, notice how precise the string bends need to be: quarter-tone bends on D and D#, then a semitone bend from E to F natural! BB’s inimitable use of space is captured throughout Rockschool’s arrangement too. Be sure to observe the rests as shown and experiment with slightly ‘detaching’ some of the notes (lifting away before the next note is sounded).