Video: Jethro Tull's Triplets
This new Lick Of The Day is inspired by the acoustic triplets of Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson. It's played on a Martin DRS1 acoustic guitar.
For this lick, I use a capo at the third fret to raise the pitch of the guitar by a minor third (or three half steps). As a result, though I play the phrase as if it were in the key of D, it actually sounds in the key of F. The nice thing about using a capo is that you can employ familiar, finger-friendly chord shapes while playing in an unusual key (or any key you want!) and create a nice, high, chime-y sound akin to a mandolin or ukelele.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
Paul Riario has been the tech/gear editor and online video presence for Guitar World for over 25 years. Paul is one of the few gear editors who has actually played and owned nearly all the original gear that most guitarists wax poetically about, and has survived this long by knowing every useless musical tidbit of classic rock, new wave, hair metal, grunge, and alternative genres. When Paul is not riding his road bike at any given moment, he remains a working musician, playing in two bands called SuperTrans Am and Radio Nashville.
“Muddy Waters and BB King, I knew ’em before they passed away, and they told me, ‘Man, if you outlive me, just try to keep the blues alive’”: Buddy Guy has officially retired from touring – but he’s back on the big screen in Michael B. Jordan’s Sinners
“I can’t believe how complicated the parts she’s playing are. You just never know how those are coming to be in the studio”: FINNEAS reveals his surprise guitar hero whose playing left him scratching his head