What is the name of BB King’s guitar?

BB King’s signature guitar was a Gibson ES-355 known as “Lucille”. It was named after a woman who caused a fight between two men in which the venue caught fire and King ran back in to save his beloved guitar. Since then, BB King has played several versions of Lucille throughout his career.

History of BB King’s Guitar

In the late 1940s, legendary blues guitarist B.B. King began performing with a Gibson guitar called Lucille. It was named after two women who had been fighting over a man in a club that caught fire during their fight; the men in attendance saved only their own lives and left King’s beloved instrument to burn in the blaze. He vowed to name any future guitars he played after the woman whose cause of this chaos – Lucille.

Throughout his career, B.B. King went through several different models of Lucille, including 335s and 345s from Gibson, as well as Custom Shop models made by Epiphone, Fender and Ernie Ball Music Man. As he toured around the country with his trademark blues style and sound, fans everywhere became familiar with his signature axe. His reliance on Lucille also gained him admirers within the music industry; Eric Clapton famously said of him: “If you talk about greatness, you talk about B.B King – there’s no way round it…it’s just unbelievable how he did it all with one guitar.”.

By playing such an iconic instrument for so long across thousands of shows worldwide, B.B King helped to make electric guitars an essential part of modern popular music culture today – even though none of us are likely ever to play one quite like he did.

The Sound of BB King’s Guitar

The sound of B.B. King’s iconic guitar, nicknamed Lucille, is unmistakable and known around the world. A hallmark of his sound was his vibrato, which he used to great effect in order to create memorable melodies and solo lines with a unique touch. His method was to use an aggressive attack, leaning heavily on bends and vibrato from the 3rd string of his guitar. He also had an affinity for playing high up on the fretboard which gave him that signature singing tone.

King’s playing style wasn’t limited to single note solos though; he was able to deliver powerful licks by emphasizing notes in double stops as well as triplets, often times utilizing position shifts within those patterns for added texture and complexity. He also incorporated slides into his leads seamlessly due to his knowledge of classic blues progressions that allowed him to improvise without sacrificing any emotion or soulfulness while still making sure he hit all the right notes at just the right time.

Aside from performing soloing lead lines, B.B King was one of the first blues guitarists who began experimenting with sustain techniques such as pinch harmonics which are now staples in modern electric blues playing today. He would use these techniques not only in solos but during rhythm parts too – creating memorable riffs that quickly became standards among other blues players across genres throughout music history.

BB King’s Signature Style on His Guitar

Blues legend B.B. King was an acclaimed guitarist, and his distinctive sound had a huge influence on the music industry. His guitar playing style set him apart from all others, and earned him the nickname ‘King of Blues’. He was known for his intricate fingerpicking technique, often utilizing double-stops to create complex rhythms and melodic runs. He also utilized a number of other techniques such as string bends, vibrato effects, slides, hammer-ons and pull-offs.

King used both acoustic and electric guitars throughout his career, but he is best remembered for his iconic custom Gibson ES-355 guitar nicknamed “Lucille”. It featured unique components such as large block inlays with bold white bindings that distinguished it from most other Gibson models of the era. This particular model was modified by Gibson’s luthier at their Kalamazoo factory which allowed King to get the tone that he desired out of his instrument.

The “Lucille” guitar became famous due to its association with BB King’s signature style – a mix of jazz phrasing with blues scale flourishes that could make even some of the most experienced players weep with envy. By combining influences from different genres while adding a personal touch to them, King created something entirely new that would become associated with himself forevermore.

The Influence of BB King’s Guitar on the Blues Genre

As a legendary blues musician, B.B. King was an iconic figure in the genre whose influence has spanned decades and generations. His most famous instrument, “Lucille”, was instrumental to his success as it provided him with a unique sound that allowed him to reach massive audiences worldwide. By playing on this single guitar, King popularized the blues genre and had many other musicians follow suit in their own careers.

The design of Lucille is quite remarkable as well; it has two-tone black finish and three pickups which provide different sounds depending on what type of music you are playing. The neck also features a semi-hollow body that can create various tonal changes during solos or duets. Each time he played Lucille, King would add subtle nuances to the notes that are often overlooked by even avid fans of his music but appreciated by those familiar with his repertoire of sounds.

While countless artists have been inspired by B.B. King’s distinct style over the years since its introduction into popular culture in the 1950s, there is no doubt that Lucille still stands out among all guitars used throughout the history of the blues genre today and will likely continue to do so for years to come.

BB King’s Technique and Skills on His Guitar

The blues guitar legend B.B. King was a master of the instrument and captivated audiences with his unique style. His unmistakable sound was the product of a lifetime devoted to perfecting technique and skills on the electric guitar. As a young man, he developed an innovative picking style that combined elements of blues, jazz, and gospel music into his playing. He used vibrato in an expressive way to produce deep, sustained notes which created long melodic phrases, allowing him to effortlessly express emotion through his solos.

He also made great use of double-stops – two-note chords played simultaneously – by plucking or bending both strings in unison while emphasizing certain notes with his trademark ‘Tiger’ pick attack; this gave his melodies incredible richness and texture. He often utilized pull-offs – where one string is pulled away from the fingerboard after being held down with pressure – as well as hammer-ons which added speed and dynamic contrast to his lead lines without compromising tone or clarity.

His mastery over the fretboard extended beyond just single note playing as he weaved together intricate chord voicings throughout each song’s progression; these harmonically rich textures were at once distinct yet tonally consistent regardless of what position he was playing in on the neck. This level of control over dynamics allowed for organic shifts between sections giving even more impact to each phrase and solo line. Ultimately it was King’s sheer passion for making music that propelled him onto stages worldwide for nearly seven decades until his passing in 2015 at age 89 years old.

The Importance of Lucille to BB King

B.B. King and his iconic guitar, Lucille, have been forever intertwined in the annals of music history. Even more than sixty years after their first collaboration, the two are still inseparable from each other when people think of B.B.’S blues style and unique sound.

This partnership began on a fateful night at a dance hall in Arkansas in 1949 where a young B.B. Then known as Riley B King, was playing for tips during an all-night jam session alongside fellow musician Bobby Bland. During this particular gig, two men began fighting over a woman which eventually spilled over into the establishment’s kerosene barrel that had been set up to keep everyone warm during the cold winter evening. As you can guess, this caused a raging fire that quickly spread throughout the building – but luckily no one was injured. In an attempt to save his beloved guitar (which he called “Lucille”) from the flames, B.B. Ran back inside and grabbed it just in time before escaping through the backdoor with it safely tucked under his arm – thus saving it from certain destruction!

Since then “Lucille” has been integral to not only B.B.’S career but also to his lifestyle as well; often seen traveling with him wherever he went around the world and being held close to him both figuratively and literally until his passing in 2015 – truly making her an important part of blues history for many generations to come.

Legacy of Lucille: How BB Kings’ guitar continues to inspire artists today

The legacy of BB King’s iconic guitar, Lucille, continues to inspire artists today. For those who don’t know, Lucille was an electric Gibson ES-345 model gifted to the blues legend in the 1950s. The name “Lucille” has since become a symbol for the music and career of BB King, as it is commonly associated with his signature sound and style.

This love affair between musician and instrument has been immortalized by other musical giants. From rock n’ roll legends like Eric Clapton and John Mayer to modern pop stars such as Rihanna and Bruno Mars, all have paid homage to this great artist by paying homage to Lucille. Countless albums feature covers or interpretations of Lucille’s classic riffs as these superstars attempt to channel the spirit of one of their greatest influences: BB King himself.

Modern day bluesmen also look up to this legendary guitar and its owner; many seek out vintage models of the same Gibson model so they can recreate that signature sound on stage or at home. To this day, aspiring musicians still learn the timeless melodies played by BB King on Lucille decades ago in order cultivate a connection between them and the man behind arguably one of the most influential instruments in history.