Today we are talking about the “Mary Had a Little Lamb” lick that was first created by Buddy Guy back in 1967. He had an album called, Man and the Blues, which I love, and it’s an album that influenced me and a lot of other people including Stevie Ray Vaughan.

It’s one of the great examples of playing a bass run, then getting right out of it and playing a rhythm lick. It’s kind of hard, and I find it quite difficult, because you have to stop that E note and then play your rhythm lick, which isn’t easy at all. And then it has a really nice fill.

If you are playing in a band situation and you miss a lick, just keep going and catch up as soon as you can. Do not stop.

Stevie Ray was an absolute master of that – playing all the rhythm and lead at the same time.

Until, next time, keep on playing.

—Arlen Roth