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During his time with Ozzy Osbourne and later with Badlands, Jake E. Lee crafted remarkable riffs and solos that fused melodic blues-rock elements with rapid shredding techniques. Though, what truly set him apart was his extraordinary fretting hand flexibility, particularly his innovative use of the thumb to execute stretches that would or else be unattainable with fingers alone.
The technique of using the thumb to play lower notes gained popularity in the late 1960s, notably through the work of guitar legends like Jimi Hendrix and later, jazz guitarist Pat Metheny. Yet, the integration of the thumb over the fretboard alongside the fingers for higher strings remains a less common approach. This groundbreaking technique allows for larger note intervals and facilitates challenging stretches,pushing the boundaries of customary guitar playing.
The following four exercises draw inspiration from jake E. Lee’s performances with Ozzy in the mid-1980s. These exercises are designed to enhance your fretting hand’s stretching ability and endurance while introducing the “thumb over the neck” technique.All examples are set in the key of E minor and utilize the E natural minor scale (E-F#-G-A-B-C-D), with some chromatic passing tones included.
Approach these exercises slowly and practice them in short intervals. Position the guitar neck at an upward angle, aligning your thumb with your second finger. To maintain proper posture and prevent injury, keep your shoulders relaxed and level while executing these stretches.
Enhance Your Practice with Match My Sound
In this lesson, we’ve teamed up with Match My Sound to provide a platform for you to record your playing and assess your progress. This tool is invaluable for tracking your development.
click on the word ‘options’ (located at the lower left, beneath the tab/notation) to choose from ‘demo audio track’ (guitar only), ‘backing track’ (just the accompaniment), ‘full audio’ (both backing and guitar audio), and ‘metronome’ (a click track for practice).
Below that, select ‘options’ to find out how you can record your performance.
In the upper right corner, the magnifying glass icons allow you to adjust the playback speed for learning and enhancing your skills.
Follow the cursor to accurately keep up with the tab/notation displayed on the screen.
to view the music more clearly on your desktop,tablet,or phone,click on the square brackets at the top right.
Four Essential Exercises Inspired by Jake E. Lee
Exercise 1: Six-Note Legato Sequence
This exercise begins with a classic six-note legato sequence that was favored by shredders in the ’80s and ’90s. It is structured in triplets, with three notes per click, and introduces progressively larger stretches to avoid a predictable scalar sound while providing a workout for all four fingers of the fretting hand.
If you are unfamiliar with this technique, break the exercise down into four distinct parts based on what is played in each bar. Once you have developed precision and stamina, aim to double your speed to six notes per click rather of three.
Exercise 2: Two-Note Extended Pentatonics
The second exercise employs a two-note extended pentatonic approach, featuring stretches that gradually decrease in size, creating a sensation of moving inward and relaxing while also engaging all four fingers.
Pay close attention to the notes on the second (B) string, as they are all picked, along with any notes played in multiple positions. Additionally, monitor the position of your thumb on the back of the neck: keep it aligned with your second finger for optimal hand posture.
exercise 3: Fretting Higher Strings with the Thumb
this exercise introduces the technique of using the thumb to fret higher strings. Each bar features finer rhythmic subdivisions to help you become agreeable with this method. Aim to use the fleshy area adjacent to the outer side of your thumb.
If this technique is new to you, be prepared for some initial discomfort as you adjust to the posture and develop calluses on your thumb. However,you will soon discover how easily you can execute stretches over seven frets (or more!) using this approach. Once you feel at ease, feel free to experiment with your own ideas.
Exercise 4: Combining All Three Techniques
here’s a brief solo study that incorporates all three previous exercises. Choose a combination of techniques and approaches that resonate with you the most.
Jake E. Lee in Action!
Jake’s Thumb Technique on the Fretboard
This segment showcases Jake performing the solo for ozzy’s Suicide Solution. By utilizing his thumb on a lower fret, he varies the fingers used on the higher frets.
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In this performance,Jake employs his thumb for chordal playing with a clean tone,showcasing the versatility and liberating nature of thumb fretting.
