How to Play “La Grange” by ZZ Top

Billy Gibbons

When you play in a lot of cover bands (guilty as charged) you discover some riffs that always get a good crowd reaction. ZZ Top’s “La Grange” is one of those riffs. Learn it and channel Billy Gibbons channeling John Lee Hooker in an all-time blues-rock boogie classic.

La Grange also is a great jam night song because it can be learned quickly (just two chords), it is very open ended (lots of solos, yeah!) and there only, like, 20 words to remember (yes, bartender, I will have another).

Learn how to play “La Grange” in this video lesson:

Lesson Audio podcast (mp3)
Lesson Video Podcast (m4v)
iTunes Podcast feed

Here is the tab:

Riff 1

Riff 2

Some technique and theory highlights to keep in mind from the video lesson:

• Shuffle/”Boogie” Riff
• Key of A (A5 Chord)
• Hybrid Picking
• Slight Palm Muting
• Left Hand Muting

Check out the following resources for more ZZ Top sheet music:

• ZZ Top sheet music
• “La Grange” transcriptions

If you want to learn more about blues-rock guitar, Billy Gibbons or other ZZ Top riffs consider signing up as one of my private students. And, as always, subscribing to my RSS feed or a bump on one the social networking links below is super appreciated. Thanks!