You want to sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan? Then let’s talk about one of his favorite tricks — chromatic pass notes. I’ve been playing blues for over 45 years, and I’ve watched thousands of players try to nail that SRV tone. The secret isn’t just the gear or the bends. It’s how he moves through the pentatonic scale with those sneaky chromatic notes that make your blues licks sing.
The E Pentatonic Minor Setup
Here’s what we’re working with, boys and girls. SRV played in Eb tuning — that’s a half-step down from standard. His guitar had this incredible resonance to it, especially on that 5th string. When you’re learning these licks, you can play them in standard tuning too. Same shapes, same feel.
The E pentatonic minor scale is your foundation. You’ve probably played this scale before. It’s one of the first patterns most blues players learn. But here’s where it gets fun — we’re going to add chromatic passing tones between the 4th and 5th scale degrees, and between the 7th and 8th (which is the octave).
Building the Riff: Start Simple
Let’s start on the 5th string. Open E. From there, we walk up chromatically. Open, 1st fret, 2nd fret, 3rd fret (your G note). This is the chromatic approach into your 4th degree in the scale.
Next, you’re crossing to the 4th string. Catch that 5th fret (your A note). Now here’s the move — you’re going to use your down-up picking pattern. This isn’t fast playing. This is feel. Each note gets space to breathe.
From the 4th string, you walk back down the same way. Chromatic all the way. One fret at a time. It’s like you’re painting with individual notes instead of playing a big swooping lick. That’s pure SRV.
The Picking Technique That Makes It Shine
I’ve got to tell you something I learned from watching SRV play live back in the ’80s. He wasn’t a down-stroking maniac. He used down-up picking on these chromatic passages. That creates this bouncy, almost conversational feel. Down-up, down-up. It’s got pocket. It’s got soul.
Your pick is going to move consistently. You’re not rushing. You’re not dragging. When you nail this groove, people feel it in their bones.
My Frankenstein and Why It Matters
I play a pretty unique instrument — a left-handed neck on a right-handed Stratocaster body. Frankenstein guitar, I call it. It’s tuned to Eb like SRV’s gear. When you’re learning blues licks, your instrument matters, sure. But your hands and your timing matter more.
You don’t need a vintage Strat to sound good. You need to understand how these notes connect. You need to feel the story you’re telling with every bend and every pass note.
Practice Tips From 45 Years Behind the Microphone
Start slow. I mean really slow. Use a metronome. Get the shapes comfortable in your fingers first. Once the mechanics are automatic, your ears take over. That’s when you can add the soul.
Learn all three parts of this SRV series. There’s part 2 coming up with hammer-ons and pull-offs, and part 3 with that killer Pride and Joy closing riff. Each one builds on what you’re learning here.
And hey — if you want to dive deeper into blues basics, check out our complete guide to blues guitar riffs. It’ll fill in the gaps and give you a solid foundation.
Chromatic pass notes are your secret weapon. Use them wisely, and you’ll have players wondering how you got so smooth. That’s the Stevie Ray Vaughan way.
