Eric Johnson - Manhattan - Outro - Guitar Lesson

About Manhattan - Outro

The outro section of "Manhattan" puts a spotlight on the kind of melodic, singing lead playing that defines Eric Johnson's approach to Progressive Rock. At 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, the tempo is comfortable enough to focus on tone and phrasing rather than sheer speed, but that can be deceptive. Johnson's articulation demands clean hammer-ons, pull-offs, and precise pick attack, and any sloppiness in the fretting hand will show up clearly at this pace. The challenge here is not just hitting the right notes but shaping each phrase with the same lyrical quality he brings to the recorded version. Getting the dynamics right, knowing when to dig in and when to ease off, is where most players will need to spend their time. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the outro slowed down so you can internalize the phrasing before bringing it back up to tempo. Think of it less as a speed exercise and more as a lesson in making a guitar line sound like it breathes.

• The outro is played in E Standard tuning at 120 BPM, a moderate tempo that puts the emphasis squarely on clean articulation and expressive phrasing.
• Johnson's lead style relies heavily on precise pick-hand dynamics combined with smooth legato runs, so both hands need equal attention when learning this section.
• Looping the outro slowed down in the Practice Toolbar is the most effective way to copy the subtle note shaping before rebuilding to full speed.