The Hollies - Long Cool Woman - Guitar Lesson

About Long Cool Woman

At 104 BPM in G minor, "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" has a swampy, propulsive groove that sits somewhere between roots rock and early 1970s American swamp rock, which is a little surprising coming from a British band. The signature riff is the real reason to learn this one: a choppy, rhythmic guitar figure that drives the whole track with a tight, percussive feel. Getting that snap and attitude right takes more than just fretting the notes correctly. You need to lock into the pocket and use your picking hand to control the dynamics, muting and releasing with intention rather than strumming freely. The Hollies were primarily a pop group, but this track leans hard into a grittier Rock sound that demands the same kind of tight rhythm playing you hear in classic American rock and roll. If the riff feels slippery at tempo, use the Practice Toolbar to loop it slowed down until the picking-hand muting feels automatic, then bring it back up to 104 BPM.

• The signature riff relies heavily on right-hand palm muting and precise rhythmic chopping, so focus on picking-hand control before worrying about speed.
• The song is in G minor in E Standard tuning, giving the riff a dark, punchy character that rewards a slightly aggressive pick attack.
• Looping the main riff at a reduced tempo with the Practice Toolbar is the fastest way to nail the groove before attempting full speed.