Jason Becker - Air - Guitar Tab

Perpetual Burn

1988 5:38

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About Air

"Air" from the 1988 album Perpetual Burn is one of the quieter, more melodic sides of Jason Becker, but do not let that fool you into thinking it is easy. Sitting in G major in E Standard tuning, the piece calls for smooth legato phrasing and precise pick control to keep the melodic lines singing without sounding choppy. The challenge here is largely expressive: sustaining notes cleanly, managing dynamics carefully, and keeping vibrato consistent across the neck. Progressive Rock phrasing often demands that you think in longer melodic arcs rather than short licks, and this track is a good example of that discipline. Transitions between positions can feel awkward at tempo, so isolate those spots with the Practice Toolbar, loop them slowed down, and focus on making the position shifts inaudible. Getting the tone right matters here too, as a clean, warm guitar sound will expose any unevenness in your fretting hand immediately.

• "Air" is played in E Standard tuning in the key of G major, making standard scale fingerings apply directly with no retuning needed.
• The track rewards a focus on legato technique: smooth hammer-ons and pull-offs are central to delivering its flowing melodic character.
• Position shifts across the neck are a key practice target, as the long melodic lines require clean transitions that are easy to stumble through at speed.