Classic Albums – Frampton Comes Alive

Frampton Comes Alive: A Guitarist’s Guide
When it comes to live albums that showcase extraordinary guitar playing, “Frampton Comes Alive!” by Peter Frampton holds a special place. A double live album released in 1976, it provides a brilliant exposure of Frampton’s ability as a lead guitarist.

Released on January 6, 1976, Frampton Comes Alive! is one of the most iconic and best-selling live double albums of all time and cemented Peter Frampton as a major music star. Recorded in summer and fall 1975 – primarily in San Francisco and New York – recordings from four shows were used for the release. The talk box guitar effect became strongly associated with Frampton following the album’s huge success.

In this course, LickLibrary’s Danny Gill walks you through the many highlights of each song from this essential album one phrase at a time, including Frampton’s classic guitar parts and lead lines from tracks such as “Show Me the Way,” “Baby, I Love Your Way,” and “Do You Feel Like We Do”

Guitar Lesson 1: “Introduction/Something’s Happening”
The first song after the introduction, “Something’s Happening,” features Frampton’s iconic usage of the talkbox. The primary key is A Major and the main scale used is the A Major scale. The song starts with a memorable riff based around the A Major scale, followed by a soaring guitar solo that exemplifies Frampton’s fluent alternate picking and vibrato.

Guitar Lesson 2: “Doobie Wah”
“Doobie Wah” is a bluesy rock tune featuring Frampton’s melodious string bending and double-stop bends. Based in E Minor, the song highlights Frampton’s mastery over blues pentatonic scales. The solo section showcases his ability to create a conversation with his guitar, often accentuated with pinched harmonics.

Guitar Lesson 3: “Show Me The Way”
“Show Me The Way” is an anthem that exhibits Frampton’s power-chord proficiency. The talkbox solo, although simple in terms of scales (largely D Major pentatonic), is extremely expressive. It’s a testament to his ability to use simple tools to create unforgettable melodies.

Guitar Lesson 4: “It’s A Plain Shame”
A more aggressive track in the key of A minor, “It’s a Plain Shame” is full of power chords and palm-muted rhythm guitar parts. The solo section includes a demonstration of both legato and alternate picking, with fast runs based on the A minor pentatonic scale.

Guitar Lesson 5: “All I Want To Be (Is By Your Side)”
This song is a classic acoustic number in the key of G major. It shows Frampton’s finger-picking skills, highlighting his ability to create a full and vibrant sound with just an acoustic guitar.

Guitar Lesson 6: “Wind of Change”
“Wind of Change” provides a great example of Frampton’s chord progression writing. In this song, the main progression is D – A – G, a classic progression in the key of D Major. The solo in the song uses a combination of slides and bends, providing an emotional counterpoint to the chords underneath.

Guitar Lesson 7: “Baby, I Love Your Way”
“Baby, I Love Your Way” showcases Frampton’s mastery of creating memorable, hook-filled guitar parts. Based in the key of G Major, the arpeggiated chords in the verses create a harmonic base for the melodic vocal lines.

Guitar Lesson 8: “I Wanna Go To The Sun”
This track serves as a testament to Frampton’s blues-rock roots. The G major pentatonic scale forms the foundation of the riff and the solos, which are filled with string bending and vibrato, two of Frampton’s signature techniques.

Guitar Lesson 9: “Penny For Your Thoughts”
“Penny For Your Thoughts” is an instrumental piece with a folk-influenced finger-picking style. The use of open tunings adds an extra dimension to the overall sound and gives the piece its unique melodic character.

Guitar Lesson 10: “(I’ll Give You) Money”
“(I’ll Give You) Money” is an intense rocker with fast, powerful riffs and a complex solo. Frampton uses both minor pentatonic and blues scales to create a raw, biting solo that showcases his rock chops.

Frampton’s Contribution
As the lead guitarist and songwriter for the band, Frampton’s contribution to “Frampton Comes Alive!” is incalculable. His guitar playing combines technical ability with emotive playing, creating solos that are both flashy and filled with feeling. This album showcases the full range of his abilities, from the fast rock of “(I’ll Give You) Money” to the folk-influenced finger picking of “Penny For Your Thoughts.”

Techniques used
Vibrato / Alternate Picking / Legato / Double-Stop Bends / Power Chords / Palm Muting / Slides / String Bending / Finger Picking / Open-String Riffs

NB: PERFORMANCE FOOTAGE NOT INCLUDED WITH THIS COURSE