-
Step 1
Lose the pick. Jeff Beck does not use a pick, but instead relies on his fingernails and thumbnail. This gives him a different sounding attack and more flexibility in his style. It also affects his tone, which is one of Beck's signatures.
-
Step 2
Get your tone from your guitar and amp, not effects. Beck often used and still uses a Fender Stratocaster. He also uses Fender and Marshall amps. Tweak your settings on your guitar and amp before resorting to effects pedals for your tone. Beck does use wah pedals, as can be heard extensively on the "Beck-Ola" album, and he uses some fuzz and echo effects.
-
Step 3
Experiment with the feedback and distortion. One of the things that makes Jeff Beck such a pioneer with the electric guitar was his experimentation. Experiment with getting feedback and distortion through your amp while maintaining a pleasant tone. Try feedback with different pickups and positions.
-
Step 4
Take advantage of the vibrato bar and use some quarter bends. Beck used a lot of bending and manipulation of strings to get his kind of sneering sound. Listen to "Rice Pudding" from the album "Beck-Ola" to get an idea of his bending techniques.
-
Step 5
Practice along with some of your favorite Jeff Beck tracks. The best way to learn is to play. Find some tabs for some Yardbirds songs and then move into some of Beck's solo stuff. Try to emulate not only the notes, but the subtleties in his playing style.
