Born Under a Bad Sign guitar solo

Albert King, 1967, from Born Under a Bad Sign. Solo by Albert King.

Over the Stax house band, King bends strings further than seems possible and makes every held note sting.

Born Under a Bad Sign features Albert King's massive string bends over the Stax house band, including Booker T. & the M.G.'s. King, who played left-handed with his guitar strung upside down, bent strings further than seemed possible, making every held note sting. His Flying V tone is thick and cutting, perfect for the song's funky groove. The song became a blues standard, later covered by Cream. King's style influenced countless guitarists, from Eric Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan. Listen for the huge bends, where King pushes notes up by a full step or more, and for the way he holds them with controlled vibrato.

Born Under a Bad Sign by Albert King is ranked #360 in our consensus of 80 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Albert King and the song was released in 1967.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Blues Guitar Solos — #4
• The Best Albert King Guitar Solos — #1
• Top 20 Guitar Solos of 1967 — #9
• 16 Easy Blues Guitar Solos to Learn (From First Licks to Slow Blues) — #7

Sources

• Guitar Player: The 40 Most Important Guitar Solos of the 20th Century