Learn how to play "I'm a King Bee" by Slim Harpo on guitar

In this lesson, we'll learn how to play I'm a King Bee on the guitar. This classic Blues tune, originally recorded by Slim Harpo, has been covered by numerous artists, including the Rolling Stones, and is a fascinating piece of music. What makes this song particularly interesting is its unique 13½-bar Blues structure. Now, you might be wondering, "How on earth did Slim Harpo come up with a 13½-bar Blues?" Well, it's all about the interplay between the riff and the melody.

The song features a cool, repetitive riff that forms the backbone of the tune. Slim Harpo didn't set out to create a complex structure; he simply crafted a great riff and a catchy melody line. The interesting part is that the phrasing of the melody line slightly clashes with the riff, which leads to the unusual bar structure.

Understanding the 13½-Bar Structure

Here's how the 13½-bar structure works: Slim Harpo essentially adds two beats to the end of each four-bar section. This allows the vocal melody to come in after a distinctive slide in the riff, preventing the vocals from clashing with this prominent musical feature.

When we add these extra beats (three half-bars of two beats each), we get one and a half bars added to our standard 12-bar Blues. And there you have it - a 13½-bar Blues!

The Riff and Chord Progression

The riff is relatively simple, centered around the E chord (the I chord in this key). It includes a distinctive slide that's crucial to the song's character. The chord progression follows a Blues pattern, moving to the A chord (the IV chord) and then to the B7 chord (the V chord) in a similar way to a standard 12-bar Blues, but with those extra beats added in.

Don't worry if this sounds complicated - once you start playing it, you'll feel the groove, and it'll start to make sense. The key is to focus on getting that main riff down and then work on fitting the vocals around it.

Variations by Other Artists

Interestingly, other artists who've covered I'm a King Bee have adapted the song structure in different ways. The Rolling Stones, for example, straightened it out into a more standard 12-bar Blues. They achieved this by moving the slide in the riff from beat four to beat two, allowing the vocals to fit more naturally into a 12-bar structure.

Other artists, like Muddy Waters and Pink Floyd, transformed it into a 15-bar Blues. They did this by extending each of those extra two-beat sections into full four-beat bars, adding three extra bars to the standard 12-bar form.

Final Thoughts

Learning I'm a King Bee is a great way to expand your Blues playing beyond the standard 12-bar form. It'll challenge your sense of timing and phrasing, and help you develop a more nuanced understanding of Blues structures. Start by getting comfortable with the main riff. Practice it slowly at first, making sure you nail the timing of that slide. Once you've got the riff down, start working on the chord changes.

The trickiest part of this song is likely to be getting used to those "half-bars" that pop up throughout the progression. As you practice, try counting along with the progression. This will help you internalize the unusual 13½-bar structure. Don't be discouraged if it takes a while to feel natural - even experienced musicians can find this song challenging!

If you're not familiar with Slim Harpo, I highly recommend checking out more of his music. He and his producer, J.D. Miller, were key figures in the Louisiana "Swamp Blues" style, known for its relaxed groove and distinctive sound. This Blues style is slightly less well-known than others, but it's incredibly cool and worth exploring. Harpo was a creative and interesting guitarist, and studying his work can really expand your Blues vocabulary.

I hope this lesson stirs your interest in I'm a King Bee and Slim Harpo's unique approach to the Blues. Remember, the key to mastering this song is patience and practice. Don't get frustrated if it doesn't click right away—take your time, enjoy the process, and soon you'll be grooving along with this 13½-bar masterpiece!

So grab your guitar, watch the video, and dive into this fantastic piece of Blues history together. Have fun with it, and I'll see you in the next lesson. Keep on playing!

💡 Get verified chords, lyrics, and tabs for I'm a King Bee and loads of other song lessons! Try out JustinGuitar Tabs for free!