12 Guitar Tips to Play Like Stevie Ray Vaughan (SRV’s Secrets Revealed!)

Stevie Ray Vaughan wasn’t just another blues guitarist—he was a force of nature. His fiery licks, aggressive picking, and soulful bends redefined modern blues guitar. If you want to sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan, you need more than just a Strat and a Tube Screamer. You need to master his unique guitar techniques, gear choices, and playing style.

In this ultimate guide to Stevie Ray Vaughan guitar, you’ll discover:

✔️ SRV’s essential lead and rhythm techniques
✔️ How to dial in his legendary Texas blues tone
✔️ Must-know licks and practice exercises
✔️ Gear and setup secrets for the perfect SRV sound

🔥 By the time you finish this guide, you’ll be playing guitar like Stevie Ray Vaughan—with confidence, power, and raw emotion.

Let’s dive in.

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1. Play Heavy Gauge Strings Like Stevie Ray Vaughan

One of the biggest secrets to Stevie Ray Vaughan’s guitar tone was his use of heavy-gauge strings. SRV used .013 gauge strings, which gave his playing fat tone, sustain, and depth—but also required serious finger strength.

🎸 Try This:

• If .013s feel too heavy, start with .011 or .012 gauge and gradually work your way up.
• Pair heavy strings with high action for better sustain and control.
• Build finger strength with slow, controlled bends and vibrato exercises.

Want to sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan on guitar? Start with the right strings.

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2. Master Explosive Bends & Wide Vibrato

Stevie Ray Vaughan’s guitar playing was full of emotion, thanks to his massive 1 ½ step bends and aggressive vibrato.

🎸 SRV-Style Bend Exercise:
1️⃣ Bend G-string, 12th fret up one and a half steps (so it sounds like the 15th fret).
2️⃣ Hold the note and shake it with your wrist, not just your fingers.
3️⃣ Add double-stop bends (bending two notes at once) for extra power.

🔥 This technique gives your leads that unmistakable Texas blues sound!

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3. Attack the Strings Like Stevie Ray Vaughan

SRV didn’t just play notes—he attacked them. His picking hand was ferocious, often striking the strings with incredible force.

🎸 How to Develop SRV’s Picking Attack:
✔️ Pick closer to the bridge for extra bite.
✔️ Use a heavy pick (SRV preferred thick picks for better control).
✔️ Experiment with muting strings for a percussive snap.

Stevie Ray Vaughan’s guitar tone wasn’t just about gear—it was about how he hit the strings.

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4. Get Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Guitar Tone

Amp & Pedal Setup

SRV’s Texas blues guitar tone came from a mix of vintage Fender amps and a Tube Screamer pedal.

🎛 Gear Guide:
✔️ Amp: Fender Vibroverb, Super Reverb, or Dumble-style amp.
✔️ Pedals:

• Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808 or TS9 for midrange boost.
• Vox Wah (SRV used wah subtly for tone shaping).
• Analog Delay for a light slapback effect.

🎸 SRV’s Tone Settings:
✔️ Keep gain moderate—most of his distortion came from his picking attack.
✔️ Boost mids and bass for warmth.
✔️ Use reverb sparingly to avoid a muddy mix.

Want to play guitar like Stevie Ray Vaughan? Start by dialing in his amp and pedal settings.

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5. Play Open-String Licks for a Bigger Sound

Stevie Ray Vaughan loved using open strings in his blues solos to create a huge, resonant sound.

🎸 Try This Classic SRV Open-String Run in E:

luaCopyEditE|-----------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------
G|----0---2b---0-----2b---0---------
D|----0---2b---0-----2b---0---------
A|-----------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------

🔥 This technique adds “bounce” and “snap” to your solos—just like SRV’s playing!

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6. Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Guitar Rhythm Tricks

Stevie Ray Vaughan wasn’t just a killer lead player—he was also a monster rhythm guitarist.

🎸 Key Rhythm Techniques:
✔️ Use thumb-over chords for Hendrix-style rhythm fills.
✔️ Play percussive muted strums to add groove and dynamics.
✔️ Mix chords and fills together—SRV never just strummed!

🔥 Pro Tip: Play a 12-bar blues using thumb-over chords and add licks between the chords—just like SRV!

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7. Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Essential Blues Licks

Here’s a classic SRV-style double-stop lick to add to your blues vocabulary:

🎸 SRV-Style Double-Stop Lick:

luaCopyEditE|---------------------------------
B|-----5---5---8---8--------------
G|-----5b--5b--7b--7b-------------
D|---------------------------------
A|---------------------------------
E|---------------------------------

🎸 Tip: Pluck both strings together with aggressive attack for extra power.

Want more SRV-style licks and exercises? Join my Guitar Freaks Hangout on Discord and get exclusive lessons!

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8. Hybrid Picking for More Expression

Stevie Ray Vaughan often used his pick and fingers together for a more expressive sound.

🎸 Try This Exercise:
1️⃣ Pick the low E string with your pick.
2️⃣ Pluck the G and B strings with your fingers.
3️⃣ Add hammer-ons and slides for extra style.

This technique helps you develop better control and articulation—just like SRV!

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9. Develop Iron Finger Strength

SRV’s hands were like steel—he built strength by playing long sets every night and using heavy strings.

🎸 How to Build SRV-Style Strength:
✔️ Practice slow, controlled bends and vibrato.
✔️ Use a grip trainer to develop hand strength.
✔️ Play long blues solos to build stamina.

Want to play guitar like Stevie Ray Vaughan? Strengthen your hands like he did!

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10. Learn Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Signature Phrasing

SRV played fast, but he was always melodic. His phrasing was a mix of:
✔️ Pentatonic triplets for fluid blues runs.
✔️ Long, sustained bends for vocal-like expression.
✔️ Fast hammer-ons and pull-offs to keep solos flowing.

🔥 Listen to “Pride and Joy” or “Texas Flood” for examples of his phrasing.

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Next Steps: Master Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Guitar Style

🔥 You’ve just unlocked the secrets of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s guitar playing. Now it’s time to apply these techniques and elevate your blues guitar skills.

👉 Read More: Blues Guitar Riffs: Master the Fretboard and Unlock Your Sound with FretDeck (Internal link to another blog post on your site)

👉 Learn More About SRV’s Gear: GALLERY: Stevie Ray Vaughan Gear – Premier Guitar (Outbound link to a high-authority site)

👉 Join the Guitar Freaks Hangout on Discord! Connect with other blues guitarists and level up your SRV skills! Click here to join.

Now grab your guitar and start playing like Stevie Ray Vaughan! 🎸🔥