"Albatross" by Fleetwood Mac on Electric Guitar: Part 2

Hey, how you doing? It's Justin here, and in this video we'll check out Albatross by Fleetwood Mac. Peter Green happens to be one of my absolute favorite guitar players ever, so I’m particularly excited to be doing this lesson. :)

Before we get started, do check out the first of this three-part series if you haven’t yet. Part 1 is a layered demo of all the guitar parts we’ll cover in Parts 2 and 3.

I’ll teach the entire song fretted – that is, without a slide. On the original recording, there are a ton of slide lines both in the background overdubs and the main part.

If you’re keen on trying them out, I’ve mentioned where they appear on the original so you can incorporate them on your own. I’ll use other techniques like string bends to mimic the original sound.

💡 Transcribe The Slide – The slide is pretty easy to figure out, especially if you’re already a slide pro! So I suggest you figure it out yourself. Hint: the fretted notes and the slide notes are in the same positions.

Beyond that, there are some fun rhythmic things here and there, like triplets. You don't hear those too often! Let’s get to it. :)

Albatross by Fleetwood Mac: A Section Rhythm Guitar

Let’s start with the wicked rhythm guitar part in the A section.

We start on beat 4 with finger 1 playing 5:2 (string 5, fret 2). Then we go up to an A chord (XX7655), followed by XX6444. This looks like a G#m, but the bass note is E. This means this shape functions as an E Maj 7. The A chord also has an E bass note, so it’s technically called E6sus4!

Strum the A on beat 1 and the E Maj 7 on the “and” of 1. Then do the same on 4 +. Now repeat the whole sequence again, including 5:2. You can also pick the open E string in the gaps between chords to get the bass sound.

🧐 Chord Theory – Do you remember the notes in a G#m chord? They are G#, B, and D#. How about E Maj 7? Those are E, G#, B, and D#. Do you see the connection? These are the same notes as G#m, but with the note E added!

Albatross by Fleetwood Mac: A Section Lead Part

Now it’s time for the classic lead part. What an awesome riff! Start with finger 1 at 5:2, then slide up to 5:4 with finger 3. Then it’s finger 1 on 4:2, finger 3 on 5:4, finger 3 slide from 4:4 to 4:6, then back to 4:4.

A similar motif comes next: 5:4, 5:4, slide from 4:4 to 4:6, then 4:4. Then we slide from 5:2 to 5:4, pick 5:4, slide from 4:2 to 4:4, and finish on 4:2. Finally, it’s 4:4, 5:2, then 4:2.

🎸 Rhythm – I play and count this riff in the video, but you can also just listen to the song repeatedly and play along with it.

On the second repetition of this part, the first line in the riff is the same (starting on 5:2 and finishing on 4:4). We slide up to 4:6, then play 3:4, followed by 3:6, a slide up to 4:6, then 4:4. Then we slide up to 5:4, move over to 4:2, pick 4:4, slide up to 4:6, and finish on 4:2.

Albatross by Fleetwood Mac: Song Structure

The song begins with four bars of chords, then comes the first part of the melody, which lasts for four bars. Then it goes back to the chords for four bars, before the second melody part comes in for four bars. I call these 16 bars the A section of the song. :)

Albatross A Section: Second Guitar Part

The basic chord progression for the whole song is four bars of E, two bars of F#m, then two bars of E. For the second guitar part, it’s a good idea to play the low E string in eighth notes. After four bars, switch to 6:2 (the note F#) for two bars, then move back. Easy peasy. :)

Have loads of fun with the A section of Albatross. It’s a wonderful piece of guitar playing. Don’t forget to check out Part 3 of this lesson to learn the rest of the tune! See you there. :)

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