Yebba Lick Lesson: "Stand"

Welcome back! Today, we're diving into a lick from Yebba's latest album, specifically from her song "Stand." We'll focus on a section in the middle eight. This lick may feel more accessible than our first example today, but it certainly has some intriguing nuances that can be tricky.

Overview

• Key: D minor
• Lyric: "Turning my transgressions into gold"

Melodic Phrase

Let's break down the first phrase:

Lyric:
"Turning my transgressions into gold."
Let's practice it together:

• Try it:
  "Turning my transgressions into gold."

Now, let's do it one more time:
Together:
"Turning my transgressions into gold."
That's it!

Second Phrase

For the second phrase, we won't be taking a breath. We'll flow directly from the first part:

• Practice:
  "Turning my transgressions into gold."

Do you want to try it with me, Alicia?
Together:
"Turning my transgressions into gold."
That's it!

Repeating Notes

Now, here comes the tricky part, where we repeat the note for a little double scoop:

• Try it:
  "Turning my transgressions into gold."
  Great!

Next, let's repeat that second group of notes:
Practice:
1, 2, 3

• Try it with me:
  "Turning my transgressions into gold."
  1, 2, 3
  1, 2, 3
  That's it! Nice work!

Standalone Lick

Now, let's learn a standalone lick. Here's the last lick from this section:
Practice:
"Whoa."
One more time:
"Whoa."

All of this is based on the pentatonic scale again. So, let's revisit the full line:

• Lyrics:
  "Turning my transgressions into gold."
  "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa."

Final Practice

Let's try it together one last time:
Together:
"Turning my transgressions into gold."
Excellent!

Last Chunk

We've almost completed this difficult lick from Yebba. Let's tackle the last part together:

Starting from the beginning:
"Turning my transgressions into gold."
Breathe.
"Whoa."

Shall we try that together?
Wonderful!

Loop Practice

Now, we'll put ourselves on a loop and repeat this about five times together:
Here we go!
1, 2
"Whoa, whoa, whoa."
Last time:
"Whoa."
Surprise!

Full Lick Recap

Let's remind ourselves of the entire sequence quickly:
1, 2, 3, 4.
"Turning my transgressions into gold."
Isn't it pretty? It's such a lovely melody, and Yebba integrates melody into her licks beautifully.

Final Sing-Along

Let's sing it together:
1, 2, 3, 4.
"Turning my transgressions into gold."

Amazing job! It's challenging, but you're nailing it!
Final attempt:
"Turning my transgressions into gold."

You've now learned two licks from Yebba! As you listen to her music, keep an ear out for those little pieces of gold throughout her songs. They're definitely worth learning and can help you find your own style!