Never Too Much (Luther Vandross) Guitar Lesson with Backing Tracks + TAB

In this guitar lesson, we’ll look at the original guitar parts, a few I’ve created, and make sure we count all the sections correctly. Practise with Backing Tracks!

Never Too Much | TAB

Let’s look at the three key sections that make up Never Too Much using TAB, so you can play it accurately with your band. We’ll start with the signature intro/instrumental section.

I like to play the bass note on string 6 for the first A11, but when the chords go chromatic—Ab11, A11, Bb11, and B11—I leave the bass notes to the other instruments.

If we stick with these chords for now, you’ll notice they return in different forms in bars 5, 9, and 10.

In bars 5 and 10, we get Em7, A11, and B11 instead. The rhythm stays the same.
In bar 9, we repeat the chords from bar 1: A11, Bb11, and B11.

It’s these kinds of subtle details that, when nailed, elevate your band from standard pub gig level to something that earns top money.

The little lick between these chords is based entirely on the D major pentatonic scale. With time, you could experiment with your own variations here.

There’s one note outside the D major mentatonic—it appears in bar 7. This suggests B Dorian rather than Aeolian. Remember, B11 isn’t a major chord—it doesn’t contain a third.

Technically, it might have been more accurate to call it A/B… but anyway.

Once again, everything here uses D major pentatonic notes—which is the same as B minor pentatonic. (Remember, B11 still doesn’t have a 3rd!)

There’s a bit more variation in the original recording than what you see here, so feel free to expand on this and come up with your own lines.

The chords in bar 4 can be played just like in the intro, if you fancy a bit of variation. The final bar acts as a little clue that we’re heading into the chorus…

I’ve chosen to go with chords here, rather than the melodic licks you hear in the original. Sometimes I play that string line live—depending on what the keyboard player’s doing.

I figured it was important to give you the chords first—just in case you’re playing without keyboards. Someone’s got to cover them!

Again, those chromatic 11 chords sound best without the root note on string 6.

You’ll also spot a bar of 3/4 in there. Some people argue it’s 2/4 plus 5/4, instead of 4/4 plus 3/4—but honestly, as long as you feel the groove and play it right, it doesn’t matter.