People always knock AC/DC for being too simple and repetitive but almost every AC/DC tribute or cover band I’ve seen are awful at covering them. AC/DC is all about swing, groove and feel. People constantly take this for granted.
I saw them multiple times in the 70's and they are still one of the tightest bands I ever heard. Listen to some old clips from that time period and you'll appreciate how good they were/are.
As an experienced cover musician, I can say that the crowd and owners notice this stuff. Sometimes it is the difference between a band stuck making $300 dollars a gig at their local bars and venues and $1,500 at the casinos. Really nailing it gets you even more on certain regional tours.
As an example, most bands cannot adequately cover songs by the Band Boston or Queen. So much of the songs by these classic rock bands are dynamic dependent.
@@kirkbolas4985most bands aren't as good as queen mate. Plenty of individual musicians can play that music but bothering to put in the effort required to run a band, just so you can play cover songs as accurately as possible. That's a niche very few should want to fill
Glad to see the mention about the crash. Phil is extremely selective about where he puts the crashes in and it makes a lot of difference when he hangs in there with restraints then hits it just where it really matters.
It never matters 😆 Seriously, I'd have given my left one to work with a drummer who didn't use cymbals. Unfortunately, such drummers only exist in the mythical land of Bigfoot, unicorns, and dragons.
Why in the absolute f@%k would you want a drummer that didnt use cymbals? Yes, some guys rely WAY too much on cymbals, but you really need them my guy. As a drummer of roughly 40 years, i could never not use mine. It just would sound wrong!!@BigBri550
AC/DC is my favorite band of all time and it's great seeing you understand what makes them so good. One of their best features imo when it comes to their song writing is that their pacing is almost always perfect. They build up momentum so well and rarely overstay their welcome.
I learned a massive amount of respect for covering songs, when i recorded my most recent album, “covers”. As a one man band, i needed to put on all the hats; i studied drums, bass, guitars, solos. As a singer, i already knew most of the vocal nuances, but how it all comes together was something i never really cared to take the time to explore, until i decided to do an actual cover song album. As an original writer/performer, i often looked down on cover acts. I felt those who can’t, teach. Those who can’t teach, play bars as a cover band. Making my last album changed my attitude completely. It showed me covering a song, and trying to be as faithful as you can, takes a lot of dedication, talent, and restraint. This is a great video. It shows players, hey- it’s ok to play some covers. Enjoy yourselves. But also use your skills to not only have fun, be creative, and also honor the original artists by being as close the song as you can. It lets the audience know you care enough to give them not only a great set, but that you respect their favorite artists enough to be the best you can towards the music.
Personally when I hear covers of songs I prefer to hear the song from a different perspective...amos' cover of teen spirit or cash doing hurt. Anything else is so transient in its value I can't see what the point is..but i know, it's an economic reality for many...play these songs or don't get a gig 😢
@@julesbrunton1728 Context is everything. If a band that writes its own music covers someone else's song then you really want them to do something different with it, otherwise what's the point, but if you are watching a covers band then you want to hear the songs as close as possible to how you are used to hearing them.
We play this song in one of the country bands I play in. We pretty much play it how it’s written only slightly less heavier guitar, keys added, and we have a fiddle player. The main thing we do that makes it sound more “country” and also fixes the vocal range issue is our singer just sings it an octave down in that “country voice” he has. The songs goes over great every time we do it.
I put a lot of effort into getting this solo note perfect (you shook me). Played it note for note many times. The other day at a wedding my finger slipped and in panic, I went into some improvised tapping business, to my surprise everyone liked it. So you never know.
There’s a difference between changing notes in a solo and fundamentally changing the bpm, melody, and dynamics of the main riffs/chorus of the song. Specifics matter
I think if we're honest a lot of us have been playing it wrong too - at least those that learnt from the tabs. The third position still sounds 'right' so it's easy to see how it happens, but I hadn't even thought to move it to the seventh, which now looks really silly not to, as it's definitely easier. Will be going back to this song today to give this a try.
Blur song 2 is one example...no need to detune as you do an inversion, (which i still love the idea that two notes together makes it sound lower then you think " as many tabs say detune so can save a bit of work if you do stick to standard tuning for most song
Yeah. So our other guitarist does the main riff up high with a clean tone, and then when the heavy part comes I play the inverted power chords with some drive, Deep Purple chords I call them. Then we do a long middle part and I introduce the band because the song is barely 2 minutes.
That comment about distortion is dead on. Especially 70's rock. Zepplin, The Who, ACDC, etc. Most guitar players of the day used very little overdrive. It was tube amps cranked way up. Fairly clean but punchy.
Tab books from a publication company called Cherry Lane were some of the worst ever. I still have the Appetite For Destruction book published by them, with the introduction written by a dude called Wolf Marshall. It just added to the frustration of learning to play the guitar. However, it kind of taught you how to develop your ear.
Agree with all your suggestions (except maybe the ride cymbal on the chorus), and especially agree about learning iconic guitar solos both as a crowd pleaser and a way to improve one’s playing.
Congrats on 905k Subscribers! 🎉🤘🏻🔥 Love this, one of my favourite AC/DC tunes. Hearing it always takes my mind to one of my favourite movies - A Knight's Tale. Really awesome details, totally makes the song, love the website lesson you made for it. Definitely one song I want to learn 🤘🏻🔥 *AC/DC videos make me miss my SG. haha
The way the song builds with the delayed introduction of the various instruments is kinda the whole hook of the song for me, especially when Malcom kicks in half way through the first verse. Still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up like it did when I was thirteen. Now that's good song writing. That was a great breakdown of the song as well, a really good description of "What makes this song great", as a certain other RUclipsr would say 😉
Great observations, I hate it when bands take shortcuts and it affects the sound of the whole song. Definitely tune this one down a half step for those vocals! Enjoyed the video, thanks!
The young brothers used stock gibson and gretsch pickups straight to marshall amps. No distortion no effects. And they are not that dirty, thought they could jack it up but also back it off. Listen to Sin City and you'll see what I mean. They preferred open chords because you get the timbers and resonance you don't get from power chords Play you shook me on an acoustic and you'll really hear it. You seem to have a good feel for it, and understand it, which gets you most of the way there The drumming is very simple and that is how they wanted it, it was more about keeping great time and creating dynamics.
I love the solo for this song because I swear to Angus was listening to Billy Gibbons before he laid it down, because it's got that groove and some pinch harmonics, which weren't really in line with how his solos have been before or since. Angus really smacks the pinch harmonics, too, again, not very Angus, he's a bendy guy.
The lead singer of that particular cover-band got to try out for the lead singer spot of the actual AC/DC when Brian Johnson had to stop touring. The band went with Axl Rose instead, but getting to play for an afternoon with AC/DC was quite the thrill.
The difference between a GREAT cover band and all other cover bands is that the GREAT ones spend the time to really learn the songs rather than just half ass fake their way through them. And you're right about the tone. GREAT cover band guitarists will change their tone to emulate the correct amount of distortion and effects
I've got to say, great video and I agree with the majority of what you're saying as it's always baffled me why some people play the intro down low. But, that bend up from the 5th fret for the start of the solo is somewhat slower than what you're doing, and that adds a bit more of that dirt/grunt/blues you were talking about. It's the journey not the destination.
My husband has a scrotal abscess and I have a pressure sore on my sacrum so we're not having a pleasant time at the moment but both of us are watching this video and learning things.
Regarding the series as a whole. I play guitar and do about half of the lead vocals in a cover band. When we add songs to the repertoire, I tend to get it “good enough” just to get the song in rotation. While I consider myself a guitarist first, if I’m singing it, I know I’ve got to get the vocals right first. But as I get more comfortable with the song, I will start to add in the finer nuances to make it more complete. This series is invaluable for that. So thank you!
I can relate a lot to this. I sing lead and plays all guitar parts in my band, and I've always felt I had to focus on either one or the other at a time while playing. For example, only playing chords during a more involved vocal part, and playing more riffs and leads on guitar during instrumental parts of the song. But just recently I've practiced trying to sing while playing riffs or fills, and it has made playing songs that much more enjoyable! I find the most difficult part of it all is to make sure the vocals and guitar parts don't enroach over each other
I am from Fort Worth and still currently live in the DFW area, so I am somewhat near quite a few of Back In Black’s gigs and have been to many. Singer Darren Caperna imitates both Brian and Bon perfectly. I have gotten to know all five of them very well. So well in fact that Darron gives me a hug every time he sees me while lead guitarist Mike Mroz and I geek out over SoloDallas gear and The Office (He was wearing a Dunder Mifflin shirt and I jokingly wore a Scrantonicity shirt). 😂
Thanks for your understanding. I'm 62. I started on the bass the old fashion way... no pick just finger bass. I would take out the songs note per note then what most bass players would do which was improv. Later on in life, I just got lazy and really didn't care to take out the bass lines exactly. I just wanted to get paid and leave. Eventually I just didn't care anymore and I sold all my stuff, raised my kids and did what most dads do. Years passed. My kids were grown up so I decided to get back on the saddle but this time not to be lazy anymore. I didn't realize until then that playing note per note, exactly as the song was recorded was much more challenging to remember each little nuances than to play it on the feel but I would rather learn every nook and crannie, every signature bass line before adding my feel. Most of the time it doesn't need my touch and I'm okay with it. ❤
Good analogies all. AC/DC were masters at building most all of their songs from the beginning to the end. It was as much part of their songs as the songs themselves. They let loose a little more and little more all the way until the end when they unloaded with both barrells. You are also right about gain, too much and you lose the feel. FEEL…as you stated…gave their songs the human touch as well. Enjoyed you video. Guitar player in Georgia.
As you rightly pointed out first, Angus and Malcolm play with way less gain than you realize. Like at least 1/3 less than where you think it should be set. It's not heavy gain, it's just LOUD AS BALLS
When I was in high school at a dance, the band didn’t even play the opening chords. The just went into the g c g verses. I was like “wtf?) Granted this was the 80s. The bad tabs- low on the neck- I noticed were wrong due to watching Angus live. I kind of assumed Malcolm played the low chords in the that riff.
I play music live for the joy that live music brings. And the more "little stuff" a player pays attention to and includes, the more joy it brings to everyone in the room. I've come to believe, now that I am paying a lot more attention to the details, that it is those quirky "little things" that make the songs interesting to our brains/minds; it is those little things that make the difference between just another song and a hit.
Back in Black is amazing!! I saw them live in Dallas and they ticked every box to be sure. There was a joke going around on a radio show back then (mid 2000s) that the guitarist was such an Angus Young purist, he would angrily announce to anyone covering AC/DC, "NO STRUMMING!!" HA!
Man, the first time I listened YSMANL was on a old cassete, but on 90s country style. Was a good cover (I dont remember the singer), only years ahead I will discover It's an AC/DC song 😂 Nice work.
One of the most perfect classic rock solos. Follows the chord changes and groove perfectly. You can tell Angus wrote this one out and didn't just wing it like many of his other contemporaries might've
We did this song for an 80s party. We didnt sing it at all. We told the ladies to sing it for us. Because women LOVE this song and I always see them singing along to this in bars. So, we all got a break singing (we all sing) we got a lot of attention from the ladies, which is the whole point of playing guitar, we got crowd participation, and we did it far enough into the party that everyone was half hammered and it turned into a great fun chaotic moment. It went over great. We're going to try it at our next dive bar gig if it looks like the crowd is right for it.
While musicians are jamming out over a song that may be quite serious. The fun they have is sometimes that it’s just fun and the message is delivered. As in the case of Hey, Joe! by Jimi Hendrix. The message is delivered. And the song is fun. And the unapologetic jamming is that of musicians who have done the part of delivering the message. And now that’s not their problem and they’re just rocking out. They don’t have to feel serious about the message of the song at that point. So they just keep moving on. And now it’s up to Joe. Where are you gonna run to now?
Antique Sister? Anyway, loved this analysis. Just a great series. Shows how much more than us mere mortals the band and probably producer put into their songs.
DudeDon't be embarrassed about that footage.It's awesome. Also, kick snare kick snare kick. snare only works on zz top songs because Billy keeps you hypnotized. Lol.
The thing about Angus solos is that if you slow them down they still have a swing. Ie part of the reason they feel so good is that he plays with a swing even during fast runs. Superb.
0:35 “Wouldn’t that be great if more cover bands could add a little bit of that ‘Tribute Band’ attention to detail” Yes. Additionally, it would be great if more people in cover bands would actually go listen to the songs, learn the songs, practice the songs, rehearse the songs, devote some real energy to rehearsing the songs with the band, actually learn the background vocals, and (heaven forbid) enjoy playing the songs I’m 43 and all of my joints hurt. I haven’t slept well my whole life. I’m really tired of playing in bands who think “learning the song” means “getting through one take of the song without it falling apart”.
I can't tell you how many bar bands I have seen play the song without the intro. They just go straight into the riff. Plus, way too much gain. Last but not least, solos that sound like shredding. Awful.
Energy energy energy that’s what I wanna see out of a cover band. We know it’s not gonna be perfect nor is it supposed to be perfect and rock ‘n’ roll. I want to see people rocking. I wanna rock on stage especially when you’re dealing with. It’s not that difficult.
I only play guitar/vocals solo at gigs, so it's always a question of arrangement, but anrranging some of the details in makes all the difference. I like to work hard on arrangement for at least 20% of the set, but keeping the rest "cleaner" sounds more natural and draws less attention, encouraging conversation in pubs (sometimes that is the goal right?)
AC/DC ride that wave between simplicity and detail that is just shows just because a song is simple, doesn't mean it isn't full. These guys are masters of music.
Huh, I guess I've never paid attention to how Angus actually plays it. I've always kept the G shape and moved my middle finger down to the A string to play the C chord as an add9 and then bounce between the C and G that way. I like it because my ring finger basically stays locked on the D of the B string for basically the whole song
I've been a fan of AC/DC since the mid 80s when I was a kid in middle school and started playing the instrument in 1988. When it comes to learning their music, imagine yourself as a man who is 5'3" with toddler hands. At one time I could play their entire catalog up to Who made who, but old age crept up on me and my fingers don't move like they used to. Ignore the tab and use your common sense. Do what works. I'm only 5'6" with small-ish hands so I relate to the physical limitations of Malcom and Angus more than your average guitarist. As for gain, a loud JTM45 or JTM50 with EL34s and Greenbacks is THE sound. Period.
Man. I played and play a lot of ACDC. On bass especially a lot of tabs are totally wrong. There are a lot of ghost notes and a lot of groove in the bass lines. Not to mention the song you mentioned. Isolated live totally different than recorded. Like I said even on guitar a lot of tabs for ACDC is not quite right. But dammit. Its hard to make three chords sound good over and over again but they are guitar gods including bass. ACDC with riffs that leave space and the bass filling those spaces just leaves a little to the imagination. And why after 50 plus years they still fill stadiums.
When it comes to tempo, i understand playing it a little faster live, even kinda by accident, but the original tempo.....is just perfect, man. love me some ackadack 😅
12:24 - Bands that miss this are basically just telling us that "Yeah. We know it. We know it. We'll just get through it." The solo to this song is so perfectly structured because it brings the song down for a little bit, gives Angus the entire floor, then the solo progresses to the higher octaves and the whole band flourishes which leads you right back to the chorus for the conclusion: songwriting. You talked about the crash hits which is also absolutely pivotal to bringing the song to its peak as the band heads back into the chorus. Missing this would be like if a band brings the energy down for the last verse of "House of the Rising Sun." Only hacks would not pick up on the song structurally approaching its end and therefore requiring every member to be at full volume and energy.
Its the swing groove from Mal and Phil and Cliff playing. And Cliff didnt thump on the root in every song. He played alternate notes in the key they were playing in.. 3rds and 5ths and 7ths.
People often put Cliff down as a super simple player but get this, the bass lines on the For Those About to Rock album are all over the place - in a good way! Worth checking out.
there is a dictionary in my head. as a guitarist you would think that the entry for "rock and roll guitar" would be quite long and detailed. it's not, it's a reference. it says "SEE Malcolm and Angus Young". Gretsch Jet, Gibson SG. classic, instantly recognizable rhythm/lead tone combo.
I know you guys were young but you’re playing it like you’re trying to get it done, back when I was in a teen cover band we played them as slow as we could and when people would get drunker we would do a low volume break in the middle of some songs and ask how’s everybody doing tonight and they loved it or how are you feeling out there and then go back to jammin.
The verse is a perfect example of AC/DC's less-is-more approach. There's not much going on, even less compared to most of their songs, but everything in it is intentional and has its place. It breathes in such a wonderful way.
It's what a lot of bass players and drummers get wrong with AC/DC. It's seen as too basic (especially a lot of their bass lines as they just follow the root) and so try to embellish it too much, but it's the reason the music has it's feel. Sometimes it's actually harder to play with restraint.
Dynamics are the key to a good band. and a great drummer. Once you have played with a good one you can't go back unless you have to and need the money.
That's how I always played the intro. Playing it down on a regular open G chord felt way too awkward to me. I worked the whole song out by ear though, I never looked at tabs for it.
Why is it important in playing rock music sounding exactly like record is cool but when coming from a jazz background playing a tune, note to note and not making it your own is very uncool?
Great video. But one pointer: try playing it in a third position triad with the high E and B strings barred on the third fret and drone the open G. To me, that's what it sounds like they're doing.
I think the point is to respect the original. I think there is room for second verse, second chorus minor changes once you prove you can play it “right”. Music that is only repeated verbatim turns into classical music. In other words, you need both traditionalists and explorers in music to keep it alive. It needs to be maintained and also expanded.
You missed my one main gripe with this song, people playing it with a Cadd9 chord instead of the straight C!! Just sounds so wrong but I see so many people do it!
AC/DC is a band which their songs are "easy", but almost everyone that plays them doesn't sound quite right. 11:10 this moment remembered me of something I read on the internet years ago: A guitar player has 4 stages: 1) when you're a newbie and are learning how to play 2) when you're are getting better and can already play some cool songs 3) when you can play fast, knows every technique and want the world to know about it ✨ 4) and last, when you can do everything from the stage 3 but you don't care about showing it off or not just to get people's attention with pointless shredding
So something to add: A studio engineer said to me “cut your gain in half let’s see” and it made a HUGE DIFFERENCE. Technical metal, and the nuances suddenly jumped out vs being buried in fuzz. 20 something years ago, and less is actually more sometimes.
The entire reason AC DC was and is so popular IS the subtitles. Few bands had the groove they did. Edit: Additionally, besides the groove the importance of leaving space was not overlooked.
AC/DC had their music placed in the metal section in music stores back in the day so people would think it's heavy. It worked! Actually there is no ride cymbal in most AC/DC songs. Phil rid himself of the ride as did Lars.
I was playing a gig in the late 80s doing covers. We had a decent rig with some hired roadies and I was doing a sound check and I ripped into some AC/DC and this roadie says stop! He came over to me and politely showed me how to play the riff I was butchering. I’m like, who the fuck is this old dude” then I found out he’d roadied for AC/DC back in ye olde days. 😮 Great guy. The guy with the wrench…
When I saw AC/DC, Malcon played the open and Angus played the 7th/9th position. And it was Malcom who did 90% of the peddling on the intro. On the record as well.
Admittedly, when I was a kid, the tab I had for this song was the power chord version. I'm 54 now and the only time I fudge a song is if I don't know it, then it's the old "fake it until you break it" rule. Also, when we cover a tune that we're trying to make our own, we try and keep the original integrity of the song while adding our own flare. As we did with our cover of the Misfits - Die, Die, My Darling. In our early days. I love your channel so much, I would love to hear your critique of that cover as your insight really makes me reevaluate my playing. ruclips.net/video/_06A4TaFk28/видео.htmlsi=7V2rGDNagYqGvKxI
This could be a permanent series! So many of the best songs ever written are just butchered in covers. I don't mind a band taking some creative license and adding their own flare and pizzazz, but you can tell when they're trying to hit the original and failing horribly. We have a local cover band called The Flying Toasters (from the 90's screen saver) and they take covers and basically make them their own. Alternate tunings, tempo changes, even some lyrical changes to please the locals (instead of Back in the New York Groove, it's back in the Indy Groove) and they're good at it. Otherwise, stick to the original! It's always a crowd pleaser
This turned down gain is a fantastic example of why we should all own a Boss Super Overdrive. Set your amp's gain for AC/DC and boost the front end with the OD for Metallica.
People don't realise how much groove ACDC has. Slow it down, feel the rock nuances and groove.
@@snarkywombat155 they definitely do the less is more approach.
What?? They’re probably the most basic band ever😂😂
@@Porcuspine360 Do you know what groove is?
Absolutely. Malcolm, Cliff, and Phil are one of the greatest rock rhythm sections ever. Phenomenally tight and grooving.
@@redbloodedamerican2346it’s not repeating the same 3 power chords over and over, I know that much💀
People always knock AC/DC for being too simple and repetitive but almost every AC/DC tribute or cover band I’ve seen are awful at covering them. AC/DC is all about swing, groove and feel. People constantly take this for granted.
I saw them multiple times in the 70's and they are still one of the tightest bands I ever heard. Listen to some old clips from that time period and you'll appreciate how good they were/are.
As an experienced cover musician, I can say that the crowd and owners notice this stuff. Sometimes it is the difference between a band stuck making $300 dollars a gig at their local bars and venues and $1,500 at the casinos. Really nailing it gets you even more on certain regional tours.
Yep! They might not be able to articulate exactly what is wrong but they will notice.
Dynamics, that's something that bands need to work on.
Absolutely! A band that flatlines their way through everything at full volume wears out the ear almost instantly. Music should breathe.
As an example, most bands cannot adequately cover songs by the Band Boston or Queen. So much of the songs by these classic rock bands are dynamic dependent.
@@kirkbolas4985most bands aren't as good as queen mate. Plenty of individual musicians can play that music but bothering to put in the effort required to run a band, just so you can play cover songs as accurately as possible. That's a niche very few should want to fill
Bands have no feel to thier playing.
No soul or feel for the emotion they are trying to express.
If you have to think about it then you can't feel it.
Glad to see the mention about the crash. Phil is extremely selective about where he puts the crashes in and it makes a lot of difference when he hangs in there with restraints then hits it just where it really matters.
Phil often doesn't even play with a ride live!
It never matters 😆 Seriously, I'd have given my left one to work with a drummer who didn't use cymbals. Unfortunately, such drummers only exist in the mythical land of Bigfoot, unicorns, and dragons.
Too bad he didn’t refrain from putting at least one hit out there…
Why in the absolute f@%k would you want a drummer that didnt use cymbals? Yes, some guys rely WAY too much on cymbals, but you really need them my guy. As a drummer of roughly 40 years, i could never not use mine. It just would sound wrong!!@BigBri550
@@bradcrosier1332 under-rated comment
AC/DC is my favorite band of all time and it's great seeing you understand what makes them so good. One of their best features imo when it comes to their song writing is that their pacing is almost always perfect. They build up momentum so well and rarely overstay their welcome.
I learned a massive amount of respect for covering songs, when i recorded my most recent album, “covers”. As a one man band, i needed to put on all the hats; i studied drums, bass, guitars, solos. As a singer, i already knew most of the vocal nuances, but how it all comes together was something i never really cared to take the time to explore, until i decided to do an actual cover song album. As an original writer/performer, i often looked down on cover acts. I felt those who can’t, teach. Those who can’t teach, play bars as a cover band. Making my last album changed my attitude completely. It showed me covering a song, and trying to be as faithful as you can, takes a lot of dedication, talent, and restraint.
This is a great video. It shows players, hey- it’s ok to play some covers. Enjoy yourselves. But also use your skills to not only have fun, be creative, and also honor the original artists by being as close the song as you can. It lets the audience know you care enough to give them not only a great set, but that you respect their favorite artists enough to be the best you can towards the music.
Personally when I hear covers of songs I prefer to hear the song from a different perspective...amos' cover of teen spirit or cash doing hurt. Anything else is so transient in its value I can't see what the point is..but i know, it's an economic reality for many...play these songs or don't get a gig 😢
@@julesbrunton1728 Context is everything. If a band that writes its own music covers someone else's song then you really want them to do something different with it, otherwise what's the point, but if you are watching a covers band then you want to hear the songs as close as possible to how you are used to hearing them.
Man, dude, that was a perfect Rick-Beato-esque breakdown (meant as a compliment to you) of the song and how to play it well! Well done! 😊
We play this song in one of the country bands I play in. We pretty much play it how it’s written only slightly less heavier guitar, keys added, and we have a fiddle player. The main thing we do that makes it sound more “country” and also fixes the vocal range issue is our singer just sings it an octave down in that “country voice” he has. The songs goes over great every time we do it.
I put a lot of effort into getting this solo note perfect (you shook me). Played it note for note many times. The other day at a wedding my finger slipped and in panic, I went into some improvised tapping business, to my surprise everyone liked it. So you never know.
Bad people make mistakes and don't correct them.
Madiocre people make no mistakes.
Good people make mistakes and correct them ;)
"Wow honey that's a really good Angus Yo... annnnndd now we're listening to Eddie Van Halen."
A good Angus steak should be eaten medium-rare with MINIMAL GARNISH
There’s a difference between changing notes in a solo and fundamentally changing the bpm, melody, and dynamics of the main riffs/chorus of the song. Specifics matter
Sweet bass sound
Yep, I’ve been playing the intro to You Shook Me wrong all these years. I’ll admit. It’s how we grow.
I think if we're honest a lot of us have been playing it wrong too - at least those that learnt from the tabs. The third position still sounds 'right' so it's easy to see how it happens, but I hadn't even thought to move it to the seventh, which now looks really silly not to, as it's definitely easier. Will be going back to this song today to give this a try.
Blur song 2 is one example...no need to detune as you do an inversion, (which i still love the idea that two notes together makes it sound lower then you think " as many tabs say detune so can save a bit of work if you do stick to standard tuning for most song
2 drummers helps also!
The two notes together don't make it sound lower than you think..it makes you think it's lower than it sounds
Yeah. So our other guitarist does the main riff up high with a clean tone, and then when the heavy part comes I play the inverted power chords with some drive, Deep Purple chords I call them. Then we do a long middle part and I introduce the band because the song is barely 2 minutes.
AC/DC is a very easy band to cover.....when you do it wrong!
That comment about distortion is dead on. Especially 70's rock. Zepplin, The Who, ACDC, etc. Most guitar players of the day used very little overdrive. It was tube amps cranked way up. Fairly clean but punchy.
Tab books from a publication company called Cherry Lane were some of the worst ever. I still have the Appetite For Destruction book published by them, with the introduction written by a dude called Wolf Marshall. It just added to the frustration of learning to play the guitar. However, it kind of taught you how to develop your ear.
That Hells Bells sound when you hit the bell for notification cracked me up😂 Genius little detail!
Agree with all your suggestions (except maybe the ride cymbal on the chorus), and especially agree about learning iconic guitar solos both as a crowd pleaser and a way to improve one’s playing.
Congrats on 905k Subscribers! 🎉🤘🏻🔥
Love this, one of my favourite AC/DC tunes. Hearing it always takes my mind to one of my favourite movies - A Knight's Tale.
Really awesome details, totally makes the song, love the website lesson you made for it. Definitely one song I want to learn 🤘🏻🔥
*AC/DC videos make me miss my SG. haha
You are younger than myself but how I wish I could have had a teacher with your skill in explaining. Thank you.
The way the song builds with the delayed introduction of the various instruments is kinda the whole hook of the song for me, especially when Malcom kicks in half way through the first verse. Still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up like it did when I was thirteen. Now that's good song writing.
That was a great breakdown of the song as well, a really good description of "What makes this song great", as a certain other RUclipsr would say 😉
Great observations, I hate it when bands take shortcuts and it affects the sound of the whole song. Definitely tune this one down a half step for those vocals! Enjoyed the video, thanks!
The jack!
Thats my all time favourite ACCA Dacca song.
Bluesy rhythm and great lyrics.
The young brothers used stock gibson and gretsch pickups straight to marshall amps. No distortion no effects. And they are not that dirty, thought they could jack it up but also back it off. Listen to Sin City and you'll see what I mean. They preferred open chords because you get the timbers and resonance you don't get from power chords Play you shook me on an acoustic and you'll really hear it. You seem to have a good feel for it, and understand it, which gets you most of the way there
The drumming is very simple and that is how they wanted it, it was more about keeping great time and creating dynamics.
I love the solo for this song because I swear to Angus was listening to Billy Gibbons before he laid it down, because it's got that groove and some pinch harmonics, which weren't really in line with how his solos have been before or since. Angus really smacks the pinch harmonics, too, again, not very Angus, he's a bendy guy.
The lead singer of that particular cover-band got to try out for the lead singer spot of the actual AC/DC when Brian Johnson had to stop touring. The band went with Axl Rose instead, but getting to play for an afternoon with AC/DC was quite the thrill.
The difference between a GREAT cover band and all other cover bands is that the GREAT ones spend the time to really learn the songs rather than just half ass fake their way through them. And you're right about the tone. GREAT cover band guitarists will change their tone to emulate the correct amount of distortion and effects
I've got to say, great video and I agree with the majority of what you're saying as it's always baffled me why some people play the intro down low. But, that bend up from the 5th fret for the start of the solo is somewhat slower than what you're doing, and that adds a bit more of that dirt/grunt/blues you were talking about. It's the journey not the destination.
My husband has a scrotal abscess and I have a pressure sore on my sacrum so we're not having a pleasant time at the moment but both of us are watching this video and learning things.
Regarding the series as a whole. I play guitar and do about half of the lead vocals in a cover band. When we add songs to the repertoire, I tend to get it “good enough” just to get the song in rotation. While I consider myself a guitarist first, if I’m singing it, I know I’ve got to get the vocals right first. But as I get more comfortable with the song, I will start to add in the finer nuances to make it more complete. This series is invaluable for that. So thank you!
I can relate a lot to this. I sing lead and plays all guitar parts in my band, and I've always felt I had to focus on either one or the other at a time while playing. For example, only playing chords during a more involved vocal part, and playing more riffs and leads on guitar during instrumental parts of the song. But just recently I've practiced trying to sing while playing riffs or fills, and it has made playing songs that much more enjoyable! I find the most difficult part of it all is to make sure the vocals and guitar parts don't enroach over each other
I am from Fort Worth and still currently live in the DFW area, so I am somewhat near quite a few of Back In Black’s gigs and have been to many. Singer Darren Caperna imitates both Brian and Bon perfectly. I have gotten to know all five of them very well. So well in fact that Darron gives me a hug every time he sees me while lead guitarist Mike Mroz and I geek out over SoloDallas gear and The Office (He was wearing a Dunder Mifflin shirt and I jokingly wore a Scrantonicity shirt). 😂
Thanks for your understanding.
I'm 62. I started on the bass the old fashion way... no pick just finger bass. I would take out the songs note per note then what most bass players would do which was improv.
Later on in life, I just got lazy and really didn't care to take out the bass lines exactly. I just wanted to get paid and leave.
Eventually I just didn't care anymore and I sold all my stuff, raised my kids and did what most dads do.
Years passed. My kids were grown up so I decided to get back on the saddle but this time not to be lazy anymore. I didn't realize until then that playing note per note, exactly as the song was recorded was much more challenging to remember each little nuances than to play it on the feel but I would rather learn every nook and crannie, every signature bass line before adding my feel. Most of the time it doesn't need my touch and I'm okay with it. ❤
Good analogies all.
AC/DC were masters at building most all of their songs from the beginning to the end.
It was as much part of their songs as the songs themselves.
They let loose a little more and little more all the way until the end when they unloaded with both barrells.
You are also right about gain, too much and you lose the feel.
FEEL…as you stated…gave their songs the human touch as well.
Enjoyed you video.
Guitar player in Georgia.
As you rightly pointed out first, Angus and Malcolm play with way less gain than you realize. Like at least 1/3 less than where you think it should be set. It's not heavy gain, it's just LOUD AS BALLS
When I was in high school at a dance, the band didn’t even play the opening chords. The just went into the g c g verses. I was like “wtf?) Granted this was the 80s. The bad tabs- low on the neck- I noticed were wrong due to watching Angus live. I kind of assumed Malcolm played the low chords in the that riff.
I love these song breakdown videos. Even songs that I don't really listen to much, it's just interesting to watch you break it down.
I play music live for the joy that live music brings. And the more "little stuff" a player pays attention to and includes, the more joy it brings to everyone in the room.
I've come to believe, now that I am paying a lot more attention to the details, that it is those quirky "little things" that make the songs interesting to our brains/minds; it is those little things that make the difference between just another song and a hit.
Just saw AC/DC live here in Zurich Switzerland last summer for their Pwr Up tour. Awesome performance I will never forget it
Great comment about the kick drum. Phil Rudd's playing had a considerable impact on how AC/DC songs "feel" to the listener.
Back in Black is amazing!! I saw them live in Dallas and they ticked every box to be sure. There was a joke going around on a radio show back then (mid 2000s) that the guitarist was such an Angus Young purist, he would angrily announce to anyone covering AC/DC, "NO STRUMMING!!" HA!
Man, the first time I listened YSMANL was on a old cassete, but on 90s country style.
Was a good cover (I dont remember the singer), only years ahead I will discover It's an AC/DC song 😂
Nice work.
BIG rock y'all!
One of the most perfect classic rock solos. Follows the chord changes and groove perfectly. You can tell Angus wrote this one out and didn't just wing it like many of his other contemporaries might've
We did this song for an 80s party. We didnt sing it at all. We told the ladies to sing it for us. Because women LOVE this song and I always see them singing along to this in bars. So, we all got a break singing (we all sing) we got a lot of attention from the ladies, which is the whole point of playing guitar, we got crowd participation, and we did it far enough into the party that everyone was half hammered and it turned into a great fun chaotic moment. It went over great. We're going to try it at our next dive bar gig if it looks like the crowd is right for it.
"attention from the ladies, which is the whole point of playing guitar" the truth that is rarely spoken 😂😂
While musicians are jamming out over a song that may be quite serious. The fun they have is sometimes that it’s just fun and the message is delivered. As in the case of Hey, Joe! by Jimi Hendrix. The message is delivered. And the song is fun. And the unapologetic jamming is that of musicians who have done the part of delivering the message. And now that’s not their problem and they’re just rocking out. They don’t have to feel serious about the message of the song at that point. So they just keep moving on. And now it’s up to Joe. Where are you gonna run to now?
This is so timely as I'm learning this song right now!
I like playing a solo piece through the original rhythm like that. It gives the song structure and actually enhances the power of the solo piece.
Antique Sister?
Anyway, loved this analysis. Just a great series. Shows how much more than us mere mortals the band and probably producer put into their songs.
DudeDon't be embarrassed about that footage.It's awesome. Also, kick snare kick snare kick. snare only works on zz top songs because Billy keeps you hypnotized. Lol.
The thing about Angus solos is that if you slow them down they still have a swing. Ie part of the reason they feel so good is that he plays with a swing even during fast runs. Superb.
First song I ever learned to play all the way through, including solo. Angus’ vibrato is still tough to get down lol!
It's the best - almost like he's shaking the guitar by the neck! Also all those bends and staccatos and pinch harmonics..it's full of cool stuff!
Just noticed your clip of a band playing at the Alcove Cantina in Round Rock TX. I've played there a bunch of times. Small world!
0:35 “Wouldn’t that be great if more cover bands could add a little bit of that ‘Tribute Band’ attention to detail”
Yes. Additionally, it would be great if more people in cover bands would actually go listen to the songs, learn the songs, practice the songs, rehearse the songs, devote some real energy to rehearsing the songs with the band, actually learn the background vocals, and (heaven forbid) enjoy playing the songs
I’m 43 and all of my joints hurt. I haven’t slept well my whole life. I’m really tired of playing in bands who think “learning the song” means “getting through one take of the song without it falling apart”.
I can't tell you how many bar bands I have seen play the song without the intro. They just go straight into the riff. Plus, way too much gain. Last but not least, solos that sound like shredding. Awful.
Energy energy energy that’s what I wanna see out of a cover band. We know it’s not gonna be perfect nor is it supposed to be perfect and rock ‘n’ roll. I want to see people rocking. I wanna rock on stage especially when you’re dealing with. It’s not that difficult.
I only play guitar/vocals solo at gigs, so it's always a question of arrangement, but anrranging some of the details in makes all the difference. I like to work hard on arrangement for at least 20% of the set, but keeping the rest "cleaner" sounds more natural and draws less attention, encouraging conversation in pubs (sometimes that is the goal right?)
AC/DC ride that wave between simplicity and detail that is just shows just because a song is simple, doesn't mean it isn't full. These guys are masters of music.
Really good insights into this song and the band.
Huh, I guess I've never paid attention to how Angus actually plays it. I've always kept the G shape and moved my middle finger down to the A string to play the C chord as an add9 and then bounce between the C and G that way. I like it because my ring finger basically stays locked on the D of the B string for basically the whole song
Really awesome video! Excellent points.
I've been a fan of AC/DC since the mid 80s when I was a kid in middle school and started playing the instrument in 1988. When it comes to learning their music, imagine yourself as a man who is 5'3" with toddler hands. At one time I could play their entire catalog up to Who made who, but old age crept up on me and my fingers don't move like they used to.
Ignore the tab and use your common sense. Do what works. I'm only 5'6" with small-ish hands so I relate to the physical limitations of Malcom and Angus more than your average guitarist.
As for gain, a loud JTM45 or JTM50 with EL34s and Greenbacks is THE sound. Period.
Man. I played and play a lot of ACDC. On bass especially a lot of tabs are totally wrong. There are a lot of ghost notes and a lot of groove in the bass lines. Not to mention the song you mentioned. Isolated live totally different than recorded. Like I said even on guitar a lot of tabs for ACDC is not quite right.
But dammit. Its hard to make three chords sound good over and over again but they are guitar gods including bass.
ACDC with riffs that leave space and the bass filling those spaces just leaves a little to the imagination. And why after 50 plus years they still fill stadiums.
When it comes to tempo, i understand playing it a little faster live, even kinda by accident, but the original tempo.....is just perfect, man. love me some ackadack 😅
12:24 - Bands that miss this are basically just telling us that "Yeah. We know it. We know it. We'll just get through it." The solo to this song is so perfectly structured because it brings the song down for a little bit, gives Angus the entire floor, then the solo progresses to the higher octaves and the whole band flourishes which leads you right back to the chorus for the conclusion: songwriting. You talked about the crash hits which is also absolutely pivotal to bringing the song to its peak as the band heads back into the chorus.
Missing this would be like if a band brings the energy down for the last verse of "House of the Rising Sun." Only hacks would not pick up on the song structurally approaching its end and therefore requiring every member to be at full volume and energy.
Its the swing groove from Mal and Phil and Cliff playing.
And Cliff didnt thump on the root in every song.
He played alternate notes in the key they were playing in..
3rds and 5ths and 7ths.
People often put Cliff down as a super simple player but get this, the bass lines on the For Those About to Rock album are all over the place - in a good way! Worth checking out.
there is a dictionary in my head. as a guitarist you would think that the entry for "rock and roll guitar" would be quite long and detailed.
it's not, it's a reference. it says "SEE Malcolm and Angus Young".
Gretsch Jet, Gibson SG. classic, instantly recognizable rhythm/lead tone combo.
I use a slight vibrato on the first note of the intro, to match up with the promo videos wonky speed. It just works for me :)
This guy's a prude. There's nothing wrong with having fun with the riff and making it your own
I know you guys were young but you’re playing it like you’re trying to get it done, back when I was in a teen cover band we played them as slow as we could and when people would get drunker we would do a low volume break in the middle of some songs and ask how’s everybody doing tonight and they loved it or how are you feeling out there and then go back to jammin.
This was one of the first solos I learned by ear as a kid. I was so proud of myself!
Nice advice ✌️
Get older, get wiser and enjoy the original artists vibe 👍🤟
The verse is a perfect example of AC/DC's less-is-more approach. There's not much going on, even less compared to most of their songs, but everything in it is intentional and has its place. It breathes in such a wonderful way.
It's what a lot of bass players and drummers get wrong with AC/DC. It's seen as too basic (especially a lot of their bass lines as they just follow the root) and so try to embellish it too much, but it's the reason the music has it's feel. Sometimes it's actually harder to play with restraint.
Dynamics are the key to a good band. and a great drummer. Once you have played with a good one you can't go back unless you have to and need the money.
That's how I always played the intro. Playing it down on a regular open G chord felt way too awkward to me. I worked the whole song out by ear though, I never looked at tabs for it.
Why is it important in playing rock music sounding exactly like record is cool but when coming from a jazz background playing a tune, note to note and not making it your own is very uncool?
The very first chord hit has a little bit of vibrato in it as well. Nice series.
Great video. But one pointer: try playing it in a third position triad with the high E and B strings barred on the third fret and drone the open G. To me, that's what it sounds like they're doing.
I think the point is to respect the original.
I think there is room for second verse, second chorus minor changes once you prove you can play it “right”. Music that is only repeated verbatim turns into classical music. In other words, you need both traditionalists and explorers in music to keep it alive. It needs to be maintained and also expanded.
the truth is that as time goes on musicians get better and better so you gotta up your game or get forgotten
I think the 'delayed' kick as you called it, Mike, comes on the and of 3. If I'm counting it correctly, that's it
I feel like it would be cool if you recorded full covers of some of these yourself to really show how it's done!
You can play it sitting on the open D without much effort and it sounds fine while being super easy and not needing to slide up and down the neck.
You missed my one main gripe with this song, people playing it with a Cadd9 chord instead of the straight C!! Just sounds so wrong but I see so many people do it!
No that’s why said a “traditional C chord” but yes you’re right. I should have mentioned the add9 by name.
You can use the Cadd9 fingering shape and mute or not hit the 9.
AC/DC is a band which their songs are "easy", but almost everyone that plays them doesn't sound quite right.
11:10 this moment remembered me of something I read on the internet years ago:
A guitar player has 4 stages:
1) when you're a newbie and are learning how to play
2) when you're are getting better and can already play some cool songs
3) when you can play fast, knows every technique and want the world to know about it ✨
4) and last, when you can do everything from the stage 3 but you don't care about showing it off or not just to get people's attention with pointless shredding
Landslide, Riff Raff and This means war have pretty fast riffs same with Fire Your Guns
So something to add: A studio engineer said to me “cut your gain in half let’s see” and it made a HUGE DIFFERENCE. Technical metal, and the nuances suddenly jumped out vs being buried in fuzz. 20 something years ago, and less is actually more sometimes.
Absolutely. Makes you dig in more and get better dynamics, just like Angus.
The entire reason AC DC was and is so popular IS the subtitles. Few bands had the groove they did.
Edit: Additionally, besides the groove the importance of leaving space was not overlooked.
I love purism in live shows. Go crazy on your originals, but pay homage to covers and make them recognizable🙂
When i played in an ACDC tribute, i didn’t realize how slow a lot of their songs were..Highway to Hell is VERY slow and hard to play that slow live!
I think the key word you used was "Tribute." If your gonna do tribute to someone, effing do it right.
Great analysis, BTW.
Thought this was gonna be about Squealer
LOL
🤣
SLAG beat = great term. Evokes a mining slag pit. Which evokes a primordial tar pit full of dinosaurs. Which is just right for AC/DC
Night prowler absolutely bops
AC/DC had their music placed in the metal section in music stores back in the day so people would think it's heavy. It worked! Actually there is no ride cymbal in most AC/DC songs. Phil rid himself of the ride as did Lars.
I was playing a gig in the late 80s doing covers. We had a decent rig with some hired roadies and I was doing a sound check and I ripped into some AC/DC and this roadie says stop!
He came over to me and politely showed me how to play the riff I was butchering. I’m like, who the fuck is this old dude” then I found out he’d roadied for AC/DC back in ye olde days. 😮
Great guy. The guy with the wrench…
Theres no ride in any AC/DC song!! Phil Rudd sticks to what he knows.....not much
Cover and tribute bands are where originality & creativity goes to die a slow sycophantic lingering death.
I can afford to record & release my original music with much less struggle being in a cover band and getting decent compensation for my time. So...
When I saw AC/DC, Malcon played the open and Angus played the 7th/9th position.
And it was Malcom who did 90% of the peddling on the intro.
On the record as well.
When I hear a band playing at a bar I'm more concerned about getting a beer than how accurate the band is. Nobody pays attention 1:06 anyway
Admittedly, when I was a kid, the tab I had for this song was the power chord version.
I'm 54 now and the only time I fudge a song is if I don't know it, then it's the old "fake it until you break it" rule.
Also, when we cover a tune that we're trying to make our own, we try and keep the original integrity of the song while adding our own flare. As we did with our cover of the Misfits - Die, Die, My Darling. In our early days.
I love your channel so much, I would love to hear your critique of that cover as your insight really makes me reevaluate my playing.
ruclips.net/video/_06A4TaFk28/видео.htmlsi=7V2rGDNagYqGvKxI
This could be a permanent series! So many of the best songs ever written are just butchered in covers. I don't mind a band taking some creative license and adding their own flare and pizzazz, but you can tell when they're trying to hit the original and failing horribly. We have a local cover band called The Flying Toasters (from the 90's screen saver) and they take covers and basically make them their own. Alternate tunings, tempo changes, even some lyrical changes to please the locals (instead of Back in the New York Groove, it's back in the Indy Groove) and they're good at it. Otherwise, stick to the original! It's always a crowd pleaser
This turned down gain is a fantastic example of why we should all own a Boss Super Overdrive. Set your amp's gain for AC/DC and boost the front end with the OD for Metallica.