I met that Motown backbeat guitar player, Joe Messina, a few times. I went to see his band at a gig at Tony's on Warren Ave in Detroit back in the 90's. He was playing chromatic harmonica then and he was good. I asked him if he still played guitar and he did not remember if he still had his guitar. I saw him later with the Funk Brothers band after the Motown documentary came out. He found his guitar from Motown and he was playing it.
I really thought there wouldn't be much for me to chew on here, but as always, you surprise me with subtle variations that really groove. That last one separates the men from the boys!
Thank you so much for teaching this neglected style of music. I’ve learned so much from your videos. Elle King has a song named “Runaway” that has a very Motown type strum in the background. I’ve heard this style strum on other songs from the 60’s and can’t quite figure out how it’s done or what to call it. Can you do a video on that?
I just remembered where else I’ve heard that Elle King strum. It’s also in the background of the J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers song “Last Kiss”. It sounds palm muted and arpeggiated.
Its amazing how this simplest concept can be quite difficult to execute in a musical way that serves the song and is tight and sits in the pocket. Its so easy to start over playing or to get sloppy. But I guess thats why its "tasty"
Hi , The way this was played originally was by at least 2 guitars - one doing the backbeat (Eddie Willis?) and another (Robert White or Joe Messina?) playing the ringing chord on the downbeat - but in a lower register. This was standard on a lot of the classic recordings. i admit the lower guitar is difficult to hear because its quieter and often doubled by a piano, or other instruments. But the famous 'chank' backbeat is always loud and sticks out in most records.
Does anyone else have issues with playing this smaller chord voicing up the neck i find it puts my wrist in an awkward position and for some reason playing little triads up around fret 8 starts to feel really cramped. Anyone have any suggestions or is it just doing it over and over and eventually it feels more natural?
Pay attention to where you’re putting your thumb on the back of the neck. Putting the thumb higher will straighten out your wrist. Find the position that is comfortable for you. Doing it over and over will indeed help, but only if you have a comfortable position to begin with. You don’t want to introduce strain by repetition of something which is too uncomfortable. Personally, I find I am playing stuff like this with the thumb high, a little over the top of the neck. If you try that and then move the thumb down to a more classical position in the middle of the back of the neck, you will see the difference in the bend in your wrist. Just find where it’s comfortable and then practice like that. Sooner or later, your hand will just go where it should. But you might need to train it.
There is a video on the "Licknriff" channel that show stretches for wrist pain. It really helped me alot. There is a stretch he refers to as the "tendon stretch". It was the one that really seemed to help the most for. My wrists are fine now.
@@koho Yeah, but II see a lot of people use them excessively and they do become clutter, very anoying clutter. I've hosted enough jams with these knuckleheads who do this. It's usually a result of not having enough experience playing with a group. I'd also imagine that the people arguing with me about this are probably guilty of it.
@@live2groove Haha! I totally get it. I'm coming to this more as a fan of great players. I have no doubt you must have to deal with a lot of players who aren't qualified and overuse this stuff. Good luck to you! Peace,
The wonderful sounds of Motown…what a great memory….you just gotta love their genius….
Tasty! I love these short and very useful lessons! Thank you, Rick!
This is the kind of "less is more" material I need right now.
Great! In the last one, playing the C early gave so much movement to the sound...very Motowny
I met that Motown backbeat guitar player, Joe Messina, a few times. I went to see his band at a gig at Tony's on Warren Ave in Detroit back in the 90's. He was playing chromatic harmonica then and he was good. I asked him if he still played guitar and he did not remember if he still had his guitar. I saw him later with the Funk Brothers band after the Motown documentary came out. He found his guitar from Motown and he was playing it.
Very cool!
Thanks Rick. I've been working on my R&B playing with this song so thanks for the insight
Brilliant lesson sir!! 🙏🙏🙏👍👍
Thank you Gavin!
Fantastic lesson! Thank you once again Rick! 🌌🌅🌠🕊
Thank you for watching!
I really thought there wouldn't be much for me to chew on here, but as always, you surprise me with subtle variations that really groove. That last one separates the men from the boys!
Very useful video! Professional tricks.
Excellent. Thank you.
Great video lesson!!!!
Great tuition mate, thanks.
Great thanks
Thank you so much for teaching this neglected style of music. I’ve learned so much from your videos. Elle King has a song named “Runaway” that has a very Motown type strum in the background. I’ve heard this style strum on other songs from the 60’s and can’t quite figure out how it’s done or what to call it. Can you do a video on that?
I just remembered where else I’ve heard that Elle King strum. It’s also in the background of the J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers song “Last Kiss”. It sounds palm muted and arpeggiated.
I'll take a listen to it
1:45 Not only is he talking as he plays this, he's actually so tight, he's burying the click.
All at the same time. lols
I noticed that also. Rick is the man
Génial ! Merci🇫🇷👍🏼🍒
Thanx, Rick. 🌹🌹🌹
GREAT!!!
Love this!
Top notch stuff thanks
Its amazing how this simplest concept can be quite difficult to execute in a musical way that serves the song and is tight and sits in the pocket. Its so easy to start over playing or to get sloppy. But I guess thats why its "tasty"
yes cleaning up my playing with this
So good.
Thanks for watching
Killer!!!
How did they get that clear jangly motown strum sound though ? Sounds almost like a Sitar on a humbucker sound. Love your lessons and insight. 👍👍
The high guitar player usually played a maple neck Telly.
Hi , The way this was played originally was by at least 2 guitars - one doing the backbeat (Eddie Willis?) and another (Robert White or Joe Messina?) playing the ringing chord on the downbeat - but in a lower register. This was standard on a lot of the classic recordings. i admit the lower guitar is difficult to hear because its quieter and often doubled by a piano, or other instruments. But the famous 'chank' backbeat is always loud and sticks out in most records.
Have you heard that Joe Messina recently passed away at age 93?
THANK YOU😊
What kind of TELE are you playing?
@@lyesbenlarbi7458 this is an 80's ESP 400 series
Maaaate!!!
Does anyone else have issues with playing this smaller chord voicing up the neck i find it puts my wrist in an awkward position and for some reason playing little triads up around fret 8 starts to feel really cramped. Anyone have any suggestions or is it just doing it over and over and eventually it feels more natural?
Pay attention to where you’re putting your thumb on the back of the neck. Putting the thumb higher will straighten out your wrist. Find the position that is comfortable for you. Doing it over and over will indeed help, but only if you have a comfortable position to begin with. You don’t want to introduce strain by repetition of something which is too uncomfortable.
Personally, I find I am playing stuff like this with the thumb high, a little over the top of the neck. If you try that and then move the thumb down to a more classical position in the middle of the back of the neck, you will see the difference in the bend in your wrist. Just find where it’s comfortable and then practice like that. Sooner or later, your hand will just go where it should. But you might need to train it.
There is a video on the "Licknriff" channel that show stretches for wrist pain. It really helped me alot. There is a stretch he refers to as the "tendon stretch". It was the one that really seemed to help the most for. My wrists are fine now.
👍👍🇩🇪
It's funny how these seeped into my unconscious over the decades...
tab please.
You’re kidding, right? It can’t get much simpler than this. Basic chord knowledge and basic ears. Work on it. Tab is not your friend
And kids, notice how he doesn't play a bazillion ghost notes and up strums between the down beats.. Yeah, top doing that guys, it's just clutter.
True in Motown, not so much in funk.
@@koho True in Funk as well. You don't just let your wrist go spaztic like you're jerkin' off. Funk needs to be just as clean, no clutter
@@live2groove Ghost notes in funk are not clutter. And some of the cleanest funk guitarists I know of have no bones in their hand. LOL!
@@koho Yeah, but II see a lot of people use them excessively and they do become clutter, very anoying clutter. I've hosted enough jams with these knuckleheads who do this. It's usually a result of not having enough experience playing with a group. I'd also imagine that the people arguing with me about this are probably guilty of it.
@@live2groove Haha! I totally get it. I'm coming to this more as a fan of great players. I have no doubt you must have to deal with a lot of players who aren't qualified and overuse this stuff. Good luck to you! Peace,