Chuck played Gibsons exclusively starting in the mid ‘50s. First he played ES 350 T and 350 TN hollow bodies, then ES 335s, 345s, and for many years, ES 355s. He did indeed play mainly 12 bar uptempo chord progressions. A characteristic of several of his songs is, he did not go from the V chord to the IV chord in the turnarounds. He stayed on the V chord for two bars. And the “Chuck Berry Rhythm” really came from the left hand of piano player Johnny Johnson.
This video unlocked A LOT for me. I'm a bassist of 31 years, and I switched to a guitar deep dive about seven months ago. So it's not completely foreign to me, the six string. I simply want to make the sounds that most of my fellow guitarists never made when I was backing 'em up on bass (they were mostly into reggae or were shredders). I want to be Izzy Stradlin, pretty much. So I followed the chord (pun intended) back to the wall, and it's all about Mr. Chuck! Thanks for posting this 3 years or so ago!
One thing that should be apparent after this. Angus Young incorporates all of Chuck's tricks. I remember a Guitar World when I was a kid where Angus says that Chuck was his biggest influence.
Think you for excellent lesson . The sound is great like Chuck Berry. Question , String reference. Do Students find that if you say the instructions: 1. Play The 5th fret on the E String, or 2. Play the 5th fret on the 1st string . Which is easier for the student to comprehend?
I remember learning the real names of the strings really early. So for me the former would have been most effective. Also, when you number the strings, people don't always agree on those numbers. Some people think the low E is the first string, whereas others call the high E the first. It's definitely less confusing to just say high E, low E, A string, etc. So long as you make sure to teach them those names first. I mean, we all have to learn this anyway, if we ever expect to change our own strings. Just be aware that a student between 13 and 20 will almost always laugh when you talk about the G String. Not gonna lie though, the 60 year olds in my dad's band still laugh about that. Breaks string: Hey, Bill, do you have a G string I can borrow? Bill: Nah, I don't wear those.
Id like if you would play a sample of what Im going to sound like if I learn what youre teaching. As is, I dont know if your lesson is going to get me the sound Im looking for.
Hello. Is your A power chord that you start with only two notes (A and E) or three notes (AEA)? It's hard for me to tell with the crunch on the tone. Thank you.
I think the beatles tried to get that tone with Revolution. Maybe some ideas from Chuck too, but that song also has a 12 bar blues lick. Definitely stole the start of that song from Pee Wee though.
So I was wondering iff anyone had a trick to hit that 7th note on the shuffle progression? I play on a left handed es 335 and I find it really difficult to get my pinkie over to the fret let alone enough to get the tone to ring out or fast enough to actually play it. It feels like I'm way over streching my fingers and just feels physically impossible for my small baby hands. Anyone have any advice?
He's playing a power chord, which is the 1 and 5 of a chord. I would recommend looking up 'Blues Shuffle' or something like that to get a more detailed lesson. Rest assured though, power chords are easier than Barre Chords and they're also a great way to get your hands ready for playing barres :D
chris i had the exact same mindset and problem, i just couldn’t barre chord no matter how much i practiced and tried. i stopped playing for a couple of years and came back a few months ago. when i first came back i avoided songs with barre chords and didn’t want to learn them bcz i knew i couldn’t do them. idk how but there was this one song that involved a barre chord and i just said what the hell why not, and learned how to barre. its really not too hard just keep on practicing and look up tips. don’t avoid bcz yo can do it
@@itamarziskind993 I don't have a guitar at the moment, maybe sometime in the future I may do something daft and buy another one, the urge is there, the ready cash isn't sadly
You may notice, viewer, that it really doesn't sound like Chuck Berry at all in the outtro, aside from the explicit Chuck licks played. I say this not to disparage the player but to make the point that sounding like Chuck Berry requires much more than stringing a few of his tricks together with generic pentatonic noodling between them. You must choose all of your notes very carefully; it's not enough to be in key--you must figure out what he would have actually played. He was unconventional. Also, this rhythm playing is half-assed at best. This isn't how Chuck played rhythm. Listen to Promised Land and pay attention to how much more pointed his accents are. Very strong on the beat, 1-2-3-4. And he played basically clean, cranked through a Twin Reverb. Save the distortion for Angus.
![[EPIC RIFFS] The Riff That Defined Rock 'n Roll](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zg6t5LPjc6k/mqdefault.jpg)
![[EPIC RIFFS] The Riff That Defined Rock 'n Roll](/img/tr.png)
Chuck played Gibsons exclusively starting in the mid ‘50s. First he played ES 350 T and 350 TN hollow bodies, then ES 335s, 345s, and for many years, ES 355s. He did indeed play mainly 12 bar uptempo chord progressions. A characteristic of several of his songs is, he did not go from the V chord to the IV chord in the turnarounds. He stayed on the V chord for two bars. And the “Chuck Berry Rhythm” really came from the left hand of piano player Johnny Johnson.
Awesome lesson. Chuck will live on forever.
This video unlocked A LOT for me. I'm a bassist of 31 years, and I switched to a guitar deep dive about seven months ago. So it's not completely foreign to me, the six string. I simply want to make the sounds that most of my fellow guitarists never made when I was backing 'em up on bass (they were mostly into reggae or were shredders). I want to be Izzy Stradlin, pretty much. So I followed the chord (pun intended) back to the wall, and it's all about Mr. Chuck! Thanks for posting this 3 years or so ago!
Really simple and clearly laid out. Thank you
Yes great lesson. One can't have enough licks in the bag of tricks!
Super! Thanks for explaining so clear and concise. This was great.👍
Finally! I finally can do this!!!!
This video was so helpful! Thanks!
Great lesson. I've been on a C. Berry kick lately. This helps fill my inner "Berry".
Thank you very much! Excellent lesson.
This is seriously helpful, thank you
That was superb!
Great lesson
I love to incorporate CB licks in to my rock playing solos makes a unique style
Fantastic
One thing that should be apparent after this. Angus Young incorporates all of Chuck's tricks. I remember a Guitar World when I was a kid where Angus says that Chuck was his biggest influence.
Good lesson!
Think you for excellent lesson . The sound is great like Chuck Berry.
Question , String reference.
Do Students find that if you say the instructions:
1. Play The 5th fret on the E String,
or
2. Play the 5th fret on the 1st string .
Which is easier for the student to comprehend?
I remember learning the real names of the strings really early. So for me the former would have been most effective. Also, when you number the strings, people don't always agree on those numbers. Some people think the low E is the first string, whereas others call the high E the first.
It's definitely less confusing to just say high E, low E, A string, etc. So long as you make sure to teach them those names first. I mean, we all have to learn this anyway, if we ever expect to change our own strings.
Just be aware that a student between 13 and 20 will almost always laugh when you talk about the G String. Not gonna lie though, the 60 year olds in my dad's band still laugh about that.
Breaks string: Hey, Bill, do you have a G string I can borrow?
Bill: Nah, I don't wear those.
Id like if you would play a sample of what Im going to sound like if I learn what youre teaching. As is, I dont know if your lesson is going to get me the sound Im looking for.
Hello. Is your A power chord that you start with only two notes (A and E) or three notes (AEA)? It's hard for me to tell with the crunch on the tone. Thank you.
I think the beatles tried to get that tone with Revolution. Maybe some ideas from Chuck too, but that song also has a 12 bar blues lick. Definitely stole the start of that song from Pee Wee though.
So I was wondering iff anyone had a trick to hit that 7th note on the shuffle progression? I play on a left handed es 335 and I find it really difficult to get my pinkie over to the fret let alone enough to get the tone to ring out or fast enough to actually play it. It feels like I'm way over streching my fingers and just feels physically impossible for my small baby hands. Anyone have any advice?
Great lesson!!! Is there the backing travk available for practice?
Great lesson, may even take up learning guitar again sometime but are you playing barre chords, if so I am screwed as I just cannot play a bar chord
He's playing a power chord, which is the 1 and 5 of a chord. I would recommend looking up 'Blues Shuffle' or something like that to get a more detailed lesson. Rest assured though, power chords are easier than Barre Chords and they're also a great way to get your hands ready for playing barres :D
chris i had the exact same mindset and problem, i just couldn’t barre chord no matter how much i practiced and tried. i stopped playing for a couple of years and came back a few months ago. when i first came back i avoided songs with barre chords and didn’t want to learn them bcz i knew i couldn’t do them.
idk how but there was this one song that involved a barre chord and i just said what the hell why not, and learned how to barre. its really not too hard just keep on practicing and look up tips. don’t avoid bcz yo can do it
@@itamarziskind993 I don't have a guitar at the moment, maybe sometime in the future I may do something daft and buy another one, the urge is there, the ready cash isn't sadly
4:09 They are definitely triplets.
Not a minor.
You may notice, viewer, that it really doesn't sound like Chuck Berry at all in the outtro, aside from the explicit Chuck licks played. I say this not to disparage the player but to make the point that sounding like Chuck Berry requires much more than stringing a few of his tricks together with generic pentatonic noodling between them. You must choose all of your notes very carefully; it's not enough to be in key--you must figure out what he would have actually played. He was unconventional.
Also, this rhythm playing is half-assed at best. This isn't how Chuck played rhythm. Listen to Promised Land and pay attention to how much more pointed his accents are. Very strong on the beat, 1-2-3-4. And he played basically clean, cranked through a Twin Reverb. Save the distortion for Angus.
Chuck was more influenced by Jazz so the blues thing is a myth.
Jesus Christ died for you so live for him and live
Who?