James Taylor guitar lesson #3 (Close Your Eyes) -- ThinkingDog06
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- Опубликовано: 11 окт 2024
- Tutorial on James Taylor's classic, "(You Can) Close Your Eyes." I hope this helps anyone trying to learn this great song, and JT's unique style of fingerpicking and embellishing chords. My suggestion is to get the chords and timing/groove down first, then work on the embellishments.
Thanks for listening, and keep playing!
Craig Relyea 
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I've been digging through piles of RUclips lessons and have come to accept that creating a good lesson is an incredibly hard task. You, Sir, have done an excellent job. Thank you.
Thanks so much for the kind comment, I really appreciate it!
Excellent lesson...great that you break it down to sections and slow it down. Much appreciated. I've been playing it wrong for 35 years.
I have now put so much time and so much energy into this song over the last three weeks (on a Seagull 6-string acoustic)! I don't know how "Close Your Eyes" escaped me in the 70's...but somehow it did. With sore fingers I say THANK YOU for the lesson. I am determined to keep at it until I sound a lil bit like you, ThinkingDog! Again, many thanks.
I' just started playing this song after watching a J.T. video concert. I've looked at several tutorials & I find yours masterfully done, very intricately picked at the right tempo and easy to follow.
Hi Kelly - thank you, I'm glad this tutorial is helpful.
Thank you ! I really appreciate your teaching style . I know it's going to be hard for me to nail this but it's a great song and I need to try and inspire my kids and grandkids to get into playing their own music . You have inspired me to try a bit harder ! Thanks again .☺
Thank you - I’m happy to hear the tutorial helps, keep playing! 🙏🏼
Thinking Dog, I’m thinking your the best teacher on the tube. Thanks
WOW, Forget the lesson, even if I could play as well as you, it would never sound right. Your voice is incredible. You're truly gifted. Thanks so much for posting.
Phillip - thank you so much for the kind comments. Keep it going, I'm sure your love of playing the guitar comes through and brings joy for you and others, and in that context a muted note here or there doesn't matter. Best of luck to you my friend!
I love that song also. Thank you for showing me how to play the beautiful music of James...even when it's not one he posted, but oh so sweet just the same. I'll be looking for more from you.
Timeless song and sweet vocals from you. Thank you for taking such time explaining. The nuances crystallize that JT style. You nailed it.
Thank you, I appreciate it!
Thanks for the lesson....I used to know this song well in my early 20's....38 now and couldn't remember but I did remember it was based around D G and A with Em and Bm added in there. Cheers! Fun song to play.
Thanks Zach, glad to help -- it's definitely fun to play!
Amazing playing and teaching, now I’ve GOT learn this, thanks!!
-Thank you - I’m glad it’s helpful
Thanks so much for the encouraging comments, it means a lot!
@gbuggy006 - thanks for listening and commenting. I probably should spend more time talking about (and showing) the right hand -- for this song in particular, the thumb is used in classic fingerpicking style to hit alternating bass notes while the other fingers are either articulating the higher notes of the chords or they're used for short bursts of strumming. I'll try to do a better job next time of explaining the right hand, thanks again!
This is one of the best tutorials I've ever watched. Not too slow, not too fast. Not a lot of talking or explaining music theory: just, Here's how you play it. Very good. It's ten years since you posted this. I hope this comment makes it way to you. kg
Thank you Kevin, much appreciated -- so glad this is helpful!
Thanks for the video buddy, very fun to play 👍
You're welcome, thanks for visiting and for the comment
You are a very good teacher. Good voice and guitar technique.
Thank you, I really appreciate it.
@macculloch2 - hi, my earlier videos just used the built-in mic from the main video camera. Later videos I experimented with different combinations -- sometimes using two external mics, sometimes the guitar running directly into an audio interface (to Logic) mixed with an external mic; that's what this video uses (you can see the Rode NT5 in the lower right corner during the wider angle at the beginning of the video). Thanks for listening and commenting!
Thank you for the kind feedback -- I've not done a good job of showing the right hand, so I definitely will try to do better the next time I post a tutorial. Thanks again!
This is an exceptional tutorial. I'm not sure why the 10 dislikes. Some people have liquid stool for brains. Your style of showing just how it's played with the left hand is very helpful and those of us who have been tryin to figure it out, really appreciate what you did for us. Thank you!
@saidthey198 - thank you for listening and for the encouraging comments, I really appreciate it. Glad the video helps in some way!
You did justice to this song, with your excellent guitar playing, singing, and knowing that you truly love this song. Thank you.....
Your GOOD TD06!!! Thanks for all your JT tutorials!! I'm enjoying them all.
An excellent lesson, with some great camera angles (love those fret board inlays). One of the nicest JT songs. Thank you very much for doing this.
Wonderful playing! Tone is equally and notably nice. Just saw JT's site. He offers lessons! (Can you believe?) He's such a great player & sensitive writer. Deserves all his fame. You break his style down like he doesn't. You mentioned JT's emphasis on bass lines & opened chords. BINGO! ' You teach so darned well! You really compliment JT's own lessons. Thanks so much...
You're welcome! Thanks for stopping by to listen and for the nice comments.
Thanks for listening and commenting, glad the video helps -- keep playing!
Great Video - I love James Taylor and your video is a big help. I look forward to checking out all your videos!
Always wanted to learn how to play this. Great tutorial!
Thank you - so glad it was helpful
The best lesson I've seen so far, clear perfect tuition for those who appreciate your time , Thank you so much.
@BunBrown - thanks for listening, and I really appreciate your comments!
I think I can learn a lot from your lesson about this song.... and about giving lessons on camera !. Great Job - I enjoyed it - Thanks .
Thanks for listening and commenting -- I agree, played this too rushed because I wasn't thinking of it as performance, more just instructional... but the dynamics and feel are as important (or more) than getting the notes right. Thanks for pointing that out...
This is a very helpful lesson. I never thought id be able to play a James Taylor song but now I getting there for sure.
So glad this is helpful -- keep at it, the key is to be patient and stick with it!
Your pacing is great for those of us who need a little extra you give it so thank you . One of my favorite songs.
Hi, thanks for the nice comment. I've been thinking about posting another JT lesson, was thinking either You've Got A Friend, Shower The People or Up On The Roof. Hope to get time soon to record!
absolutely brilliant, I've watched this so many times and as I see it more the more I see your brilliance and kindness for this post !
Super lesson. Thank you for taking the time to share your skills. And you've got a lovely voice man!
+David Sillars - thank you for the kind words, much appreciated!
I feel fine James Taylor
Thank you so much for this video tutorial on a song I've had on my bucket list for years. I've been playing nothing else for a week now and I just about have this down pat thanks to you.
Hi Randy -- thank you for taking the time to post this note, means a lot to me. So happy to hear this helped! Take care and keep playing!
i appreciate the great lesson you did with the great song
Thanks!
A very well done lesson. Excellent camera angle, video quality, and good comments on lead notes. Thanks!
Hey TD06 - Great lesson! You are an excellent guitarist! I'm just learning how to fingerpick and have always loved this song, so very helpful. Thank you for posting it!
samfantastic! words can't express my gratitude for this lesson. i lost the tip of my index finger on my left had when i was about 20, but i've recently began playing again. it still frustrates me because my index finger still unintentionally deadens strings, and is almost useless for hammer on. it's only for me though, and music gives me such great joy. thank you so much!
With your help & a bit of practice I'm pretty close to playing it well. But you and James are so lucky to have beautiful voices to match the guitar playing. I'm ok for blues, but I can't sing pretty. You can both bring much joy to people... a great gift.
@davidg22100 - thanks for listening and for such encouraging comments.
best instructional video I have seen on you tube.Thanks thinkingdog
Thank you so much for the encouraging comments, much appreciated!
Ive been a big JT fan for years but was never super familiar with this song, showing my age i guess. Was so glad you had a tutorial on it, you are hands down the best JT teacher on youtube. I have a bunch of JT lessons on my page but yours put mine to shame. You to a great job of discussing his baseline melody's and chord embellishments that are the heart and soul of so many of his songs. Again, your a wonderful musician and a great teacher as well. Thanks for all your help.
Jesse
Excellent. Love this song. Great learn for finger-picking
Yes, a Maton EBG808 ... was inspired by Tommy Emmanuel and Adam Rafferty to pick one up. Thanks for listening and commenting, I appreciate it.
This song was more challenging to learn than I expected! Great tutorial
Thanks!
BLESS YOUR SOULFUL HEART! 🌷 SOMETIMES the " simplest ones are the hardest...!"
YUP -& it's been 40+ years!
🤷♂️🙏🏼🦋✌️💙💙💙🌷🌷🌷
I could never finger pick well. In the last two years I've learned four songs from your syllabus. Now I can finger pick like you and JT (almost). Thanks!
Thanks Richard, I'm happy the videos helped -- makes my day! :)
Thanks for a great lesson. You make some very complicated chord patterns easy to understand. My hat's off to you for that. I'd love to see how you're doing all that great stuff with your right hand sometime! No rush. It's gonna take awhile to get these chords down....:)
Marvellous stuff. I'm trying to learn this at the moment, and this video is a great source.
Thanks very much.
Excellent ... I've got it with your help! I really appreciate it (been playing it all day)
Thank you! This is by far the best guitar lesson for this song that I could find. Beautifully performed as well. I have one small nit-picky comment: In the little transition sequence after “…and I still love you” JT doesn’t play the low E string on the second fret as you do. He plays that low E string open. He does it this way consistently on all the clips I looked at. Your version sounds good but his way is MUCH easier to play. Again, thanks so much for the lesson.
Thanks so much for the kind comment, much appreciated.
@brobdj - thanks for the kind comments, glad you're finding these videos helpful.
Hey TD. Great lesson, thank you. One of your arrangements in particular as we near the Holiday season I always listen to is The Little Drummer Boy. As I play some guitar myself I've been able to glean some of your version into my own take on it. However, I still like you're version. Perhaps some day you might do a lesson on it but if not that's ok. Just appreciate the post. All the best.
Hi Max -- thanks for the kind comment, much appreciated. I plan on posting more lessons if I can carve out some time; I've put this on the list! Thanks again!
Hi -- glad this video was helpful. I had that same early JT tab book when I was a kid first learning to play, it was a fantastic book!
Beautiful I can't wait to start learning this one. It looks as though your lesson is the type I can learn from.
@ElizaGraves - thanks for the comment, and yes using the thumb often helps on chords like that ... I've never been very good at doing that, even when I learn the Tommy Emmanuel stuff, but for those who can work that thumb it's often a better technique. Thanks again.
This is a really good lesson its much more my language , I have watched a lot of lessons about this this song but this one actually shows you how to get that "grown up sound" by plucking the high strings just a split second before the lower strings makes a huge difference.
It really makes it sound a lot less amateur when you do this.
And as with all new skills on guitar less is more , so then i have to no OVER DO IT :)
Thanks David, glad this is helpful!
@fn211349 - thanks, I'll try to post more in the future. I appreciate it!
Really, really great tutorial. I love this song. I grew up listening to my mom playing James Taylor on her acoustic. Now I plan on learning this song for her using your video. Thanks a lot. I definitely subscribed :)
Brilliant brilliant lesson...great teaching thanks so much and nice voice :)
Always excellent work TD! Just marvelous playing. Very inspiring!
Thankyou. Very clear and repetitive enough to learn from. Brilliant!
excellent...really interesting song and you teach so well
This is my dream lesson come true! Thanks so much!
@regalstring - Thank you for the encouraging comment, it's very appreciated.
Thanks so much for this lesson. I really appreciate you remembering the request. So me being from Massachusetts, all I have to say is that this is "wicked" good!
I love your RUclips channel!
you rock brother! made me want to start learning. thanks for your effort
thanks for giving up your time to make this.. very helpful..
Brilliant you have nailed his technique on this song
Thanks, much appreciated!
I learned this song from another site that provided video and music/tabs ($6, but not complaining). Listening to JT play it, it sounded different. Your version is much closer to his actual technique. So, I am giving it another go. I am amazed that you can figure this out.
Thanks -- I've been listening to JT since I was a teenager (a long time ago) and have been attempting to play his songs for nearly as long. I'm still evolving how I play some of them, for example I just recently realized I've been a little off on how I play the ending guitar refrain for "Shower The People," so I spent more time listening carefully to it and made a couple of adjustments. For me, it's mainly a matter of putting in the time -- you have to keep at it, break down the song into small chunks, then you can learn and practice in short "chapters," which makes it more manageable. Keep at it!
Thanks so much for posting this video, you helped me tremendously!
Excellent tutorial. Thanks.
Thank you - hope it’s helpful!
fantastic video and tutorial.wish you could show more of the plucking style and your right hand.thanks a lot .
@macculloch2 - Thanks, really appreciate it. Agree that most songbooks bring the chords down to the lowest common denominator which never sounds right. I will try to lay down another JT lesson before the holidays if I can find the time, and will consider those suggestions (both great songs!). Thanks again.
Nice job Craig, this is one my favorite JT tones. I'm trying to pick this on a Ukulele.
Thanks, one of my favorites as well -- I'll bet it sounds cool on a Ukulele!
Great cover and lesson, man. Your playing is terrific. Where is your James Taylor guitar lesson 4, (You've got a friend)? I am waiting for it!!
So Good! Thanks, TDog06!
JT is one of my faves. Now I gotta get to work on this....though it could take me months to get anywhere near to where you are with it.
+Coop Wannabee - thanks! Good luck and keep playing!
Thanks, much appreciated -- glad to hear this lesson helps. Best, TD
Strepitoso! Grazie, grazie per tutto quello che ho visto, sentito e potuto imparare!!!
@tommyquinn181 - thanks, very much appreciate your comments. I've never learned Copperline, but would like to spend some time on it, great tune. I'll do my best... thanks again.
@thinkingdog06 Thanks man, I absolutely love this track and learning it is stretching my playing ability at present so your video is a godsend! Cheers!
Great lesson very clear instruction thank you
Excellent lesson, thanks! I first learned fingerpicking in the late 60s from James' first tab book of his first album, but this wasn't in it. I've been meaning to figure out the very first lick because I thought he was playing a hammer-on from D to E on the second string, then F# too, and that's too difficult...but I finally learned that it goes from that D to the open E, then hammer-on the F# on the first. It isn't a hammer-on...it's two different strings. Thanks again!
@Frank97851 - hi Frank, thanks so much for the kind comments and encouragement. Agree that JT is one of those rare musicians who seems totally in sync with his instrument. So glad to hear this video has helped in some way -- just keep at it and don't get discouraged when you hit what feels like a barrier (we all go through that)... be persistent and keep it fun.
5:35, 8:28, and parts of the chorus. It means a lot to me that youre here to help, and i thank you a lot for it! Great tutorial anyway.
Thanks for sharing this great lesson.
Thanks for this. Good way to break it up in separate pieces to learn. I find the most difficult part of this song not the chords or fingering, but the timing of transistions. If you ever update this, it would be helpful to play it at on quarter or half speed which is what I had to do to get the timing right.
@cky3000 -- thank you for such kind and encouraging comments, I'm glad this video has been helpful! All the best...
Thank you so much. Very good job. More! More!
Dude. Good job!. You really nailed that. thanks...
Thank you for stopping by to listen and comment, really appreciate it!
love the song and recognize you've been able to copy the guitar work faithfully. you give us a good vocal cover too. I've never attempted such a feat. I sing it and approximate the guitar cover. I have picked up the Bm hammer on from your chorus work here and I'l be using that in future :) Larry
@LowryMatchsticks - so glad to hear this video helped... it's a great song, I hope you get many years of enjoyment from playing it. Thanks for the kind note.
@magboyldc - thanks, will try to post another one within the next few months.