Here’s a great example of how you can take one riff and move it through the 12 bar blues progression without really changing anything.
It’s also a great example of little “chord scales” (described in more detail in lesson 29 of Blues Guitar Unleashed.)
96 replies to "Howlin’ Wolf’s Killing Floor Riff…"
Typical lesson. Things I thought I knew. Then pop goes something I hadnt considered or understood. Today it was using the first finger barre to allow strum of two notes. I always play that melody/turnaround as a double stop which is useful – but limiting. Well done!
Nice easy One,
Really enjoying this one!!!
Let’s give the credit where due for this great riff. The great Hubert Sumlin was the Wolf’s guitarist and invented this and a ton of riffs copied widely since. Regarding the meaning of Killing Floor Hubert said:
“Down on the killing floor — that means a woman has you down,” Sumlin explained. “She went out of her way to try to kill you. She at the peak of doing it, and you got away now.”
I had the pleasure of getting know Hubert. He was a close personal friend of my blues guitar teacher in Milwaukee where Hubert lived. I was really fortunate to be sitting next to him at his table for his show at the ambassador hotel in Milwaukee in 2000. The opening act was a blues band with good guitarists playing some fast riffs and he leaned over and said to me “ they don’t have what I got”. He proved it that night. He didn’t use a pick. Wonderful kind guy and a wonderful memory.
Check out The Electric Flag’s version of Killing Floor!!!
Have loved the FLag’s version since the album came out.
Same here. Absolutely nobody has ever or probably will ever do this song better than the The Electric Flag. I was blown away by it when I first heard it and still am every time I listen to it. It’s perfection.
Agreed, you are a wonderful teacher who gives and gives! Thanks. I find that moving my index finger on the A string up a fret after playing the C# helps me to get the right rhythmic syncopation to get to the end of the riff so you don’t have to use the pinky on the last note (e).
PS Easily the best guitar teacher- Griff Hamlin. Thank you.
Griff
Kind of unrelated but if you get a chance you MUST see ‘Blues at the BBC’. BB King, Freddie King, Buddy Guy, EC – and a host of others. You would love it!!
Awesome lesson. I love this song. Thanks Griff.
Hi Griff, unsubscribe never, I have all
but a couple of your courses these email lessons really help fill in some of the blanks and they are all great you are a great teacher.
deja vu!
Thanks Griff for sharing this. Always good to practice a new riff. Appreciate your efforts.
Hi Griff. Appreciate you can provide the TAB. It will help to learn faster.
Thanks Griff. Love those dailies.
Ive heard of this song for years,Never worried about it.Lesson 29 will check it out.I may have missed it.Good exercise for the fingers Too,If done correctly Thanks Again.
Joe Bonanessa version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbIr9CUfjZ8
I’m not using this any more please cancel my email thank you
Nice really. Griff. Tab and Chord diagrams. Help tremendousl if I have those to follow you on the Vide
That is not the the way you stop receiving email. You think Griff looks at all these responses and then finds someone with the name P and cancels their email? REALLY??????
I’m afraid I don’t have enough to go on here to remove you from the email list… however, at the bottom of every email I send is an “unsubscribe” link you can use to stop receiving email from me.
Griff, you got it man! I’ve been watching you for a L O N G time now and I’ve got some very very nice tips from you! Lookin forward to a lot more tips from you. Your Great Griff!
U the man!! Thanks Griff B-)
Nice lesson building on BGU2 for sure. I have been playing the melody section as triads on the top 3 strings in the same positions that you show as follows: A7, D6, A. I think Albert King’s recording is like that.
Hey Griff,
I always watch and then save the video lesson for later in case I can’t find it in my BGU Vol 2.
Since March 2016 to May 2016 restored my eye sight with Cataract surgery each eye now with 20/20 vision, I can grasp the Tab sheets and your video lessons much easier. Can’t wait to get stuck into more practice now and playing.
As I am progressing better now through all the Courses of BGU that I have purchased , I only practice these lessons if I am up to that stage or I go back later.
All great.
Michael-St Andrews-Australia-May 2016
Hey Griff how found down from I believe it’s Freddy king ?
Griff,
Once again you have taught me just a smidge, but a SOLID smidge, to add to the library. My favorite version of this song is by The Electric Flag… (For those of you who haven’t heard that version, you REALLY want to listen to it). I have always loved it but never pursued it. So, THANKS bro!
My favorite recording of this is by the Electric Flag in 1968 with Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenities and Buddy Miles with a kickin’ horn section…if you haven’t heard it, it’s worth a listen…really
Absolutely agree. The Electric Flag version is the best I ever heard. And the way the brass is playing the riff that Griff was showing in the background just makes it perfect. But it’s the tempo they used for it is spot on, with a perfect vocal. It spoilt me for listening to any other versions after that.
gonna see if i can find a Jimi Hendrix verison this tune . Hendrix has always been a insperation for me . Hope You can come up with some new stuff soon too!
listened to the hendrix version and did not catch it at first then realized that Jimmy Page did it to but called it the lemon song, pretty cool version by Bonamassa also ;< O
Thanks Griff for interesti g lick . Cold have given tabs download as well ,as helpful. I will try on Acoustic!. Well it pouring rain at your place but here in India it is pouring heat like mad from sun – playing becoMes a challenge.
Thank you once again
Thanks Griff,a great Sunday morning surprise! I think we should thank Mr. Sumlin who played guitar on the original as well as many other “Wolf” classics. It is also raining in Perth,also very rare! Regards,Chris.
I think this is good for the finger stretch, Using 1 finger per fret.A great tune though.
Cheers Griff
For the lesson I like the period when the
blues was electrified can’t get enough of it and it’s a brilliant foundation
Quite a number of years ago a friend told me of this group that had played in England called the Yardbirds, who had the hit “For Your Love” and on their first album “Rave Up” was a Howlin’ Wolf song called “Smokestack Lightning” with this crazy riff in the background that I still love today. I virtually love songs that have these heavy riffs that feels like the back beat to the song, so that was my introduction to Howlin’ Wolf. Hope you do more of his stuff because this guy was pretty damn good on a guitar and it is good learn this stuff…thank you for a great lesson.
Paul,being a beginner in strumming field,i must confess that i watch your videos with my mouth wide open?waaaaaat?? coz i cannot belief your speed on hand movement.
I trust with all your guidance,i’ll reach there.
God bless you richly?
Priscah
I found “Rave Up with The Yard Byrds on a road near my house when I was 13. I did not know that was their first album. It was with Jeff Beck. I stopped listening to the Monkeys and started to listen, and learn, about blues and blues artists. Next, a friend gave me “The Best of John Lee Hooker” and I never looked back!
Seems like this tune would be a good one for a major/minor lead break. Am I right or have I not been listening to your lessons well enough?
Thanks for that Griff! Got up this morning, found the email, and got to learn one of my favorite blues tunes before breakfast. Still need to do it a few hundred times, but I’m close!
And then you have this very slow version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJa0Zhdxmro
Why don’t you do more acoustic guitar lessons??? Seems like it’s always electric. 🙁
Thanks griff, one of the old masters Howling Wolf. WLB
Thanks Griff. “Killing Floor” has been on my to do list for a while. I had the bones of the rhythm but you clarified and simplified how to do it. I’ll try to get our jam group to work on it next session. You couldn’t have picked a better time to present this lesson. Thanks!
Griff, cant always recall all theses great lessons so I print out the tabs for future reference. how about some tabs on this lesson?
Griff/Forum – I really appreciate these litte gems of riffs you send out. I went to my 1st blues gig since learning all this stuff and it seems to me the bass player was playing this type of stuff. Would you perform a riff like this along with bass player? If bass was doing this riff or similar I would imagine you would do “little chords” or something else at least?
It is nice to see the pdf for all your work you do is it in BGU or rhythms books or blues get box. do you have a sample of Jim’s Voodoo child . It would nice to see more of hendrix stuff.
Thank you Young Kid Ray
Great fun Griff. You slow things right down, just right, for the slightly senior students to follow. I shall play your video several times before attempting it. I am about to purchase a Fender Stratocaster. My previous guitar purchase being a resonator electric /acoustic, which I love. With the resonator guitar you just get the real effect of playing slide, which I am trying to get to grips with these days.
W O W HAVE WIFE GIVE YOU A BIG KISS FOR ME
DE JA VU. GLAD YOU RE-SENT THIS LESSON THE LAST ONE GOT DELETED. THANKS GRIFF.
Thanks Griff super great as usual !!
Thank you Griff.
Thanks again hope this note finds you well and happy.
Sounds a bit like “Gimme Gimme Some Lovin'” by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
My mistake, I meant “Soul Man” by Sam &Dave
fun key fun key fun key a bit like Mark Bolin 2
I agree with Kate about Peter Green. Any of his bluesy riffs would be very nice to hear Griff…..!
Thanks Griff. On the money as always. Please check out the vid where Howling is teaching those white boys “rooster”. As someone said “squeeze my lemon” Regards,Chris
Hi Griff,
Nice lick, but for me I found it more to my liking if I played a triplet on the third beat and swung the remaining beats
This one was a lot of fun/ Thanks.
No copyright infringement intended btw.
Thanks as always for the lesson Griff. A good example of “the riff” is from Clapton’s Crossroads 2010 Festival with Hubert Sumlin, Robert Cray, Jimmy Vaughan and others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbLBosn5__I
Brilliant lesson Griff and a great follow up to your advice on preparing for a jam night, invaluable! Love to see more riffs on the well known blues tunes, Statesbro, The thrill is gone, Texas Flood etc.
Thanks again for being the best teacher out there.
…as always, you have my gratitude
Barely needs saying but you simply are the best teacher out there – no question
Loved the riff too Thanks Griff
What a fun and great lesson to have given us to learn Griff. Keep them and your DVD instructions coming. A loyal fan!
Griff, I really like this lesson. I found that after all the DVD’S I have of yours,I can watch your video’s and not need the Tabs to play them. Another fine lesson. Thanks Griff. Mike
Great, Thanks Griff. I believe this was actually Hubert Sumlin’s riff. He was with Howlin Wolf for many years.
Man the pearls you lay down on us are just AWESOME! Killing fields is one of the songs on my “gonna learn it one day” list (it’s a real list) and BANG you lay it on me. In ten minutes I got it down and I’m having a blast. More sense of accomplishment than I got from a 12 hour work day.
These pearls alone are worth the cost of your courses. I am more grateful for your teachings than you can imagine.
I really liked this!!! One that everyone can work on. Fyi, seeing some great stuff publicly lately. Last night dobro master Jerry Douglas and seeing J.D. McPherson sunday. Live for music!!
Great lesson…..how about ‘killing floor’….by Electric Flag…ha . remember them/? give this a listen, it’s amazing. Also, Griff, it sure would be nice to see some other blues on here (get tired of 12 bar blues), namely Peter Green. He was in my opinion on of the best blues guitarists ever. Still good, but he’s lost some zip. BB King said he was the only guitarist that could make him break out in a cold sweat. that says something. thanks.
Yo Kate, I was listening to Electric Flag doing Killing Floor the night before last – synchronicity! It’s on the Michael Bloomfield “From His Head to His Heart to His Hands” set. VERY nice. Then there’s the Led Zep “Lemon Song” that’s almost identical, but the riff has subtly different timing. I also love Peter Green, play “Albatross” regularly and I wish I could get “Oh Well” down – that’s a killer. His Robert Johnson album with the Splinter Group is also excellent.
ChrisG.
Thank you for the lesson. All to often I forget to use little fills like the ones you demonstrate in this lesson. I’m also a fan of Howlin’ Wolf.
I have an old album of Howlin’ Wolf’s called, The London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions,featuring Eric Clapton,Steve Winwood,Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts.
If you ever get a chance to listen to it,it’s a great album! There is also a short piece where Howlin’ Wolf is teaching them his version of The Red Rooster. He’s playing and singing the song on acoustic Slide guitar. Authentic to say the least.
Incredible Album got it when it first came out!
If you have that album on vinyl, it is worth a fortune! Great side story about how Howlin’ Wolf was sick and not in good spirits, and Clapton talked him into playing along on the recording.
THANKS GRIFF. I LIKE THAT LITTLE RUN. DONE IT BEFORE, BUT WITH OUT THE TRIPLE PICKING. LIKE THOSE COOL CHORDS. SOME THING TO NOODLE AROUND WITH ON MY ACOUSTIC. NEW NEIGHBOR, SLEEPS IN THE DAY TIME SO NO AMP, OR I’LL GET IN TROUBLE WITH MY SLUM LORD. HEAD PHONE’S AND MY BOSS ME 70. STILL CAN’T WATCH YOU TEACH AND PLAY MY ELECTRIC BLUE’S HAWK AT THE SAME TIME. SO I HAVE BEEN PLAYING UNPLUGED. 🙁
Thanks for the lesson. I’ve been playing guitar nearly 40 years, but not with a passion (never gigged or jammed much) mostly playing by myself. I can chord, hammer, bend, etc pretty well and have a good flow about my style, but I never learned how to go beyond that. With your lessons, I am now learning how to jam “in key” and also pick up these little licks like you show in these videos. I bought BGU to take me beyond where I have been for 25 years and I’m already excited to now see where I can go. Thanks for a great product.
Many thanks Griff for your simple but very useful lesson. I have played guitar since 1967 discovering every time something new with guitar just like your very clever licks. You are real professional guitarist. I admire your patience. God bless you !
Excellent video Griff! I know we talked about this at the last BGU live and I really like the way you put this lesson together. I love that Howlin’ Wolf version of the tune and I will definitely put more work into this one.
Thanks again,
DaveyJoe
Simple, instructional, and doable,,,thanks Griff, Mike
sweet little lesson…thanks…later.
cowboy
I’m on lesson 21, can’t wait to get to 29. Always wanted to learn Killing Floor. Thanks for “killer” lesson.
l like those blues riffs off of the lower strings , some of the ones l first heard n still love to play are the Allman Brothers one way out n, and you don’t love me ,and parts of Southbound,,and others l cannot think of right now .
I have played guitar since 1956 but it is still nice too listen and watch another guotar player play never to old to learn a new run on the ol strat. I dont play on stage any more to old. But miss it, you make me want to get the guitar back out and play Glen
Can you put the tab for the Howlin wolf lick on line. I did not see it when I saw the video
I’m no where near lesson 29 yet but this is a great lesson to play around with. Thanks! I’m just starting lesson 10 in the BGU course.
I fool around with this progression a lot because once you learn one of the riffs there is ample opportunity to fool around with it and create your own. I mess around with a lot of two and three finger chords all over the guitar too especially from the fourth fret on down. These chords are good for fast progressions if you need them.
Thanks again Griff, can’t quite keep up with all those great lessons yet but they will all come in handy as I workk my way up 🙂
Thanks for this one Griff. Love this song. I had a variation of this great song down once before, a few years ago, then through not playing it for a while I had ‘lost’ the way to play it – but now thanks to this great lesson from you I have got back to it once more. Keep up the great work – it’s really appreciated.
Another cool lesson. Thanks Griff
thanks for the riff its kinda cool . may try and see if the rest of band digs it and who knows .
thanks Griff … those little chords are useful too. I’ll practice with those.
Lesson 29 in my copy of “Blues Guitar Unleashed” is chord soloing and double stops. I’ve checked the TOC and can’t find the referenced lesson. Cool licks that I would like to learn. Got the first part down from the video.
Thanks.
Thanks Griff and would you please do a recording of ‘Tore Down’ licks for all us students.