Today’s video is another along the classic lines of the Muddy Waters classic, “Mannish Boy.”
As we’ve seen in other videos, there are a lot of options and a lot of “right” ways to play this… so try them all and pick your favorite.
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36 replies to "Mannish Boy"
Lindy Fralin Blues Specials I have those on my Strat and love them.. Lindy shows us lefties some love by making a lefty set too. Great lesson Griff, thanks..
Hi Griff I know is not the correct place to put this but I can’t down the MP4 file from this location eg from the blog all other downloads no problems.
Got it finally
In A, I like using the open D string …
Fun song Griff, thanks for the lesson. Love the simplicity of it and how you can dress it up.
Now you just have to walk us through the Bo Diddley riff!!!
Good lesson and thoroughly explained. Thanks Griff.
Good deal on this one Griff. Apart from the song Gloria (which I “found another version of with Van Morrison and John Lee Hooker, great one also imo), it’s one of the first songs I learned on guitar. Unfortunately , I picked it up from the Yardbirds version and that version has been stuck solidly in my head from then on. Thank you for giving me a different and desired perspective on how Muddy did it.
You really got me… with this one Griff. Kinky. 😉
Can you explain in more detail how to achieve “overdrive”? I have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III amp and an Epiphone Sheraton II. Thank you.
“Overdrive” is just pushing the signal into the amp… get yourself a Tube Screamer, or one of its many clones, and experiment with it… a little can go a long way, so start with the amp setup to play pretty clean, then set the pedal’s gain control pretty low & use the volume control on the pedal to boost the signal into the amp. I have an earlier version of the HRD and don’t care for the ‘drive’ characteristics of it, even after installing the Fromel mods… so I find the tone much more useable, and listenable, using a pedal to provide the drive! Remember: a little boost goes a long way!
Get an overdrive pedal. To overdrive an amp requires pushing volume beyond loud.
It is amazing what the true old blues players did and how it truly was as simple as it can get with the riffs and what the achieved in the world of music and entertainment. Nice presentation on a good old Muddy Style.
Check out Muddys version of this on the Band dvd of the last Waltz ! Great cut, followed by Robbie Robertson saying Ain’t that a Man! Muddy Waters!
Where my obsession with blues began! Thanks.
WAHOOOO! I was COMPELLED to get out the “Hard Again” album and listen to Muddy and Johnny Winter whoop it up hard and heavy. If that ain’t sanctified blues, I’m dead and gone. One of my desert island albums for sure. When Griff spelled the riff – ADACA – I just mentally added an AC to the start and got ACADACA … guess who? Malcolm (RIP) and Angus Young are right at home in this sound. And when Griff played it in B, then again in G, I just heard Jimmy Page and Zep’s “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”. Muddy is the source of so much of what we do it’s almost impossible to pick up the guitar without playing something he started. Thanks for posting this again Griff, keep up the great work please.
ChrisG
I am enjoying the new unreleased Version of Mannish Boy By Hendrix
it is very different arrangement from the original
but once again Hendrix makes it all his own.
THE OLD MY BABY DONE LEFT ME! I USE TO USE THE POWER CORD AND THEN GO TO THE A. I ALSO USED MY STRAT. KIETH ANDERSON PICKUPS. EVER HEARED OF HIM. HE HAS HELPED DESIGN A LOT OF PICKUPS AND HE HAS HIS OWN LINE OF THEM. SOUNDS GREAT. I LIKE YOU TELE SOUND ALSO.
THANKS GRIFF.
I’m guessing this starts on the and of 3, a triplet at 4 and uh, and lands on the 1.
Hi Griff,
Great lesson and a great groove..I have saved it for later to learn. I just watched Muddy Waters play this on Youtube back in 1971 and he has a Capo on 5th Fret of his Tele but hardly plays the guitar and just sings.. Great song.
Thanks
Michael -Sydney-Australia 20 May 2017.
LIKED your explanation of how you get the different sounds. Pickup type etc. We all want to get “the sound”.
Nice Griff. Can you give some assistance on the timing of the riff and vocals as this song has a 12 8 signature and I would love some tips in dealing with this … Thanks
Excellent! Can’t tell you how many little riffs like this I just don’t hear right! Or I hear a bunch of different ways and never “get.”
1-4-1-b3-1 is exactly what I was looking for. Cool variations, too! I also enjoyed your tone information…”Flubby” and “Squishy” low end! Thanks!
Very tasty brother. Thanks for making it simple. Great to meet you at the air show! F-35 Guardian
Great teaching as usual. You make us feel like pros!
Love your videos and lessons .. You always simplify ! Have a great day Griff !
Hi Griff,
Most importantly, happy Mother’s Day to Laura! Great nuggets in this video from variations thru equip. set up. Thanks, as always, for sharing tips that encourage us to keep playing.
Boston Jack.
Thank you. Jorma, Jerry, David G. Carlos, Jimmy, and Griff my guitar heroes.
Griff as always, you break things down to be very understandable and doable. Thanks!
Cheers Griff
For the lesson love that telecaster saving up for one 😎🎶
Griff, solid lessons, i love the emphasis on variations, and THANK YOU for adding the commentary on your tone!
I met Muddy back in the 60’s at a club I worked at in Philly. He was quite a character and sported a great band.
Koop beans bro. Tks
Cool haven’t been here for a while but I’m back cheers mate
Another Great email!
Thank You!
Thanks Griff.
Another very useful video. I really like the demonstration of all the variations on the basic lick. That opens up even more possibilities for us.
I’ve also seen it played using open tuning (G or D I don’t remember).
Thanks again. Always useful stuff……….
Thanks, Griff. Very helpful. I just heard this song on the radio the other day and was wondering about the best way to duplicate it.