OK, so I was feeling a little more towards the Classic Rock side and did one of my live session on the Facebooks and YouTubes with one of my favorite songs…

It’s “The Boys Are Back In Town” by Thin Lizzy… and even if you don’t care much for the song, the chord progression is super cool, with movements you just don’t see very often in rock music (there’s even some “jazz” in there!)

Anyway, hope you dig it, and maybe can spend some time with it today.


    45 replies to "The Boys Are Back In Town"

    • Scott Snellgrove

      Greetings from Oz .If you like Thin Lizzy counterpoint solos Check out “Southern River Band” from Western Australia. Bunch of larrikins but conceals some great musicianship. Great live act

    • Werner Lesar

      You had me during the first 55 seconds. If I could replicate that, I would be absolutely thrilled. Any chance of more of it??? I really like that style. Any hints as to where to find that?

      Actual lesson was fine as always. Just not really my thing.

    • Greg Schackert

      love this song and the group. great lesson.

    • Alex Mowatt

      You are right in thinking that Thin Lizzy were an awesome group. Possibly comparable with Status Quo in term of followers.

      Regrettably Phil Lynott wasn’t taking the ‘long course’ to fame and died too young, as Jimi Hendrix did.

      There styles of playing incorporated: Hard Rock, Blues (of course), Heavy Metal, Folk Rock.
      I have enjoyed your explanation of the form of the tune and will admit that I may never aspire to playing it being in my seventies now. I do however ‘promote’ your Website and your instruction processes to whoever will listen to me. Keep up the great work Griff.

    • Paul Jones

      Thank you for what you do! Its not easy being a teacher. You’ve got to be the best. God bless you and please, keep on rocking!

    • Lloyd

      a few months back, you mentioned how much you liked Gary Moore, which took me to google. I discovered “One Night in Dublin”, a tribute to Phil Lynott. Which was great, and lead me to his incredible blues song “Still got the Blues”. Not only was he a great guitarist, he can sing as well. WOW.

    • DB

      thanks for explaining the thought process for harmony guitar parts!! Great lesson!!!

    • Donovan

      What a mature crowd, i guess im not, at about 1min50 sec griff says “what can i say, i go both ways” and nobody said anything….hmm
      Anyhoo, another quality lesson

    • kim

      I really dig this classic song. How can you not like the main riff – its is so catchy.

    • Tony Newman

      Great taster lesson. Great tune and even better band. I was lucky enough to see them several times in London at the Hammersmith Odeon (now the Apollo) including for the live recording of The Jail Break tour. Thanks for reminding me. 😊

    • Bruce

      Griff – Fun lesson as always and nicely done in a manner that all levels of players can enjoy! Love your down to earth style. You are good bro!

    • Rick

      Also one of my all time favourite songs. Looking forward to learning it. Thanks🤘

    • Kevin Lovatt

      Hi Griff, great Lizzie track. And do you know where Phil Lynott got his inspiration from for the twin harmony guitars? Wishbone Ash! Still alive and kicking after 50 years mate!

    • Anthony Ingoglia

      What was the Jazz turn around. You didn’t finish it

      • Ricardo

        iii vi ii V I

        Cm FM Bbm7 Eb11 Ab

        • Ricardo

          That should be Fm.

        • Ricardo

          Starting @7:53.

    • tony

      My old time favorite is On the dark side . I am not cutting You up but I can hear that without the guitar being flat its not the same . Thin Lizzy might get pissed for being exact so no worries there.

    • Jeff Moyers

      Sorry dude, my patience wore out before you got to the tune. Can’t we just assume people know bar chords?

      • Rick

        Of course we can’t!!
        Can we just assume you’re in the wrong place?

    • Sean Salins

      Griff that was a great lesson! And one of my favorite tunes also! Reminds me of driving around in the summertime as a teenager cranking that song…thinking I was so cool lol. That lesson had so many great nuggets of info. Thanks again buddy!!

    • Jabip

      Can you provide Tabs please

    • Gary

      Griff,

      What I really enjoyed here was your willingness to experiment and think out loud as you were doing this. Made it a really organic and human video. Most teachers are only willing to show the final product. Well done.

    • Lou Prastil

      Hey Griff- Where did you find that backing track that you were jamming over as you came in? Sounds like a take off on ZZ Top’s “It’s Only Love”…….One of my FAV’S. If you could point me in the right direction, I’d be much abliged!!! Thanx!

    • Lou Prastil

      Thank you Griff; Gary and Scott!!!

    • Don Hall

      Yes! I was never that excited until I began to not change oldies channels when Thin was rocking out Back in Town … younger me thought it a gay boy song … now I could care less … it really is a rocker!

    • Jim Kubitza

      Musical transvestite. 🙂

    • Dave M

      That was really fun – I agree! there have been times when THAT harmony on THAT song has brought me to tears.

    • Andrew Rigby

      That was superb Griff, a nice change up. Good fun.

    • Scott R

      I’m very pleased to see a classic rock song make its way into the mix!
      Keep them coming…

    • Mark Kaplan

      Hey Griff – just checking…is the 3rd chord in the chorus a C# power chord, not a Cb?

      • Ricardo

        Db, not Cb, I.e. the IV chord.

    • Mark Kaplan

      Hey Griff – just checking…is the 3rd chord in the chorus a C# power chord, not a Cb?

      Thanks!, great lesson

    • Nikki K

      GREAT cover by Thin Lizzy of the Bruce Springsteen (YES!) song : “The Boys Are Back in Town”. THANKS! for helping us Rock out today, Griff! 🙂

      • Karl Farren

        You are kidding, right!?
        Right?

    • Karl Farren

      Oh, Lizzy, – how we loved them! I’m from Dublin, – grew up a couple of miles away from where Phil Lynott and Brian Downey were from. Back in those pre-U2 days, Lizzy were really our only hometown heroes on the world stage. Great band, especially live. Great songwriting, driving rhythm section, often with cool syncopations, and those twin guitar lines….

    • Jim

      Lotsa good stuff there! Thanks for a quick rock lesson to keep us old blues guys young!

    • Mike Mashburn

      Blues\classic rock. For me that’s where it’s at

    • Dudley Gibbs

      I`m looking forward to getting `stuck into `this one.
      I saw them a couple of times in London,`Back in the Day`
      A superb number by a brilliant live band.
      Thanks Griff.

    • Joseph Thompson

      Very cool tune Griff, and not real difficult but has a couple weird chords I never took the time to finger out, haha… thanks for making it easy & giving me something to work on today with my digitech harmony man, & my new strandberg, hee hee

    • Mark Wales

      Cheers Griff
      For the lesson enjoying the song lessons with whys and where’s I’ve been lucky enough to catch Lizzy on four occasions blew me away how tight a band could be

    • Mark Kaplan

      Great lesson – very informative. Learned a lot more than just the song

      • Trace

        What Mark said. Lots more.

    • Paul

      Thanks for the lesson Griff. Interesting chord sequence.
      I think Thin Lizzy were underrated

    • Denis Hermans

      Thanks for making this lesson !

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