Merry Christmas!
A Lesson In The Style Of
“Run Rudolph Run” by Chuck Berry
It’s one of the classic rock and roll/blues Christmas songs of all time. And it turns into a GREAT lesson on a classic rhythm that can be used in many different songs.
I hope you enjoy this lesson. The download versions, TAB, and backing track are all below the player.
Please give the video a minute to load once you click the play button 
Downloads
This Video (MP4)Mac users should use the MP4 version to download the video
- This Video (WMV)
Windows users should use the WMV version to download this video.
The TAB for the example.This is the TAB for the example in the middle of the video
Great explanation about the hand position making the stretch. The thumb position is so critical in controlling the whole arc of the arm, etc. I learned this in my study of classical guitar. Electric players are usually so sloppy about these issues. Great that you bring this knowledge to a wider audience. Thank You.
Very good lesson and on time.
Thanks Griff. GOD bless you and your family.
Lionel
That was so great. We played “oh Carol” by Chuck Berry last night at our little get together. I’m gonna learn this and show it to my buddy n play it next week. Hope Rudolph runs to your house on Christmas Eve! Have a great Holiday Griff.
yeah saw this a while back .Was tryin to remember this just yesterday. Its cool to rehash ole stuff it just might stir up another tune from it. Chuck Berrys Johnnie b good for one .
Excellent lesson, Griff. I was getting stale playing the same old licks and your thought-provoking lessons are prodding me out of my bad habits. Have a great Christmas and thank you
Thanks Griff. I will be sure to try it out when I get home. I been having problems stretching for some chords. This should help. Thanks and Merry Chrstmas you you and your family.
Great Lesson!
Thanks Griffin. This is a gread learning video. I learnt something new a special one to learning guitarist.
Salute to you . I will keep trying till I master it.
Happy Christmas to you .
Griff, thanks again for your awesome lessons! I saw this last year when I could barely play BGU Solo 1, now I’m almost up to speed with Solo 6. What an amazing journey!
Very nice. Thanks and merry Christmas.
I really enjoy the simplicity of you instructions. I am looking forward to play some day. I have you Blues Beginners CDs. Keep the vidios coming, I save all of them to help me learn.
Thanks Griff, I am still working with your lessons for beginners blues, but really found this useful as I have always had problems with chords that need me to stretch my hand!!! But it seems from this that its nothing to do with my small hands but more about angle and thumb placement.
Merry Crimbo to you and yours
Thanks Griff. Turns out I know that lick but never put it together with Chuck Berry. Always played it just a little differently. I have also used the variation on the V, IV, I . As you say repeatedly, it works anywhere. Must be a lesson there.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Keep on playin.
I bought the Easy Solos … expecting nothing else. Things you do for “us” like this, and others, makes my purchase a real “Bang For The Buck” … thank man!!! Regards Ed
Merry Xmas to you, too Griff! Great little present. Chuck Berry is definitely in my top 3 of influences – such a defining sound. You teach his style way better than anybody I’ve ever seen. Thanks!
Thanks man .. I bought the Easy Solo… expecting nothing else. The things, like this and others, make that purchase a very real “Bang for the Buck” …thank you.
Question: Is there anything that you can’t do on a guitar???
regards ed
Ah that red 335 and the double stops really like your ending Griff happy holidays to you and your family thanks again for all you do for us guitar people !!!
GREAT LESSON,GRIFF. MERRI CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND FAMILY,
THANK YOU: RON K.
Great lesson Griff.. got to see Chuck Berry live a couple of times. Your lesson sure sounded like “The Man” to me
Great lesson and seasonal too.
I am so glad to have found you as a teacher on the internet. My reticence to sit down with a teacher is overcome when working with your DVD material. This is a perfect example of your patience and style of teaching for newbies. I hope you and your family have a great Christmas break.
great lesson Griff and thank you so much compliments of the to you and your family merry Christmas and happy new year.
Griff….all the best to you for Xmas and 2016 and sincere
thanks for all your hard work in sharing your knowledge and skills with us all.
As to the “Classical Guitarist” who slights “Electric guitar players who USUALLY ARE SLOPPY ABOUT SUCH THINGS”….
Mate …..pull your conceited head in and remember that other guitarists….no matter what their choice of instrument, their level of musical interest or skill, do not want or need your snobbery to affront their choices.
Go twang your plonker in some dark corner……..we don’t want you up-thyself types in this practice gig !
Amen!
Its a stretch alright
Smaller guitar? bigger hands?
Mo practice
I’m intrigued by Griff’s guitar. Seen it before on his videos, but can’t figure out what it is – When he plays a Tele it’s a Fender, but this Strat-style is a SWer or Suter or something? Can anybody enlighten me? Griff?
Many thanks, Griff.
Appreciate all your helpful tips and lessons. Best wishes to you and you family for the Festive Season.
Thanks, great video and cool shirt too.
Thanks Griff great video
Merry Christmas to you and your family
From Jim S in Australia
youtube.com
Hi Griff – 12-String-Pete here, to wash away the blues.
BB, God bless him, has gone; where to is anybody’s guess. People say, “where does the time go?” – well, it ‘goes’ where it comes from. We too are designed to ‘go where we come from’. This is where belief takes its heavy toll if we fail to awaken, and stay stuck under the domination of emotional-control so familiar to the ‘blues-fraternity’.
Although highly emotionally attractive – and Jezebel-seductive because mankind so easily identifies with misery – the ‘blues’ can now safely be set aside to make space for the joys; that is, if anyone is really interested in using their talents truly creatively. After all, our talents are not given to us in order to depress people, as do the blues in their seductive way of communicating complaint.
Shit-kicking music can as easily be replaced by the angelic choir that yearns to sing of the wonderful qualities of life so obvious by their absence in the blues-bandit who takes life for granted, assuming it is his or hers to do with as they please.
“Joy abounds, so blues, you are told to leave, and never-no-more return”
For joyful is what we are, and blue an apparent absence of what we are born to be; free.
Thanks Griff. Nice fleur de lis “shout out” to the French Canadian friends. I agree that X-mas (and just about everything else) is so commercialized. A lot of insincere and “too clever” attempts to separate us from our money. However, your sincere wish to give to others is so very refreshing. You deserve all the best.
always great to get back to the old styles like Chuck Berry, that was good times for me….thanks again for all you do….Merry Christmas to you and your family, may God bless..,Merry Christmas to everyone on the site…..
Hey Griff, In Jan 2016 I got to this and a very good lesson Chuck Berry style one of my Favourites for 12 Bar Blues. Just like the Bar Chords which over time I have mastered but with the added stretch Frets 1-5 Able to just get there. My method simple when watching TV I stretch my fingers on my left hand using a Berocca metal tube between my fingers over time broadens your fingers and hand stretch. Maybe a tip for other guitar players to GET that Left Hand Stretch or Right Hand Stretch for LH players for Bar chords like F7.
Going to practice this one for that stretch music.
Michael-Sydney-Australia-Jan 2016.
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