It seems that one thing a lot of people get hung up on is playing “real songs” as opposed to the examples and songs within the Blues Guitar Unleashed course.
This all started as a great discussion on the Blues Guitar Unleashed Member Forum (just one of the perks…) and really showed me that there is a lot of misunderstanding around what we call arranging for guitar.
As you’ll see, playing a real song can be as easy or complex as you want/need it to be. I’ve done hundreds of gigs where I’ve done nothing more than play the “Blues In A” rhythm (lesson 8) and put some words over it. It works great.
This video is on the long side (about 37 minutes) but I believe is worth your time if you have been struggling with this.
393 replies to "Putting The Pieces Together Into A Real Song"
Hi Griff,
I’ve been a member now for a while (BGU) and I’m curious as to why you use a fake strat!…what’s wrong with the real deal?! By the way, thank you so much for teaching me so much too!
That’s a Suhr…research it. Better than a Strat!
Hey Griff,
This is a great lesson and as I have purchased BGU and V2 and many other BGU courses that you have done I have been learning songs just like you are doing in this video but not yet to Crossroads but to my own songs, I am just playing sounds and Tempo with my Looper and then once I get the Rhythm, Tempo and Feel, I am starting to put some words to it all. Some work some don’t but hey got to give it a try.
Also just practicing the 5 Boxes across different Keys trying to match where I can go singing. I also use your Course 52 Rhythm Fils & Variations just to extend the blues sound a bit more. Also I watch a UK TV Program Jools Holland /Later on BBC UK which has a lot of people that have albums out and I try to find the key and play along with them.
So Yep this lesson goes a long way.
Great.
Michael- Sydney -Australia
This is a keeper, I will keep referring to this video as I continue to work my way through BBG! Look forward to your videos!!! 🙂
Thanks Griff!
Some really good information!
I have gotten used to looking forward to these lessons in my email when I go through it early in the morning Griff. This one has been on my mind for a while now. How to arrange something that will work at an open mic session for example. The comment about sticking with it till it works reminds me of Glen Frey talking about Bob Seger telling him that his first attempts at song writing would be terrible but to keep at it.
Awesome video. Really puts things in perspective
excellent, believe it or not…I’m now going back and “starting over” as this was an eye-opener for me. you kept it quite simple. You could’ve made this lesson 8 hrs long and it still wouldn’t be too long for me. great stuff, Griff, as always!! I just wish I wasn’t at work…..ha!
Griff,
You never cease to amaze me ! I am a longtime subscriber and customer. Your courses and email lessons are the best. I hope that you do not stop for decades ! Your videos always inspire me and, it seems, you never count out the people that need more help and always encourage them. Amazing technique. Thanks for your help.
Ray
great stuff, still working on Blues B. G. U. and loving it,getting many complements!!!!! Thanks
where can I get good jam tracks,free.
Ray Lukehart
Great video cleared a few questions up.
YouTube , or buy a loop pedal and make your own.
Griff,
You continue to answer questions that I have had from previous guitar teachers. Your lessons have solve many questions from previous bad instruction and actually let me finally “click” on certain concepts.
This particular lesson is another great example of that and one that I have needed!
Thank you!
Another awesome lesson.. you keep cracking codes or opening up concepts that an earlier guitar teacher never did.
Tanks Griff verry nice
Excellent Griff, I have 4 of your courses and they all have the same theme “why” . I could copy everything, but if I know why, it will all fall into place. As this video shows. I am a contractor and I will consistently teach my new employees the “why” and I reap the benefits. Thanks, Fraser
When I first saw this video, about a year ago, I didn’t get much out of it. But now that I’ve gone through about half of the BGU course, It make s lot of sense. Now that I have some pieces to put together! Thanks!
As usual, just great. Thanks Griff.
This is what it’s all about, Griff. And you make it so easy to understand.
Awesome!
I’ve said it before – I’ll say it again. There just isn’t anyone out there to come within a mile of your ability to teach & explain. You’re by far the best there is Griff – never stop – & thank you so much.
Thanks for the review. Works real well in Jam sessions.
Griff:
Great “lesson” As a person who was trained in classic clarinet, playing what is on the page was my major hang up when I started playing in a jazz band – both in high school and later in the Navy band system. Learning how to “improvise” or play something not already written down is a major hurdle, not only for the beginner, but also for established musicians. This is a very good introduction into learning to “let go” and play. Thanks for the time and effort you obviously put into teaching.
Happy holiday.
First i want to congratulate U on winning . U R awesome with your teaching.(The best). I like hearing from U even though ive been unable to do much lately. Thank U so much.
Thanks Griff,
That was a really valuable lesson. I know that I will refer to it often as I progress with lessons. I want to be able to play, fill in, etc. regardless of the key. I’ll get there.
Doug
Thanks, Griff. That was a much-needed video. I have been depending too much upon tabs, and your video convinced me that it was time to stop relying upon the primers and start figuring out new musical words and sentences for myself.
Thanks for your efforts – you’ve done it again. Even people with natural talent don’t get it without engaging their brain. There is no magic pill. We all have to work for it (IT being anything you want bad enough). You provide the a formula for those of us who need a little nudge in the right direction. I wish all good things for your future because it is in your nature to help people. Thanks again, Tom W
Perfect!!
Awesome! Another great and easy to understand lesson Griff!
I’d say this is probably one of the best lessons. I remember listening to this video before, but I lost track of it. Thank you for bringing it back. I am very much interested in the practice of singing and playing at the same time.
Gday griff, very cool it helps a lot. Many thanks, cheers.
What great help Griff. You filled so many holes for me with this lesson. Thank You!!
I have not had anyone explain these concepts as clear as easy as you do.
This simple lesson is the core of what I have been looking to learn as all the pieces now fit. I feel I know when to break out on the licks!
Hey Griff, I’m 52 first started guitar when I was 10 and it bored me,they
wanted to teach music fundamentals I wanted to play a song. Your Blues Guitar Unleashed has been the most fun I’v ever had with my guitar THANKS AND KEEP UP YOUR THE BEST!
makes it real you understand well done Sir! i don`t have use of left habd frustrating indeed but i loved the video thankyou very much all the best brian
You are the budah of guitar, and all the comments here in this video proves it. Thank you, my journey with BGU just keeps getting better and better 🙂
Fantastic video . Really says it all . Puts so much into context . Thanks so much for you genuine generosity and care for your students around the world . From Australia !!
Griff
you sing very well. You should sing more in your video’s. It sounds good and it’s very helpful to hear the actual melody of the song as well as the guitar solo with the added grace notes.
Griff, I’m not much of a writer, but I had to let you know…..Man you are the best. I started playing at 13 in ’64 when I first heard the Beatles. Played for 23 more years, and stopped. Sometimes life just gets in the way. Never stopped loving the guitar, never stopped loving the blues, just couldn’t seem to get my head and heart back into it. Started playing again 3 years ago, on and off, some things started coming back but I’d lost some things as well, to be expected. Got your Blues Guitar Unleashed and started playing again. Also started going back to my slide work and fingerstyle, and not just the blues.
Griff I’m 62 now, and look forward to every lesson you send, look forward to every hour I get to spend at night practicing and playing….Hell, I’m single, no Wife no kids, no life…LOL!!! So thanks, I’m inspired again, got to many great axes and to much time on my hands!!!! Thanks….Please keep on doin’ what your doin’…I expect to be goin’ out and giggin’ with someone soon!
Richard, I know how you feel. Griff is helping me to get out of the 60’s one song at a time. I played in a garage band in the mid 60’s, then I grew up and life happened, now at 61 years old I own 6 guitars and enjoy playing all of Griff’s blues lessons on each and every one of those guitars. As long as arthritis doesn’t stop me, I’ll keep playing.
No wife–how LUCKY!!! No one shouting stop that racket.
Thanks Griff,Very helpful you make it looks so easy.
Best vid you have done. All the best!
Get all that you were trying to put across, but if i may make a suggestion, and you hit upon it almost. Whether it be a beginner who can’t sing, or an intermediate to professional that is trying to write a song, humming the tune, or lyric whether fully developed, or not, while selecting the chords at the proper beat with riffs that blend well can be extremely useful. I know in my own song writing, I find a set of chords i feel I want to use and play them humming what may become the lyric, or the lead to go along with the melody and as the song matures, words start to be added and chords may change as well as beat, but in the end I have a rhythm, a melody, a set of riffs to work, and a lyric. The lesson was excellent by the way.
I am so impressed with the ideas you present. You are indeed the best blues guitar instruction site. I have learned so much from your courses and blogs. Hope you keep it going for years to come. Best of luck to you and thanks. I am an intermediate skilled player and have learned much from your tips and instruction.
I needed this. I wrote a song for my grandchildren. this really helped me a lot.
Fabulous video, Griff. I also do not have perfect pitch but given a starting point, I know where to go from there. From the lessons in BGU, I am learning more how to visualize where things are on the fret board. I took piano lessons as a kid, so I know theory and can read music but I always had to use a “mental keyboard” first, then hunt around on the guitar until I found it. Now I’m more able to visualize the song on the fret board without having to use the “mental keyboard” as an intermediary. Thanks so much for all you do – I’m very glad you are my teacher!!!!!! Your patience is extraordinary.
Great video! Helps me understand the importance of scales, and gives me hope and some confidence that I’m moving in the right direction when I spend more time than I should figuring out some songs. Really gives me incentive to become disciplined with scales. Thanks for sharing.
Looks like a great idea for a new course 😉
I have BGU, SWS, ABGU and Little Wing.. next when I can afford it.. Blues Gig in a box! One day I am going to shock my family.. most have no idea what I can now do 🙂
My playing continues to surprise me and I learn something every day..
All down to you Griff.. ( I am one of those that have tried and put the guitar away 2 or 3 times in the past) Look forward to seeing videos of you playing those 5 songs from that awesome looking course with your band in a gig..
All the best and thanks again for years of unexpected fun, progress and enjoyment!
Diresteve uk
Griff I have been watching your videos and have learned a lot from them, but I do have a question. Jam tracks….playing them back I have trouble getting the same tones that I hear on your videos. Would like some tips or something on how to get a better sound for your jam tracks. When I watch your videos, you seem to get a better tone. Need some help.
Thanks Again you are number one, keep it going.
Joseph
Great fun! This one got me motivated
Thanks for that video,helps answer the way to put riffs together.
This is a ’10’ video. You really nail the explanation and after watching it twice, I really understood what you were trying to get across to us. Now let me play around a bit with this and on the third time through, I will try to keep up with you 🙂
I love your honesty, Griff.
hi!,I really like your writing so a lot! percentage we be in contact extra about your article on AOL? I need a specialist in this space to resolve my problem. Maybe that is you! Having a look ahead to see you.
An “unusual” video? Griff, this was an EXCELLENT video! Sometimes, less structure is more.
Hi Griff . Great lesson/video as always you are a great teacher and very informative I enjoyed it so much thank you …..John……
The Tools you teach are great, I really don’t want to play other peoples stuff. I want to create my own. I am working on my own inner timing and the points you make are well taken , Thanks!
Griff: this is awesome, opens the gates to how a song works. This would be a good subject for full video lesson. this thought process ties all the other lessons together. you do always do a good job. Thank you for your help.
Bruce
Thanks, great lesson!
Awesome..Is it possible to get the tab for Crossroads?
Another great video Griff! Again…. you reinforce how it should be written in stone….it’s all about the timing, timing, timing. After watching the video, some of the responses made me chuckle 🙂 If you get the timing right Michael it almost doesn’t matter what you play, within reason and key of course.BTW… if you google it you’ll find tab for crossroads all over the internet.
Awsom video. Enjoyed it alot. Makes a lot of sence to me. Like all the fills you put in.
thanks again griff; as usual…informative
A really good video. It certainly was not too long. I am very much a beginner but this video is very interesting.
Tell us more about what is needed to having looping jam tracks.
Thanks.
Thanks Griff. As usual a brilliant insight into your craft.
Great overview Griff. Been a while since I’ve looked at your stuff. Been busy getting a little group going with ‘You are My Sunshine’, Beatles stuff etc. But you’ve inspired me to get back to BGU (bought some time ago). This session soooo… comprehensive and worth time to see/ listen/ download.
Thanks from Blue Mts. Sydney Oz
BTW, great look Griff almost academic
Lotsa’
kevin
that was great love that song born under a bad if not for the trill is gone it would be my no one blues song
Hi great help happy (late) birthday thanks dave m uk
I just had to state i made an error in last message the word song should be’ sound exactly’ the same each time . Besides that doesnt this piece sound like the song before you accuse me by CCR and Clapton poeple . Im sure that its done by an artist way before thoes two did it RIGHT GRIFF.
I believe i ve seen this video once before . I like it and has been very helpful . My band and I have tried this song quite a few times and i have to say that any song any musician will not song exactly the same each time . so i agree that if you cant get it felling right keep TRYING till you do.HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRIFF!
happy birthday griff, great video, still working my way thru your bbg, bgu, and strumming and rhythm courses, thanks griff you are a great help.all the best from the UK. regards John B.
Another great lesson Griff, you make it look so easy. I guess it’s a matter of “if at first you fail, try and try again”
Belated birthday wishes.
Graeme H
Very helpfull Griff. Thank You! Please continue with these sort of lessons.
I am trying to play Buddy Guy solo(full son)Skin deep(favorite blues song).He plays it so slowly. I have the tab but I can’t seem to get it to sound right. Can I change some of the tabs to make it easier for me,but to sound as close to his tabs.I’m singing along also. My music singing not is at a Gmg.No problem w/chord bending.
I’m also doing the same w/Brooks & Dunns I believe.(love them both) Can you help me with both.
Thank you
boo.1068@yahoo.com
Happy Birthday – keep on keeping unplugged!
Allan Goldberg
That was a GREAT video. Really what I was looking for to tie the pieces together.
Happy Birthday, Griff. Thanks for this video
Thanks Griff. I thought this was very helpful and especially two thirds through where you upped the tempo of the standard shuffle rhythm and input some soloing.
Every time I come back to your videos I think how smart I was to sign up for your Blues Unleashed course. The additional “stuff” you keep on sending over is amazing – and your videos feel like I am having a one-to-one lesson with you.
Thank you from wet and grey Oxfordshire, UK.
thanks Griff – your videos are always very helpful. ….. going through the boxes to find ‘the spot’ gives me lots to work with.
cheers and glad you had a great birthday
Griff, I had to find the time to sit and listen to this video from start to finish, but it’s great. It encourages one to focus on the creative side of the process, and not simply mimicking the music of someone else, which is what I’ve been doing. I’ve got a long ways to go, but listening to this video, even this early in my learning process, was good for me
Thanks, John
Really nice, I know what you mean about making up your own leads, though I am not quite there yet. Hate to have to be led by the hand, but I would love to see some tab of what you demonstrated.
Great stuff
Thanks
Ron
Happy Birthday Griff!
I’m 70 and picked up the guitar about a tear ago. I like the way you explain your lessons.
Keep up the good work.
Kind Regards
Helmut
This lesson was so timely. I know this sounds stupid, but I can play everything on the guitar except songs. I know hundreds of chords, the pentatonic scale, every note on every string in every fret, and was about to give up guitar because it has just never come together for me, spending all my time on technique and theory. I can play what is on the written page, down to the station as an example, but just can’t mix licks and chords and fills into a song. I will study this video and give it a last effort to play songs. Thank you griff.
that was good enjoy it. got to run
It so,o makes sence when you spell it out in a logical way. Fantastic (now where’s that Guitar)
Belated Birthday Greetings Griff, have one for me
Many thanks
Pete
Thanks Griff. Very useful information and it all makes a lot of sense. Happy birthday.
Thanks again, this is what I really need. I will work on it.
Jan P.
Hi Griff,
This video really helped me to understand a lot. Now to find the time to put
it to use.
Thanks so much
Hi just a line from uk ,great videos just need your fingers cheers baso
Happy (late) birthday
Excellent! very helpful
Thanks Griff, all very clear and made complete sense!
Happy BD, Griff! Pretty soon you’ll be able to wear “Old Guys Rule” shirts!!
DT Disney IS a great gig. Disney ALWAYS bills the best…so that’s why you’re there!! Enjoy!
Happy BD, Griff! A few more years and you can start wearing “Old Guys Rule” shirts!! ;0)
DT Disney IS a great gig. Disney ALWAYS
Excellent Griff, so easy to follow.
Currently taking electric guitar lessons from a chap who like me loves 60s/70s music (+ some modern stuff). It is a bit of a struggle at the moment but your lessons have so many tips that help to keep we amateurs going. Saw the ILLEGAL EAGLES last month who were so good that I nearly gave up guitar altogether…..then I watched this lesson! You are a great motivator. Might even buy your course!
Dick Northcote – Berkhamsted, England.
Hi Griff, watch the whole video and I found just about everything I was looking for. You gave me the key to unlocking the enjoyment and ridding myself of the frustration. Man, you are the “Master”.
Thanks very much and have a good one.
Super! These little lectures sure kick a spark that lights the BGU course for me. Happy One Griff and keep living the Good Life Congrads.
Another great insight. Thanks and Happy Birthday Griff.
A really good video, a nice way to show everything woking together…started watching and didn’t seem like 37 minutes went by. Thanks for your help and guidance. Happy Birthday
Griff, Happy Birthday! Thank you for all the fantastic information you have shared with me over the past few years. Because of what I have learned from you my confidence has grown 10 fold. Thanks again!
Thank you and Happy Birthday!
Griff, Happy Birthday, I’m sure everyone tells you what a fantastic instructor you really are.
I enjoy the BGU lessons but look forward to your continued lessons daily. Please keep them coming you inspire the heck out me. Thanks my friend. Be Well.
Roger
This is a great one Griff! Oh and by the way Happy Birthday! I saw this lesson the last time and it s by far one of my favorites. I have a few, so in the top ten.
First Happy Birthday Griff and thanks for this vidio very good timing….I went to a jam and everything went out the window but thats ok I know to keep at it things will come. I get what your saying it just takes a lot of practice and determination. You have really helped a lot.
Best Reagards
Roger Theriault
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Griff !!!! lov your vid’s I bought your blues unleased course lov it been slacking on it got to get back in it thanks for your time you put in these vid’s
Griff, This is most helpfull. Thanx
Good video lesson as always. Happy Birthday!
great stuff Griff. I like it
Happy Birthday Griff, how old?
I’m 50, 51 in January, 2014
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRIFF!!!!
I love it; very interesting. Thanks again GRIFF!!!!!
Thanks Griff. I have messed with my own songs, just need to get into blues more. In Japan and no guitar a few more days. Miss it. Your on line mails keep my juices flowing, thanks again.
Happy Birthday Griff! It is my birthday too. (10 October) So it is good to see we share more than just the love of the blues. Peace
all the best Happy b_Day
I loved it Griff maybe you can give a lesson on how to find the start of a song like in Detroit city in the key of E an want to change it to the key of C cord change no problem but the riff what.an how in the key of C
Happy Birthday Griff. my best for you
I save money to buy your course, I love the Blues
Thank’s for yours lessons
Jose
mendozalares@yahoo.com
Happy Birthday Griff.and thank you for the video. the 37 min. seemed to go by very fast. for me it was very helpfull information. I look foreward to the next bit of information. thanks again and have a great birthday…… Bernie
Hey Griff, first of all, belated Happy Birthday, and YES, what an outstanding way to spend a birthday! Also, your words are encouraging as I have often had difficulty trying to put what I learn into a song. Also, the comment about getting frustrated in trying to copy BB King while playing a song versus coming up with one’s OWN lick to compliment the song. Basically, I’ve learned to not reinvent what is already being done, but to play less, and add to the song. Buddy Guy is one who definitely epitomizes less.
Enuff rambling, blessings on your birthday and the Disneyland gig. Wish I could be there to help celebrate, but live too far.
Hope the rest of your day goes well. Your gig at Disney sounds like fun! Happy Birthday buddy
Happy Birthday Griff ! Thanks for giving us a birthday present too !!!
Great video and information, I’m sure I’ll be watching it again !
Your videos are helpful and easy to understand and learn from, even for me, the Wannabee
especially like your videos for Faster Chord Changes, and the one on Strumming techniques — helpful for a long-time beginner like me.
Happy Birthday Griff, love the videos , keep them coming…please.
Always watch your informative video’s, and it always gets me to playing and practicing the guitar. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into helping all your students. Hope you have a fantastic birthday and many more! Thanks again, Floyd
Happy Birthday griff!, It’s a blessing!,
Griff,
Great lesson. Thanks to this video I feel I have jumped 10 rungs of the ladder. Arranging songs has now turned into not only an enjoyable challenge but a productive one. My confidence is starting to soar. I owe you a lot.
Thanks,
George
happy bday Griffster! as always totally enjoy and learn from your videos. would like to see a video on “call&response sometime. i.e. sing the phrase–play the phrase. also singing and playing a phrase ala Hendrix,ala Voodoo Child “i’m a voodoo child-voodoo child–lord knows i’m a voodoo child”etc. and many more examples. anyway good stuff as always! thanks Griff!
Happy Birthday Griff, love the videos , keep them coming!
Best wishes,
That was a great way of putting a song together.
Thanks
Hey; Thanks for the video;
I know enough guitar to understand most of what you are teaching but making it happen is going take some work.
Often I have heard/ seen teachers who demonstrate how to do something but showing us how it is played it is lacking. I appreciate the way you show how to play the piece. If I knew how to play it then I wouldn’t be watching the video. ha ha
I feel that after I watch this video a zillion times and work on playing it, I will have gained a great deal in my skill level.
Keep up all that you do and again thanks much
.
another “Larry”
A very happy birthday and thanks for the video. Great information for all players.
Steve
I have tried to do this but, now I know I was on the right track..Just needed to understand and this was what I needed…tks Happy Bday
Great lesson Griff. This really simplifies the process of making songs and becoming a more complete blues musician. I’d put this alongside your “Little Wing” lesson as one of the best tool kits for making music. All it takes is work and playing around with all those cool licks you’ve put into BGU.
It’s your birthday, but you gave us the gift. Have a good one.
John
Many happy returns. Now that I live in LA I’m going to have to come out and hear you guys play sometime.
Great lesson.
JiB
Happy birthday Griff from “The Griff”
Cheers, good advice, thanks and keep em coming.
Hey Griff, Great perspective on the mechanics of how this stuff works. Happy.B.D.
Great ! When is the course coming out !!!
What you cover is not covered by other teachers and is needed by beginners, intermediate players etc.
If what your doing in this was done for several songs in various styles ( say five songs) it
and using licks from BGU, 4 note solos etc it would really help one to get creating there own songs.
Happy Birthday and keep these e-mails coming, big fan of all your courses.
Griff, Happy Birthday, may you have many more….I just received the 5 Easy Blues Solo course, all I can say is FANTASTIC……….Your explanation on combining the 4 note solo with the pentatonic box is a real eye opener,,,, AS IS Using the 4 note solo to get a major or minor sound .
I’m making good progress on the first solo…….Thanks Griff
Still struggling…. after all these years… ;=( Nerve damage is SUCH a bummer… especially when it’s you left arm (that was dislocated) and it’s the ulner nerve…torn down to 2 microns ! ! !
Skate boards are not ment for 43 year olds!
Happy Birthday my friend…
Jeffrey Lear
Bass Player
The Centurions Band
Griff, First of all,Happy Birthday. [Mine is the 27th of this month.] This lesson was very helpful. I really enjoyed how you explained everything. Thank you so much. Mike
Thanks Griff. So many times I just download your email lessons, and watch them later, so I don’t make many comments, as I haven’t watched the video yet. But, just to let you know, I practice almost daily and skip around in your DVD lesson materials that I have gotten from you, and then also the email lessons. I learn a lot, but, it’s hard to say which “page” I’m on.
Anyway, I would like to add my voice to wishing you a very happy b-day. And I look forward to your next lesson. Thanks again.
Chuck
Happy Birthday…………..
Thanks for all the help !!!
Happy birthday… GLASSES???.. OOOOOOOO!
Many Happy Returns Griff
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRIFF!
Brilliant as usual. Happy birthday Griff
I AM A BEGINNER THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE GONE THROUGT THIS LESSIONI AM 66 YRS OLD IN ONE OF YOUR LESSIONS YOU MENTIONED PUSHING TO HARD.WELL I WAS DOING TO MEANY OTHER THINGS.I DESIDED TO DROUP THE OTHER STUFF SO I COULD KEEP MY MIND ON THE MUSIC.THANKS.
Very good for me i must say well watch again to pic up more thanks
Awesome! this makes a lot of sense Thank You!!!!!!!
your the best thanks mike.
Thanks Griff! That was very informative! I will try it!
Gotta get my tools and practice down first! But will do!
Faaaantastic lick never thought of doing it that way soooo easy now
WELL DONE VERY GOOD LESSON. VOICE IT OUT BEATS BUILT IN . WELL I KNOW NOT EVERYONES GOT THAT CANNOT EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS . ITS A NATURAL THING THAT I THINK COMES FROM THE HEART . GOTTA LOVE MUSIC . PLAY ON AN ON AN ON AN
Exactly what I was looking for.
Thanks,
Larry
tops
Fantastic, you made it look so easy. Well, it is quite beyond my league, however, I did enjoyed the performance.
Great!!
Your point about the long run and foundation is well taken and is certainly the best way! This is such an important lesson you’ve done here (as I’ve said previous)!…BUT Griff (and I don’t mean this as counter to anything you’ve said here as its a brilliant Masterclass really!) some people, including me, every now and then just want to be shown how to play at least a signature riff or a few chords of a real song – i.e. they want the “fish” as *inspiration* on the road to teach them “how to fish”…consider it as BAIT…don’t under-estimate people can work backwards as well, then you can help them examine where it fits within the theory ….best wishes, Pete
Really cool! Finally someone verifies my experiences, I thought I had problems, this tells me not so, you made your point very well…thanks once again Griff. You’re refreshing! Pete
Thank you for very useful tips and explanations.
Most of all, I like this suggestion, not only learn tabs, but find out what exactly is connection to Pentatonic and so on… you can play or improvise and,, that is all about.
br, Ljubo
Great stuff Griff.
Cheers.
Dave Mohr
Australia.
This is pure Gold, A whole lot of value. Wow!
If there was any one lesson this would be it. Brilliant.
My Thanks to you Giff
You are cool and your years of hard work are what talent really is, thanks Griff. If you aint got rhythm, you aint got music.
Thanks Griff!!! You have helped and encouraged more guitar players than you will ever know!! The music world owes you big time!!!
A great lesson! Thanks so much – really!!
Thanks so much Griff.
So much sense…lots to work with now and a major thank you!
Ps the bins look great…welcome to the club!
GREAT lesson. Now will the real Griff please stand up. I havent been here long but where did the guy with no glasses and short hair go ? Think he was a little thinner also….. lol
Thanks, Griff! Helps me put things together. It seems so simple-unless you don’t know how it’s done !
Excellent lesson, thanks…………..
I am a ‘harp player but feel I need to know what others are doing in order to play well with a ‘group’.. I Sure do appreciate your videos and this one is perfect. I was able to follow along playing the harp to your licks. Thanks so much for all that you offer to the preservation of music.
Hi Griff, What a Great lesson just what i needed, great teacher.
Hello Griff ,
I’ve been gone for about 3 weeks or more and it’s good to find continuing lessons in my inbox from your guitar teachings . Muting ( 8/24 ) , Circle of 4 ths ( 9/01 ) , Vibrato ( 9/09 ) , 1/4 & 1/8 notes ( 9/10 ) , and now how to put a song together … Well it’s all just fantastic !!! Your method of instructing is GREAT and I’ll recommend anyone interested in learning guitar to you formost … Thank you Sir !!! God bless you and your loved ones … Adios Amigo
As always, you’re the best teacher out there! Thanks for being so generous.)))
Yet another excellent lesson, thanks Griff.
You show us things in a straight forward way minus the B***lS***t.
Thanks.
Griff,a great and smooth style in musical teaching blues improvison,l really like.Yeahhhhhh!!!
Wow. This just put it all together for me. Look out Clarksville. Thanks Griff. BTW RF its a Suhr. Very nice.
Thanks Griff. Awesome.
Great lesson Thank You 🙂
I keep tryin’ to read the guitar name on the headstock with no luck.
So what does it say?
RF
Griff, That Is the best video I have seen on how to put it all together . that you very much.
What a great lesson . It turned that light on for a 66 year old plunker.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST LESSONS YOU HAVE DONE I KNOW JUST BY SEEN THIS VIDEO I WILL PLAY BETTER: YOU(R) RIGHT ABOUT GETTING THE TIMING RIGHT: THAT HAS BEEN MY PRBLEM TILL NOW: YOU HAVE SET ME IN THE GROVE AND I THANK YOU
You must be getting old griff, first time I saw you with glasses JOIN THE CROWD.
wow, this has been stimulating, thank you, I’ve been getting this for some time, never looked at it, yet this has my fire going on, I have a lot of crawling to do, to get all this, thank you, i’m getting the thought of all this,
It is a perfectly legitimate observation to point the nature of a ‘real song’ OR you could just learn to play some real songs. I know that as a guitar player, I resisted this notion of ‘copy work.’ I had some justifications for this at the time, but eventually, I learned you have to just sit down and learn some songs. The next thing I learned, and this struck me as a profoundly valuable thing to know, and that is: It is easy to learn a song, but more to the point, the more songs you learn, the easier it is to learn them. I think learning songs – cover work – is the best, and FASTEST way to learn how to play.
ps hope my message goes to mr griff hamond thank u marie
sorry to ask u again can u start me of from the start been on a emoshnall roller coaster and stuff i got misxstup with lessons and missed a few would be very gratefull if u can start me on lesson one thanl u for haveing pastions with me love to learn haw to play the blues that would make this ol gal very happy at least my guitar would never let me down thank u marie stay safe
thanks griff, as always , well said and might i add one more thing, nothing worth while is easy! being a drummer does help, but practice is the key , thanks again. joe
griff youve been sending me these short vids of pure gold for a long tym now. Ive got to say I personaly think your the best tutor on utube period. you know Marty Swarts he is extremly good yes but as for getting it over to the students nobody does it better than you mate. CHRIS FREEMAN. ENGLAND.
I have watched this video a number of times. I believe anyone who gets blues guitar unleashed should watch this before and after completing the course, as it really helps the light go on and will give the reason why you are studying the course.
Great. Bob
Hey Griff
Makes sense to me. Just found jam tracks and trying to solo with them. Brought me on great.
I never ever thought that I could play along with ‘greats’. Eric Clapton has made a whole career out of exactly what you are saying. Mind you, he can execute with feeling and that’s what it is for me. If you can get the fingers where they are supposed to be at the correct time but get some emotion in too, then you can play, man!
Great video, great discussion—love it
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST,THANK YOU.
this is a great video. i have found if i use a metronome for the first few days of learning a song it will put me on the right path if im planning on playing by myself
Thanks Griff,
As getting a late start in learning music, this lesson/discussion is what I needed to learn. I’ve learned pentatonic/diatonic scales and this lesson turned the light on where I need to go!
Thanks, Gary
Thanks Griff. I really did’nt watch the video all the way through. I’ve been playing professionally from the age of 14. I have written so many songs in that time frame , some I don’t remeber. I have done alot of Arragments, vocal and insrumental. I have about 8 songs , just lyrics and since I started to really focus on Blues I have already got one insrumental down . Just need to arrange the way the song goes with the instrumental. I find writting comes from the Heart and the music comes from your soul. It’s a slow Blues, about 80 beats per second, called Candy wapper! About those girls that tease you and you spend your money buying them drinks and at the end of the Night, you just end up with the wrapper. LOL. I have all the vocal arrangements in my head, with 2 women during the chorus, singing ‘She a candy rapper. I’m sure you remeber before when you where single all the women would not give out there candy. So you end up with just the wapper. Even though this wasn’t some new tricks, I enjoy your videos. I’m not that professional anymore, just need to start to rebuild my recording set-up. I have a demo CD That my friend I grew up with Has. He works for a publishing company and is Paul Simons road manager. Hidie Phiste, when she was planning on her movie about being a Madam, a song I wrote on my demo Called “street walker” She Loved it. Then they canclled making the Movie So close! That song is on Youtube. No video, just a photo of a Dragon. I used head phones to do the Mixing , bad move. I did get something out of your video. excitment! I know you get alot of your students emails, but if your ever playing in the South bay and remmebr me . Send me an email, and i would love to see you preform and meet you. Thanks , Paul.
Exactly the problem I have been struggling with. Thanks Griff.
This is a fantastic lesson. Spot on. Thank you very much. Penny
what a eye opener thanks Griff
Hi Griff,
What a great lesson,full marks 10 out of 10 and very beneficial. Ples please could you send me lessons one to the present lesson again as i had a problem with my computer. Thanks in antispation and keep rocking on with the great work
Kind Regards, Sam
Griff, this is one of your best videos. A previous commenter called it the Rosetta Stone, and I love that reference. It’s very fitting indeed.
Would you consider a Pt. 2 to this video, that includes 1-2 more songs and the associated rhythms, licks, etc. When you tie them back to your content in BGU or SRM it really helps nail the point home and gives us references for further practice.
What you’re doing for us here is making connections that the beginner and intermediate guitar player just doesn’t’ make without help. Consider it something along the lines of helping the blind to see. 🙂
Re: …Real Song
Thanks Griff, you’re the greatest! It really helps me to have riffs demo’d in songs. I also appreciate your emphasis on counting time.
Griff, Thanks for the tips! Very helpful video. Going to get this course. 😉
Griff, I always watch/read you emails and I always learn something but I’m actually a Bass player – intermediary – do you also do Bass lessons?
Gerry Hughes
This video will really help me thanks very much Griff
I been playin for 20 + years, guitar and mostly drums, nice to see a guitar teacher who isnt afraid to open his mouth and sing, this helps students nail the timing, the most practical lesson iv seen yet on how to fit the pieces into the beat.
I been playin for 20 + years, guitar and mostly drums, nice to see a guitar teacher who isnt afraid to open his mouth and sing, this helps students nail the timing, the most practical lesson iv seen yet on how to fit the pieces into the beat.
Hi Griff. Have you got anew barnet me old china?
I’m bad but I’ll keep trying thank you for the help.
Raymond
A light bulb just lit up. Very informative. Just convinced me to buy blues unleashed.
Sir the lesson is awesum i like it its just as if its 4 me directly my problem is on bits then knowing 2 solo correctly
The best spent 37 minutes ever.
All the things we’ve been going through together all put together to make sense.
Thank you so much
Jim (UK)
As a writer, I try to help other writer’s as much as I can. But all I can do is give them the tools to write a good book. I can’t write it for them.
I see the same passion that I have for my craft, in you. You don’t want to teach blues, you want us to embrace it, and make it our own. That shines through in your lessons.
I’ve realized over the last fifteen years that I have no talent with a guitar. I’m all right with that because I’m a good writer. But I still enjoy playing.
And every once in a while, my girlfriend looks over at me and say’s, “Wow, that sounded really good.”
That’s all because of you and your lessons.
Thank you.
Love this stuff, took years of lessons when I was a kid and was never told any of this so it got boring and I stopped trying. Now at 62 it’s great to be learning what I always wanted to play,THE BLUES. That’s just from your e mails, can’t wait to see what happens when I get your coarse. Thanks..Jim
Great lesson Griff. Thank you so much.
Tony.
Thanks Griff – once again a great lesson packed with top tips. I need to read my BGU work book again!
Hey Griff , Thanks again for a fantastic lesson … I’ve been following you with each free lesson you’ve provided to me . I’ ve learned alot and now was trying to put a song together with proper timing , cord arrangement ,riffs and so on . With this lesson it broadens my horizons and gives me ideas to improvice upon … You are obviously a great guitar player and have the gift of teaching … WOW !!! What more can I say . Although I can not afford to purchace your lessons due to bad financial curcumstances I’ll continue to learn with each correspondence from you . May God bless you and all your loved ones … Thanks again …
This type of lesson is very helpful and would make a great lesson pagage. everybody tell you whats avalibe to use but for those of us who lask some of the music skils, could really use lessons like this. most lessons are designed for those who are natural musicians. this type of lesson is good for the rest of to close the gap on how to put it all together. GOOD JOB. thanks
Great vid Griff and this half hour will take the rest of my life to master but excellent direction and it all make’s sense!! ya make it look easy but practice practice is never gonna end!!! LOL
Thank’s and hope all is well @ your end!!!
Rog!!!
hay ,Griff that video rocks awesome tips
Great vid/instruction. As an intermediate guitarist I discovered some nice tips in creating my arrangements. Mr.Jay
You talk into rely too much
Griff, as always U R a true inspiration. Thank you so much for your time and talents.
Russ
Southern Minnesota
Griff,
Thank you for being so generous with your time and your knowledge. This has been an inspirational tutorial for me, and I guess a good many other people as well.
I have reached that stage in my own playing development where the things that you talk about really make sense, and more importantly I found that you were providing the connections for me between all the diverse elements of my blues guitar learning so that I really feel I can go to the next level and perhaps sing/lead a song at a jam. Thank you.
As far as your hope, that I might have got something out of this gift from you of 37 minutes of your time – mission accomplished my friend! Absolutely wonderful.
Please don’t ever stop!
Andy
Such a great lesson!
thank you for your words of encouragement and this cool lesson.
Great stuff Griff really helpful Robin U. K .
Thanks ,great stuff that makes sense
Like the hair. This is good stuff. Thanks
anything you send via e=mail to me will not download when I first started with you you always sent WMV files they were fine not now I cant see anything I wish I could? I have a Vista Microsoft windows Laptop Compag
Cool blog… this could really help.. my wife says I never play a complete song… just noodle! Have watched dozens (hundreds?) of your videos which have helped me a lot… Now maybe I could actually put the whole thing, scales, chords etc into a song… (what a concept!)
thank u
I,ve watced many guitar lessons over the years, and this ranks as one of the best I,ve seen
great it,s been my biggest problem it,s worth the 37.06min,s and u can sing hahha
You are a great teacher. First time I heard you sing. Awesome. Sing more.
That is what I’m talking about . You hit the hammer on the head of the nail. You have made my day sir. With this video. Im taking the day off to put into practice what you have just preach about. Fredred Jones
Best so far.
David Miles ( UK )
would love to have my grandson get into the blues. that’s what I love…so I’m working on him…
If only you could put Griff’s talents in a relish bottle I would have it with every meal!!
Griff, I love your video posts and share them with my guitar students and point them towards your site. You have such an easy relaxed way of elucidating the tools needed to play blues. If you could do the same for jazz playing you’d be a god. The long hair/glasses look is very Prof Griff, and makes you a dead ringer for Eric (Will & Grace) McCormack’s character Dr Daniel Pierce in ‘Perception’ Keep on doing what you do so well. Chris (The Hat) Gardner UK Guitar teacher.
Simply Outstanding.
That was very good Griff. It helped make a lot more sense to me. I want to thank you for going to the trouble to do this for all of us who are trying to learn how to make an enjoyable noise for us and our friends.
Thanks again–
O.Evans
Well, after adjusting to the longer hair & the glasses, I can tell this is another great step forward for me. Thanks, Griff. You ‘da man. More great stuff.
(Glasses are fine; liked the short hair ‘mo better. LOL!)
One more comment on your video Griff: beginning at 23:00 you provided the listener with a great way to find the note or key to the song (Bad Sign) and even going so far as to tell the listener that even you don’t have the “perfect pitch” so many of us do not either. Thanks for the honesty and helping us to realize that we don’t have to possess all the perfection tools to learn and to play guitar, we just have to have the desire. Take care
You are doing a really good job there. Too short a video eventhough it seems long for some.
Quite helpful!
Thanks again for sharing.
This is great stuff !
Very insightful. Unravel the puzzle little by little.
Very instructive and pedagogic lesson. Thanks!
tops Michael Adelaide South Australia
Thanks Griff . Fantastic Lesson!
Griff, this has to be one of my favorite all time uploads you have done. It is long, but it needed to be as you covered a topic that I have struggled with for so long, and come to find out, I have actually already dealt with, but just don’t ever give myself credit for. The thing I most enjoyed during the video was the self metronome that you do, where you count out loud to yourself then do a quick 3-4 note lick. For me the concept was difficult initially because I “over-thought” it too much. When I come to realize in having studied your BGU, Acoustic Blues Guitar, Blues Supp, I had what I needed, I just needed to let it all happen, and just relax. The past two weekends, I’ve had the chance to play out live, and the even not knowing the songs, I would ask them what key and progression. Sometimes I made a mistake or two, but I recall you saying the only way to get better is to get out there and jam with others, and that is what I’m doing, not worrying about a mistake or two, because they don’t care, they just want me to get out there and have fun. So thank you for this great instructional video you took the time to put out for all of us.
Thank you, instructive, keep it in my favourites, your the man, bless you.
Hey Griff. Thanks a bunch for this lesson. My wife and I just watched it. I see what you are saying now. I will have to watch this one again. A lot of info.
I think what I was missing is that there has to be a melody. Either singing, or playing.
I was getting the sense that I had these parts, buildingblocks as you called them. And then on the other side was a “real song”. To use the buildinbg block to build a real song I just didn’t understand. That’s because I was mising the other big part, the melody.
That doesn’t mean I have to sing. Trust me, even I don’t want to listen to that!
I have a CD of Christmas Music on Guitar called “OTTMAR LIEBERT Poets & Angels”. It’s basically instrumental christmas carols using mostly just flamenco guitar. He plays the rythm and the filler and also the chords and melody. I suppose you could do the same thing with blues.
I need to keep working at it. But this helps a lot. I might try to do this with something. I have a few trainwrecks ahead I’m afraid, but as you said that’s part of it. Unfortunately a necessary part.
cool stuff!
My Goodness Griff – that clip sure tied up so many loose ends together for me in a really big way on my music journey after years of playing. Thanks a heap… Sunny
Thank you.
Ron
Realy apprecheate you Griff many thanks
“Worst”….not “worse”… Darn AutoSpell…
Someday, I hope to be as good as your worse mistake….. I love your instructional videos. You are surely the best guitar instructor on video.
its E
U for me time ONE AND TWO AND……..
R E K A A
E K
U E
R
Griff thanks To YOU
Thanks Griff
Great quick lesson on putting things together.
That was 37 minutes of class! Impressed and its now on my favourites bar.
Hmmm… You look like “Professor Griff”
That is the best and the easiest Thank You
Thank You Griff you are the and the easiest to follow thank you . More work for me but it’s all good GOD BLESS
Thanks for the Great Lesson! It puts things into perspective!
This was actually very enlightening Griff. I wish I could find a local teacher like yourself. You make everything make sense and are very clear. I rarely have questions after a lesson from you. It’s just pick up the guitar and get to it. Thanks!
Looks like I’ve got to work on keeping time. Very, very frustrating.
Thanks for the video illustrating how important keeping time is.
Thank you Griff this may be the best blues lesson I have every seen !
Griff, this is the “teach a man to fish” video sequel~!
You sequenced this lesson perfectly.
Best blog lesson yet~!
Thank you for all you give.
I appreciate you.
JimJ
6/19/2013
Thank you Griff that was very under standing how the music songs should be played .I will try my best to follow what you showed me in this video and it was great .
Real!
Thanks!!
This video would be worth adding to the last DVD in BGU Griff!
Give it some though 😉
Rob
This was of value to me. Thank you. It pulled stuff together and I got a lot out of it.
Thank you Griff.
7:53 “…without making [this video] 45 minutes long…” Oh, ok 37 minutes is MUCH better. lol
Good stuff as usual.
Thanks Pal! however I’am chomping at the bit right now!! I had a 4 level cervical Fusion On 5/30/13 and in a Cervical collar, which prevents me from looking Down at my Guitar or turning my head to see the neck!!!! Holy Moly!!! can’t wait to run through all this!! its hard to watch when you can’t play!!
3 more weeks in this horse collar!! Love 601Blues
This is a good bridge of knowledge.
Thanks Griff,
time is all we have and in any way we use it in music we have to find how to put the music in this time.
Next time put better view to the video.
All the best and thanks again,
rony dvir amsterdam
Cool Griff. Eat yer heart out Eric.
Your lessons are pitched at the perfect level for me! They have helped me considerably over the years but this one, more than any other, has given me an easy to understand insight as to how to put the theory into practice. I feel better equipped to take my guitar playing to the next level as a result. Thanks for posting these videos and…..keep ’em coming!.
Hi Griff, I live on the East Coast in Maryland, a real shame you do not live closer. I have learned quite a lot from your YouTube videos, I do have a (Living Room) Band consisting of brass, horns piano and naturally guitars, banjos and mandolins. Your lessons and information is invaluable to me, each week I introduce something new to the band that I have learned through your efforts to spread your knowledge. Keep up the good work, I do not know where you find the time to do all that you do.
John R. Grim, III
Thanks. Informative and good for me. I’ve only been playing for 4 years and at 58 turning the corner from beginner to well… what lies beyond. Check out ricklash7 on you tube. This is where I currently stand. I just love to play.
Top Stuff Giff. Should have learnt this many moons ago. Thank you.
Thanks once again . You know Griff , some of us know how to do that process to some extent but when you lay it out like that it simplifies the process and you realise you know it and it’s been right under your nose the whole time. This lesson reminds us we know more than we think we do !!!! Fantastic lesson .
You sing really nicely.
As always Griff, thanks again for breaking things down and letting the sun shine in.
Thanks for that video!! Very helpful!
excellent points being made Griff, thankyou
Griff, This is amazing, I have never seen anyone explain it in this fashion before. It is a great learning tool especially the references to picking out bits of some of the BGU lessons.
Thanks
Derek
phillip smith i only get 2min of your video and it lock up a tried to refresh it but nothing works see you later ok.
I loved this video! Have to say that your emphasis on learning timing is so so important for any player of any kind of music. I’ve observed many people who simply do not understand this or don’t seem able or willing to work hard at the “count” as I call it. It has to become second nature and it can’t unless we work at it and sort of learn to become it! I’ve been “working on it” for a long time and still have to discipline myself, but I have rythym in my soul and that’s what any good player needs. You don’t get that without some blood, sweat, and tears….but you CAN get it. Work at it and love what you’re doing. love!
Great video Griff. I have been playing off and on since my high school band in the 70’s…trying to make the leap from bass to six string. I have never taken a lesson before, but have found your instruction to be enjoyable and, more importantly, bearable to watch. I play so I can sing and will arange the song for that purpose. I think too many people try to immitate and unfortunately lose or never find their creativity as a result. As my brother says “change is as good as a rest” and to listen to you is refreshing. thanks. Bryant
Griff, thanks for this i just leant how to add the open E notes to my 12 bar rythm. now i got all this to play with. you must have known how many times i watched crossroads .my big mistake was buying your mate marty’s version its hard to follow. im going to get yours next time it comes with all the free extras. Your the best.
wayne.
PS i just heard a version of your riff on a tv movie sound track. funny hey.
Fantastic lesson.I”ve learnt tons
many thanks
John
Great lesson Griff,will try to incorporate these things into future practice sessions…thanks .
Thanks so much, it made my fathers day!
Once again Griff, you knocked it out of the park! And bases were loaded with riffs, strums and chords!!! Thanks again and hello to Laura and the family! Happy Father’s Day!
Bob and Melissa Utberg
Wow … Great video. Can’t wait to try arranging some stuff. Too bad I can’t sing … LOL.
A long and winding road maybe but well said and very helpful . Thanks Griff Keep up the good stuff. Wish you were around when I was in HS.
Just watched this video again. Wow, I got more out of it the second time around. You are so clear. My playing changes every day, bit by bit. Thank you.
Great hair of the early days!
Rock on.
Phil
This is Gold. In some ways, it might be your best lesson. I especially loved the part beginning at 12:32 and ending at 13:18 where we got to see you think through how to count out the beats of a lick and determine how much of it you could fit into the space you had to work with. That made something click for me.
Superb and informativeGriff! very methodical with good explanations,examples. The obvious point that your making I think is that without an understanding of the pentatonic scales and minor chords, it would be extremely difficult to play, learn blues guitar songs.Thats where your course BGU comes in.
I enjoy your lessons and the way you put it over and have learnt a lot from these, I have bought from you in the past and found the lessons exactly as I expected and wasn’t disappointed. I was really pleased with the DVD’s and complimentary book. I will be Iooking to buy your course BGU as soon as i have finished my present projects that i have set myself. Thanks once again griff for a super presentation. Regards, and best wishes to you and your family.
Great lesson!! I now have a better understanding of how to apply the lessons in your blues course,The Blues Unleashed. to real music. Just taking a few minutes to think about how you want to approach a song can make a difference.
Thanks Griff.VERY helpful !!
Keep them coming please !!!
John (Essex/England)
This is a video worth its weight in gold. Information like this is invaluable and the more I progress through your courses, the easier it becomes to understand the sequences involved in musical creation. Fantastic video, Griff, thanks.
Hey Griff
That is the best guitar instruction I’ve ever had in all my years of trying to learn guitar.
But I must ask the question why this has never been included in any of the many guitar courses I’ve bought over the years?
So I would like to take this opportunity to thank you so much, I know now that this will help me greatly in playing my fav songs.
Thank you
Chas
Hi,Griff,that was a brilliant lesson and a great video,thanks.
Great lesson and puts together alot of loose ends. Thanks Griff
That was an excellent lesson and brought together a lot of loose ends for me. To present the individual components of a porch style song and add the basic staples of timing etc coordinated the process in a very meaningful way particularly referenced to BGU lesson chapters.Thanks
Hi Griff,
Great video. Thank you a lot. Cheers
Excellent lesson Griff. Thanks.
Heh Bro,
This video is great…I have listened greatly in depth and I hear it. I must say that I have “re winded”
and listened again and I hear more each time…many thanks!
Griff, it’s a million dollar worth of a lesson. I hope to improve from this, which I think is the missing link in my effort to write my own song. Thanks.
Wow! Wow! This has to be the deepest video Griff has put out yet. So…so informative. I am a novice player and might not understand all this yet but what a great lesson.
Great Video…You really put it all into useful perspectives.
Thanks for going to the trouble of making a video to help “tie it (the various pieces) together”.
Mke
Great lesson, thanks for your desire to teach you are a teacher!!!!!!!!
Great lesson Griff. Thanks posting this video.
Griff: Did you ever put out a lesson on the various amp settings. I don’t mean swamp boogie necessarily but I do NOT know amps at all and would like to know how the sound is achieved with some of your lessons
I am returning to BGU lessons 6, 8, 11, and 13 with dispatch! How did I miss this?
Your treatment and discussion of C sharp minor pentatonic (“Born Under A Bad Sign”), has inspired me to attack that scale from both the sixth and eleventh positions!
What a paradox…? I’ve spent decades (literally)… osmotically absorbing all this stuff… only to learn from Master Griff that “…less is more!”
“To know, means to know all; not to know all is not to know. In order to know all, it is necessary to know only a little; but in order to know this little, it is first necessary to know pretty much.”
aka Tarquinnian
I’ve watched this twice and I like the way you tell it like it is. What really hit home to me was near the end of the video, when you put your guitar pick in your back pocket. That advise alone was really hit the grit of getting it done. You’re really good teacher.
Henry☺
♪♫♪♫♪
Really enjoy these type of lessons. It helps peace together all the little bits and licks learned in previous lessons. Really hope to soon get your BGU course. Being an older player, I enjoy the more mellow slower blues. Thanks for all the great lessons. Please continue………..
Dale
Thank you very much Griff. This video really helped me to better understand using the components of hearing the song, sensing and counting the beats in the rhythms, filling the spaces between chords with my own subjective choice of riffs, notes and chords, finding the correct pentatonic box and the importance of knowing where the notes fall on the fret board.
Hi Griff, great lesson thanks, im almost ther opposite, i know always hear stuff beyond what im playing, but i need to focus more on the task at hand. By the by, imanaged to get to see both Bonnie Raitt and Elvis costello on consecutive nights,Manchester uk, very different as you know, but both play a mean fiddle. They were awesome but i have to say Bonnie Raitt blew me away, a gr8 gig, terrific band too. i was trying to watch Bonnie, and her lead guitarist, and be aware of the interaction between all of them. which was brilliant.. many thanks again griff.
H
Thanks for following up on the discussion we had on the blues forum . Once again Griff you show Your outstanding teaching skills. I have Several of your courses with BGU being one of them . Until now I never put crossroads and blues in A together . I’m one of those need to be led players . After watching this video you have opened up a new way of putting songs together . I would do this for my own noodling around never thought to do it with real songs . Thanks
Giayank
Griff,
As everyone has commented before me this is a fantastic lesson and really helps to tie all the technique type lessons in your courses together. I’ve been listening to a lot of Robben Ford’s CD’s and he totally uses the process you described. I can’t say enough how helpful this lesson is. My wife tells me that I’m really improving but that she wants me to learn some “songs”. Well, again you have shown the way! Thank you.
Hi Griff,
Thank you for another very informative video. This is one of your best.
Thanks
Lysle
Great Video Griff. Got the BGU course, still in the packaging, my dog has a thing about my guitar, just barks at it if I leave it in the loungeroom. I’m retired now, so she, including wife will have to get over it.
Did about ten years playing in bands, mainly playing bass. Could play guitar then but there were better players to play guitar, I don’t have a problem with beats and feels, Doh, bass player even filled in on drums.
We did it all by guesswork in the 70’s, your course and videos are great. Especially this one which answers questions about how to play a song if people come over and say play something.
Thanks Griff…..
Hi,Griff another great lesson and video,thank you. All that you do has helped me so much, but I still have a long way to go I always look forward to your e-mails. Once again thank you. John.
Thanks Griff, you are a fantastic teacher. I learn so much from you on your DVDs!
Hi,Griff in this lesson video you have raised my biggest problem timing and sticking to the beat.This has been driving me nuts so any advice you can offer would be really great.
Thanks for the video lessons they are great.
Griff, that is one great lesson. I have been struggling for ages to figure out how to put all the licks etc into something that resembles a song, however you have enlightened me in 30 odd minutes.
Graeme H
The light has gone on! Watching you apply the lessons in Blues Guitar Unleashed to Born Under A Bad Sign was an eye opener. For someone trying to learn to play music this is powerful stuff! This application process makes sense of what to do with the lessons. Your course has given us the tools and now you have shown us how to apply them. Thank you Griff. I would love a DVD on the practical application of the Blues Guitar Unleashed course material, hopefully you will consider making it happen.
Rich Croce
Thank you Griff
Excellent approach
I agree with the other comments that this was very interesting and which showed the path on how to become a musician as opposed to a player of notes and scales
Hey Griff. Fantastic video and I am learning a lot. I bought ‘Blues Guitar Unleashed’ first, then I bought ‘Beginning Blues Guitar’ which I realised I should have got first. Since then I have bought from you ‘Strumming and Rhythm Mastery’ and ‘Acoustic Blues Guitar Unleashed’ so I have a lot of work ahead of me. I first picked up a guitar one year ago and as I am now 75 years old I am struggling to progress. I have huge difficulty in tapping my foot and keeping time.
However your video lessons never fail to inspire me. I don’t know how many years I have left but I shall work tirelessly to improve and with the help you have given to me I shall be happy to do it. If I manage to play just one song really well I will have achieved a lifetime ambition.
Many thanks and keep up the good work.
Colin Andrews
What a great lesson! Awesome!
It’s funny how things fall together! Because I decided a few day ago this was how I was going to put my songs together. No I’m not that smart but I had a bother in law who played very well, very well! Offers from nashville good. And that’s what he did; he had the chords, the rhythm, then he throw in turn a rounds and licks/lead stuff, and you had one person playing a whole song, sounding good. I don’t know if I can do it as yet, or how long it will take me, but it is thee method for playing a lone and making it sound good. This video was a good confirmation for me. Now if I could only get my fingers working correctly 🙂
Thanks.
you are still the best teacher – its interesting, never boring , even the theory. I look forward to your vids- makes it all simpler to understand.
G’day,
I think many others have said it below but I’ll reiterate their sentiments – one of your best forum videos yet! I often get asked by friends and family – “don’t you get tired of not learning songs?” (actually I think they are secretly tired of not getting to listen to me playing songs). In fact, I took private lessons for a time and my instructor made a point that, unlike other instructors, his students learned SONGS because that was more fun.
What I’ve come to realise, a year or so into my guitar journey, is that even though it may initially seem more fun to learn songs, in the long run it is more fun to learn how to play songs well – and not just the ones I’ve learned but many of the ones I pick up from tabs or simply listening to the music (since the tabs are often wrong). Intuitively, I have started to use some of the building blocks you’ve given us in your courses – deconstruct songs so that I can rearrange them in ways that I can play them alone or translate the timing and feel from what I’m hearing to what I’m telling my guitar to play (it doesn’t always listen very well). This video really made the lights come on for me. I think I will be able to apply the tools that you’re providing us even more effectively in the future.
Thanks, mate!
Jeff.
Again Griff this was a great lesson. The only thing I wish you had laid the tabs out here as well. Haven’t spent much time in the forum as I’m busy focusing on developing my playing skills. Thanks again your a great teacher.
This vid was not too long. it was very helpful. The explanation and demo’s were very enlightening.
This is a fantastic video. I have seen a lot of Griff’s vid’s and others but this one is the best I’ve seen.
Thank you! This helped me focus.
One of your best videos Griff. This one alone is worth the price of the course. Hope all your students check it out.
Hey Griff! super explanation!!
Gruff, Thanks. Another door is open. Great stuff.
Hey Giff, great video. I have had the question in my head for a while now on how do the things in BGU come together in the song creating process. This video has given me some much needed direction. please keep it coming!
Grigg,
Thanks again, great lesson. I’ll definitely will fiddle with that.
Jan P.
Good lesson! Putting it all together, yeah.
Excellent video, I have the Blues Guitar unleashed, as you said may get near the finish line but can’t get to the end. That’s me. All in the timing, now I know what to work on. Once again great video. I have to improve my timing and get the playing at the right pace.
A few more of these videos please. I like your style of teaching.
cheers
Danny
great lesson Griff, I’ve taken many of the lessons which you have referred and have the other ones in my library and will work through those as well. Interesting that I’ve been playing the way you are referring too in the video for years in my own style starting from those of the shelf books which appear to be written for piano. I’ve been working on many lessons over the past 1-1/2 years which are a more focused way of expression for guitar and using the pentatonic instead of the diatonic scales……. guess what? It works mo betta!!
Great lesson!
Thanks Griff, I needed this boost. Now where did I put that guitar? Lol.
Very helpful! Thank you.
A+++++ GREAT INFORMATION & TIPS Griff, thank you!
I needed to be encouraged and inspired. You did that for me today!
Yes I have to agree, TOTALY EXCELLENT!!
You have covered the ‘why its important to learn the scales and the chords’ to make a real song.
What some ppl don’t seem to understand is, every song is a group of notes or chords, arranged by the person who is playing them. A Song isn’t a Song until someone decides it is, like, hey, I threw these together, to make a cool song.. what do ya think?
Awesome work Griff… thanks!!
One song I been learned to play by my self is blue jean blues play a little rhythm add a little lead its a good for that playing on the porch thing
Excellent lesson. Thank you Griff. Often we make things harder than they need to be.
Excellent stuff. We had quite a discussion about this on the forum, and I raised many of the points there that you just did here. I’m not as adept as you are, but I have this approach down pretty well from being in working bands for 10 years playing covers to about everything imaginable. This same approach works for country, rock, blues, you name it. First is the feel and timing, next is any signature licks and lyrics … from there just ad lib with whatever fits and have a ball. IT REALLY WORKS! We really murderized more than one song, but the audience didn’t notice and didn’t care, they recognized the song and didn’t EXPECT us to sound EXACTLY like whomever. Sometimes we’d get standing ovations for some of our most murderized stuff!
Thanks Griff. That, for me, was one of the best lessons you have ever poster. Brilliant lesson and one with which I can have loads of fun. Cheers mate 🙂
TonyS
Excellent video Griff! It shows your strength as a teacher. You should include it in future versions of BGU to help those new guitar students understand.
thank you very much Griff,
I am not a bad guitarist,but not good as you are, so I appreciate the way you teach us,
because I see that you have passion for blues,
I try to understand everything but as a french canadian,my english is not perfect,
but I learn a lot from you
tank you again
michel
Perfect Griff.
Those of us who are learning the guitar need these types of lessons.
Many if not most have other players or instructors to work with, for them this kind of stuff is answered face to face. Those are the students who learn and seem to move forward.
A lot of us like myself seem to learn slower because this isn’t translated to us.
Leaving us to figure it out for our selves.
Thanks
Geeez Griff..Get down…haha..30 mins..sweet and well explain..it’s all in the box..hum & tap..
hay griff i have blues unleashed and slow blues supplement really opened my eyes how my music works on the inside another vid to help me understand the blues. thanks
Thank you Griff.
Excellent video. This seems to lend itself rather quickly to a new DVD course that combines the technique/process in BGU (I’m on lesson 26) and the technique/process in Guitar Theory Made Useful (been through and now going back). BGU seems to use full examples of rhythm, licks and some theory to “push” the student along whereas the Theory course uses what I describe as little tests at the end of each section to test how well the student got the information. If these two techniques/procedures could be combined to test how well the student can take the information from the BGU course and turn it into a “real song” or some other means of “testing” how well you got the information, that would serve me well. I have found that with the BGU course I have had to take the licks and transform them into licks that sound good on my guitar, but I had not thought about the concept that you described here until viewing this video.
very good griff with a high 5 thanks
Thanks, Griff. A lot of what I have been practicing makes more sense now.
what backing track were you using on Crossroads?
Excellent video! This totally puts over the way to use all the knowledge to be gained from your courses, and for me changes it from being almost an isolated academic exercise into something which can be used to really make music, and, dare I say it, to actually start to enjoy myself !
I own most of your courses, but have never managed to complete a whole course from start to finish, it’s always been bits and pieces here and there. With this new way of looking at it, I am now motivated to re-visit some courses, and try a bit harder. There is a saying that sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees. Griff, you should now add “lumberjack” to your job description!
Griff. A couple of years ago I bought your Acoustic Guitar Unleashed. I am still using it however I have worn out the booklet. Can I get a new book without paying for the whole book, DVD program ?
I will pay for it… Thanks
John Gardiner
Technically I was quite advanced Griff after doing a few of your courses but could not play one song and just practicing pentatonic scales all day. After watching this video I have realised that you have to do your own version of songs and it has opened up a whole new world for me using the knowledge from this video.
Really good information, Griff, thank you!
thanks griff,as always your videoes are enjoyable and i mine little nuggets from them that i can apply to my own playing.for myself(since i don’t have anyone to jam with at this point)i’m thankful for overdubing and/or looping technology.and of course quality(your)jam tracks.things that weren’t available(to the average person)in days or yore.by the way,in the last few months my playing has improved 200-300% using your bgu course. thank you!”i got a long way to go and a short time to get there.”good work my man!
Way more interesting than ‘here’s a lick to play’ – Thanks
Dear Griff, this video couldn’t have come at a better time for me.
As a 71 year old I find it harder and harder to find friends to play with (sadly because most have passed on !) so I have invested in an Akai Head Rush E2 Looper so that I can lay down rhythms and over dub with chords and then riffs and play with myself. (If you have never seen what ‘looping’ can create, start looking at K T Tunstall on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SfYS1aryPs
showing her use of the Akai to make her Black Horse and the Cherry Tree song.)
So all your comments about basic rhythmic background and then over laying riffs is helping me to see where I want to go with the looper and how to develop my playing to be a bit more creative. Thanks for a great seminar.
This is the missing link! Thanks Griff!
Grifff, this is the Rosetta Stone of playing guitar. Thanks.
Great Stuff!!!!
Nice, I like it
Hi Griff. Great video. It’s hard to convey what you are saying any clearer than that without living it and having those light bulbs go off as you learn. Cheers! Mitch
This Gold for me! I have really struggled in this area, no one has ever taught this and I have a lot of training videos and books.I would pay for a course on you building more songs from your courses as it opens a door for me to build my own. Also I have never had anyone describe and show or give examples of fishing before in regards to figuring out a song like you did in this video! I feel a lot better about trying to work out songs I hear already. More examples on more styles would be great and as I said a course on this would be great even it if is the same thing repeated over against various styles, your examples of fishing have never been caught on film and it’s great! Love your courses I think there the best out there!
A marvelous lesson in assembling the parts to make a coherent whole. It has certainly lit my fire! I will probably have to watch it again but what it really shows is that the singer provides the tune: the guitarist provides the groove, the mood and the decoration.
Virtuoso!
Thanks Griff! This is very informative info. My brain will be “engaged” more now than in the past.
Very, very, very cool. You addressed all sorts of things that have been frustrating as I have tried to improve. Maybe the biggest is how much the lack of a vocal impacts the way the song sounds when I play it. I’m always trying to find songs that have more going on in the guitar part so they sound good when I play by myself. The problem is that they are harder to play, so they take longer to learn, and I don’t really play them as good as I’d like so I get frustrated, blah, blah.
The other thing is I realize that the lessons are much more universal than I thought, which provides a more systemized approach than just learning to play songs that I like by rote.
I know that you talked about engaging the brain and figuring it out by ourselves, but if you could do a couple more of these, it would be great. In any case, thanks a lot. This is really helpful.
Wow Griff. What a lesson. It’s exactly why I am doing the Strumming and Rhythm course. Counting it out is the key that I knew (but never could get), until I got the Strum course. After I finish it, I will go back and redo BGU (that I stopped at Lesson 25). What I am learning from Strum will open BGU up in a whole new way. Also have the Pentatonic Scale & Technique waiting in the wings. Thank you for this lesson. Fun to hear you play and sing. Best to you and Laura. Sandie
Hi Griff. The last set of lessons on the five boxes and how to switch from major to minor has put what I’ve been practicing all together. Perfect timing. So much fun. Thanks lots.
Great job. You articulated what I have come to do over the years in your very well organized presentation. This video would have saved me a couple of years of development, literally. I bought BGU, even though I have played for many years, because it organizes the important topics. I recommend it highly.
Awesome video. Thanks Griff.