Nothing but a fun lick today…
If you’re a blues rocker, you’ll totally dig Johnny Winter’s version of “Good Morning Little School Girl” and how he uses this lick is super cool.
If you’re not a blues rocker, and instead prefer your blues on the slower side, then you’ll totally dig how this lick works great in a slow blues too 🙂
53 replies to "Johnny Winter “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” Lick"
CEO
Saw him on Opening Night of the Warehouse in New Orleans. It was either 1969 or 70, this are a bit fuzzy from Back in the Day. He had a skintight black leather full body suit on, and he was as hot as a 4-Balled Tom cart!
His playing speed was dizzying! My brain couldn’t keep up.
Last saw him, near the end, at Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach.
He could no longer play those blistering licks. He also couldn’t stand or walk without assistance.
But….
He played slide, a little bit o harp and his voice was still so “raunchy silk” he put on a really entertaining show that night.
One cat I never even attempted to copy.
The version from ‘johnny winter’ (the first of the CBS albums) had a great version, punched up tempo.
$2.50 at the Boston tea party -1970–roll,n-tumbl’n–ouch my ears
1971 Johnny and Edger–doing Hound Dog–in Montreal
Outdoors Montreal Autostatat night 1970–Derringer could barely play
Also a young VAN Morrison was awesome that night
2:30 AM Clapton-jamming with the Jefferson airplane–no Gracie Slick
Songs all 1,4,5
Clearly Winter easily the best
I saw Johnny Winter live 3 times in small venues in LA. Was mesmerized by his virtuosity and mastery of blues, slide ,etc. Tremendous loss but glad you keep his memory alice by teaching some of his licks.
Thx!!!
JBB
As his LP’s came out I was not a JW fan largely because the world had adopted a much more refined approach to recording, al-la the Beatles White Album. By the time Simply Red hit the scene the pop world belonged to the British digital warriors, again, fuzzy- cloudy simply moved another notch down my playlist.
Johnny Winter was my first guitar hero. “It’s My Own Fault” is the song that hooked me on the Blues. Saw him live at the release of the “Johnny Winter And” live album. He was very loud and very fast! I mourned the loss of him.
Seeing Johnny play was what got me hooked on playing guitar. Definitely one of my favorites. He always made a it look so effortless. Thanks for breaking this one down so its manageable.
When I was 13 (1968) my friend played me Be Careful With A Fool and I was hooked on blues from then on. I’ve been a fan of his until he passed and had the good fortune to meet him in New York and had a nice chat with him.
Man, you’re old! Wait… I was 13 in 1968. Shoot. I’m old, too!
Until his passing, I went to see Johnny Winter every time he came around. First time was Johnny Winter And (BTW Rick Derringer is no slouch), but until this video I really felt that nearly all his licks were out of my grasp. He played with kind of an intense fury and the speed he played always made me feel that I couldn’t match it. You have added some new (to me, because I didn’t break them down and use my ear instead of trying to watch hand movements) chops to my repertoire. You did it with 2 players I idolized now. First the Stevie Ray Vaughn video and now with this Johnny Winter video. I’m embarrassed that it took me so long to realize I could actually play these. Thanks a ton! Get haircut you hippy! LOL. (We’re all starting to get a little ragged with these Covid restrictions!)
Never a Winters fan . So it is a good one thanks for sharing .
Sorry Griff but I’m finding just lately that I can’t down load from your emails, pdf for example.
Thank you Griff, i enjoyed it
I remember distinctly watching Johnny years ago on my small BW TV playing in a large outdoor arena. It just blew me away as a young teen. I had never seen anyone play a guitar like that. I was hooked on guitar from that very moment. He is the reason I started playing and is one of my all time faves. Thanks Johnny. And thanks Griff for the riff. More Johnny would be fantastic.
Hi Griff
Being so ancient, in my youth, Yen Tears After, version of this used to really excite me, live and recorded, and started my interest in guitar. Ah yes, Mr Alvin Lee featured on vocals and guitar. ‘I want to bore you……. etc’ Unfortunately, although a slick guitarist, his licks and style were a bit repetitive.
I remember Johnny Winter from his rendition of Drown in My Own Tears. His was so different a take, yet very bluesy.
OLE WHITIE!! HA! PLAYED MANY OF HIS TUNES, BUT LOVE THAT NICE LICK
THE CANS?? WITH MY HEARING ON MY LEFT EAR DAMAGED FROM JET NOISE, I ALWAYS WEAR A HEARING AIDE, TO HELP ME HEAR MYSELFF SING LIVE.
THE FUN OART, WAS WHEN IN THE 60’S DOUBLE TRAKING MY LYRICS. HAD TO SING OVER MYSELF IN TIME.
TRY THAT THESE DAYS. GOD LUCK WITH YOUR NEW CD.
Ohhhh K. Youre emails kept landing in my inbox. I ignored them. And then for some reason I opened the Johhny Winter “Hey Little School Girl” lick. And, in the space of one short “here’s how you do it” show and tell lesson my guitar life is different. Who says an old 65 year old dog can’t learn new tricks. Everything from you gets opened now.
Thanks ever so much Griff.
Cliff
The exact link I was looking for. Thank you!
Learn it slow. Then you can speed it up a bit. Use your metronome.
I’ll probably have to play this one slow for quite a number of times but at least I’m trying.
Thanks Griff!
You’re doing a great job, Griff.
Keep on going.
Hans Heijman.
The Netherlands.
I had seen johnny numerous times over the years. First say him way back on my BW TV and from that point I was bitten by the guitar bug. He was just awesome and one of my all time faves. More Johnny licks would be great.
That was great as with others Griffs wall of Knowlege has continued down the hall and into the other bedroom. I find it much easyer to practice with many things printed and put on the wall so actually you can practice as you walk by and if you leave everything set up so you just pick up your guitar and turn everything on like me you can jam like at 2:30 in the morning as you go by to use the bathroom you play half asleep like last night…..
Love some J.W. haha put a little sugar on it if you want to, sounds like a J.W. tune
J.W. SHOULD BE IN THE R&R hall of fame and you might get there to Griff
Like it! Thanks!
8/8/18
I was practicing with my JS-10 on a slow blues in D when I got this and I plugged it in (obviously moving up the fretboard) and it sounded fantastic! Another great addition. It’s nice to play fast, but the flavor oozes on a slow blues.
You Rock Griff. Thanks for Sharing!
Brilliant lick Griff and you explain so well that even I can follow it on my lovely old Tele. Thanks.
Fantastique! Yep everybody said it right! I grew up in Venice Beach, Los Angeles and caught all the Awesome bands who came through, Cheap! Johnny was my Hero and I saw him a record 15 times!!! The Santa Monica Civic, The Hollywood Palace, The Palamino, The Country Club, The Forum, Fender’s Ballroom, Perkin’s Palace etc. WOW! He was as fast as the Immortal Alvin Lee even with slide!, and could play any style of American music! Griff you Rock as a teacher and player. Cheers!
Hey Griff,
Cool Lick and sounds much better fast..I have saved it for later as well as the TAB sheet.
Michael-Sydney-Australia
🎼 Thanks again Griff for sharinGenorously youReaLivEntertaininGuitaRiffs and teachinGifts for blessed learninGuitaResults!
Yes Cool Lick. Improve rhythm ideas, phrasing is essential. Thanks again!
Cheers Griff
For the lesson love JW and the lick
Back to my modes now😎🎶
iN YOUR BLUES SUPPLEMENT ,THE LAST VIDEO WHERE YOU TEACH EVERY CHORD HAS ITS OWN SCALE, I WAS WONDERING IF THAT S THE WAY BLUES GUITAR PLAYERS
PLAY MOST OF THE TIME? THANK YOU. yOU ARE AN EXCELLENT TEACHER, MUSICIAN, AND LOOKS KIKE A GREAT HUMAN BEING. YOU ADD GREAT VALUE tHANK YOU.
With all due respect Griff. That is a cool lick, however, it doe’s not sound good done slowly. My humble opinion.
Then don’t use it slow but it sounds fine to me.
Thank you griff a little sugar
I saw Johnny Winter play live 3 times. He was one of the absolute greatest blues/ blues rock guitar and slide players ever! Amazing facility and technique. Like SRV and Clapton- just the best. Thx for nice lesson on how to play that JW lick. Am working on it! Love your lessons!
Easy to do. Simple licks, but sounds so cool. I like this riff
THANKS GRIFF!!! I’ll always remember me and my brother back in our mid teen’s spinning vinyl in the basement back in the mid to late 70’s, Johnny and Rick Derringer and Edgar Winter group, Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer Live, Mom and Dad yellin to turn it down!!. Those were the days! Johnny sure had the hooks alright, may he R.I.P. This is a nice little nug to chew on this weekend,thanks again Griff and keep up the good work!!
Love these mini lessons, Griff. Keep them coming,
Fabulous lick, beautifully explained and broken down. Thanks Griff!
Thanks Griff nice lick. Yes i like his style alot. Great slide player. I have got a live version of Johnny playing Jumping Jack Flash. R.i.P. regards. Ray.
I Loved this music of Johnny Winters and as a teen seeing him at the local concert hall the East Town in Detroit, MI. in March 1971. I would air play his music. Now I have finally stopped and have taken the time to learn how to play; and now I will hopefully be playing it for real Just not nearly as fast. Better late then never.
I remember listening to “Johnny Winter and” back in the late 60’s. I just love his strait blues, jazz & rock.I got to see him twice at my hometown puhi, kauai Hawaii, good and loud !!
Give me that old time rock n roll. The 1st live show I ever saw. Johnny winter group. Opened for SteppenWolf. Johnny was good that night.
love Johnny Winter…got lucky saw him before he passed…and this is a great riff…not my favorite version of this song but I loved the the way he did every song HIS way…thanks…
Never heard Muddy Waters version of this song, nor Johnny Winter’s but I did hear this song on The Yardbirds first album called “Rave Up”. I had been following soul and Motown at that point, and somebody told me I had to listen to this album by The Yardbirds, and that album changed my whole musical direction for years. As for the riff, I have heard it, or similar versions of it, thousands of times, and I practice those kind of riffs daily.
Griff , that is so cool . Working on playing it faster . Thanks for sending . Mike Z.
I saw Johnny live 3 or 4 times and although he was one crazy lookin dude,he could play like no one else. One of the most amazing guitarist I’ve ever seen,and growing up in the 60’s and 70’s I’ve seen most of the best.Its a shame he’s no longer with us.
JD
Wahooo, do I get to be the first to respond to one of Griff’s amazing lessons – AT LAST?? I love Johnny Winter; I remember when I first heard the “Progressive Blues Experiment” album back in about ’69 I was completely blown away, and I continued to be amazed by his playing up to the day he died. And this lick is so typical of Johnny… except I think he played it about 100 times faster even than Griff!!
Thanks for your insights Griff.
Chris from the Land of OZ.
Was that the time to grow up? Concerts were $5, $7. Of course we were not making that much then,
But it was sure fun to see all the talent then and their still coming around! MEMORIES!!!!
I remember my brother and I being so pissed off that the Rolling Stones tickets with Stevie Wonder warming up were going to be $10.00. LOL what a joke these days!!!