It’s hard not to love Billy Gibbons’ playing… it just oozes so much more cool than most of us will ever have 🙂

Well several years back I found a video on YouTube of Billy teaching some of his influences. Clearly it’s a video taken from some sort of instructional thing from long ago – and I’ve always figured it would disappear (because of copyright violations.)

But it’s been there for years and has a ton of views and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere, so I think I can share it here and add in my 2 cents – I transcribed most of the licks in it for you.

In particular you might notice his take on Elmore James is very similar to mine from a little while ago…

Obviously this isn’t broken down note for note the way I would do it, but with the TAB handy you might be able to pick out a few fun nuggets.

Here’s the video, the download of the TAB is underneath.

Click Here For The TAB

You’ll have to watch carefully on a lot of these licks – he’s using his pick for the lower notes and 2 or 3 fingers from his right hand for the upper notes. That’s a common thing in blues and it’s a good thing to have in your bag of tricks.


    90 replies to "Billy Gibbons Teaches The Blues…"

    • ian richardson

      The one to the one..
      Thinking about it I cannot recall ever seeing that little trick on any you tube guitar channel?
      I learned it years ago and use it a lot.
      Everyone should know it. Simple but very effective.
      I likes simple…

    • ian richardson

      A sad day indeed.
      May his bass have the Angels tapping their feet.

    • Chris Ames

      ZZ Top was my 1st concert. The eliminator tour. Thanks Griff for the video and tab. Will come in handy🎸🎼

    • E Vaughn

      He does a nice vocal on Squank off ZZ’s first album. Think you can pick up some cool riffs from this one. Bass and guitar. Some of their best but I’m an old guy. Old but still pickin an grinnin. 😎. From LA , lower Alabama, Gulf Shores. A blues great did a free show on Memorial Day weekend. Jimmy Hall Yalll. Still kickin the blues. Wet Willie fame and an Alabama boy.

    • Just Sayin'

      Maybe we should be honoring Dusty and some of his Bass licks.

      • ACEDRAGON

        Read about it this morning on MSN.com. John Beard Died 4+ years ago. Guess Billy is all that’s left.
        Was looking at Guitars and have seen this video. Just out of nowhere. The Band also played in BACK TO THE FUTER PART III. don’t know who played the Fiddle. Great old west blues !
        See you soon Guys.

        • Norman Frankel

          It’s Frank Beard and he is still alive and kicking on the drums.

      • Steve Owens

        Griff is honoring Dusty!! He said that goin in if you bother to listen!

    • JOHN R GIBBS

      Cool ZZ TOP as I remember back in the 70’s and on….can’t quite get fast enough because of finger surgery but geting back more and more. quite an acheivement when I was not suppose to be able to play guitar again and that would be like a downer man….

    • William Kramer

      Awesome Griff. Thanks so much.

    • Michael

      Thank you Griff .

    • Dr Tee

      Have seen this before–thanks for the tab.
      Absolutely one of the greatest (mostly electric) blues players ever
      Love the way he gives homage and notes classic licks of the greats that came before him
      One of the few who regularly uses “pick squealing” (harmonics) in his riffs

    • Rustie

      Some people such as Griff teach….some people such as Billy just show off.

      • John Groves

        Griff is good but no Billy got it

    • Gerry Usselman

      Billy Gibbons has got to be the coolest Dude on the planet! And he’s an Awesome Axe Slinger. I remember playing La Grange and Waiting for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago back in the 70’s. I think it was my first band. Fun times

    • Andy Taplin

      I love the way he uses his beard to dampen the lower strings 😉

    • DaveyJoe

      Cool stuff Griff and thanks for including the tab.

    • Shane

      So cool!

      • Shane

        Griff,
        When he say know the 1 and 5. Is that the A’s and E’s or the 1-5 of the pentetonic..
        Shane

        • JohnnyB

          ?? Frank Beard is the ZZ Top drummer and is still alive and well. Don’t know who John Beard is.

    • The good Dr

      Griff you are the Bomb for putting Billy’s lesson on. I know this sounds strange but I can’t get enough of Billy’s flawless vibrato. Very Clapton like. Again thank you.

      • Steve Owens

        Better than Clapton

    • ChrisGSP

      Hey everyone, I’ve been checking out the poster/wallpaper behind Billy – faces I’ve recognised, starting bottom left and working my way up and over Billy’s head to top right – Brian Setzer, Tony Iommi, Angus Young, Ronnie Wood, B.B., SRV, Duane Allman, Elvis Costello, Peter Green, Taj Mahal, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, Yngvie Malmsteen, Pete Townsend. From there it looks like a lot of repeats – Tony, Yngvie, Neil, Pete. There are lots I can’t name or don’t recognise, and I’m probably wrong with a few that I’ve named. Anybody know any others?
      Just having some fun while listening to Billy having fun.
      ChrisG.

      • Tom

        Frank Zappa, lower left corner and Prince, directly below his guitar head stock.

      • Todd

        The Maestro Frank Zappa bottom left. Fantastic video!

    • Mike cole

      That is so cool love to hear and see what my heros are doing

    • Dale Lee

      Thanks Griff as always you are point on. There is none cooler than The Rev. Gibbons. This video also illustrates as good as Billy is it would be hard for some of us to follow his lessons. That’s why we have you Love you Griff.

    • Starkinson

      MANY Thanks for everything You do for us – not-so-skilled musicians!! Your lessons are VERY “understandable” and step-by-step help me (for years) to develop my own way to “Speak through my guitar”. God bless You!
      vit, Czech republic

    • Bobby Velvet

      Griff many thanks for transcribing this. Is the Jimmy Reed song he’s doing “You Don’t Have to Go”? Or something else?

    • Bruce

      Good lessons . always been a fan of the ZZTop Band.

    • Ralph Essex

      Thanks so much for this great stuff Griff.

    • Thomas Small

      Where can you find the tab for Billy’s lesson?

    • Paul

      still, no audio

    • Maggi Carstairs

      This is fantastic…Thanks so much..
      Your blues are wonderful..

    • kpt

      Grif, great stuff indeed. Just so hard to see Billy G’s fingering. Can you do a clearer Jimmy Reed and maybe the combo lick ?

    • Rik

      I love the stuff with the harmonics, got to work on that. Billy is not the worlds most technically slick guitar player, but he really does play with a lot of tone and feel. It’s one of the things people like him I think

    • billy minnear

      also, some cool licks is you used me till you used me up,but I can,t find out who played, its old somebody help me please ,,,,,bill minnear1935@gmail.com

      • TBShaw

        That’s Bill Withers…great tune!

        • TBShaw

          (I think that’s the one you mean?)

    • Gavan

      I lost this years ago when my old puter died.
      So very grateful to see the tabs again.
      and in neat pdf format.
      Thanks griff i luv ya work

    • Gene Wollerton

      Good stuff Griff. Thanks for sharing. Of all those people behind Gibbons, not one is moving to the groove…strange.

    • Jim Gulley

      Thanks for sharing. That’s probably one of my favorite videos yet. I’m a big Billy Gibbons fan.

    • Clay Gosney

      Great vid Griff. Would really like to see you take on those riffs and chops in a lesson for us at some point. Thanks again.

    • Robert Orr Jr

      That riff by Jimmy Reed was the first thing I ever learned on a guitar, even before my first chord. That was in 1957 or thereabouts. The first LP album I ever bought was I’M JIMMY REED (for $2.89 at Buckley’s Record Shop in Nashville) and that was also the first CD I ever bought. Thanks for honoring my hero, Billy.

    • Ros

      Thanks so much griff,That was really enjoyable
      And thanks so much for the tab and all the help
      You give all of us.

    • David

      Griff, Thanks for making this available. And especially for transcribing!!!
      David

    • Neil Dewey

      Brilliant. Thanks for the transcription Griff.

    • Rich Hughes

      Griff…
      You are the man! Haven’t seen that one. I am probably Billy ‘s best fan…I’ve seen him play with Frank and Dusty 6 times. He is my all-time favorite, there are many faster, slicker, and some with more theory…but none is cooler than him. Thank you again

      Rich

      • tejasbill1

        The Reverend played at my High School Senior party in 1971, where we talked and joked with all three ZZT members. There are very, very few who are faster or slicker. Just listen to some his work with the Moving Sidewalks and early ZZT albums. There have been no licks that Billy hasn’t played, if not invented. Now, he just enjoys playing, without presumption or ego. He could mop up the floor with those he chooses to step back and play support. Who can say who the best ever is, but Billy Gibbons is right at the center of the team photo – sitting right next to his old friend, Jimi.

    • Grandpajams

      Hi Griff,
      thanks for sharing this video. hadn’t seen this one from Billy Gibbson,
      great stuff As always. keep it coming thank again.

    • Shirley

      Thanks Griff, not only for this wealth of material, but the beautiful transcription of it as well.

    • John

      Thanks for the tab on the Billy Gibbons liks. The audio on the video really sucks on the version on my machine but I think I’ve seen it before & hopefully can find it again. The tab will definitely help – I love his touch.

    • ptrickamp222

      As Rev “G” says we play country music with a few more carberaters. Stood 25ft from him the mo. Tres Hombres hit……..need I say more! All my top favorites play the blue’s scales……even Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath! They’re all got that “X” factor pun intended. Great stuff and listen to do not be afraid to make mistakes. That’s how some of the best stuff was created in all fields. A dumb question is one not asked. “Hit it Willy”

    • Mark Arnold

      Ah one of my favorites Billys false harmonics while playing the blues like how he moves the pick from the bridge to the neck because those different harmonic sounds are all in there thanks Griff ! 🙂

    • Gary

      Amazing BG. Thanks for communicating your deeper insight and blues education so effectively. Griff, your recognition and awareness of how all the little pieces of blues fit into the bigger picture really helps all of us connect the dots in a meaningful way while keeping it all in perspective. Well done as usual.

    • jim

      Thanks Griff! A treasure trove of licks! I had to laugh when he made mistakes. I’m hoping your TAB straightened the man out! Nice!

    • Allan Bramley

      I love the beard muting…lol

    • Steve

      I don’t comment every time I really enjoy something you’ve sent me, but I definitely want to go on record with my thanks for this one. What an inspiration it is to listen to Billy Gibbons talk about and play the blues!! If you don’t go straight to your guitar and start trying to play it after watching this video, you don’t have no soul and you aren’t going to be a great blues guitar player!!

      Keep all this great into and education coming, Griff. Quite often your email is the high-point of my day.

    • Gary Hylton

      BILLY MAKES IT LOOK SIMPLE BUT IT’S ANYTHING BUT!!!

      Old School & Still Rockin’

    • Louie O.

      The one to the one, ah! (Light bulb goes on in head) thanks Griff!

    • Mark Wales uk

      Cheers Griff
      I would prefer you to give the lesson with all respect to mr gibbons I like zz top
      A few hours to pick through them now thanks

    • John England

      Thanks Griff, excellent stuff from one of my favourite players.

    • John

      I meet Billy Gibbons a long time ago at a coffee shop with a few members of his band. He was very open and just a very good person. His hat came from Africa and he cherishes it very much.

      Good Guy All around

    • Paul Warner

      This guitar that he uses really has a warm, clean, full sound. It is hard to imagine playing anything on that guitar that would not sound good. The video is excellent with all kinds of good stuff in it. When I first heard ZZ Top I had to learn how he did his false harmonics, and once I learned how to do it, there is not one solo that I play that does not have at least one false harmonic in it.

    • Raymond Martin

      Hi Griff thanx for the Billy Gibbons blues video! Gary moore and Rory Gallagher have always been two of my favourite Blues/Rock guitarists!And i have always enjoyed the Celtic feel to a lot of there playing you can’t help but get enveloped and inspired. Take care. Ray.

    • Fabian

      Great but I’m light years away from that. Will I ever get there?

    • Robert

      Thanks for this Griff. Billy has always been a favorite of mine. He recently toured with Jeff Beck. He played the Crossroads Festival. He used to open for BB King. And opened for Jimi Hendrix before ZZ Top was created. I think his old band was The Moving Sidewalks or something
      That video was a perfect example of a great Texas blues man who learned more from the masters. His Elmore James riff was perfect. I have it in books, and Elmore used that for slide a lot
      If you break it down it shows how important it is to get that shuffle down and stay in the groove- something I have trouble with. That’s all about practice. He locks in and does not budge. I’m going to get that tab and see what’s up. Thanks again.
      This was great.

    • Pete

      Hi Griff,
      Thanks for sharing this footage oF Billy G. I drive around with his cd. He blows me away this guy. He’s so smooth. Hope to see him here in the UK.

    • Sam

      Thank you very much! X

    • Steve Lacey

      Fantastic! What a way to start the day! Thanks much.

    • Dandiller

      Ah…The great Rev Billy G. Just like Eric Clapton says, his technique is all very right. I love ZZ Top closing of one of the crossroads guitar festival. Thanks Griff.

    • WELDON RANSOME

      Thank you Griff that was very good

    • Phil Shelton

      Love it man! Thanks Griff!

    • Jim Paterson

      Fits right in with my 52 Rhythm Fills & Variations stuff. A great find. Many Thanks!

    • tony

      Billy G. plays well, a big infulence for me since the release of tres hombres . Yeah I was only 13 at that time been playing since before that . Think I need more learning time this was a very cool vid I must admit . As far as copy rights there is a certain amount of time after release and its okay to copy . Think its 20 years . Also think its okay to copy but not exactly and face it its never done the same way twice .

    • Pete from philly

      We all have our favorites and the good Reverand Billy Gibbons is mine. I can’t tell you how exited I am to pick up my Gretsch, plug in the Blues Driver and try n play his licks! Thanks so very much for this lesson n tab. And can anyone name the faces on that backdrop? I think the old heads out there can name more than a few!

    • Jerry Pasquarella

      Thanks for this Griff! Sure would like to know how he gets THAT tone.

    • alan

      Hi Griff
      Loved your 3 songs at the Blues Competition – Why don’t you do some lessons from it?

      regards alan

    • BBBhargava

      I loved this video. One day. I want to play on my guitar.Thanks Griff.☺

    • Bill

      How does he get that ZZ sound? Is it by pushing gain or fuzz or a combo. Thanks for the video.

    • BBBhargava

      I loved this video. One day I will play in this way .Thanks Griff.

    • Andrea

      Thank you for sharing that clip and everything else you freely & readily provide to the aspiring guitarist(and to the rest of the world).

    • Michael Chappell

      hey Griff,
      This is some old cool Blues Skiffle buzzing around the 12 bar Blues format.

      I am doing something similar by stretching the 12 Bar Blues Format and striking two strings at a time with a parallel bend which give almost a slide sound but much neater.

      So there might be hope for me yet.

      Great and the Tab collides already with some of my inventions.

      Thanks
      Michael- Sydney -Australia

    • John Balas

      NICE!!

    • Rod

      Thanks for that, Griff. I love the way Billy Gibbons plays. Something to work on here.

    • Freddie Milburn

      What it’s all about……………

    • Norm

      Thanks for that! Fun to watch and maybe I’ll be able to steal a trick to from Billy.

    • Barry Sweeney

      Many thanks Griff.

      • Hope Hibbert

        Much appreciated. Great stuff Griff.

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