This November has been kind of a landmark month – Blues Guitar Unleashed turned 2, the BGU forum turned 2 also, and I have been playing the guitar for 30 years now!
Yep, I picked up my first guitar Thanksgiving weekend 30 years ago. My dad’s brother and his family were in town visiting us for the holiday. He is an accomplished musician as well and I was interested in guitar so he helped us pick one out. The rest… is history.
But the big news is really about the Blues Guitar Unleashed birthday! The course itself actually turned 2 on Halloween… but the forum’s official start date is November 30th. And the forum is where all the fun really happens 🙂
So in celebration, our very own moderators Chuck and John have written and recorded a song – “These Old BGU Boys” and provided the TAB and lyrics. Also, Chuck put together a great slide show video with some great shots from some of the BGU gatherings over the last couple of years.
John is playing drums, bass, and rhythm guitar, and that’s Chuck on vocals and the lead. Any of you who have gone through as far as solo 3 will recognize that Chuck dropped solo 3 right in perfectly over this tune. To my knowledge Chuck had pretty much never done a solo before in his life when he started with BGU. So I think this is a great demonstration of how it’s supposed to work.
Hope you enjoy the video, and I’ll put the downloads below and be sure to leave your comments below.
Here’s the TAB (right click to save)
Here’s the MP3 if you want to listen on your ipod or play along 🙂
123 replies to "Happy 2nd Birthday BGU!"
Speaking of birthdays -for my 64-th Saturday the 11th,I was given two gift certs. for a looper pedal @ my local music store (since WE own the local bike shop we shop-local)..if possible, does anyone have a preference ? Please, or offer any advice on looper pedals ?-just looking to learn lead, over a rhythm track etc..Thank-you,Respectfully,Kim
Thank you so much for sharing this Griff, you are all like a big family and I can’t avoid wanting to feel part of it, it is awesome to see you all, i just can’t wait for your course to arrive at my door,
Cheers,
Alvaro
Great job guys thanks Griff !!!
What a great video!! If I can just live long enough to join the group. Got to learn to play, first!!
Great video! I enjoyed it bunches. Reminded me of my Buds who get together as often as possible at local venues. Friends such as Wendy and the Soulshakers and Josephines Machine, and on and on. Thanks for sharing! Peace, Bro…
Hello Griff an Company,
Merry Christmas to everyone. I enjoyed this extremely. We do not know
each other but you shared. Again thanks..
Moha.
Now down to business . I have been dealing with a download problem. The
download cuts in pauses than back in again. Video, cd, does not matter. This
happens on any website I land on.. Do you have any suggestions.???
Tks
Good stuff. I just wish I could play like that. I just don’t have the time to practice. I forget everything the next day anyway.
That was awesome! Thanks.
I love it. Great job.
Back at you guys. I love the song. God Blees you at Christmas, JESUS IS BORN!
Truly impressive! I am now inspired to quit just “wanting to learn to play blues guitar “,to actually doing it! I want to thank you all, for the time and effort you all contributed to this endevor! I am proud to be a part of this group of people so dedicated to carrying forward this traditional and historical music.There was a time when I felt like it might get lost in time,but now I believe it is growing every year in popularity.Thank you ! Blues players,wherever you are!!
LOVED IT, like the driving rythem
Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas , Great Job on the tune and video . I thought I was the oldest beginner . Thanks Griff your E-lessons are great not once have i gotten one that i didn’t use that night .
Better Than I could do, which is my benchmark for checking out music.
Nice solo, if I was producing I’d take a bit swing out of the rythym section, just make it a little harder (increase the Tempo a tad?). Fuller sound on the rythym guitar but still play the same chops, but I worked as a Sound Engineer for many years, just my personal taste.
Good music Boys, good teaching Griff.
i really like it…cool
Nice one guys! Inspiration for us aspiring wannabe blues guitarists of whatever age!
Congrats Griff ….you should be proud of your on line “students” and the lessons you “teach”. I am a retire song writer and musician. I mostly play sax, keyboard, and harp…..but I also attempt guitar and base…..You have shown me in a short time some great info that I will continue to absorb. You make easy to follow and understand! Again, Congrats !!!!!!
BarnYard Bill
Awsome! I just started BGU a couple days ago, can’t wait to get inspired with the daily workshops. Thanks, and many more B-days!
Great job guys !! Keep your mojo working
First off great job guys and gals you inspire me . it simple but right on. I hear every thing Giff has talk about cool!!!!! and the singer is real good keep it up it never to late.
thanks griff it was prety dam good bw happy xmas to ya all tony,
Great job on the birthday music. I liked the program that got put together. A added note about Griff, I have learned alot only being with your group just a few short weeks and look forward to the upcoming year. Thanks to all of you.
Yes,
it’s fun to see the progress an active player can get … It encourage to pursuit and help to follow what we can do too if we put the effort…
Merry chrismast to every body and thank’s to all !
See more i hope and keep on playing…
Bye
Nice tune cool riff thanks guys. Thanks to griff for his time and effort in breaking things down. So they are easier to understand. Keep up the good work to all and may God bless. And to all a very merry Christmas and a Happy new year
When I listen to this stuff, I have to practice more and more etc… it’s like if I don’t, I’m just wasting precious time. There’s nothing like Great Rock and Blues to help forget the World we’ve been given. Stuff like this makes life worth living and you are in your own “world” for that moment. Every Sunday that I am selected for the Praise Team Band for Worship Services, I thank God, not for just the talent he has given to me, but to all that contribute to the world of Rock and Blues! I thank all of you and may God Bless each and everyone that makes our “World” an easier place to live.
Great music shame its 7000 miles away, just back from Lemonrock gig in London similar set up i just aspire to your level of play.. play on.
Look at http://www.lemonrock.com
Hi there Griff,
Enjoyed the video, nice to see the old timers play, I am one them, BGU is still the best Forum, and long may it continue, happy anniversary, and happy holidays to all,
good health and best wishes for 2011.
Woodsie. UK
From one guitar teacher to another. I still play the blues because its fun and I like to keep my hand in the improv stuff and my son also plays. When I get frustrated with the clasiical I put down my Ramirez and wip out my Strat. Keep up the good work and drink a cold onw for me. Alan Lee Wilson Fayette, Maine
Great way to say thank you to your(our) teacher! Thanks for this inspirational video and play on!
For Rich from NJ my e-mail is twinsoul2@msn.com if you want to jam.
This really hits home since my name is chuck also and I just started play just about 2weeks ago. I am just like Chuck Fleming was two years ago, I only know how to play smoke on the water and a couple of cords. Guys this sounds great and looks like you guys had a lot of fun making this. I will be ordering the program here after Christmas. Got to take care of my wife Christmas first. of course she may get sick of my bad playing and buy me the program for my Christmas. LOL
Thanks guys for helping me see that no matter your age it is never to late to learn.
Chuck Nixon
Wow Griff did you think it would come to this ? This has to be the ultimate compliment to what you have put together. I don’t know how many years your first course goes back but this made me want to get more involved with you guy’s. I started with Griff in 2006 when the old Playing through the Blues course came out. I did everything Griff told me to including getting hooked up with his buddy Bob Murnahan and purchacing Pentatonic Power, which i liked so much i became an affiliate. Now i wasn’t a beginner when i got into Griff’s courses, but i was new to the blues. Since 2006 i been in a few bands and started teaching guitar. You know a lot of my way’s came from Griff’s lessons. My style has bounced all around but it starts and ends with the blues. Thanx guy’s for the vid and tune and thanx Griff for allways being there……….PS Rich S. , from NJ i’m here for ya buddy. throw me an e-mail.
Real nice guys, it’s always good to see some good ole time rockin goin on. Hope to hear more of ya.
PalmettoBAR@Hotmail.com
If there is anyone out there near Palmetto FL that would like to do a little jamming, I would appreciate an email.
Chuck and John…….Well you finally brought me out of the shadows. Great tune, vocals and guitar work and drums. I will be seeing you on the forum. Just loved it!
hey allright I have just started, so you guys are why ahead of me. sorry I don’t
have a Website Doug.
Nice work Griff and John and Chuck. My BGU got put away so it can be wrapped and I can act surprised when Christmas morning comes. Nice thing about being old is that I probably WILL be surprised. The video proves that when the blues passion smoulders for years and years, it can ignite a fire when it finally gets enough air.
Bravo fellas….WTG!
Hey anyone out in the Milwaukee like to put a group of old fellas together…I am relatively new but willing to learn. Maybe just get together to jam.
Jerry
puttr@aol.com
Pretty cool sound guys! You’re never to old to rock n roll if you’re too young to die !
(A quote from Ian Anderson, of Jethro Tull). You give me hope that I can do this too!
As a Christian musician, having faith in God helps me carry on. I try to sing songs of hope and joy. Though they call it “the blues” even Stevie Ray, sang some happy tunes, like “Pride and Joy” !
Ah! man….you guys sound fantastic! Great job on everything!
Wow! Great job, guys! Pretty amazing what you’ve been able to accomplish in just 2 years of playing!
what a catchy tune gr8 work guys and thanks Griff for all your support.cheers from down under
Great pickin’ …I enjoyed the tune……Jet
Btw, Any of you guys from around central Alabama between Birmingham and Montgomery Alabama love the blues and want to jam i need the practice!
Hats off to you! I thought there was no hope for old guy. I have been playing off and on for 30 years. Frankly, I get sick of hearing my own songs. After hearing your clips, ( I admit I haven’t signed up for any financial commitment yet but I intend to ) you have inspired me to pick it up again and man, I am loving it. These guys put a great set together with your help and you should be proud of it. I don’t think that they could put a price on it. You will hear more from me.
That was some good stuff right there!
These guys are very good and you can tell they learned a lot from Griff Hamlin
Griff, thank-you
I have been a ‘chord’ player for years and have always wanted to learn some blues, scales and pickin intros, etc…I know I love the guitar but have never had someone to lead me. I’m from Eastern Canada, New Brunswick to be exact and I shared your site with my friends and they are starting to follow your videos with excitement!
Thanks Griff,
You are a Good Guy!
Joseph
ANY BGU STUDENTS IN NEW JERSEY?
Hi Griff,
congratulations, I’ve whacked your video and from the way you put things together it’s clear to me that you love and enjoy the things you do. Keep on doing that and succeed in what you do. Have a good life
Watch that cute short video “Guitar – No More Questions”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQikAjR1d2Y
How GREAT was that ! I’m ever impressed with our guys and gals on the forum.
Hey Guys…that was awesome…….
Hope you all had a great party to celebrate this momentous occasion…..
Congrats to Griff for providing the tools and the inspiration to all his students across the globe for the past 2 years….lets hope this site will be celebrating many more milestones in the coming years…
Bob B – UK
Hey guys……I’m 70 and I can still rock. Good music! Keep Rockin!
Really loved the song and the performance, great guitar work, hope this is just the beginning.
Spare a thought for the families of the 29 miners killed in the Pike river mine here in New Zealand.
Best wishes to all for the festive season . Hope you all have a gresat one.
Cheers
Einar
WOW Good job!! This old dog can’t wait to grow up to be like you guys. Rock on!
Happy Birthday BGU and Happy Holidays to all.
Larry
That’s the balls Griff,
The family having fun with friends is to me what it’s all about. You reinvented my guitar playing approach and ability so I would expect nothing less from you.
Really enjoyed it, rock on brother. Can’t thank you enough for everything.
Merry Xmas Don
Most cool and inspiring! There’s actually hope that I’ll be able to get there some day!
This was very enjoyable guys
Happy birthday! Many thanks to Griff, the moderators, and all the members that have helped me.
Happy Birthday Forum, and wishing all you guys and girls who I have come to know and love all the best for the season and coming year. Thanks again Griff for your highly valued teaching and encouragement.
Thanks Chuck for 2 years of great friendship and putting the clip together from the other side of the globe, hopefully someday we will share a beer and a chat face to face, maybe a bit of a jam too.
Really Nice: Keep up the great sound’s
Happy birthday mate from down under to Griff and BGU. Keep up the great website and keep playing for another 30 years.
Mertz
Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Nicely done….great riff and thanks for sharing.
hello griff i just started your course and it is simply super and yes i have all those other books and dvds like every one else and was as you said i was not learning much from them how ever those days are over now i have your course it couldn’t get any better a student of yours for life godbless hutch
Dear Griff
What a great video the boys did such a great job with the music and photos.
I hope this goes on for a long time as I have become a much better guitar player thank to you Griff.
P. S.
Wishing you and your extending family avery merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Jim
from another chris in the UK another fine piece of inspiration ,well done guys,back to my guitar now
cheers.
Great collaboration John & Chuck & thanks Griff for being such an outstanding teacher & friend to us all. Happy second birthday to my favorite forum.
Steve
Hey Griff,
I loved it. Really great tune! Thanks for sharing. Since I’m not far from 60, it pleases me to see so many older players having fun. Happy Anniversary and Merry Christmas to you, your family and all your “students”.
Great job, looks like a real down to earth very happy family.
that was so cool, it made me want to get up and dance, and i can’t dance,,,
really a fantastic sound i loved it
thankyou for sharing everyone!!
YOUR FRIEND FROM FLORIDA
RICK SMITH ON HIS WAY TO PARIDISE SOON BUT UNTILL THAT DAY I WILL BE COMMITED TO THE BLUES AND GRIFF FOR HELPING ME GET STARTED I HOPE IN HEAVE THEY HAVE THE BLUES, I BET GOD WILL MAKE ME A GREAT PLAYER SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING
GRIFF AND LAURA PLEASE ALWAYS PUT YOUR FAMILY FIRST
Glad to see some old timers like me still playing & of course all the young gals(chris, in U.K)
Really good guys , good collection of faces in the video too
LP
Bendigo, Australia
Very nice. Happy Holidays to all.
Hi, cool! Excellent gift to all of us.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
Evgeny-Israel
just started BGU and if that is what you can produce from the course you are on a winner Griff. great job guys. hope I am half that good by 3rd Birthday.
Jim – down under in Australia.
Congratulations on a great song and video. Great courses and I am having such a good time working through the DVD’s , It’s been blues , blues, blues for the last year now,
Thanks heaps
Warren
Cronulla Sydney Australia
Well done guys. Loved the tune. Amazing that I know almost everyone in the slide show too, and many I’ve met in person! How cool is that?
Your Friend
Dave
Congrats Chuck and John, you guys ROCK! Thanks for the TAB. I can’t say enough good things about BBG/BGU. I think I will finally make it from “wanna be” to “guitar player” status. Thanks Griff. As for the forum? Happy Birthday to uh…..us!
Thanks to you all here on the forum: So many contributions, by so many good people (that also happen to be obsessed with the guitar!), that I feel fortunate having stumbled in. If you hadn’t had the notion, then the ability to show us that notion’s possibilities; the contribution’s John, Chuck, Wayne, Blind Lemon, LP, Emi, Steve, Mike(s), Strato, GI, Ray(s), Erik(s), Bob(s), etc. made would have never reached these ears: You done good Griff, and y’all done good BGU: Happy Birthday & again, Thanks to ALL….
Awesome, I just started tryin to play, didn’t get very far with the self teach book, but Griff your online lesssons are the best. Learned more in 3 weeks than 3 months! I can’t wait to get the Beginners Blues course. Chuck & John you sound fantastic, super good job. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Nice! Merry Christmas to all of you!
Good on Ya Dudes,
thanks for all your tutorial insights into the secrets of the real Blues Guitar.
Just keep on groovin’… cheers!
Bluesdragon
Well done guys, well done.
I am well on my way to playin’ like this–give me a few more months to polish up some solos.
Griff–thanks for posting this–it made my day!
SM
That was smokin’ blues-along with a great video- nice job with the pictures. I know no one in the pics but I was smiling the whole time.
Excellent stuff Chuck and John! And, many thanks to Griff for getting this party started, 2 years ago!
that was absolutly awesome guys great job. i loved it.
Great job Chuck and John. It is obvious that you guys get it. Congratulations on a great song and video. Congratulations to you as well Griff. Without you this would never have been accomplished. Great courses and a great teacher. I envy your private students. Have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year and keep up the good work one and all. So great to be a part of this great group of folks. Thank you. miki512.
your top gun videos make my day…”keep em comin”
Hey Griff,
Great job with the blues and Happy Birthday.
Ron
THANKS FOR SHARING GUYS!! GRIFF YOU ARE THE BEST !!
we can see the result of the teacher here,well done guys.keep up the good work,….roger ,ontario,canada.
Happy 2nd birthday BGU,
You begginers sound pretty good, much better than me , i’m still on the 5th & sixth string frets but slow is better than no go. I picked up another guitar a Epiphony acoustic with cutaway and electric used but in prime shape 195 bucks to add to my collection.
I hope you all had a great thanksgiving, take care, Kenny
Happy birthday as well . You all should get a pat on the back for all the things you guys have done over the last 2 years. Great Song and video. I think Griff and company should have a party next year and all of us BGU ‘ers get together and rock out blues style like they taught us. Just a thought!!!!!
And a good thought it was…..anyhoo…..you got that thang right!
Awesome – Rippin sound – congrats. However, I do not appreciate the avalanche of GUILT as I was reminded that I actually have to take the cellophane off of the CD’s before I progress from my chording and plunkin to learn those Blues Riffs.
Thanks Guy’s – yaz is motavatin me.
That is so cool, seeing others that love what I love and having a blast doing it. Happy birthday, and thanks so much for this forum. I feel like I have friends all over the world. It is great. I do have a request though, I play acousticly. I love the ole delta and mississippi blues, do you think you could develope an acoustic cource someday? Well merry christmas and happy new year to all and to all keep on picken. Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Jim
Sweet….
So, there must be more ……….
Hey guys that was fantastic. Love the song. We’ll soon have a BGU album the way things are going.
Enjoyed every second of it. Great job.
Happy birthday Griff’s baby.
Senor Griff- Enjoyed your “family” anniversary video. Looks like a true and fun bunch. I recently received both your Beginning Blues Guitar and Blues Guitar Unleashed courses. I thought I was advanced enough as a player that the Beginning Blues course would be redundant, but I was wrong. It is much more useful than I anticipated- thank you! You’ve developed a terrific set of lessons and I will benefit greatly. With your help I look forward to the joyous struggle. Thanks for letting me share in this journey. Best Regards, Brock
That was really good—made me smile!!!!
Well done that really uplifts a person.
Excellent job you two. It’s a great reminder of what can be done with some desire, a lot of hard work, a great course and a top notch instructor. Happy Birthday BGU! Congratulations Griff!
A very Happy Birthday BGU,
You’ve renewed my hope in myself and definitely saved my guitar!
As the guys are saying “there’s snow on our roofs but there is fire inside”, thank you guys for this inspiring demonstration and thank you Griff, great job!
Many happy returns,
Donald
outstanding!. I have just signed up for the beginners course. I am sure inspired to be that good. Well done. Truly motivating
Wonderful job you 2. I am proud to be a member of such a knowledgeable, caring and warm group. Thanks Griff and moderators one and all! Continued success! You guys ROCK DEM BLUES! Raise your glass!–Sunny
Great guitar, great vocals. The whole damn band was slammin’!
I don’t know what you started here, Griff, but, just walking in the door from ‘out in the cold’, it looks like the “Grateful Dead” meets “The Band” for a jam at ‘Big Pink’. A party at “The Blues Hotel”. A “Wang Dang Doodle,” all night long.
I don’t know who is having more fun here, the teacher or the students. You’ve definitely tapped into that spiritual source, that place where we are all one, centered and focused on a common goal. All I see is a lot of love feeding off one another.
Maybe this is that part of my dream where we all meet down by the bend in the river. Certainly something bigger than you possibly could have imagined is at work here. How does it feel to make people happy by teaching them to love again?
Wow. And if we keep at this, we can do this too? Well, sign me up. oh, wait… I already signed up. I did. so…. well keep on rockin’ then. yeah. that’s the ticket.
Awesome job guys.
It is both intimidating and motivating to be counted as a member of the BGU crowd.
–Tim
Happy Birthday BGU! Keep on rockin’!
Well done and happy birthday and I hope many more……………..there’s hope for me yet!!! Rock and Roll Michael
Hey guys, great job. Congrats Griff.
Danny
Well done gentlemen. Griff needs to add this to one of his disk sets or as a lead in to all of them. Nice to see some of the many people that enjoy the Blues and this video
really shows just what can be done. Thanks for the early release and when will the album be out?
LCW
Way to go. You guys have shown what BGU can do for all of us.
I’m impressed. Sounded great. Griff must be very proud.
GRIFF;;;CONGRATS;ON YALLS BIRTHDAYAN THE VEDIO IS AWSOME;;;THANKS FOR ALL YO HELP AND LESSONS;;I THINK I GOT ALL YO LESSONS AND BACKING TRACLS PLUS SLIDE GUITAR;;AFTER ONLY PLAYING CORDS AND BACK UP FOR 50 YEARS I THOUGH I WAS TOO OLD AT 66 TO LEARN LEAD BUT YO SIMPLE BUT STRAIGHT TO THE POINT LESSONS HAS PROVEN TO BE THE BEST;; KEEP ON BLUES ING IT BROTHER;;; BOB [aka] witchdoctor]] DOWN HEEERE IN THE REDNECK RIVEERA;;;SOUTH CAROLINA;;;;;;;
very cool waking up to this…… thanks guys ….. good inspiration…….right …stop stuffing about david ……enough coffee…….. get back ‘into it.’
Way to go guys. What a great way to celebrate a place we’ve all come to love, as well as give motivation for everybody to keep going.
Being a new member of the “Griff Hamlin Team”, just seems to get better and better every time I check my email. Thanks for sharing the experiences. Hopefully with hard work on the lessons I’ll be there someday. AWESOME, enjoyed it.
WOW!!!! that was friggin’ great….i hadn’t even looked at solo 3 yet..but now i am planning on stealin’ quite a few of those licks and riffs and usin’ ’em for myself…hope you don’t mind..guitar players are supposed to be thieves anyway, aren’t we??? thanks for the great video and the fantastic music…CHUCK and JOHN….you da “men” man!!!! i have only one suggestion… give those guys a raise griff…
thanks guys
steve
EXCELLENT, THATS HOW IT’S DONE. VERY VERY NICE
Looks to me, like, I’ll be sitting in with like company. Will you still need me. Will you still feed me? When I’m sixty-four.
Great job Chuck & John. Can’t wait to hear what you come up with for the 10th Anniversary. 🙂 And thanks for moderating the forum.
Good job boys!
Happy Christmas and 2nd anniversary.
Mike – Melbourne Australia