What can you say, it’s a classic, it’s from “The King,” and it’s a blues… with some attitude!
Dig it!
What can you say, it’s a classic, it’s from “The King,” and it’s a blues… with some attitude!
Dig it!
29 replies to "How To Play Jailhouse Rock"
We need more of the classic songs from the 50’s and 60’s. Maybe a course on the “Oldies” would take in some interest.
Just checked out the Blues Brothers version. I think Steve Cropper played a great Rockabilly solo in it.
Just one exception to your fine analysis of Jailhouse Rock. The Elvis version is done in straight eighth not the swing eighth style as you are playing it. I will admit that most people who play this song nowadays seem to play it in the swing eighth style but the Elvis version is straight eighth rhythm.
great stuff thanks Griff!
How about a lesson on another Elvis blues – Heartbreak Hotel?
Even as a kid, the solo sounded to me like prison sirens wailing. 🤔
Hey Griff, Great lesson and good to see some 50’s and maybe 60’s 12 bar blues songs.
This one is a great song and I have already started on it but have to get back to it.. as you said original tuning is Eb but sounds also good in standard tuning..the solo is 8 bars starting with 9th fret Bstring together with 11th & 12th Fret fret G string Bend..
You need to sing as you have a great voice..
Thanks
Michael-Sydney-Australia 13th July 2020
Really appreciate you taking the time to bring these older songs back to life. I really lean to this older style of music. Thanks again for sharing your talent with us who really enjoy the guitar. Blessings
Great Griff just mastered timing for BB king work shop so important
Chesterboy
Correction: Should of course be “Georgia”…
Scotty Moore was quite an inventor as to guitar sound. Someone who knows what guitar he played on Jailhouse Rock? (Some Gibson I guess). Nobody has been able to just copy his sound, as far as I have ever heard. I guess he was still with Elvis on King Creole, what a cool guitar sound on that one too, – so let that one be the next sometime, guitar man Griff… Thanks a lot for this swingin’ Jailhouse lesson.
And remember, – let the 50s roll like a big wheel in a Georia cotton field! (freely after Big Joe Turner..)
Scotty’s guitar for this session was a Gibson Super 400 CESN (1956).
The amp is a custom made Ray Butts amplifier with built in “tape echo”.
Details on http://www.scottymoore.net
Glad you gave mention to Scotty Moore. I kind of felt that Griff could have given some mention there rather than sort of critique the solo. Old Rock and Roll had some real innovative guitar stuff but on an Elvis record Elvis was the star and Scotty did what he did and made the most of it. Not dissing this video (and I seriously doubt Griff was dissing the solo), but I grew up listening to this stuff. Scotty was a great guitar player but an Elvis song was an Elvis song not a Scotty Moore song. Anyway, good stuff and it brings back a song I hadn’t thought of in a very long time.
Yes agree completely…Scotty Moore was light years ahead of others during that time…also feels his solos matched Elvis performances…. often better…but “Elvis” was the focal point
Great lesson to go with the tab of last months GW issue.
Do You hate that fender. It was sounding very bad . A little buzz is okay but seemed like its crying for help. Sounded great when You first got it . Thanks for the lesson anyway buzz buzz buzz buzz . l o love it needs dude.
Plus you had Elvis singing so surely none of the girls cared what the band was doing, or if Elvis could play a guitar. None of it mattered.
This is fun! Thanks Griff. I wish you’d do a course on ‘popular’ ’50s and ’60s songs, maybe if you prefer, just those that incorporate mostly blues notes.
I’d buy it in a heartbeat!
I strongly agree with Dennis. I think most players who have been attracted to the blues also like early rock with the blues progression/shuffle. When I look back I realize the rock songs I liked most were based on the blues.
Great Tune, thanks for the lesson….
Love it Griff. Is that just reverb?
Hey Griff!! Greetings once again from your son’s college town, Denton, TX (when UNT is in session of course as my wife ‘works’ at the neighborhood second university TWU when not complicated by this COVID deal)!! Is this your new (old) 1969 Fender Stratocaster you picked up from Norm?? Jim C.
The blues brothers version probably would have helped a bit.
The blues is the roots. The rest is the fruits.
Reminds me of a comment a friend once said (He is in L.A. now, serious studio player and teacher, but Griff knows Steve, I believe Griff was one of Steve’s students). Why is LA like granola? Because when you remove all the fruit and nuts, all you have left are flakes…..
I don’t think granola comment quit matches up withe Jeff’s comment. Not even a little bit.
Very appropriate comment there Jeff.
7/4/20
I very much enjoy these little lessons on how some of the early classic rock tunes were done. If I could play all of the James Burton stuff as well as the unnamed studio guitarists stuff I would be even more immensely happy than I am and that’s a lot at 75. Very much appreciated!