Now that we’ve gone through the different parts and the different skills you need to play this tune, let’s play it!
Keep in mind that this is very much the style of Acoustic Blues Guitar Unleashed. If you dig this and you got something out of it, I think Acoustic Blues Guitar Unleashed might be just the thing for you.
TAB is HERE
15 replies to "Lonesome Train Blues – The Song"
For that measure use one and uh instead of one uh. Count the middle of the triplet.
Kinda reminds me of Down to the Station by Griff Hamlin circa 2014 đ I believe that’s when I got on the Acoustic BGU bus. I still use the course 10 years later. Can’t recommend the course highly enough!
I have a question that doesn’t apply to this lesson.
It’s about the lessons that I have purchased, in the individual lessons there’s a small window that says (Login to PGEN) I’ve selected it and it doesn’t appear to do anything, just wondering what’s it for?
Thanks Don
If you happen to have an All Access Pass or the Practice Generator (which you must, or you should not see that) that button will allow you to login to the practice generator and you can put that lesson in your practice schedule if you want.
To answer on the counting, Ricardo explained it well. No matter what you actually verbalize, the 3 counts (1 & uh) are all there, but as the tempo gets faster, sometimes it becomes more difficult to verbalize all of the counts.
When starting out, whether it is a rhythm part or a lick or a solo or anything, go slowly enough that you can verbalize all of the counts while still playing the notes. That likely going to be less than half the speed you are going now, even when you think you are going slowly!
There really is a speed at which you can do it, you just haven’t gone slowly enough yet đ
Thank you, Griff, and everyone who replied. So every note in the song is counted as 3 parts to a single beat. Even the final B7 at the very end of the song would be counted as “one and uh” for that single quarter note, and the half note tied to the end of the E7 would be counted as “3 and uh, 4 and uh” even though you don’t actual stum that half note tie to end the song.
Hi Griff. Super little series .. I really have enjoyed it each day. Thanks !! I am doing okay at the slower speed — I will just enjoy replaying till I get the tempo groove where I want it. Thanks very much also for putting the tab underneath to print.
…hey Jack, that is the exact same issue I am having, kinda like if the tempo changes in places I wanna change the way I’m counting, not on purpose tho, …I would also be interested in what Griff has to say about that… Sonny
Hey Sonny, yes that is exactly my problem! đ€Ș
As Griff explains in the first video on the groove, you’re alway dividing the beat into 3, counting 1 & uh 2 & uh, etc.
However, he’s stopping the strings on & so it’s more like: 1 (&) u and he’ll eventually stop saying the & out loud (1 uh), even though it’s still being counted.
When you get to the little chords you’re playing on all 3 counts.
The tempo isn’t changing.
I think of it as only counting out loud the counts you’re actually playing something on.
Also notice in the first video, that he counts the slow play along in as:
uh 1 uh 2 uh 3 & uh 4 & uh
and the up tempo play along;
1 uh 2 uh 1 2 3 4
It’s all the same.
Sometimes saying just the beat number, sometimes 2 of the counts and sometimes all 3.
Thank you, Ricardo. I follow what youâre saying. In essence, if I am counting out loud, what I say may change between the shuffle/groove and the little cords if I am only vocalizing the strums. That is because I am strumming on all 3 of the individual triplets in the little chords. I guess what is really most challenging for me is changing the vocal count for the individual picked notes in the licks., and then returning to the groove count.
Don’t want to leave you with the impression that changing your “vocal” count is a goal to try to attain.
If counting is new to you, vocalize all 3 counts throughout the entire song.
For an 8th note pair you’ll simply hold the first note for 2 counts and give the second note 1 count.
As the groove becomes ingrained and/or the tempo increases you’ll just “naturally” start to drop out vocalizing the “and”.
Counting is so easy⊠when someone else is playing. Not so much when Iâm playing. So, I make a point of counting outloud and tapping while you play and, as usual, I was spot on. Now, if I can just get my hands, feet and guitar on board, the train will be ready to roll.
Hi Griff. I have enjoyed this little series very much. I am trying to count since you stress the importance of it so much. In the first lesson on the groove, you suggested counting it as âone, uh two, uh three, uh fourâ, and I get that. I can actually feel that count. It seems very natural. What messes me up is trying to continue to count like that over the licks and the little chords. I canât seem to count that same way over the licks. Itâs like I need to change the counting method to account for all the notes at that point, and then go back to the âshuffle countâ. And with the little chords I am wanting to change my counting method to be the full blown âone and uh, two and uh, three and uh, four and uhâ
Is the counting method throughout the entire song always supposed to be the shuffle count? Or does the method change depending on what you are playing in a given measure? Thank you very much for the lesson!
Hey Jack. Good question. My take (from following Griff for several years) is to count out loud what you are playing. Ricardo has a good explanation above. The tempo does not change, just the number of notes per beat. So in playing the triplets and licks, you would count the 1 and uh, etc. In other vids/lessons, Griff says there is nothing wrong with printing out the rhythm, lick, etc and writing the count below the notes as you learn it. He does advocate “getting off the page” as soon as possible. But counting out loud and starting slowly until it is ingrained is the quickest way to learn it. Hope this makes sense. Play on.