When I think of Crosscut Saw, a latin flavored blues feel, and Strange Brew, by Cream… I certainly don’t equate them to having basically the exact same guitar riff throughout!

But when I was playing one of them, I couldn’t help notice it was an awful lot like the other… so I broke them down in this video and I hope you dig it and get something out of it.

Have fun!


    25 replies to "Strange Brew = Crosscut Saw?"

    • Bryan Brettig

      I noticed the similarities to Tore Down straight away.
      It’s given me a few new ideas to try. Thanks.

    • LouisVA

      Wow, I know both of those songs well and never noticed the similarities. Thanks for all you do, Griff.

    • Ricardo

      Sunshine of your love = Good morning little schools girl?

    • cowboy

      good analogy…fun to watch and think about the possibilities with other songs…thanks…

      cowboy

    • John Mitchell

      Of course, Clapton covered Crosscut Saw on Money and Cigarettes…

    • Alan Sally

      Griff,after 18 years since my first blues guitar unleashed purchase I want to thank you for those of us who periodically become uninspired. But you tirelessly inspire with each online lesson. Thanks for the faith in the blues and keeping it so cool.

    • Gaz T

      I love playing Crosscut Saw , and always wanted to play Strange brew, couldn’t see for the trees😳

      • James Viator

        Hey, Griff! I have almost all of your dvd’s and books, but I must say, your short lessons on the blues roots of rock ‘n roll are what recharge my batteries — keep ‘em comin’!!! I especially like the “guitar playing horn riffs” things. Maybe future video lessons on John Lennon’s Elvis medley or his “Slippin and Slidin”?

    • bob kempa

      Love this stuff; classic (great) rock is foundational (couldn’t think of another word); thanks Griff

    • Scotty

      Love these classic rock lessons Griff! Thanks for putting this out there for us.

    • Dale berry

      Great riff, thanks.

      How is Texas life going?

    • kim

      This lesson is fun, practical and something I can do. Sort of. All it will take is patience.

    • Walter

      Very nice example of how songs using similar chord progressions can sound totally different and (legally) do not conflict.

      Amazing how that (how a listener hears it) can make all the difference.

      Thanks!

    • Bob Eisenberg

      Excellent! Thanks, Griff!

    • Dace

      interesting and an excellent short lesson.

    • Chris

      Great Griff, it’s easy to do just get the repetitions in and you are up to s6peed

    • Keith

      What I love about your lessons is that you don’t just do a ‘how to play’ breakdown, but also show how a basic idea, riff etc can be used with a zillion variations. I learn so much from this.

    • W.

      Another great riff from Griff. Thanks!

    • tony

      I am happy You said its like strange brew . This lesson has loan a bit of a change to the way I play this tune . I am a Clapton fan I also play many songs he does. . The way You moved up the neck was interesting . I find its a form for many songs .

    • David Waterbury

      Also, to complete the connection to Crosscut Saw, Clapton’s solo on the album version of Strange Brew is practically a note for note quote of an Albert King Crosscut Saw solo. The story goes that It was producer Felix Pappalardi’s idea to convert Lawdy Mama to a straight feel and write new lyrics. EC wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but eventually agreed to do it if he could play an Albert King solo with it.

    • David Waterbury

      Interestingly, while the intro chorus is played as a standard 12 bar progression, in the verse that switch to a quick change progression.

    • Jean-Michel

      Hello Griff,
      Thank you for your blog.
      The song « Louie, Louie » use the circular pattern:
      A D Em D.
      Regards.

      • Waldo

        Griff was talking 2 Dominant 7 chords and a minor v, i.e. A7-D7-Em.

    • Iain

      I think Lawdy Mama was a shuffle, and they changed it to straight in Strange Brew.

    • ChrisGSP

      Cool lesson Griff ! There’s another Cream song, called “Lawdy Mama” that uses basically the same riff as Strange Brew – in fact is sounds like a precursor to Strange Brew. Then there’s “Outside Woman Blues” which is again a very similar riff. Like you say, just move the notes around a bit and change the feel – new song 🙂
      BTW, I LOVE the new look of the Blog. I’m not sure what you did, but it looks so much better and is a lot easier to use.
      Cheers from Australia
      Chris G.

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