This is a song that’s a great example of a variation on what I commonly called the “tore down” rhythm. And there are a LOT of variations on that same idea.
But if you remember the original of this from the band Free, and later from Joe Bonamassa (with Paul Rodgers of Free singing,) you’ll recognize this almost immediately. It’s a great tune and shows a lot of good, solid, blues rock ideas.
58 replies to "Walk In My Shadow Lesson"
Great riff to know. Thanks for everything Griff
Noodling. Moved it up to middle G on higher strings. Broke my brain. Great tool for fretboard learning. Simple is good.
how has Texas been treating you?
Free, one of my all time favorites, thanks
Nice stuff. Brings me up a notch immediately.
I like it, just like most of what you post, Thanks
Just found my way back to your channel, and so glad I did. Great short and to the point lesson, that I’ll be using for a long time!
Thanks Griff. Free are one of my alltime favourite bands from the late 60s and very early 1970s.. I saw them practicing at a recording studio in the early 1970s before they broke up and ‘ became’ Bad Company. Bit of a long story but I had had a schoolfriend whose older brother in law was one of Free’s roadies so he and I got a chance to see them rehearsing.
Thanks now I know what I’m doing this afternoon!
Oh and I just realized Elon Musk is following your lead on moving to Texas.
Fantastic, thanks for the lesson 🙂
Great riff. Thanks so much.
Hey Griff, what a cool variation to a standard blues riff! I am going to use it a lot.
But on another note(pun intended), I was so surprised and proud today when I was listening to BBKings Bluesville radio station and the DJ announced that the next song was from GRIFF HAMLIN AND THE SINGLE BARREL BLUES BAND!!!
The song was “Someone” and you guys killed it! I was so proud and smiled the whole time it was on the air. Then to be followed by John Lee Hooker, Bobby Bland and Stevie Ray! WOW TO borrow one of your expressions,You have PUT A LITTLE SUGAR ON IT! Thank you for your exceptional lessons and your incredible music. I look forward to hearing you on the radio even more. Your friend and fan…Allan
I heard it too! Awesome to hear it on Sat Radio….. I actually sent XM an email asking them to keep it coming and to add a few more from the album. Email: bbkingsbluesville@siriusxm.com
As always…Very Cool Stuff! Thanks Griff!
5/14/19
Awesome, bagging up free and British blues! Cheers!
Wow, that takes me back. I remember seeing Free in Sydney in the early Seventies; maybe 71. They were part of a package that also had (I think, it’s a long time ago) Traffic (with Stevie Winwood) and Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. And I’m pretty sure it was the first Sydney gig for a Melbourne band called Daddy Cool (all you Aussies out there – this was the day I first heard “Eagle Rock”). Daddy Cool killed the overseas bands, they were just unbelievably good. Cool memories.
Chris G in OZ.
Daddy Cool , and Ross Wilson in particular, so far ahead of their time! Have downloaded Eagle Rock as my phone ringtone!
Free were supporting Deep Purple, as were MM’s Earth Band. Still have my ticket – $3!
Griff, once again you bring more to a lesson than anyone on the web. Thanks again. I hope to buy your album on iTunes soon!
Hey Griff, Yesterday I heard your song, “Someone” played on Sirius Radio on the Blues Channel. When it first came on, I said, “ man I know that voice and instantly thought of it being a newer artist because I recognize almost all the artist since the Blues Channel is all I listen to in my vehicle. The song sounded great coming across my Bose System radio, congratulations on making the play list on Sirius Radio Blues Channel.
When your not gifted with natural musical ability and really have to try like me, these lessons are absolute gold dust! Thank you!
Grant.
Love the growl sound of this lesson. Are you using a pedal or is it coming from a certain amp?
Jim Barker
Griff usually plays these videos using a clean amp model and gets overdrive from a pedal or pedals. He used to use a Blues Driver but I think he recently switched to a Wampler pedal. I can’t remember which one.
Hi Griff , Another fast , cool and really uesable riff … Thanks , lovin it .. Deb..
Griff, I have learned sooo much from you I get something from every lesson.
Thanks so much for all you do for all of us that just want to play.
Thanks again
Love that it was fun to learn and play
Great Lesson… Thanks!
I love these short lessons. Lots of time to quickly pick up my guitar and learn something cool ! I noticed for the first time, you are using a strap with your Les Paul. Personally I can’t play mine without one. It’s just too neck heavy.
Cheers,
Rick
Cheers Griff
For the lesson I especially enjoy when you relate to songs 😎🎶
I think Jack Kink did this also. I have also seen this used before in a different song.I do remebr your other video on this ,but on the first exsample. thanks Griff. Nose bleeds seats at the Forum For Eric Clapton are $95.00 each and climbing. he moved it up to the 18th . really sad he’s having a hard time with his hands.
Thanks Teach !A great 12 bar to get under my fingers 🙂
A really nice variation on common tore down blues style bass lines. Gonna be fun! Thanks Griff.
Thanks Griff. I enjoy these lessons built around songs we know.
I have this one down from when you sent it out awhile back. Fun song to play.
Hey Griff
Nice 12 bar riff – enjoyed that a lot.
BTW where’s my hard copy of your latest course I bought a month or so ago?
Thanks Griff, one of my all time favourite Free songs. Hard to beat Paul Rogers’ vocals and Paul Kossoff’s wailing guitar solo – the lad was a huge loss at so young an age.
Hey Griff,
Great lesson and especially another great way to Play Tore Down Rhythm.
Michael-Sydney- Australia-9 Sept2016.
Thanks for another great lesson Griff this is a cool variation to your BGU 2.0 Tore Down. I’m enjoying playing this against the original as a backing, makes me sound like I can play guitar. 😉
Thanks. Great tune and I find your Way of explaining things very helpful thanks again
Thanks for the lesson Griff. Speed it up, add a couple of extra bars (for the verses) and you basically have Another Kind of Love by Joe Bonamassa.
Gareth – are you the golfer?
Thanks again Griff for throwing in another fun piece, right on time as I’m working my way through Tore Down on BGU. Really, really enjoying lessons 10 & 11 on there by the way.
Lots of great stuff to add to the bag of tricks.
By4now,
Dave
How would you count this? Looking at the 1st measure would it be 1 and 2 and 3 and a 4 and?
Another cool great lesson for a holiday weekend. I goin to go and listen to the original recording then Joe Bonamassa version .
Great track Griff.
Paul Kossoff is my hero he played from his heart and integrated rock and blues like in my opinion no one else has come close to. I grew up in the 60s 70s so maybe Im a little bias. With have these sounds in my early years my playing is very influenced you have just unlocked another key in my playing all the mudlle is becoming clear even though I havent started on the BGU but I will soon!!
Many Thanks Regards Malcolm
Great tune
i am starting the lessons, ihave both acoustic and electric guitar. i have blues unleashed. do i need the acoustic unleashed also.
thanks for keeping it simple…later GRIFF
It is a good lesson in that you bring out the fact of the endless changes in any basic riff. Start any ware and get back to the beginning.Nice beat also.
Thanks for the lesson Griff
love this song…I assume playing the “walkdown” on just the 5th and 3rd strings would also be appropriate…now to work on some of the fills…
thanks for keeping it simple…later.
cowboy
Nice lesson, Griff! I really enjoy those rhythm parts that use a “bass line” approach.
…like the new hairstyle, too!
Thanks Griff! Great stuff. I’m sure I saw Free do it back in the day. It actually sounds like something Peter Green would do.
I love that song. Paul Kossoff leaning back and blasting that out in front of a stack of Marshall amps seems to epitomise a whole era. I’m afraid I’m going to take a short break from BGU to learn this one and play around with it for a bit. In fact it’s just what I need as I seem to be on one of those annoying plateaus that I seem to have to go through from time to time – a kind of silly thumbs and fingers mistake phase when I overthink everything. These little lessons are a really helpful diversion whenever that happens.
I am 69 years old and I picked up my guitar after putting it away for about 30 years your lessons make me want to play again thank you Griff for your free lesions. Mike T
Griff , I really like this lesson . You make it easy to play the way you break it down . Fun song . Thanks , Mike Z.
Cool thanks another way to play a 12 bars blue progression.
Another great short lesson griff wish I could make it out there in California to go to one of your gigs but I’m 3000 miles away in pa.