Stormy Monday Changes
T-Bone Walker’s “Stormy Monday” is probably one of the most famous blues songs… ever.
He wrote it in 1947 and I’ve heard several versions of it. T-Bone himself hardly played it the same way twice. But one of the most familiar recordings is from the Allman Brothers Live At The Fillmore East recording.
In this video I’ll show you some chords from that particular recording of the tune. But I’ll also talk about some ways you can make it your own.
Downloads
This Video (MP4)Mac users should use the MP4 version to download the video
- This Video (WMV)
Windows users should use the WMV version to download this video.
The TAB for the example.This is the TAB for the example in the middle of the video
Have emailed to couple of times over the months, never had a reply tho’ David.
DE JAVU. YOU HAD THIS STORMY MONDAY LAST YEAR. I SAVED IT AND LOVE TO PLAY THE SONG ALSO. PLAYING IT AT 60 BEAT PER MINUTE. DRAGS A BIT, SO WENT TO 90 BPM. THANKS GRIFF.
Hi Griff. I cannot play this on my iPad. Does the MAC version do it?
Ok Griff. I got it to work on the iPad, thx. Good stuff!
Great stuff. I hope my ABGU course has something like this. You make me want to get BGU and an electric guitar, something the budget will not allow at this time. Jom
hey griff dan here haven’t had a lot of time to practice. but live at fillmore was my first album purchase always wanted to learn stormy with a host of other tunes that are timeless thanks just got an old silvertone working sounds awesome but still have the marshall that I also love trying to keep up thanks
Wonderful website, thanks for sharing !!
Please share tab with all the timing for the slides ect for this great song.
Hi Griff
Reminds me of the BGU lesson 12
Jazzy shuffle blues.I just love playing this stuff.Its so subtle and atmospheric.Many thanks as always.
When demonstrating the structure of a piece of music eg. “Stormy Monday”, could you not play through the cycle once so that your bar by bar explanation has more context? I am familiar with “Stormy Monday”, but some of the other pieces you demonstrate are less so. If you have a view of the big picture, it is easier to see where the smaller pieces fit. Otherwise, small piecs are just small pieces, and often un-recognize able.
Fully agree. I also play this one, and was wanting to hear the complete part played so I could easily listen for difference. Had to get to the end to hear it.
Hi Griff, that Allman Bros album was one of the best. Stormy is a great tune, a little tough for my skill though. But I want to say that showing the chord structure in a box to the left screen helps me more than you know. Thanks for that. Now go have a good weekend playing.
See you next week, 🙂
Hi Griff,
As usual this is a very cool lesson which when I saved the PDF for the chords and the WMA I saw that I already saved it sometime ago but a really great refresh.
I like to wish you and your family a Happy Easter long weekend and the same to your extended BGU members family the same. Be safe and have plenty of easter eggs.
Michael – St Andrews NSW, Australia
I’d like to thank you for taking the time to help keep us engaged in our quest for a sound. A few time each week you give me something to think about, to practice or just try, moving me a little further down the road. The BGU course is fantastic. I’ve been working with you since the new year and have been making consistent progress, not only with the Blues but in playing the guitar in general (right where we all need help) you can’t specialize if you don’t own the basics I’m having a great time with you and my guitar.
Thanks Griff
Hey Griff
Great Lesson as always.
I was thinking, if you could give a description of the truck and trailer or some of your stolen stuff someone might give you a heads up if they see it for sale, you have a lot of friendly eyes and ears out there.
Thanks Griff Great video. I too have been playing this for years and never the same way twice!
Just sort of hacked my way through it!
You must have read my mind Griff. I was just playing this last night. One of my all time favorites. Thanks for showing the alternate voicings.
Thanks Griff, that version of Stormy is so smooth, love it! Too far ahead for me. I have my first guitar for only one month. Waiting for delivery of beginners version.
I hope you get your stuff back!
I really love this have the Fillmore East box set my fave is In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed ! I’m really weak in this style of playing thanks much Griff I got some work to do !
Hi Griff. Just love this song, and hope to be able to play it at my next gig Always great videos and blogs, and hope they get the b–tards who stole your gear.
Thanks for all the great lessons
HI Griff, great lesson as usual! I already knew this song but your lesson gives me a variation on how to play the chords and stay in the lower frets for the lead. Thanks and so sorry to hear of your loss but thankfully they didn’t get your guitars.
As I live in the UK Getting to the gigs causes a problem. How about posting some live footage of the band playing so we can get the flavour of the Band. Best of luck with recovering the gear.
I’ve been suffering with a cut right index finger. Messed up my practice but it’s healed pretty good so I’m back at it again. Love the lesson on Stormy. Something to practice. Thanks.
Thank you Griff. Love the theory of diatonics and your explanations. Really opens things up!! Regards,Chris.
Hi Griff – Thanks so much for this and all the other great stuff you send. It took me a while to work out how to play the bass notes on the G9 chord, then I realised that you were using your pinky for the 2nd string and muting the 1st string leaving 2nd finger for string 6. Please correct me if I’ve got this wrong.
I’m 71 this coming week and it’s taken me 15 months so far to get to lesson 27 in BGU. It’s a great blessing. Thanks again.
You are correct about the possiablities of diffrent ways to play this tune . I prefer the way the allman bros did it. It may not be stormy in LA but it is snowing in fockin Ct. Hurry up with new thing please!
Stevie and Albert do a grear job on this tune. Check that one out.
Thanks Griff.
Love those chords – so rich and melodic. Also helpful to see various alternative chord changes. Good to hear the 7th#9, which always sounds edgy!
Best wishes, Andy (in UK)
Grid, got this in bgu and no its not perfect yet. Did you get ripped off again? I seem to remember something from last year when someone stole your trailer loaded with most all of your show stuff. I hope you find your things i know you can get new but it’s never the same
Hey griff awsome thanks but could you brake down on how theys cords get there name
Love this how about more ABB songs Slide tuned to E dont keep me wondering or Done somebody wrong so dickey stuff too thanks
Hello Griff,
I have just got back on guitar after illness. As in passing notes the Bbm7 surely is a passing chord leading to the Am7.
good work I am enjoying the Major Minor course which I recently purchased.
Keep On Keeping On
Stu Benson
South Yorkshire
England
I love the tasty little ending lick.
Excellent explanation, just my opinion, but I think the Allman Brothers have made the best version of Stormy Monday ever. This will always be one of the top rated blues songs of all times. The Eat A Peach and Live AT The Filmore are two of their best albums. Thanks Griff and GOD bless you and the Blues.
Thanks Griff
Clearest explanation of what, how, and why of my favorite (and first) blues tune I ever heard and have struggled to learn over the years.
VIOLA! (Voila 😉 )
A MUST to have in my Bluzman toolbox, thanks Griff
Thanks for some variations on an old theme and a new twist or two.
Cheers Griff
For the lesson I like the chords up on screen saves bringing the PDF up
Good to see you use these kind of chords as for myself, I have gotten away from open string chords at the top of the neck, and barre chords throughout the guitar. Virtually everything I do is with these kind of chords now, and I can’t really explain the reason why except that I really like them and you get to feel how good finding different voicings for the guitar can really sound. More and more I add in moving bass lines too. This is a good lesson because it has to make people see just how full and intricate playing guitar can be, and some will love these sounds as you have painted them. Really nice stuff.
Love your demonstrations. I want to do it but my fingers hurt. Do you use steel strings?
If you use lightweight strings eg 9’s or 10’s, and if your guitar is well adjusted your fingers will be less affected.Your bridge height may be set to high or your truss rod may need a small adjustment.
Fantastic Lesson!!
I would like to know about the scales to improvise this tune, Thanks Griff!!
Excellent study on Stormy Monday! I just got into your blues guitar unleashed and could not play bar chords before, but with the book and DVDs and playing along with the CDs wow o wow, I am playing bar chords now and loving the course,
THANKS
GRIFF,
EXELLENT
I love hit Thanks Griff !!!
T-Bone Walker, Yes
thank you, great stuff, wish I could play your twiddle ay the end. .
Ya you just blow me a way with what you know and makes me envious of you. Just with I could of had instruction back in the 60s and 70s. Old man now but still trying to play some of the stuff that you put out. Thanks Loads
This theory leaves me cold. Don’t understand a word of it, nor the esoteric duff chords. E flat 9, A minor 7 etc etc etc…..whaaaat????
I look forward to receiving your stuff and picking things up, l started playing over 50 years ago and still, always something new, or something to remember I’d forgotten if that makes sense? Thanks Griffiths. It’s five am. in the UK and another down breaking in musicland, have good ya’ll
look forward to receiving your stuff and picking things up, l started playing over 50 years ago and still, always something new, or something to remember I’d forgotten if that makes sense? Thanks Griffiths. It’s five am. in the UK and another down breaking in musicland, have good day ya’ll
Thanks, Griff. Some day (or days) maybe you can do Duane’s 24-bar Stormy solo (from the Filmore East album). I’ve “learned” it, but there are so many parts I’m guessing at. I’m not a pro, but I think it would be a good teaching tool. Brian Burke