Good point. Being a musician who did a lot of playing for tips from all races, it would definitely be of benefit to know all the current songs of popularity, regardless of genre. I mean they had to be able to play any request, right? For instance, Johnny Shines once said that RJ was a damn good polka player! Yep.
We’re about to do an RJ series of videos and have worked through around 20 books, documentaries and witness testimonies about him. We’ve found at least 25 songs we know he played. ‘My Blue Heaven’ was apparently his favourite. Videos coming over the next few months.
Great comment! You hear people make this comment about Hendrix and Cobain etc. but I’ve never considered it in relation to Johnson. His pure blues stuff was obviously so dynamic, but this really does show his breadth, such an important and exciting track: it’s true 1930s proto-rock!
It wasn't really that ground-breaking as such, it was just a bit of a departure from what he has become known for. As I said in my comment, it's a lot like "Sugar Puddin'" by the Memphis Jug Band & probably others.
Made me smile when I saw this on my home page today. Gonna show my dad , only music can make him really smile these days. I feel that this shows a humorous side to RJ that is not as evident in other songs (tho i would argue the humor is there if you look in other songs) and how he maybe saved this for the right time at the right gig, people likely loved dancing to it...a real bring the house down kinda number in so many ways in what would have already been an amazing live show moment. I am guessing we are about the same age and I feel I heard this song earlier than when the RHCP, probably from cartoons or something, but definitely knew it was someone elses song....i think?...maybe I am just rewriting my own memory.....anyway, thank you!
Thanks very much for this lesson! This is one of the first RJ song I learned to play and the struggle was real. No YT and tabs were almost inexistant for that song (Yeah, I'm that old). I remember playing it until my gf's ears were bleeding. After years of not playing, I revisit again the RJ repertoir. Thanks again for your time.
You deserve a lot more subcribers so much Deep and good Stuff. I struggled Starting with acoustic until i found BGI. Once my theory started counting chords and scales your Videos make my Guitar slightly started to sound good and almost like i want to 🥸 You have always an awesome Sound Thx 🙏
Great lesson! Beats the heck out of the way I've been playing it. Incidentally, virtually everything in this lesson can also be applied to play the song "Sugar Puddin"" by the Memphis Jug Band (my favorite band) too, since they are very similar in structure. So that's TWO songs you've helped me with today! Thanks for all your help.
Hi John, great lesson, been working on this for a bit think I got it nailed. Jammed with M r Johnson, cool. There is a video of Clapton doing it with what looks like a rehearsal with his band on You Tube. He starts with a little riff that sounds really nice but I can’t seem to get down any chance you could add it on or give us a clue. Thanks again. RichardB from the UK.
Hey John, I already learned to play the song and I can't express how thankful I am through words.Anyways are you planning on making other RJ videos?How did you find the exact chords and notes?I want to learn all 29 songs..Do you need to know a lot of theory to do that or is there some method or something else..?
Apparently if you went and heard him play he was more likely to cover hits than play his own music...plus I think his entire known catalog is from like 2 sessions. It's hard to say what left field is for RJ because we know almost nothing about him. It's my fav track because it IS so complex in its apparent simplicity - the entire history of rock is compressed into the different ways he sings "hot tamales and they're red hot." Great lesson
Great comment, I tend to believe he was an ace entertainer and he likely would have played a lot of standards that got people dancing and having a good time and spending money! Yes, he only recorded in two sessions but among what he recorded this tune is an outlier. But yeah, he could have had 10 more rags in his repertoire for the juke joints.
I always struggle with the boundry lines of the blues. It really blurs into so many different things. But if pressed, I would say there are clear elements of both here. The Ragtime chord progression but the lyrics seem very "blues" to me. Definitely an outlier in RJ's recorded works.
@BluesGuitarInstitute Yes! It is so different from his other songs! It shows how complex and how versatile he was as a musician! Blues is so fascinating to me - it is so magical and mysterious...! When I started playing guitar, I played a lot of classic rock and country but whenI discovered blues - I was hooked right away! It sounds raw, and emotional... You can tell it influenced a lot of other styles of music. Something about it resonates deeply within...! Takes you to another time!
This song has always made me wonder what different styles of music Robert Johnson had up his sleeve that we just never got to hear.
that's a great thought. now you've got me wondering...
Good point. Being a musician who did a lot of playing for tips from all races, it would definitely be of benefit to know all the current songs of popularity, regardless of genre. I mean they had to be able to play any request, right? For instance, Johnny Shines once said that RJ was a damn good polka player! Yep.
We’re about to do an RJ series of videos and have worked through around 20 books, documentaries and witness testimonies about him. We’ve found at least 25 songs we know he played. ‘My Blue Heaven’ was apparently his favourite. Videos coming over the next few months.
Great comment! You hear people make this comment about Hendrix and Cobain etc. but I’ve never considered it in relation to Johnson. His pure blues stuff was obviously so dynamic, but this really does show his breadth, such an important and exciting track: it’s true 1930s proto-rock!
It wasn't really that ground-breaking as such, it was just a bit of a departure from what he has become known for. As I said in my comment, it's a lot like "Sugar Puddin'" by the Memphis Jug Band & probably others.
when i started discovering robert johnsons catalougue..this was the song i kept coming back to....this is an amazing lesson man
YOURE AMAZING!!!! Like honestly a great teacher. Picked it up so quick, didn’t even have to visit the cross roads!
Made me smile when I saw this on my home page today. Gonna show my dad , only music can make him really smile these days. I feel that this shows a humorous side to RJ that is not as evident in other songs (tho i would argue the humor is there if you look in other songs) and how he maybe saved this for the right time at the right gig, people likely loved dancing to it...a real bring the house down kinda number in so many ways in what would have already been an amazing live show moment. I am guessing we are about the same age and I feel I heard this song earlier than when the RHCP, probably from cartoons or something, but definitely knew it was someone elses song....i think?...maybe I am just rewriting my own memory.....anyway, thank you!
I heard this tune in the film Red Tails. One of the cast was playing it a lot. It's a great old tune.
Agreed!
Great lesson,wanted this since hearing Clapton do it.Thank you so much.
You're very welcome! Love that Me & Mr. Johnson album 👍👍
alright im giving this one a try on my 6 string Dean banjo hybrid because im a big fan of Robert Johnson and ive bee diggin on my banjo lately!
Peace!
Robert Johnson is very clever, in this song he goes for secondary dominants, tritone substitution and bVII!
This Song is wild... always listen to this when driving
Thanks very much for this lesson! This is one of the first RJ song I learned to play and the struggle was real. No YT and tabs were almost inexistant for that song (Yeah, I'm that old). I remember playing it until my gf's ears were bleeding. After years of not playing, I revisit again the RJ repertoir. Thanks again for your time.
Yaaaay..GREAT..Thank you very much..Hope this gets a million views!
Thanks for the nudge, Viktor! Hope this helps you nail it down!
Words not enough!
This is just great!
Neat nice’n sharp explanation and guide! Thank you very much!
So happy that this helped! Cheers, Daniel!
great lesson. great song. thanks
Great one John! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Outstanding tutorial! Thanks!
Great lesson and all in 16 minutes!
Glad you liked it, Swami!
Great tune & great lesson. Thanks for sharing 💪👍🎸
Great lesson. Tx bro. I can try robert Johnson everytime and always wachting your videos.
Thank you!
this is great!! please do more robert johnson videos!! like love in vain for example
John, PLEASE do an instructional video for Sitting on Top of The World by Doc Watson!
You deserve a lot more subcribers so much Deep and good Stuff. I struggled Starting with acoustic until i found BGI. Once my theory started counting chords and scales your Videos make my Guitar slightly started to sound good and almost like i want to 🥸
You have always an awesome Sound
Thx 🙏
Wow, thanks! Really appreciate that and I'm happy to know that these lessons have helped. Keep on picking!!
My goal is to capture Robert Johnson's musical style. Thanks John for this Tuesday blues.🎶🎶🎶
Great lesson thank you
My pleasure!
Great lesson! I like you’re energy, man
I appreciate that! Thanks, Benjamin! Cheers 🎸
Great lesson! Beats the heck out of the way I've been playing it.
Incidentally, virtually everything in this lesson can also be applied to play the song "Sugar Puddin"" by the Memphis Jug Band (my favorite band) too, since they are very similar in structure. So that's TWO songs you've helped me with today!
Thanks for all your help.
That's great to hear! Similar to Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie and Trucking My Blues Away by Fuller too :)
@@BluesGuitarInstitute Four songs! A new record!
@@viennapalace 😂😂😂
Very good lesson 👍👍🎸have you Sweet Home Chigago in such a lesson they l Understand ? My English is not the best . Greetings from 🇩🇪🎸
Don't know how you get so few signers..I really love your work,man
Thanks a ton! Hoping to change that :)
Excellent lesson, man! Thanks, time for some hot tamales, yeah...
Heck yeah!
Thank you 🙏
Welcome!
Thank you very much!
You sir are an awesome guitar teacher and a great guitarist as well! Thank you for the video!
Thank you! Appreciate the comment. Cheers!
Thank you a lot mate !! 👍👍👍👍🤙🌹💗
Will be back for this buddy 🤩
Nice !!
Thanks!
Hi John, great lesson, been working on this for a bit think I got it nailed. Jammed with M r Johnson, cool. There is a video of Clapton doing it with what looks like a rehearsal with his band on You Tube. He starts with a little riff that sounds really nice but I can’t seem to get down any chance you could add it on or give us a clue. Thanks again. RichardB from the UK.
Also what about the final chord he does at the very end of the piece. Thanks btw you earned a sub
Hey John, I already learned to play the song and I can't express how thankful I am through words.Anyways are you planning on making other RJ videos?How did you find the exact chords and notes?I want to learn all 29 songs..Do you need to know a lot of theory to do that or is there some method or something else..?
Dude can u make a tutorial of this son (so blues) otys Taylor's son it's great
Apparently if you went and heard him play he was more likely to cover hits than play his own music...plus I think his entire known catalog is from like 2 sessions. It's hard to say what left field is for RJ because we know almost nothing about him. It's my fav track because it IS so complex in its apparent simplicity - the entire history of rock is compressed into the different ways he sings "hot tamales and they're red hot." Great lesson
Great comment, I tend to believe he was an ace entertainer and he likely would have played a lot of standards that got people dancing and having a good time and spending money! Yes, he only recorded in two sessions but among what he recorded this tune is an outlier. But yeah, he could have had 10 more rags in his repertoire for the juke joints.
Thanks!
Welcome!
I was just singing this song at work earlier
Last chord C6?
Or C13
Would you say this is more ragtime than blues?
I always struggle with the boundry lines of the blues. It really blurs into so many different things. But if pressed, I would say there are clear elements of both here. The Ragtime chord progression but the lyrics seem very "blues" to me. Definitely an outlier in RJ's recorded works.
@BluesGuitarInstitute Yes! It is so different from his other songs! It shows how complex and how versatile he was as a musician! Blues is so fascinating to me - it is so magical and mysterious...! When I started playing guitar, I played a lot of classic rock and country but whenI discovered blues - I was hooked right away! It sounds raw, and emotional... You can tell it influenced a lot of other styles of music. Something about it resonates deeply within...! Takes you to another time!
Clapton does a damn good job on this song on his tribute cd.
agreed. I love that album and hearing this plugged in was a treat. Doyle Bramhall III's solo is on the money!
Great teaching but you would've done learners some by playing through the entire song a couple of times.
It’s better if you could play through the whole song without explanations.
I gave it a thumbs down because he talks too much and goes too fast
Very Roryish, or should I say Rory was very Robertish haha