Was John Lennon a Good Guitarist?! | Friday Fretworks
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- Опубліковано 14 тра 2020
- A closer look into John Lennon's guitar playing...
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My favorite Lennon quote: "I'm an artist. Give me a tuba and I'll find a way to get something out of it."
Mine too, I heard that from radio station interview. “ I’m an artist, give me a tuba and I’ll make something of it.
Michael Szczys As an ex tuba player, that makes me happy to hear
And I think, withour a guitar or with a tuba, he will composed the more beautiful songs.
He stole that quote from John Coltrane
He probably got that from Yoko. People who make art usually refer to themselves by what they actually do (painter, guitar player, photographer, etc.) rather than as "artists".
The man spent his music career writing amazing songs, not practicing scales.
By saying that, you diss the greatest rock guitarists that Did practice their scales until it was is hardwired in their brains. They were so successful at a young age, that the guys that sacrifice years to approach a, say, Nils Lofgren either start at 7 (glen Campbell) who knew the guitar so well that he did not need to read music. Also, about hard wiring the brain, Glen Campell in late dementia could still play, "from a deep memory" now THAT's WHAT I ASM TALKING ABOUT.
@@duffgordon9005 as a musician you can practice all the scales you want, and if that is your choice I think is great, but I'm not saying anything that isn't true here. Lennon was not that musician. He's super power was writing songs.
@@duffgordon9005 "...who knew the guitar so well that he did not need to read music."
Yes, like almost all of the great guitar players in the world, ever. Nobody necessarily needs to read music to be a great rock guitar player or musician and most of the best didn't.
@@sombra1111 "Most of the best didn't"
Well that's Hendrix, Gilmour, Fripp, Zappa, Eddie Van Halen, Blackmoor and Page out.
Love to hear what you rate if they're not the best. The only person who can't read music that I can think of that's considered one of the best is Clapton.
@@mobsiesixsixsix9785 You just proved my point, because the only people who could read out of all that you mentioned is Zappa and Fripp. Blackmore, when asked about it by The Guardian said this:
Did you read music?
“Yeah, but not well. It was more like chord sheets. Pagey [Jimmy Page] was in all those sessions. Sometimes you’d get complete rock’n’rollers who could play but wouldn’t be able to read, and others who could read but wouldn’t be able to improvise. Sometimes they’d want rock’n’roll sessions and that’s what we’d do.”
John is one of the best rhythm guitar players ever. The fact he was a wonderful songwriter in the greatest band that will ever exist means his playing is often taken for granted or overlooked. He wasn't a gear head and rarely mentioned his playing in interviews but just listen and you will hear how great he was.
John was a fantastic rhythm guitarist, he drove the Beatles along, not mention the drive in his voice.❤
He really wasn’t. Playing chords alone doesn’t make you a great rhythm guitarist. Look at people like James Hetfield and Stevie Ray Vaughan. THEY are great rhythm guitarists.
Where either of them rhythm guitarist in the greatest band of all time though? Lennon was so he mustn't of been half bad.
Because John didn't just play the chords he provided the fucking rhythm because he was A FUCKING RHYTHM GUITARIST!! Or didn't you see the examples in the video? It literally drove the song, asshole@@sharkmanyt4431
John Lennon: Great rhythm player, great singer, one of the greatest songwriters who ever lived.
The shortest answer I can give to any question about a Beatle's ability is, "He was in The Beatles."
Lol..true!
So was Pete Best...
@@TrekBeatTK for the guy.... He's fired. If he's good, he'd stay
@@TrekBeatTK But he was a " lousy drummer" according to John. Pete didn't fit in, musically or otherwise. So, he got the sack.
@@TrekBeatTK Maybe I should have said _The_ Beatles.
John Lennon wasn't a "guitar player" - he was a musician. He didn't set out to master guitar - he used the guitar as one of several tools to make music. Hint: if your goal is to enjoy playing a sport, don't spend all your time lifting weights in the gym. Remember to spend some time actually playing the sport itself!
Being part of one of the most important bands in history and great songwriter still doesn't make you a guitar player and even less a good one.
what if your sport is weight-lifting?
@@Win7ermu7e Then you have a semantics problem. Sport is a form of competition, but not all competition is sport.
@@brushstroke3733 Olympic weight-lifting is a sport. Just admit I destroyed your analogy and move on.
@@Win7ermu7e Semantics, friend, semantics. I admit that words mean different things to different people.
Weight lifting doesn't look like sport to me, it looks like a competition of strength. There is no game, no strategy, no agility. OK, that's not really fair to weight lifting - there is a bit of agility involved in power moves, and some strategy in training, but I still don't define it as sport.
You destroyed nothing, but if pinning me to some imaginary verbal dispute mat makes you feel better about yourself, please continue in your delusion.
He played in one of the greatest bands in the history of humanity. I'd say he played good enough
Yes indeed .
And he basically created it which is the cherry on top
He was good. I don't think I'm good but I never quit learning.
No, not "one of the greatest," they were the greatest.
Lynn the greatest not 2 but numero uno
John Lennon was a GREAT guitarist! He wrote some of the greatest acoustic riffs of all time.
Doesn’t make him a good player…
@@sharkmanyt4431 Agree he wasn't good, he was Great.
@@tonycsmith5655 he really wasn’t, being a good writer doesn’t make you a good player
People don’t appreciate rhythm guitar enough.
I prefer playing rhythm doesn't require you to do so much but it is still a pivotal role in my opinion
@@MiguelGonzalez-ck9xy Actually, Miguel, if you do it correctly, it does require you to do a great deal. Grooving is most definitely a skill; it is just not a particularly obvious one.
Ill take cory wong's playing over any shredder any day of the week. Rhythm is for sure more than just strumming simple open chords.
@@MiguelGonzalez-ck9xy Song can exist without a guitar solo or bass, but definitely cannot exists without a rhythm line. Music is all about rhythm, so playing rhythm guitar is essential.
@@flammaferus2998 Exactly!
First and foremost Lennon was an artist. He was even quoted as saying: “I'm an artist. You give me a f***ing tuba, I'll get you something out of it."
Spot on. Lennon was not only an artist, he was a genius.
Awesome response...
Frank Costello said that. ;-)
I'll bring you something out of it.
"DONT LAUGH' THIS AINT REALITY TV!"
Before The Beatles were ever known to the world, John had spent untold hours playing gigs in Hamburg and Liverpool. From August 1960 through December 1962, the Beatles played over 250 nights for up to four or five hours a night. These gigs included such unglamorous jobs as backing strippers and playing to drunk sailors. So yeah, John was a practiced and very good guitarist.
I recall reading an interview in Guitar Player magazine, with Nancy Wilson of Heart, who called John one of the best rhythm guitarists in the history of rock and roll. She considered him to be a major influence on her and taught her the importance of solid rhythm playing, which too few "great" guitarists have seemed to master. It's impossible to calculate the influence John's guitar playing and songwriting have had on music.
Who are these 'The Beatles' you refer to? I've just watched the comedy film 'Yesterday'..............??
I agree that a huge reason why the Beatles were so good was because of their time in Germany. Playing up to 8 hours a day for 2 years would help anyone get really good.
Who were the other great rhythm guitarists? Nobody ever mentions any other ones. Discussion on rhythm guitarist appears to begin and end with John. Seems to me every Beatle has to be "great" in people's eyes, even if they have to make up a category.
@@howie9751 this is the first time you’ve heard of rhythm Guitar? Lmao
Great synopsis!
Never have I seen a musician do such a great job of replicating the tone and feel of this old music...Great work.
Regardless of his guitar playing, he was an absolute master of chord progression.
"Walrus" is proof of that. I can't stand the song, but ya gotta love the imagination of the intro's chord progression!!
agreed..... a very difficult thing to master as well. Him and Paul, by the time they
were kids they were writing like grownups and by the time they were grownups
they were writing like the Masters. always at least 2 years ahead of everyone else.
Why don't you like Walrus? I absolutely love it, but I know plenty don't like the nonsense lyrics. Its outro is absolutely outstanding, although I think credit goes to George Martin for that one.
@@danielkokal8819 Right, they wrote songs in a way that no one else did. Even now their song writing is incredibly distinctive.
Every Beatles song I've ever tried to learn has at least one chord I cant get near
I've always found beatles' songs to be more difficult to play than they sound.
Here Comes the Sun is deceptively "simple".
notmyrealname yes Exactly so.
The same happens with Supertramp
Truly. I remember first learning to play songs by both The Beatles and The Stones only to find that most Stones songs (and those of any number of other bands) contained about three chords, in pretty basic shapes, while Lennon's chords had a wide variety, and the the shapes and rhythms were infinitely more complex. Not to mention trying to sing while of that stuff was going on!
Two of Us... subtle difficulties
This is a fantastic video showing your love and skill. Considering John was also singing often complex harmonies at the same time as playing the guitar he really was an amazing musician. They were all so brilliant.
I love his guitar solos in Honey Pie, Get Back, Going Down On Love and his very funky sound in "The End." He was a rhythm guitarist, not a lead guitarist - and his rhythm playing is fantastic. Most of all, what he may not have in chops, he has in one major element that most guitar players lack: feel. I wouldn't change a note on any Beatle record, ESPECIALLY the guitars.
Amen well put !
@@johnmeeks6113 Thanks! An old comment that I forgot about. Looking at it now....I'm quite happy with it!!!! Thanks John! (and thank YOU, John.....where ever you are.....:( Always in our ears. )
The only thing I missed in this comment: all the IMMORTAL RIFFS the guy came up with. Day Tripper? I Feel Fine? You Can't Do That? He plays fantastic driving rhythm on "You Can't Do That", "I Call Your Name", driving triplets all through "All My Loving"....I believe he plays the guitar break on "You Can't Do That" as well, which is fantastic.....gaaaaaaa f**k this video.....lol
It took me awhile to realize John Lennon’s rhythm guitar was one of the many identifiable sounds of the Beatles. Each member was an integral part of the Beatles’ sound.
So true. I dont think many people realise that. Each part they brought were amazing when woven into one. Lennon just had that knack of putting the perfect rhythm at the right time and way more than most understand.
John’s rhythm playing fit in perfectly with George’s lead, since George switched from lead to rhythm in a lot of songs. John wasn’t a guitar hero, but he is certainly under rated and I love his playing. The Beatles just meshed like well oiled gears and changed the world.
Well said
@@kuyajeff6552 yes sir
@@crayzeyezyoshi is
I believe anyone who says he's terrible guitar player has a strange grasp on music.
Agreed. Also, 'Dear Prudence' is another wonderful example of John's complex writing/playing. He was a master of playing difficult parts with ease, and just goes to show how much of a great guitar player he was. Very underrated in my book.
FWIW, I assumed the debate was over his virtuosity, not songwriting. Kurt Cobain is a relatively poor guitar player (listen to his solo on Man Who Sold the World), but is an inarguably talented songwriter. Yngwie Malmsteen, meanwhile, could rip you off a mixolydian scale solo, but couldn't write a catchy chorus hook to save his life. Even Eric Clapton, a guitar player I adore, wasn't a great song-for-song writer. Being a "good guitarist" and a "good songwriter" are just different skills. So I'd argue while the debate over John Lennon as a good songwriter is non-existent, the debate over his guitar virtuosity is pretty interesting. I'd always assumed he was a mediocre guitar player -- this video made a pretty convincing case to the contrary.
Music is a subjective artform, isn't it. You have Malmseen's virtuosity with an argument of no songs to back it up. Then there's the state of popular music that is largely void of originality. To my ears anyway.
I'll hold early VH albums up as an example of covering the bases.
Jay Pinkerton that guitar solo on man who sold the world was written by David Bowie
Yeah I mean they were hit writers... No like technical noodlers. Different approach the guitar than most, sadly.
Re: Get Back, you are indeed correct. It's more important to play for the song than to show off how many notes you can play. Those lines elevated the song to a new level, so they were perfect. Not too much and not too little.
The Van Halen revamp of hammer on pull off was in itself a great accomplishment.
The problem arises after tom dick and harry decided to do the same over and over until they beat the soul out of the music.
John was an an exceptional guitarist. And I just find it funny how some of his greatest rhythm parts are on songs were he isn't singing.
John himself said: “I’m not a technically good guitar player but, I can make it sing.”
actually i think he says he can make it fucking howl.
@@tomrider1976able You are correct Sir ! "HOWL" is what he said.
@Badass Frank Henry I don't think he is overrated as there are videos explaining why he is a great guitarist and not why he isn't.
John said the following in a Rolling Stone interview, 21 Jan, 1971: “Q: How do you rate yourself as a guitarist? A: Well, it depends on what kind? I’m OK, I’m not technically good, but I can make it fucking howl and move. I was rhythm guitarist. It’s an important job. I can make a band drive.”
@Badass Frank Henry, overrated how? Few consider him a guitar god, he was a great singer and songwriter.
Only those who never played guitar would say Lennon was a terrible guitarist.
Michael Hesler and I run into them all the time !
@EJ D Yes, George brought Eric Clapton into EMI with him & after Lennon heard Clapton playing the Lead Guitar tracks, both John & Paul agreed that the song needed to be on the white album. On ''While My Guitar Gently Weeps'' George played his 6 string acoustic guitar. Clapton was never credited for his playing on the white album but that's just how he was. George played with Clapton on his album without being credited for the work he did.He & Eric were just great friends....
..well said..
@EJ D also that song wouldn't exist if george hadnt wrote it in the first place so I feel that is a bad example for why you feel lennon wasnt a great guitar player
This is just a punk kid, who has no bussiness judging any one, i watched for 3 minutes and said what s fucking idiot,enough said
Lennon is one of the greatest rhythm guitarists in rock. Listen to All My Loving, I'm So Happy When You Dance With Me, etc. The other Beatles called him Johnny Rhythm early in their career.
Lennon was one of 4 people on a stage, producing the most electrifying music in the history of the planet. The other 3 were playing bass, drums, and lead guitar. Oh, and he also wrote at least half the music. Yeah, I'd say he was pretty good on the guitar.
The Beatles, including John Lennon, were experts on their instruments. They logged thousands and thousands of hours playing in the clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg and later in the recording studios. But to understand how they played their instruments, you have to understand that the Beatles were an instrumental vocal-harmony group. They were not unlike Smokey Robinson and Miracles, except that the Beatles played their own instruments to support their singing. John, Paul, George, and Ringo were brilliant ensemble players, not grandiose soloists such as Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix. Clapton was a prodigious guitar player; the Beatles were a prodigious band. Today, our conception of great musicianship is distorted by virtuosos on all sorts of instruments; they are a dime a dozen anymore. and frankly, their extended solos are generally boring. We tend to overlook or underestimate great ensemble musicians, such as John Lennon. Lennon is simply the greatest rhythm guitarist in rock history and he achieved this status in the greatest rock band of all time. Now, that's musicianship!
Excellent points. I agree with everything except the "Lennon is simply the best rhythm, guitarist bit." I think Keith Richards gets that nod.
Very well put. Music is after all about harmonic relationships.
Yeah Keith Richards I would definitely put above him
Of course John is the better songwriter and vocalist
@@ToddCiehomski Close, but i choose Lennon.
idk best rhythm guitarist in my book is Malcolm Young
Having technical skill doesn’t make you a good guitarist, it makes you a good performer. What makes you a good guitarist is your ability to make music that people can connect with
Good 'Technical skills' ...Equals a *Good Performer*? Nah, No, Nay! Apples and Grapefruits, yeah? Good 'Tech' Might equal a *Good Studio player*, yeah?
Spot on, took the words out of my mouth/keyboard 😉
@@q4991 well technical skills make for an interesting performance, so that makes them a good performer
in fact Ennio Morricone cannot play all instruments he composed for, there are pluri instrumentalists that never have composed anything
A good guitarist is one who plays the well. You're confusing the terms "guitarist" and "composer".
John was a very capable guitar player who understood the relation between key, scales and chords. Maybe not so much intuitively but definitely instinctively.
Always felt John was an underrated guitarist. His often abrasive rhythm guitar playing was very effective. I certainly liked the few solos he performed within the Beatles. Afterall John did mention that he could make the guitar talk!
Good point. I think that abrasive playing came from the "skiffle" playing style he grew up with!
The Beatles complimented each other perfectly. The Beatles will never be topped !
The fact that this is even a question disturbs me.
I agree John was a great guitarist his rhythm style playing drove the band live on stage.
The Queatles .......yes, I thought it was an odd thing to ask. There’s good reason The Beatles were/are known as “the best” and John’s abilities as a guitarist were evident on every track he played on.
Precisely, attention seeking, clearly
@@bettertoolatethannever Could be. I'd like to hope not, though.
The kids a great guitarist too..but has he watched the Melbourne 64 concert?? Esp the part John gets his hand shook by a fan..you then hear Long Tall Sally played without John who was driving the music....
Any musician or guitarists who understands the art knows his talent. It's so much more than being technically proficient. People who knock Lennons playing are just ignorant.
Thank you!
Absolutely!
Finally... the correct anwser.
A good technique its the way yo canalize your talent... but talent its part of the esence of a Human being... everyone could learn to play Imagine but anyone could teach you how to became John Lennon
He was also quite technically proficient, just in an understated way.
You are right sir. What would the Beatles be without John Lennon.
Yeah, he was a good guitarist, but he was really a phenomenal songwriter, brilliant lyricist, fantastic musician, and artist.
To me, John is the greatest pop singer and songwriter of all time and a very good guitarist.
So refreshing to hear a guitar you tuber celebrate quality rhythm playing.
It’s like asking... was Hemingway a good speller.
Brilliant analogy! No more questions, Y.H.
Exactly this.......well said.....to dissenters....go look up who has the most #1 songs all time.(Lennon & McCartney). Putting the right chords to the right words is daunting. Most artists might have a handful of #1's. 32 - #1s is beyond genius level.
He could play acoustic but was pretty horrific on electric. Paul was probably the best guitarist. Compare Blackbird to Julia or Norwegian Wood which are probably John's high points.
Hemingway did a lot of bat shit crazy stuff not limited to hinting U-boats with hand grenades being chased by the CIA for being involved with the KGB and being in charge of a militia outside Paris
Was Einstein good at maths?
John Lennon = brilliant guitar 🎸 player. Brilliant composer . Fantastic singer. Great performer. Creator and leader of the Beatles. The greatest group ever
I have to say that his solo in "I want you" is the best example of his ability to play. A stunning exquisite solo.
Adam Gopnik said that John had limited talent but infinite soul. I'd rather have the soul than the talent.
.Nothing special about it at all.
@@johnnyrocker7495 you have a long ways to go my friend
@@Monkforilla Not at all. John was an OK player, but describing the solo in I Want You as a "stunning exquisite solo" is ridiculous. It's typical of the overstatement that is regularly applied to anything involving The Beatles.
@@johnnyrocker7495 and thats why ur a nobody guitarist , gtfo
I’ve been playing for 40 years. I wish I was as “terrible” of a guitarist as John Lennon was. I’d have written some of the greatest songs of the last 55 years or so.
Agree
You'd also have to be a "terrible" lyricist like John to write songs of such caliber.
@@brushstroke3733 - Agreed. Total crap as a lyricst. I mean what the hell is “a hard day’s night”? Obviously should been called “a relaxing evening at home with the wife, after a tough day at work”. Duh! “Musical genius” my foot! 😏
@@kato64 And what's with him being so coy with that "please please me" lyric? He could have just sung "baby please give me head" instead. Why beat around the bush about it? 😉
@A Antonson - Not two completely different things when you’re writing and playing the music. We’re not talking a Tin Pan Alley songwriter, handing his tune over to Englebert Humperdinck. We’re talking John F***ing Lennon.
John Lennon wrote ‘I Want you, She’s so heavy’ Easily one of the greatest riffs ever created. It’s a drop D tuning which gives it the grunge/stoner rock feel. Lightyears ahead of their time.
that's a great point. I can even imagine John McLaughlin coming up with something similar.
I love "I Want You", but it was actually a parody of bands that played monotone riffs. Because of that, the song itself is monotone to death.
@@johanndaart7326 could you cite those bands?
That song always sucks me into another place the heavy riff is just amazing John was way ahead of his time
Kurt Cobain worshipped him.
Love Chris Buck as a guitar player. But here he forgoes an opportunity to demonstrate his own skill. He chooses rather to respond thoughtfully, meeting the entry level music student where they are. He makes great choices about how much to share, and how to share it in a way that encourages further study. I already knew he could make advanced guitar playing look easy. He also makes being helpful look easy. If you try being an educator you will find that it is surprisingly difficult. Love Chris Buck.
John's rhythm playing was absolutely rock solid, and, much like Ringo's drumming, was always unusual, innovative, and became an integral part of the songs. His rhythm parts, even when not drawing attention to itself, often literally drove the songs - Hard Day's Night, We Can Work it Out, of course All My Loving- etc. He did not grow up in the period where the goal of a rock guitarist was to be a virtuoso. That era really came into the mainstream 1967 and after. Like Ringo and George, his guitar playing had a unique musical personality that was absolutely vital to the sound. (Paul not mentioned because Paul really is a virtuoso, though not of the "guitar hero" type). It was the blend of those unique musical personalities was the magic. Replace any one of them with someone else, maybe especially a "virtuoso" guitarist type, and I don't think the magic survives.
Now that I'm old with lots of gray in my beard, I've come to a realization. A good guitar player is one who can get reactions out of people and impact their lives in some way. Guitar proficiency has little to do with whether or not a player can evoke emotions from the masses. There are plenty of amateurish players who have influenced people and some even changed the world of guitar and beyond.
John Lennon was and still is great at being John Lennon!
TIM HTIKE so true even an amateur playing a song with all their heart and soul can stir something inside . They say every person has a beautiful song to sing in them
I agree. 1980’s were loaded with guitar players that could play good solos but felt like just showing off. The 1990’s with grunge was more about chords and some solid rock music just like the bands they most admired (like the Beatles)
Very well said
Which is why people like John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, Joe Strummer, Johnny Ramone and others are highly admired.
Spot on!
Add the fact that John was not only playing these incredible chord progressions keeping the rhythm section bounding along. He did so whilst singing and always looking at the audience. Not the fret board. Brilliant entertainer.
john smith lol fair enough
Ummm.. It's not that hard.
@@osamabinladen824 Where's your stuff then?
Norwegian Wood’s opening guitar is my favorite guitar riff of all time. It’s music therapy.
John wrote many riffs and fills.
The opening riff to “I Feel Fine” is a prime example of one. most people don’t realize a lot of other riffs he played that were attributed to Harrison.
Except he didn't. He stole the "I Feel Fine" riff off Bobby Parker's "Watch Your Step" and freely admitted it.
@@tomobedlam297 didn’t know that…thanks for sharing!
In any case he played it well.😃
I Feel Fine, Strawberry Fields, Julia, You Can't Do That, The End... just off the top of my head. One of the best rhythm players in rock. His rhythm tracks in the early Beatles defined the band, they were the driving force behind the energy those early songs had. He was extremely good and quite uniquely artistic. They all were! There was nothing like him, nothing like them, and never will be.
Absolutely..couldnt agree more...
How bout all my loving? Lennon said that he really liked his part in that song because he knew it made the song a little more memorable
All my loving, cry baby cry,
All my loving and The End are Paul Songs
@@gidosteinert8931 talking about guitar and not who wrote or sang it
What makes John Lennon a great guitar player is, the amount of amazing guitars players who play guitar because they were inspired by John Lennon! There are lots of ways to be great!
Im.one .... The Beatles got me started on music as a guitar player.... I'm 71 and still axing away !!
Really interesting analysis of John’s guitar skills. Obviously, he was brilliant and, as others have said, he was a song writer, poet and artist.
How have I missed your UA-cam stuff? Finally, a young guitarist who understands SONGS!!!
One of the best rhythm guitarist ever, really percussive, early Beatles stuff is great.
His rhythm guitar is very difficult to play. Like All My Loving and I’m Happy To Just Dance With You. Honestly very difficult to get down.
Agree %100. Oh darling, revolution, she's so heavy, get back, and so many other rhythm classics.
He's the greatest rhythm guitar player to ever lived hands down
All the Beatles stuff is Great !!! Always will be !!!
@@johnnymoondogs1816 Hey you
It’s so funny most of the people who want to play guitar don’t know a thing about playing rhythm And John Lennon was a genius at it
Totally agree well said
I've also come to realise that one thing holding back my lead playing is my weakness as a rythmn player, in particular my knowledge of which chords I can substitute where, plus triads around the neck.
If you listen to players like Josh Smith, Robben Ford and Matt Schofield a lot of their lead lines are based on chordal ideas.
Like Izzy Stradlin ...on awesomeness on rhythm 🎸.
Maybe because they think playing really fast means that they’re a great player.
It don't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing.
Lennon was outstanding in his profession in everything he tried .. a musical genius
I think another good example of John's lead work and "playing for the song" was his lead riff on "Yer Blues" and the "solo" part in which John rapidly alternates between the open B and E strings and the B and E string fretted at the third. Simple, but very emotional. Shown in detail on the Stones Rock and Roll Circus live version where John plays with EC, Keith Richards, and Mitch Mitchell.
I've been playing for more than 40 years. What I've found is that who most non-players or more novice players consider "great" are guitarists who, honestly, really over-play; too many notes, too flashy. Playing just the right note or chord, in just the right voice, at just the right time is much harder. And Lennon was a fantastic rhythm player. And I never knew Lennon played the solo in Get Back… I've always love it! A prime example of tasty playing.
Yes he did..Check out the "Let it be" Movie...It's all there!!!
"Too many notes!" Ha ha like the line in Amadeus
I saw the Beatles at Shea when I was 15 and then went out and bought a crappy guitar and have been playing ever since...I have learned many , many Beatle songs and anyone who says that Lennon wasn't a good guitar player is totally ignorant concerning arrangement of music. It's great to see someone as young as yourself appreciate the complexity of the Beatles musical abilities...
Goodness gracious what I would give to have been at that concert, or to even be alive for their reign for that matter
Nolan R you wouldn’t believe the excitement they created for people. We all had Transistor radios in the playground. You couldn’t understand why girls would scream or swoon. At a very young age...race to the radio tv if a new Beatle song came out.
I saw the Beatles at Atlantic City Convention Hall the same year, couldn't hear them much over the screaming
I saw them in person arrive at the Pittsburgh airport in 64. I was 6. such a mob
scene. I saw them carry a girl away on a stretcher. fainted cold. girls were
climbing fences and phone poles. unbridled mayhem, and they werent even
singing ! Beatles put electricity in the air. every album was an event. talked
about for weeks. That year all top 5 positions of the Top Ten chart were
'all Beatle songs. They reigned as boy giants. and no one of their kind has
come along since.
So who won the game, the Mets or the Beatles? Did the Beatles get any "hits" against Tom Seaver, who
had filthy stuff, or was it a hard day's night for them? All Ringo has left from that concert is a photograph. Any rain delays during the game? Those New Yorkers might as well be dead
when the rain comes. Tomorrow never knows, I guess.
Watching you strum that beauty makes pick up mine and keep it going on. Thanks for another excellent show!
Watching this gave me a newfound appreciation for “Get Back”. That’s some soulful work by John!
I don't recall who said it, but I remember someone who played with John once said that he was the most solid rhythm guitar players in rock. It was along the lines of "When John's playing, you lock into his tempo because it's always perfect."
Kinda like how some drummers say that metronomes use Ringo to keep in time.
they were on the beat hence "beatles"
BS.
When asking Double Fantasy his last album , a studio musician a guitarist as well has said he was nervous about playing along side Lennon made a remark that not only was a great rhythm player he played loud and hard, paraphrasing here.
The studio musician said he was...he was there...John was always modest.
@@johnnyrocker7495 Have you read his last interview, the Playboy by David Sheff, he is modest a few times Yoko was in attendance. AND yes he was acerbic, he did not suffer fools gladly.This is the 2nd time reading it and it is most revealing interview ...before his life was taken.So upon reading this you can see how he really was toward the end of the Beatles, all of them happy and showing up for work. They knew the band was near its finale 🤧.
John played with so much attitude and urgency, love his playing
Very well said!
Same story with Keith Richards when he played rhythm. Rhythm guitar is always under appreciated, but Lennon seems to get dissed more than others.
This is the real point. I'm actually amazed by his wild touch in plastic ono band álbum & cold turkey
John Lennon was a kick A axer ... NEver heard this before .Thank
You for playing this .beautiful rythem .
I was born in June of 1963. With 4 older siblings, the youngest 4 years older than me, I was exposed to all 60s music since birth. By 4 years old I was a serious Beatles fan.. I'm completely serious. Subconsciously I must have incorporated John's style.. at least as far as my strumming hand. John was a phenomenon. ❤❤❤ 🎸❤❤❤
“I can’t play guitar, but I can sure make it howl.” - John Lennon
Yea I remember the interview where he said that. He said technically he wasn’t that good but he’s an artist and if you gave him a tuba he’d get you something out of it. A lot of John Lennon’s playing is VERY difficult to imitate.
He was the best guitarist in his art school.....
@@joesheppards1 "... a good song is a good song, you know, and you can jazz it up or do it with whatever rhythm you like, but if the song is there it stands." - Dr. Winston O'Boogie
anyone who has no musical training and plays...especially those that are hugely creative and artistic will create their own method of making the instrument work for them. consequently there will be a LOT of unorthodox chord shapes, applications etc but they will be the "right" way of playing those songs. Playing "by ear" means "making it up outside of established rules" without actually knowing what the rules are. this gives birth to some of the most interesting and innovative musicians.
Not the quote...he said he’s not technically great.
That's one of the things i love about John, he wasn't technical when playing guitar but it was pure , raw, imaginative and authentic.
Played with love
Thank you Chris for these carefully chosen illustrations of John's remarkable guitar skills. To be fair, we shouldn't let oblivion grow its deadly shadow over John's masterful first solo on Long Tall Sally. Also McCartney credit's John with the brilliant intro downstrokes to She's a woman.
John's riffing throughout "You Never Give Me Your Money" on his fuzzed out Epiphone Casino is crazy underrated.
He only had to be good enough to be John Lennon and make history. He's been dead 40 years and still relevant enough to discuss.
Damn, this year he'll be longer dead than he lived...
That's kind of heartbreaking but his music will always be with us.
Yoko survived over 40 years off one dead Beatle
@@stevefarrington5618 Um, she was from a wealthy family and already had a successful artistic career.
Not dead. www.mileswmathis.com/lennon.pdf
There are and always have been thousands of good guitarists in the world. None of them can hold a candle to John Lennon in songwriting skills.
May be millions
Richie Blackmore 😁
Many thousands; and NONE of them accomplished on guitar what John Lennon did.
Facts John Lennon songwriting skills is untouchable he is arguably the greatest songwriter ever.
Not really the point of the video. There are HUNDREDS of thousands or more, excellent guitarists in the world. Few have ANYTHING to say. John did. (George too.)
Much appreciated! Listening to this while a teenager, I was aware, even then, that I was listening to magnificent guitar playing. Hearing it again 50 some years later with your masterful re-enactment, I have the same feeling. Thank you for your obvious love that drives you to learn to play like this! The music of the 60's and 70's was amazing, as thousands have noted. For you to spend countless hours to show us just a small snippet of how great it was, is a blessing.
You are a great player yourself and very well demonstrated in these difficult chords and techniques.
I've been playing for nearly forty years and I've never been able to do what John did in "All My Loving". Just perfect rhythm guitar playing, perfect.
One of the great solo's is in "The End" where Paul, George and John all take turns and trade licks. It was improvised on the spot in the studio and after a brief rehearsal they layed it down live in one take:
"The idea for guitar solos was very spontaneous and everybody said, ‘Yes! Definitely’ - well, except for George, who was a little apprehensive at first. But he saw how excited John and Paul were so he went along with it. Truthfully, I think they rather liked the idea of playing together, not really trying to outdo one another per se, but engaging in some real musical bonding. Yoko was about to go into the studio with John - this was commonplace by now - and he actually told her, ‘No, not now. Let me just do this. It’ll just take a minute.’ That surprised me a bit. Maybe he felt like he was returning to his roots with the boys - who knows? The order was Paul first, then George, then John, and they went back and forth. They ran down their ideas a few times and before you knew it, they were ready to go. Their amps were lined up together and we recorded their parts on one track. You could really see the joy in their faces as they played; it was like they were teenagers again. More than anything, they reminded me of gunslingers, with their guitars strapped on, looks of steely-eyed resolve, determined to outdo one another. Yet there was no animosity, no tension at all - you could tell they were simply having fun. One take was all we needed. The musical telepathy between them was mind-boggling." - Geoff Emerick
That is my all time favorite piece with the small guitar war. Great comment.
I always liked the recordings from the Star Club in Hamburg where you could hear how John and George shared everything, I guess they had to playing all night.
According to a magazine interview with Ringo, the tune Yer Blues was John Lennon as he said they were waiting for George who wasn’t going to show so John kicked back and started jamming blues. The result was Yer Blues. Ringo said it was his favorite session ever.
My personal favorite is the New Music Express show of 1964 where they play You Can’t Do That and Twist and Shout with the broken microphone stand and having to switch sides with Paul.
And, John's parts in that showdown are the most difficult to replicate. Just balls to the wall rock n roll...
@@steveb2343 Exactly. Technically the simplest, the best of all three of them by miles though 'cos of the feel.
Yoko ruined everything
John was such a genius, wonderful homage ...and you used a pick on all the songs!
John Lennon, while with The Beatles, was an excellent and innovative guitarist. That, from a guitarist of 59 years ...
lennon was a genius without question , I have never heard the guitar isolated from these tracks before and you played awesome
I agree, John is a genius!
Fabulous job! True enough.rhythm guitar is highly underappreciated...as good as mick taylor was, it was keith's playing that drove the Stones into greatness. Nice playing
Melodic genius both vocally and rhythm guitar
People need to realise technical ability and actually being good are 2 different things
Well said.
Yes, having technical ability and being tasteful are two different things. Who hasn't heard a jazz saxophone player, or a guitar shredder, who has played a thousand notes, and was technically proficient, but bored the crap out of you. John was limited, but he danged sure worked well within the parameters of this limitation.
@@kenteel2944 Okay toan
@@zaidanp7258 I don't speak acronym.
seems because of star search and such people today are always expecting technical perfection id rather here a good song than a guitar wizard
John was a pro with decades of experience including tons of gigs, definitely knew everything about his instrument, and was extremely musical. Such an inspiration that shows how diving into music, and expressing yourself in it can accomplish.
Great demo of John’s playing. Thank you 🙏
Just listen to "You can't do that," its all John including the solo, its simply brilliant and was so ahead of its time.
John's lead part on the end ,off of abbey road is pretty darn good.
@@denisbrouillard5443 I thought that generally Abbey Road showed the excellent musicianship of all four Beatles. Just really great performances including the one mentioned.
You Can't Do That is possibly my favourite Beatles song and it's got Lennon written all over it.
I totally agree but PM has good things to say about George's 12 string rhythm as do I. Something odd about John:
on this performance and a few others, he would tell the cameraman/director/whomever to avoid him with the camera. I have no idea why he did that but I really wish he hadn't done that. He was a great performer.
@@paulca9237 I've read about John not wanting his solos filmed so many times. Unquestionably the solos are missed by the camera nearly every time irrespective of the song, country etc.
But I'm not sure I believe the story. First of all it appears to have been standard practice in the sixties. The director hadn't a clue about the duties of guitarists nor that the audience respected their abilities or that we'd want to watch the musicianship. If you'd told them that The Beatles were art people would have laughed. The girls hadn't that on their minds.
Secondly I can't see Lennon having the necessary relationship with the cameraman or director or the time. Would Neil Aspinall or Brian Epstein have had time, or Mal Evans?
It might be true but maybe it's just one of those old wives tales.
When John met Paul in 1957, John only knew banjo chords. Paul basically taught John the Guitar chords and he was a quick learner. Giving consideration to the short amount of time between 1957 and 62 when The Beatles began their celebrity status in the UK, it was quite an accomplishment. For John to come along with his Guitar playing in the way he did in such a short time is amazing. Not only that but turn The Beatles into the biggest band in the world. An amazing task in the history of music.
You had to dig down and really want to learn it back then. They didn't have great guitar books, the internet or lots of people willing to share knowledge.
John, Paul and George once had to get on a bus and go across town, because they heard that someone could show them a B7 chord.
That's dedication (and BTW, they used the B7 extensively after that) Lol
George Martin had slot to do with their success!
John and george are actually a worse guitarist than paul, paul had more accuracy and he was very precise but I think george had more iconic riffs
@@sean6992 What are you smoking?
@@dorkle9085 I'm a kid
Lennon really was nailing the quarter tone bend in the late 60s. Loved seeing you play this
Fascinating stuff and great playing. I always thought George had written those Get Back parts. They are genius.
John was an incredible rhythm player,,,the part on 'all my lovin' is a killer
He sucked on guitar
@@randallkennedy2066 You suck!
Randall Kennedy ......you're an absolute NOBHEAD!.....
Was he a “shredder?” No. Did he play like Hendrix or Clapton ? No. Was he a “Great Guitarist?”
... ABSOLUTELY !
.., respectfully, it’s quite a stupid a question.
Don't forget, Jimi was a great melodic guitarist and also experimented with jazz... after he died, SRV expanded it into the example Jimi left for him.
Dam rights Lennon was a good guitarist not to mention the Best songwriter.
Phatback Beat agree 100%
Click bait
I heard many outtakes and John was always out of rhythm.
Exquisite Work on this, Thank YOu.
"And I Love Her" - both John and George absolutely brilliant.
The Beatles' music was much more sophisticated and complex than people are aware. Their chords, chord changes, chord voicings, layers of instrument, textures of different sounds, modal changes, and vocal harmonies were much more intricate and at a higher level of difficulty than the vast majority of other pop music. This is true not only for 1960-1970 but since then as well. Combined with their voluminous output of songwriting and recording, and their evolution of different music styles with constant hit songs and hit albums, makes them (in my opinion at least) the greatest band in the history of pop music. John's guitar chops definitely hold up and are underrated, probably because he was largely a rhythm player. I think musicians have a greater appreciation of the level if difficulty if their music than music fans who don't play instruments. This was a really excellent video. Great playing and spot on analysis with great examples.
Very well said.
@Speakeasy
Oh... I would bet it did..!
an excellent, very thoughtful overview of an amazing group and of john's guitaring.
Speakeasy ......George Martin’s musical knowledge was invaluable to them but it’s said GM only ever acted on advice from the lads. From the inclusion of a Piccolo in “Penny Lane” to the cacophonous orchestration of “A Day In The Life”, John and Paul had the “ideas”, Martin the “knowledge”. It’s interesting to note that on the second Beatles album, all of the piano was played by GM.
@@lindadote Has anyone seen the video by Mike Williams, the Sage of Quay researching if the Beatles wrote all their own music? (See link below) He plays, records and repairs guitars. He and some other long-time Beatles fans looked at every minute of time the Beatles spent touring, making movies, doing interviews, traveling, and in the studio recording and the time it took to get the records made, tracks laid down, overdubs, placed on vinyl, in record sleeves and cover, to market, every detail, and determined there was not enough time for them to have done it all by themselves, while writing hundreds of hit songs in different sounding styles that were unique and complex, while growing in technique by leaps and bounds every year. George Martin had been in the music field a long time and knew the best of the best session musicians. He was also known to be a perfectionist when it came to recorded sound.
George and most of these song writers and session players were classically trained, which is why it is so weird that these mostly men (in their 30s and 40s at the time) were writing and playing pop rock music on the records. This means they were born in the 1920s and 1930s. So much for pop rock being a young people's invention. People who understand classical music can hear the influence in the composition of some of the songs. One man trained in classical music was interviewing George Martin (a clip on Mike's video) and ask him why so many Beatles tunes have musical chords from old Church hymns. George Martin's face turned to panic on the video and he couldn't answer the question. I would have said the whole culture has been influenced by hymn music whether they were taken to Church or not, Paul was noted by one of his childhood friends to sing in Church. But, George couldn't think fast enough to make up that excuse. He put his finger over his lips making the Shhh sign to the interviewer.
Mike's research group thinks George Martin, their producer, got everything taken care of, writing, recording and all the rest and the Beatles came off tour and movies and recorded the vocals to the songs. The same thing was happening the the US at the same time. See the video called the Wrecking Crew. The main difference is they have all the session musicians figured out that were part of the Wrecking Crew. The Americans never kept it as hush, hush after the first few years -- that basically the same set of US session musicians were playing on the records of all the great US bands in the 1960s.
In the 1960s, it looks like the US and the UK were having a bit of a competition of sorts of who could develop bands the quickest with the best recorded sounds, so just like people in sports and with race horses, they cheated a bit, only it wasn't with steroids and Epogen, it was by using the creme' dela creme' song writers and session musicians to write and record the songs on their albums, most who were never credited. I am happy the US Wrecking Crew is finally getting recognized. I hope the British version of the "Wrecking Crew" will also become recognized as well. They deserve it. A group of song writers wrote and the session players played the best pop rock music ever written and played in my opinion.
However, the original Beatles were still a great band. They were part of the British success formula and in my opinion why the British beat the US for the 1960s best pop band sound and performance. They still had to learn to play those complicated songs. They sang all the vocals, had great harmonies, played the music themselves on tour and on stage most of the time, until they added full orchestras on St. Pepper's and afterwards and could not duplicate the sound on stage. They were also smart, funny, cute and approachable. After George Martin left, sometime after St. Peppers, Mike and his group of researchers think we do hear more of the Beatles own writing and playing, especially on the White Album.
There's even way more to the story than this, but this is certainly enough for now. See Mike's video for more of the exacting details. ua-cam.com/video/ccEhmQ0M4FY/v-deo.html
His acoustic playing on the song "Julia" alone proves he was amazing.
Donovan taught John the picking pattern he eventually used on Julia while they were in India in early '68. John worked to improve his playing through The Beatles years.
@@TheMaineSurveyor Exactly! But apparently that's the kind of laughable comment we are doomed to read when it comes to The Beatles. We have a guitarist who - although he's been a professional for the last 10 years or so, at that time - didn't even know about travis picking (something every under average amateur guitarist should know) until Donovan taught it to him and, even after that, he's always been capable of playing only a very basic and simplified version of said picking. And people think he was "amazing"... and woe to you if don't say it yourself! How dare you not believing that beatles invented music!?
@ They did a lot more than many players who were technically superior. What is it worth to be a professional guitarist?
Listen to John standing shoulder to shoulder with Eric and Keith (on tasty base) during Rolling Stones Circus and singing and playing his Casino for “Yer Blues”.... killer band..!!
I was going to post the exact same thing. Julia is a brilliant song, based on a melodic riff that is just beautiful and overflowing with deep feeling. John's playing on this song, which he wrote (FFS), defeats any suggestion that he wasn't a good guitarist.
Oooo this was a fantastic watch! Well done Chris
Always good! Thanks Chris.
The Beatles were groundbreaking - and importantly, their music is as fresh today as it was back in the 60’s.
Musically and lyrically, The Beatles laid the foundation for all who followed.
John Lennon was a great guitarist and vocalist - really wish he was still here making wonderful music. Thank you Chris - for paying respect to him with your own fabulous playing.
Your brilliant guitar playing deconstructs the argument that “Lennon couldn’t play”, and demonstrates that actually he could. What was moving and poignant was hearing John’s honest admission that he didn’t feel he was good enough to jam with contemporaries because of a lack of confidence. Such a vulnerable genius. So human.
Lennon was actually a better guitar player than George. George's gift was developing his own unmistakeable sound and style.
Lennon was great guitarist, rythum and a little lead. Harrison also a great guitarist, some of his lead riffs are unmatched! But believe it or not, McCartney was the best lead guitarist in the Beatles! And great bassist, great pianist, great drummer! Definitely the best all around musician in the Beatles!
@@tomh.1479 I don't dispute McCartney is multi-talented, I don't agree he is great at everything.
@@nmcg2587 Rock solid competence
Another great appreciative and inciteful video. Plus your playing is, as ever, fab! Thanks!
Wow. Very well researched and demonstrated. Beautiful selection of guitars as well.
Yes, he was a good guitarist. And Ringo was and is a fabulous drummer.
I don´t think so. John was a good composer but mediocre guitar player and worst pianist. Ringo was not a fabulous drummer, was a normal drummer. Ginger Baker, for ex. was a fabulous drummer.
@@carloscasamayor7861 Totally agree with you. Ginger used to battle the best Jazz drummers on the side during Cream's heyday......imo, the best rock drummer ever.....sorry John Bonham and Neil Peart fans, but he was the best.
@@sooch7316 you would also have to include Carl Palmer in that as well
@@carloscasamayor7861
Let's see a video of you playing all of these instruments better than John and Ringo.
@@sooch7316 you got to look at the styles first off the style has got is different to what ringo has and all i got add on that is he must've done something right unless he wouldn't be as popular as once was and still is now
I love John's sloppy, scrappy style. He was so cool, he didn't give a damn; he had that Rock n Roll attitude that's so missing in too many more technically proficient guitarists. For more great Lennon lead work, check out his solo on "You Can't Do That." Also, John plays really cool lead on the end of "You Never Give Me Your Money." He also created some iconic riffs like "Day Tripper" and "I Feel Fine." Anybody who knocks John's guitar work can go hang.
Anybody who knocks John's guitar playing is an Idiot. John was rock and roll personified. Raw and scrappy, with that I don't give a shit rock and roll attitude, That attitude is sorely missed with many of today's 'technically proficient" players LOFL. Rock and Roll is about attitude swagger and earnestly playing your balls off, and he certainly did that. Anybody who doesn't appreciate that because he wasn't great technically, doesn't truly appreciate or understand Rock and Roll
Feel over technique any day
Don't forget his slide o. For You Blue
@@dickslinger7979 Exactly
Wouldn't call it sloppy, it was pretty tight, as shown in this video
Great video, brilliantly presented. Very concise and interesting.
Great analysis and demonstration, thank you.
Like all the Beatles he played to and for the song. Which is what made the Beatles great.
That’s it
Great insight
He played it like the best hired studio musician would.
Amen brother, Amen. The simple truth of r'n'r.
@@stevenmotchan2048 Bingo - I learned from a great studio player Jimmy Capps (part of the area 615 group) Hot shots come and go but great rhythm players that can create great rhythm parts stay forever -- BTW he's now 81 and still gets a lot of calls here in Nashville - he's the guy with the crew cut - ua-cam.com/video/ZT3ZInKueo4/v-deo.html
He was not a boring "good" guitarist, but a genius using the guitar to express originality, breaking all rules and molds... Isolated he could sound weird, but together with the other instruments, they did the magic Beatle sound. No band can compare to them; There are the Beatles and then the "beatles wanna be"
The best statement I have seen so far. Comparing any guitarists from the 1960s to the technically flashy playing we have today leaves out the more important point: Lennon composed on primarily two instruments, the guitar and the piano. He isn't a technical genius at either instrument. Put a Beethoven sonata or a Villa Lobos etude in front of him and would not be able to read or even play either...as he would honestly admit. But he could"nick" a Beethoven work and come up with something like "Because". The great guitarists of that era also invented the language we know as rock. Their inventive gifts are often more important than their technical skills.
Excellent, excellent analysis!