No better person to show you how to play a song is the person who wrote it. Not to many famous guitar players show you this on you tube. Thank you John
I would have loved for Zal Yanovsky to have shown what he played on the record. There is footage of them doing this live on youtube. If you are a better guitar player than I am you might be able to figure out what Zal was doing by watching. John is showing a great arrangement for one picker on acoustic guitar. I would love to see hoe the lead licks were played on the albums. I'm not trying to taking anything away from John, I'm just a HUGE fan of Zal Yanovsky.
He was not ahead of his time. He fit right in with his time and era. This phrase is used way too much about average musicians. There were 4 men truly ahead of their time in rock and pop music. Robert Johnson, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen. His standard chord progressions, catchy melodies and teeny pop lyrics were NOT ahead of anything.
Superb!!! Thanks for this lesson, which delights me, but my sheer joy at having it be from you is threatening to overwhelm what I'm learning. I'm in my early sixties now and The Lovin' Spoonful was a huge and formative part of my youth.
I don't know of any other musical legend who does this. John Sebastian - brilliant and unsurpassed. Thanks for post from someone who can't play a note but does appreciate great music.
Thanks John. I always loved your singing style that had a talking groove to it- that F & G chord blend sure helps clear that 5 for me. This particular tune had that extraordinary bluesy overlap harmony that still knocks me out every time.
That's an F extended by an added 9 in the root. I suppose it would be written F/9 or it might even show up as F/2. It's not quite as wistful as a maj9 and the inversion firms it up even further.
what a great inspiration to a whole generation.. GOD BLESS YOU..YOU ARE A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.. one of the best times of my life to be there in the 60s thank you again..
'Saw John (solo) at a little venue in Toronto called "Hugh's Room" a few years ago. 'Wonderful, wonderful night. He had such a good time, he broke his rule of never playing the "Welcome Back Kotter" theme, and played it for us! We had a chance to meet and chat after. He is such a cool man.
Well... tears are coming from my eyes.... where are my younger years!!!! How much we enjoyed with these guys!!! In Chile .. in the beach.... my friends playing soccer!!
Incidently, that song was played so much in the 80's and fit the song style of the 80's that I actually thought it was new in the 80's. A timeless song.
John Sebastian- paying it forward for years. Solo, he did more beatuiful songs standing the test of time. I can't start summer without blasting Summer in the City, or playing She's Funny when I reminiisce. Great jug band music and last I knew he was still showing off playing harmonica. Seems effortless to him. Plus he seems like such a great unselfish gent/ There are a lot from this generation paying it forward, musicains doing this- look them up. Betthey'd like to know they are still well regarded for helping a budding musician
I got John's DVD as part of a "Baby Boomer's" package deal from Homespun, along with DVDs of Tom Rush teaching (some of) his favorite songs, and the late Pete Huttlinger teaching Jim Croce songs. Good stuff. "To give the impression of the autoharp, which, _schwunggg_ . . . " Yup, that's what it sounded like, John; loved it. (Ha; I wonder if "schwung" is the past tense of "schwing.")
Interesting didactic video, I am sure it is great for young musicians. It also shows you how they made those hit records. John Sebastian - one of the all time greats of American pop music, a great craftsman, yet somewhat under-appreciated by the general public.
Wow what find on UA-cam! John you're such a pioneer and I have enjoyed your talent since I was a young child. My older brother had your albums so I got to hear them from a very early age. You and Lovin' Spoonful are among my all time favorites! Thanks for your artistry and great instruction as well!!
John this is Bob Hoffer back in the seventies you came to the great American music festival in Syracuse New York and I was playing in the holiday and lounge where you were staying and you asked me if that was a guild Guitar that I was playing and I handed it to you didn't have the chance to say how much I loved your music bless you john
Thank you for the lesson. I remember when you opened for the Beach Boys in Miami many moons ago. Always enjoyed your style and performance ever since. Thanks for some very memorable tunes.
Thanks for checking out this sample. It's a really great video. He teaches acoustic arrangements of his songs and shows some very cool songwriting tricks along the way. I'm a pretty seasoned player and gleaned some interesting things from the lesson.
Is this a "sample" of the lessons? For what seems like quite an easy song, I couldn't make out all the chords, and the picking was a bit fast. I'm sure the lessons for sale are alot better. Anyway, I've seen a couple of famous singer/songwriters on You tube, and I think its so cool of them to teach their own songs, like this great one. Thanks, John! Always loved your songs, going way back to the 60's!
Really nice to see J. Sebastian explaining his great tunes! Homespun has some great stuff I once got the " Guitar of Richard Thompson" and in addition to the valuable tips, it just made for great listening !
Such a nice man. Great songwriter. Though many wonderful periods in his career, I love the early stuff best because of the interaction of Zal’s lead playing. For your enjoyment, check out: “Loving You” and “Darling Companion”.
Cool! So, that's what I was doing, while looking for a beginner's guitar. The back beat. Trying the find the guitar I liked the feel and the sound, plus fit my fingers. Think short and stubbie and left handed.
I've purchased a bunch of stuff from Homespun. Some of it's way over my head, but still richly enjoyable viewing. (I watch the Donald Fagen one over and over.) It's great to know that you can get this "cut above" stuff somewhere and not just the "intro" stuff.
I think John Sebastian is graciously assuming you already know how to play the guitar and is just teaching you the song in a very diplomatic equal sort of stance. The video shows you exactly what he's doing and the one time he strayed from a straightforward chord he told you how to do it. Great to see his irrepressible humour is still around.
I believe it's a Collings sunburst with Gibson-style body. Collings makes beautiful instruments. If you ever have the chance to try one out, you should.
Thanks for making me laugh, allegradrums.. love your comment "Music pre Bullshit" ~ how very true!!!!! I've always loved the Lovin' Spoonful ... beautiful, pleasant and fun music to listen to!
That’s pretty cool John I am a solo instrumental finger style guitarist. This is very easy for me to do. Why don’t you make a solo instrumental version of some of your songs and post them on UA-cam with notes and tab. I dearly love your music. I am not much of an ear player, but I’m a very good reader. I have a photo genic memory, I can learn songs and get them down in my mind and never look at the music again. My brother is a harmonica player. He doesn’t know what to think of me as a guitar player. He’s tried to play guitar but never succeeded. I took it as far as I could take it. But I’m still learning and a good guitar player is always willing to learn new things. Thank you so much for all of your great music. I always thought of you guys has the American version of the Beatles you had that super cool sound hope you are having a wonderful and beautiful day.👍❤️🎸😁😎😀🎸🎶
@benoit4reel Do it! The wonderful thing about guitar is that a simple chord or an easy single note line can sound beautiful and be satisfying. Yes, guitar playing can get very complicated and advanced, but, you can also find peace and healing in strumming some simple chords!
Very cool. Thank you! Would LOVE a lesson on how you play "Respoken" from What's Up Tiger Lily? Loved that soundtrack to the very silly Woody Allen film...
First three are as stated - the fourth chord is not a straight G nor a G7, it is Fmaj7 shape with a bass note G on the 3rd fret of low E. When 3rd finger goes to that note it is replaced by little finger. Ok?
As much as I enjoyed John's instructional on how to play this song on your own, I would LOVE to find a video that shows how to play the triplet run going on in the background of the original song... My band has two guitarists and I can play guitar as well so I think covering this song could be loads of fun if we could get more parts figured out than just the chords and main riff... This song still owns nonetheless though haha :D!!
That's awesome it's the original guy playing it, but it's in the wrong key! :( I know things get transposed sometimes, but it's in the key of A on the original recording, so I'll probably just use a capo on the 2nd fret, which will be what he's playing, but in the original key. 😎
No better person to show you how to play a song is the person who wrote it.
Not to many famous guitar players show you this on you tube. Thank you John
Steven Boone actually wrote the song.
@@mikew8486 With John Sebastian
I would have loved for Zal Yanovsky to have shown what he played on the record.
There is footage of them doing this live on youtube.
If you are a better guitar player than I am you might be able to figure out what Zal was doing by watching.
John is showing a great arrangement for one picker on acoustic guitar.
I would love to see hoe the lead licks were played on the albums.
I'm not trying to taking anything away from John, I'm just a HUGE fan of Zal Yanovsky.
john was a genius ahead of his time, and gave us some truly unforgettable songs. Thanks, John, we'll always be grateful.
He was not ahead of his time. He fit right in with his time and era. This phrase is used way too much about average musicians. There were 4 men truly ahead of their time in rock and pop music. Robert Johnson, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen. His standard chord progressions, catchy melodies and teeny pop lyrics were NOT ahead of anything.
His songs bring back memories of my High School days in the mid and late 60's....
Nobody was more 'Peace & Love' than John B. Sebastian....
Such an aura of goodness and creative genius that emanates from this wonderful musician. He's truly a priceless gift to the world.
Thank you John! The spoonful have become one of my favorites and this is coming from a 33 year old
One of the better songwriters to come out of America, an American treasure for sure.
God I love being taught by one of my 60's heroes John Sebastian.....
These tutorials by the stars themselves are simply amazing. What a great idea.
Superb!!! Thanks for this lesson, which delights me, but my sheer joy at having it be from you is threatening to overwhelm what I'm learning. I'm in my early sixties now and The Lovin' Spoonful was a huge and formative part of my youth.
I don't know of any other musical legend who does this. John Sebastian - brilliant and unsurpassed. Thanks for post from someone who can't play a note but does appreciate great music.
Great artist, who else would talk you through his songs.
Thanks John. I always loved your singing style that had a talking groove to it- that F & G chord blend sure helps clear that 5 for me. This particular tune had that extraordinary bluesy overlap harmony that still knocks me out every time.
That's an F extended by an added 9 in the root. I suppose it would be written F/9 or it might even show up as F/2. It's not quite as wistful as a maj9 and the inversion firms it up even further.
@@starfishsystems Thanks Star for the info. Would that be the key of F?
John was and is the Master of songwriting. Just his guitar, and you hear the song with the vocals in your mind. One of the very best!
what a great inspiration to a whole generation..
GOD BLESS YOU..YOU ARE A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING..
one of the best times of my life to be there in the 60s
thank you again..
What a treat! Thanks John!
'Saw John (solo) at a little venue in Toronto called "Hugh's Room" a few years ago. 'Wonderful, wonderful night. He had such a good time, he broke his rule of never playing the "Welcome Back Kotter" theme, and played it for us! We had a chance to meet and chat after. He is such a cool man.
I saw John perform at Woodstock in 69 and at my college in 1970. What wonderful memories. I always loved his music.
Thank you for sharing your song's secret from such a living legend
No enseña bien
Well... tears are coming from my eyes.... where are my younger years!!!! How much we enjoyed with these guys!!! In Chile .. in the beach.... my friends playing soccer!!
So very cool to teach others to play this wonderful song!
A true Artist.
Thanks for such great music! I grew up listening to this, & still love it.
John, I saw you live in Chicago years ago. It was my first rock concert. And it was
fun.
Holy crap!!! Did I really just get taught guitar by John Sebastian himself? SWEET!!! He's one of the true greats. :)
very cool of him to make this video. a true gentleman.
John, your a legend! Great Music! Always loved it!
Such skillful guitar playing.
I grew up with his music and still just love to listen to it. What an awesome song writer instrumentalist and singer.
One of the greatest songwriters of all time!
Incidently, that song was played so much in the 80's and fit the song style of the 80's that I actually thought it was new in the 80's.
A timeless song.
you are a genius sir...THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SONGS...THEY ARE GIFTS
John Sebastian- paying it forward for years. Solo, he did more beatuiful songs standing the test of time. I can't start summer without blasting Summer in the City, or playing She's Funny when I reminiisce. Great jug band music and last I knew he was still showing off playing harmonica. Seems effortless to him. Plus he seems like such a great unselfish gent/ There are a lot from this generation paying it forward, musicains doing this- look them up. Betthey'd like to know they are still well regarded for helping a budding musician
Beautiful song!!!!
There's magic in them there strings. John makes it look so easy.
Beautiful song. I SO identify with the lyrics. I need to learn it. Thankyou John.
great tune, so sixties. perhaps the best time and music ever... IMHO.
Johnny. You're a true musical genius!
The guy is a living genius.
Great video! Tutorial from
John Sebastian. I have always loved this song.
They had many hits but this was always my favorite! thanks John
i don't even play the guitar, but still found this interesting.
John is amazing!
A 1960s hero. He looks great!
I got John's DVD as part of a "Baby Boomer's" package deal from Homespun, along with DVDs of Tom Rush teaching (some of) his favorite songs, and the late Pete Huttlinger teaching Jim Croce songs. Good stuff.
"To give the impression of the autoharp, which, _schwunggg_ . . . " Yup, that's what it sounded like, John; loved it. (Ha; I wonder if "schwung" is the past tense of "schwing.")
Interesting didactic video, I am sure it is great for young musicians. It also shows you how they made those hit records.
John Sebastian - one of the all time greats of American pop music, a great craftsman, yet somewhat under-appreciated by the general public.
Incredibly great teacher!
Wow what find on UA-cam! John you're such a pioneer and I have enjoyed your talent since I was a young child. My older brother had your albums so I got to hear them from a very early age. You and Lovin' Spoonful are among my all time favorites! Thanks for your artistry and great instruction as well!!
John this is Bob Hoffer back in the seventies you came to the great American music festival in Syracuse New York and I was playing in the holiday and lounge where you were staying and you asked me if that was a guild Guitar that I was playing and I handed it to you didn't have the chance to say how much I loved your music bless you john
bob puffer
John is an extremely talented musician.
Thank you for the lesson. I remember when you opened for the Beach Boys in Miami many moons ago. Always enjoyed your style and performance ever since. Thanks for some very memorable tunes.
Was that in '88/89?
Great music. One of my favorite groups at the time. Thank you.
I love you John Sebastian!!
A GOOD BLOKE LOVE JOHN. j Vincent Edwards stay young forever x love and peace
Thanks Mr sabatian
What a great player!! Cool chord structure.
I live in Park City Utah and going to see you tomarrow . Fun!
What a great guy.what a unique talent.
this guy is just GREAT
John Really good guitar.
Nice explaining of the guitar
Thanks for checking out this sample. It's a really great video. He teaches acoustic arrangements of his songs and shows some very cool songwriting tricks along the way. I'm a pretty seasoned player and gleaned some interesting things from the lesson.
Is this a "sample" of the lessons? For what seems like quite an easy song, I couldn't make out all the chords, and the picking was a bit fast. I'm sure the lessons for sale are alot better. Anyway, I've seen a couple of famous singer/songwriters on You tube, and I think its so cool of them to teach their own songs, like this great one. Thanks, John! Always loved your songs, going way back to the 60's!
From the Master himself..very nice ! Just as much of a Genius like Brian Wilson in my opinion.
Really nice to see J. Sebastian explaining his great tunes! Homespun has some great stuff I once got the " Guitar of Richard Thompson" and in addition to the valuable tips, it just made for great listening !
Way to keep on rocking!
Outstanding !
Such a nice man. Great songwriter. Though many wonderful periods in his career, I love the early stuff best because of the interaction of Zal’s lead playing. For your enjoyment, check out: “Loving You” and “Darling Companion”.
The Lovin' Spoonful was huge in the 60s and "Summer in the City" can only get more popular with the heat we have now.
Cool! So, that's what I was doing, while looking for a beginner's guitar. The back beat. Trying the find the guitar I liked the feel and the sound, plus fit my fingers. Think short and stubbie and left handed.
I've purchased a bunch of stuff from Homespun. Some of it's way over my head, but still richly enjoyable viewing. (I watch the Donald Fagen one over and over.) It's great to know that you can get this "cut above" stuff somewhere and not just the "intro" stuff.
I think John Sebastian is graciously assuming you already know how to play the guitar and is just teaching you the song in a very diplomatic equal sort of stance. The video shows you exactly what he's doing and the one time he strayed from a straightforward chord he told you how to do it. Great to see his irrepressible humour is still around.
Yes
Wonderful song.
I believe it's a Collings sunburst with Gibson-style body. Collings makes beautiful instruments. If you ever have the chance to try one out, you should.
He is legend
Thanks for making me laugh, allegradrums.. love your comment "Music pre Bullshit" ~ how very true!!!!!
I've always loved the Lovin' Spoonful ... beautiful, pleasant and fun music to listen to!
Thanks John very helpful always loved your music 🎵🎵
Fine work ❤
That’s pretty cool John I am a solo instrumental finger style guitarist. This is very easy for me to do. Why don’t you make a solo instrumental version of some of your songs and post them on UA-cam with notes and tab. I dearly love your music. I am not much of an ear player, but I’m a very good reader. I have a photo genic memory, I can learn songs and get them down in my mind and never look at the music again. My brother is a harmonica player. He doesn’t know what to think of me as a guitar player. He’s tried to play guitar but never succeeded. I took it as far as I could take it. But I’m still learning and a good guitar player is always willing to learn new things. Thank you so much for all of your great music. I always thought of you guys has the American version of the Beatles you had that super cool sound hope you are having a wonderful and beautiful day.👍❤️🎸😁😎😀🎸🎶
Nice to get a guitar lesson from the man himself on his famous song.
what a sneaky chord that F/G is! I always thought it was just a straight G!
@benoit4reel Do it! The wonderful thing about guitar is that a simple chord or an easy single note line can sound beautiful and be satisfying. Yes, guitar playing can get very complicated and advanced, but, you can also find peace and healing in strumming some simple chords!
like C, Em, F, G !
john, i need to know how to play '4 eyes'....thanks, blind in reno
just terrific.....merry chtmas....
Such a brilliant and under-rated songwriter.
Nice!
Wow, very helpful video. I can learn this, then start passing the hat.
Wow thanks so much very nice
Very cool. Thank you! Would LOVE a lesson on how you play "Respoken" from What's Up Tiger Lily? Loved that soundtrack to the very silly Woody Allen film...
First three are as stated - the fourth chord is not a straight G nor a G7,
it is Fmaj7 shape with a bass note G on the 3rd fret of low E. When 3rd finger goes to that note it is replaced by little finger. Ok?
Take care of yourselves. And each other.
This is not only instructional, but also historical... kinda like a video history book.
What are the chords?
Thanks Mr sabastian. I'm luring spoonful song
What is the song playing at the intro prior to the lesson?
As much as I enjoyed John's instructional on how to play this song on your own, I would LOVE to find a video that shows how to play the triplet run going on in the background of the original song... My band has two guitarists and I can play guitar as well so I think covering this song could be loads of fun if we could get more parts figured out than just the chords and main riff... This song still owns nonetheless though haha :D!!
Hello. What triplet run? The C#m arpeggio in the background of the chorus?
John Benson Sabastian
March 17, 1944 Age 79
Inducted into the Rock Roll Hall Of Fame 2000
Lovi"n Spoonful
Member of The 1969
Woodstock Festival
Absolutely !!
Jetzt kann ich endlich anfangen zu üben!
magic
Yes, I know its easy...that's nit why he transposed it but its still great to see him making music
That's awesome it's the original guy playing it, but it's in the wrong key!
:( I know things get transposed sometimes, but it's in the key of A on the original recording, so I'll probably just use a capo on the 2nd fret, which will be what he's playing, but in the original key. 😎
God this dude is so cool!
Wow...Johnny, did you write that song in heaven? LOL. Beauty.
I believe Steve Boone, the bass player of the group actually wrote it- but you can check-
Genious, genious, genious...