"The coolest lick in the whole song." You are 100% right. The first time I heard George's part isolated and heard that lick, I was astounded by how cool it was. The Beatles had more tricks up their sleeves...
The guitars are in one channel (R?), so you can isolate it. It really sounds like it’s not an F#m, but a B power chord WITH the F# on the low E (so 6=2, 5=2, 4=4, 3=4) I use tuning app so I don’t have to retune for every song. Had to bring this one down -1.44 steps for it to play as A Love your work! You’re the best guitar channel
This is coolest song to play when some one says what can you play. Especially when you’re at home and you have your gear ready. Everyone who is anyone, all my friends anyway, know what it is and the world is a beautiful place. It cranks. It tells John’s story 100%. I love to play this.
The ring finger on the third fret of the B string for the open D boogie woogie of John's part, now that's a keeper. I guess I would have figured that out at some point in my life, but that's why I'm here - to learn! As always, thanks.
ask a younger player i am blessed to have someone like you breaking down a lot tracks. You have some of the only lessons available for some of your tracks!!!
I find it interesting to see the different ways different guitarists handle the unusual tuning in this track! Like you, some players tune each string up one semitone to FA#D#G#CF, plus a bit higher so the track sounds in between Bb and B. Mattiboo's channel has a version like this ("with the A string tuned about halfway between Bb and B"). A long time ago, MyTwangyGuitar's UA-cam channel had a version again with each string tuned up to FA#D#G#CF, but he specified that you should then add exactly 10 cents to make it A=450Hz instead of the normal A440. Unusually, his version also played John's part up at the 5th fret, because he said it was more practical than the open string method seen on the David Frost clip. I saved a copy of the description that used to be on his video, where he wrote: "The David Frost performance had a pre-recorded backing track (the original recording) with live vocals. Although John is playing in the open position on the show, he could not have muted the A string which is *essential* for his part. Try it and you'll see. Playing the part the way I am playing it and the way it was recorded would have required John to look at the fretboard almost the entire time. If you try it both ways, I think you'll agree. George varies his position throughout. Again, the notes he is playing in the video do not correspond to the audio of his guitar.") I'm not sure I'm convinced, but I'm pasting it here in case anyone wants to try it like that! *But on the other hand...* Some people play it with a capo on fret 2. Chris Buck's UA-cam channel has an excellent video about recreating the song's guitar tone ("John Lennon's Revolution Guitar Sound | Friday Fretworks"), in which he uses a capo. I also have a copy of the Blue Album tab book, which also recommends playing it with a capo on II. But although the tabs in that book tend to be pretty thorough and accurate (which is not always the case with published sheet music!), it says nothing about adjusting the string tuning. As for what I do? Personally, I tend to avoid all this annoying retuning by just playing the album version (Revolution 1), which is in plain old A!
I definitely would have voted James Brown for president, if I were an American. Thanks for a great lesson. Still enjoying your Privatetricker channel and your new channel is coming along great. You are bang on about Lennon being a 'stellar' Rhythm guitar player. It never get's talked about much, his particular guitar style was very unique. He had a solid right hand and played interesting chords that most people overlook. One of my favourites is the rhythm part in "Eight Days A Week". Have a good time, all of the time. Cheers.
George really made use of that board distortion they had to get that drone sound. Really cool..you are right that promo clip is really miming but they are singing live . The solo section is kind of unusual too...its hard to reproduce live ...I have tried! Great job...thanks.
Yes, sped up to make it "rock harder" would be consistent with what you read about John's intent here (plugging right into the desk to get that distortion, the "Play Loud" on the 45's label). They also sped up Back in the USSR (the original slower speed recording is on the recent White Album box set). Also, to James' point about the promo video, which was an appearance on David Frost's show, only the vocals were live on that. The rest it was taken from the studio tapes. Same with Hey Jude. All the orchestral players in the background were faking it... they needed to get around strict British musician's union rules about taped vs. live performances. Great lesson as always, JJ. Great sound!
Perhaps they played it in B (as in the promo video), found it wasn’t quite ‘heavy’ enough and SLOWED DOWN. the tape. That would account for the actual key being Bb 1/2. Paul…we could use some help here…
For the opening riff, I’m pretty sure what’s happening is that George is playing the way you played it (yes I know there’s no footage I think it was an overdub) and John does it the way he did it in the clip. Cause I still hear that higher part
George Martin must have speeded up some of the recordings and that changes the tuning. I wouldn't be surprised in the early record if the tuning didn't drift off key as they recorded full songs together like on a stage.
Fabulous breakdown of the classic song..... JJ, this may have been covered in one of your hundreds of videos but wanted to ask...... if a catrastrophy in the house, after your wife and dog, which Six String would you be grabbing to take out under your arm?
Hello James, thanks for so many fine videos and lessons. I'm always enjoying them. In this video I noticed at 5:00 that you do the first and the second hammering from a to b. I think, when I listen to the record, the second hammering ist from b to c# and also at the other corresponding points. It does make a little difference. What do you think? Please excuse my "only school-english". All the best and many greetings from Germany. Rock on. Hans
James, love your lessons mate but got to say the tee-shirts that you wear are great as well, so as I live in London UK, where do you get them from and can I buy them online especially this one 😀 😉
@@jamesjames9275 Lennon was focused on having a distinct sound on the guitar with distortion. He had them play it through the console. This is probably is why the guitars key can’t be defined, because that probably altered the key. Nicky Hopkins played piano on it, so it probably was in a standard key that was altered in the recording. www.beatlesebooks.com/revolution
@Gary Book - Whoever "they" are, they are wrong. Plus, the included video on the link page you provided shows George and John playing their parts in the manner that James James is demonstrating, fingering as in the key of A, but sounding slightly sharper than a full step. When you listen to how the guitars sound, and especially John's rhythm guitar, it is very clear what chord shapes that he is using, as no other chord shapes will allow the song to sound the way it does. The guitars may have been tuned a full step sharp, and the tape sped up a quarter step... or the whole song might have had the tape sped up by 2.25 semitones.
I hate when people write "First." But, First. Anyway, I always assumed they slowed the recording a bit, rather than sped up. One more thing - jesus that tone is incredible. No pedals, right?
Tune your A string to match the first chord in the verse, then tune all the other strings from there. They're at standard intervals, but everything is tuned up a little bit. To me, it doesn't matter how far up it's tuned, I can just tune to what I hear.
I worked my way up to expensive guitars. That helped me prove to myself that I was committed to the instrument. Still, there are plenty of very affordable Les Paul copies these days. Check out UA-cam videos, there are guys who review cheaper options. And these days, guitar makers are figuring out how to make nice guitars at low prices.
@@jamesjames9275 Last year I bought a "Slick" guitar - one of the boutique guitars built by Bowie guitarist Earl Slick. It cost all of $300 and is, by far, my favorite guitar i've ever owned (and I've had a Les Paul, two Teles, a Jag, and a Jag-Stang. The Slick, which looks like a double-cut LP Jr., is just incredibly fun to bash around, and it sounds great with its single P-90 pick up. So Liam Carver, sometimes expensive isn't better. Find one you love
"The coolest lick in the whole song." You are 100% right. The first time I heard George's part isolated and heard that lick, I was astounded by how cool it was. The Beatles had more tricks up their sleeves...
The guitars are in one channel (R?), so you can isolate it. It really sounds like it’s not an F#m, but a B power chord WITH the F# on the low E (so 6=2, 5=2, 4=4, 3=4)
I use tuning app so I don’t have to retune for every song. Had to bring this one down -1.44 steps for it to play as A
Love your work! You’re the best guitar channel
This is coolest song to play when some one says what can you play. Especially when you’re at home and you have your gear ready. Everyone who is anyone, all my friends anyway, know what it is and the world is a beautiful place. It cranks. It tells John’s story 100%. I love to play this.
Loved hearing your thought process, especially in the beginning. Once again... great lesson
Love your Ronnie Van Zant t-shirt!
I was just watching the PT "Something" Anthology lesson, come out and you're playing George again, which is always a good thing. Thank you as always.
The ring finger on the third fret of the B string for the open D boogie woogie of John's part, now that's a keeper. I guess I would have figured that out at some point in my life, but that's why I'm here - to learn! As always, thanks.
ask a younger player i am blessed to have someone like you breaking down a lot tracks. You have some of the only lessons available for some of your tracks!!!
One of the best Beatles song and you nailed it as always. Thanks for the insight, always love your Beatles videos
I like a lot all your lessons and covers of every song!! So thankful for your lessons
I find it interesting to see the different ways different guitarists handle the unusual tuning in this track!
Like you, some players tune each string up one semitone to FA#D#G#CF, plus a bit higher so the track sounds in between Bb and B. Mattiboo's channel has a version like this ("with the A string tuned about halfway between Bb and B").
A long time ago, MyTwangyGuitar's UA-cam channel had a version again with each string tuned up to FA#D#G#CF, but he specified that you should then add exactly 10 cents to make it A=450Hz instead of the normal A440. Unusually, his version also played John's part up at the 5th fret, because he said it was more practical than the open string method seen on the David Frost clip. I saved a copy of the description that used to be on his video, where he wrote: "The David Frost performance had a pre-recorded backing track (the original recording) with live vocals. Although John is playing in the open position on the show, he could not have muted the A string which is *essential* for his part. Try it and you'll see. Playing the part the way I am playing it and the way it was recorded would have required John to look at the fretboard almost the entire time. If you try it both ways, I think you'll agree. George varies his position throughout. Again, the notes he is playing in the video do not correspond to the audio of his guitar.") I'm not sure I'm convinced, but I'm pasting it here in case anyone wants to try it like that!
*But on the other hand...*
Some people play it with a capo on fret 2. Chris Buck's UA-cam channel has an excellent video about recreating the song's guitar tone ("John Lennon's Revolution Guitar Sound | Friday Fretworks"), in which he uses a capo.
I also have a copy of the Blue Album tab book, which also recommends playing it with a capo on II. But although the tabs in that book tend to be pretty thorough and accurate (which is not always the case with published sheet music!), it says nothing about adjusting the string tuning.
As for what I do? Personally, I tend to avoid all this annoying retuning by just playing the album version (Revolution 1), which is in plain old A!
Using a capo is obviously the best way, to stop from snapping strings. No brainer.
@@Footygodsarewatching I find capo being the best way as well but it still sounds off as the track is between Bb and B
Great energy, thanks man
You got some nice guitar s .That Gibson sounds so good 👍.
Brilliant video. Thanks👌🏼
Can’t wait for Get Back: 2021🤘🏼
Excellent lesson as usual.👍🎸
Given that there’s keyboard on the recording, that is evidence that the recording was speeded up.
Yeah that huh!
Ended up being a lesson on both parts. ✌🏼
I definitely would have voted James Brown for president, if I were an American. Thanks for a great lesson. Still enjoying your Privatetricker channel and your new channel is coming along great. You are bang on about Lennon being a 'stellar' Rhythm guitar player. It never get's talked about much, his particular guitar style was very unique. He had a solid right hand and played interesting chords that most people overlook. One of my favourites is the rhythm part in "Eight Days A Week". Have a good time, all of the time. Cheers.
"fortunately we got a spare..." Love it. Yep, I've got a spare Les Paul lying around. LOL.
TNX 4 this, I could never figure this out, and wanted to be able BREAK IT OUT one day.... when no suspected it was coming.
George really made use of that board distortion they had to get that drone sound. Really cool..you are right that promo clip is really miming but they are singing live . The solo section is kind of unusual too...its hard to reproduce live ...I have tried! Great job...thanks.
Yes, sped up to make it "rock harder" would be consistent with what you read about John's intent here (plugging right into the desk to get that distortion, the "Play Loud" on the 45's label). They also sped up Back in the USSR (the original slower speed recording is on the recent White Album box set).
Also, to James' point about the promo video, which was an appearance on David Frost's show, only the vocals were live on that. The rest it was taken from the studio tapes. Same with Hey Jude. All the orchestral players in the background were faking it... they needed to get around strict British musician's union rules about taped vs. live performances.
Great lesson as always, JJ. Great sound!
Mind🔊BLOWING😎👍🏾
Saludos desde México
Nailed that sound
Really great video! Love it.
Perhaps they played it in B (as in the promo video), found it wasn’t quite ‘heavy’ enough and SLOWED DOWN. the tape. That would account for the actual key being Bb 1/2.
Paul…we could use some help here…
Spot on it is so.
Hey that's a lot cooler than I remember. Course I never played it before.
Right on jj
For the opening riff, I’m pretty sure what’s happening is that George is playing the way you played it (yes I know there’s no footage I think it was an overdub) and John does it the way he did it in the clip. Cause I still hear that higher part
brilliant..Thanks
I dig your musical can opener mind.
Nice lesson, I'm gonna give it a go,.. Tyvm
Hey James... Sorry by the stupid question but who's that guy on profile pic? I'm curious
It’s Nigel Tufnel from the movie This is Spinal Tap. Punch up UA-cam and search Nigel’s guitar room.
@@jetthenderson2720 Is that the guy who's guitar goes to 11?
@@thebookofeli849 indeed it is.
Well done. Many thanks.
Sincerely. Jane and Michael.....Banks!
George Martin must have speeded up some of the recordings and that changes the tuning. I wouldn't be surprised in the early record if the tuning didn't drift off key as they recorded full songs together like on a stage.
Fabulous breakdown of the classic song..... JJ, this may have been covered in one of your hundreds of videos but wanted to ask...... if a catrastrophy in the house, after your wife and dog, which Six String would you be grabbing to take out under your arm?
Thank you for your nice viedeos.
Jorje is coming to be muy bueno con guitars. I am Ancho Poblano
Thanks again
Hello James, thanks for so many fine videos and lessons. I'm always enjoying them. In this video I noticed at 5:00 that you do the first and the second hammering from a to b. I think, when I listen to the record, the second hammering ist from b to c# and also at the other corresponding points. It does make a little difference. What do you think? Please excuse my "only school-english". All the best and many greetings from Germany. Rock on. Hans
James, love your lessons mate but got to say the tee-shirts that you wear are great as well, so as I live in London UK, where do you get them from and can I buy them online especially this one 😀 😉
I made this one.
@@jamesjames9275 Dude ✌✌✌
they play it in A on the film
Grazie
I'm curious what your tuner says on your low E string. Does it say how many cents flat or sharp or roughly how far between each note?
I’ve never used a tuner in my life. The whole point is to tune using your ears.
@@jamesjames9275 I hope I get to be as good of a guitar player as you
I used an app (Amazing Slowdowner)
I had to lower the pitch of the recording -1.44 (semitones) to get it in pitch with a standard tuned guitar
If you look at the Beatles video you can clearly see George playing in the 5th position. Just tune your guitar accordingly.
In the promo clip, George plays some of it "correctly" as he does on the recording, and in other parts, not so much. :)
I’m pretty sure it’s in B-flat
Sounds like Status Quo based their whole canon on JL's R'n'R riffage.
They said it is in the Key of B. inwhatkey.com/song/revolution-by-the-beatles. If they changed the speed of the tape, that would change the key.
“They” said?
@@jamesjames9275 Lennon was focused on having a distinct sound on the guitar with distortion. He had them play it through the console. This is probably is why the guitars key can’t be defined, because that probably altered the key. Nicky Hopkins played piano on it, so it probably was in a standard key that was altered in the recording. www.beatlesebooks.com/revolution
@Gary Book - Whoever "they" are, they are wrong. Plus, the included video on the link page you provided shows George and John playing their parts in the manner that James James is demonstrating, fingering as in the key of A, but sounding slightly sharper than a full step.
When you listen to how the guitars sound, and especially John's rhythm guitar, it is very clear what chord shapes that he is using, as no other chord shapes will allow the song to sound the way it does.
The guitars may have been tuned a full step sharp, and the tape sped up a quarter step... or the whole song might have had the tape sped up by 2.25 semitones.
@Gary Book - Additionally, when the Beatles played "Revolution" acoustically as "Revolution 1", it is clearly in the key of A.
the "in what key" people apparently do not play guitar
レスポールスタンダードがカッコいい。
How do you choose the songs that you do lessons on?
Whatever I feel like playing.
@@jamesjames9275 Dig it!!!
what pedal are you using?
Just gain from the amp.
That riff sounds like a Chuck Berry riff.
The t-shirt should add fabulous fox
I hate when people write "First." But, First. Anyway, I always assumed they slowed the recording a bit, rather than sped up. One more thing - jesus that tone is incredible. No pedals, right?
No pedals, but the amp has digital effects.
What tuning is it in exactly?
Tune your A string to match the first chord in the verse, then tune all the other strings from there. They're at standard intervals, but everything is tuned up a little bit. To me, it doesn't matter how far up it's tuned, I can just tune to what I hear.
Sped up to make it tighter.
Is a les Paul a good first guitar or do you guys recommend going cheaper
I worked my way up to expensive guitars. That helped me prove to myself that I was committed to the instrument. Still, there are plenty of very affordable Les Paul copies these days. Check out UA-cam videos, there are guys who review cheaper options. And these days, guitar makers are figuring out how to make nice guitars at low prices.
@@jamesjames9275 Last year I bought a "Slick" guitar - one of the boutique guitars built by Bowie guitarist Earl Slick. It cost all of $300 and is, by far, my favorite guitar i've ever owned (and I've had a Les Paul, two Teles, a Jag, and a Jag-Stang. The Slick, which looks like a double-cut LP Jr., is just incredibly fun to bash around, and it sounds great with its single P-90 pick up. So Liam Carver, sometimes expensive isn't better. Find one you love
Has a spare Les Paul....
I don’t feel guilty about working hard and saving up money to buy things I want to buy.
What amp is it
Peavey Vypyr 100.
@@jamesjames9275 Didn't know you used a Vypyr too! Mad respect!
Grazie