I really like the way you explain and teach at the right pace. No boring, annoying , crap. It's much easier and enjoyable to learn especially for people who can already play and i think newbs can grasp it if they just watch a few times. Excellent thank you
You listen so well! What's more, you're teaching me how. I've played that song for twenty plus years and never caught that down-tune. I've learned so much from you. thanks again!
You are right without a doubt man...besides knowing right off from the sound...I looked at a few videos and yep...no doubt about it...you are correct! Thanks for sharing =) I never really tried much to play this tune but when I did...never sounded right haha now I know why =)
Gerry Rafferty singing like Dylan. It sounds like a Dylan song. He was good at writing put down songs like this. If only you could be me and see what a drag it is too see you! That’s a pretty good put down. You started out with nothing and you’re proud you’re a self made man. I always thought that was a put down line. Like you still got nothing. Maybe I’m wrong on that but that’s my impression. Thanks! 🎸😎👏🏻
Great observation on how playing it in (lowered) E makes the part drive more, as it sorta encourages upstroking. In fact, John Fogerty (as you no doubt know) used full drop a lot, and the chug-in-lowered-E voicing can be heard to very similar effect on "Proud Mary"! Tempo similar to "Stuck in Middle," not identical, but it has the "chug." And once again, the latter song sounds almost-but-not-quite-right played in (standard) D.
Standard tuning is naturally to high for Jerry`s voice so they tuned it down.. And you are exactly correct on the sound and chords great ear for this,,, thanks for sharing....
Long long long before Reservoir Dogs, I was on a road trip with my parents in Canada and this song kept coming on the radio. Over and over. And we’d all sing it. It’s one of the happiest memories I have. So approaching Edmunston new brunswick I stood up between the bench seat of that Buick (cause wtf were seatbelts) and started singing it with them. And then just started puking all over them. My dad pulled over into the nearest motel and all I remember (besides watching Planet of the Apes in black and white in that room in my pyjamas) was that moment of listening to, and singing, Gerry Rafferty and Stealer’s Wheel, singing this song with me and my Mom and Dad. My Dad is gone now. He had dementia. But I KNOW if I played this song for him now he’d remember it perfectly’ because that’s how he was at the end. So anyway thanks for this. You have great taste in music, even if you might not always know why the songs affect people the way they do. I’m just a few years older than you btw. Great ear James. Great lessons. Thanks bud.
And that's not even Gerry Rafferty in the video. They recorded the song, then Gerry quit before they did the video. So other main guy Joe Egan lip synced the song for the sake of the video.
Thank you profusely James. I have learned so much from you in just a few minutes. Various tunes that have enthralled (and baffled) me for decades are now revealed. Your explanation of this Rafferty song is a particularly fascinating and illuminating one.
You are exactly right about the down tuning on 12 strings in the 'old' days. I goy my first 12 string in 1964 and if I tuned it to 440 standard, the strings were almost an inch off the neck (fretboard). I didn't use a capo back then (almost nobody did with 12 string guitars, because the fretboard was so WIDE, it was hard to find capos that covered all the strings), so we just transposed and down tuned. However, there's a video of the Stealers Wheel playing their song about 11 years ago, and he now plays a 6 string (vintage Gretsch) and plays in *D* chord and config. They still do a great job of it! ua-cam.com/video/-TGXK--BYbQ/v-deo.html
Great lesson! I am a beginner, but I still learned a lot from your video. Gorgeous guitars, too. Are they a Gibson Dove and SJ-200? I’m a big fan of Gibson guitars.
It's great to hear the guitar tuned down to match the jangling sound of the strings on the original. Probably softer on the fingers tuned down too. 🎸🎶🎸 Love the channel. Dean 🇬🇧
I’ve been trying to figure out the guitar on Gerry Rafferty’s Island for a few weeks. It’s in E but when I play it it never sounds right. I tried capoing up in two different positions but still didn’t sound right. Then I remembered THIS video from a few years ago. I realized if Gerry did it in SW I bet he did the same in Island. Sure enough. I think I finally got it. Your ear lessons really help.
I just stumbled on your final PrivatT video, and it was totally interesting to hear an insider's take on the evolution of UA-cam, and the experiences of a producer of such a channel. Very thoughtful upfront and honest sort of fireside chat, of the type that doesn't happen much any more among people. Our society is getting so jive and image based, everything has to be a frik'n act these days. I make it a point to seek out the true and the soulful amongst all the manufactured drek out there. That's why I seek out real people playing real music. As for your postings, your style is refreshing and fun. Your spontaneous approach to learning songs and the insightful explanations are absolutely valuable to a striving intermediate player like me. I hope you continue to produce lots more videos.
That is the way it's supposed to be played but if I played everything I play and you the correct tuning I would need 6 guitars on stage , that's not gunna happen so you have to make do , but it's nice that your showing people the correct voicing. Cheers from Canada and stay away from the Corona !!!!
You are right , I watched a performance of stealers wheel and the 12 string guitar player was making E chord fingerings the rest of the band was playing in D ....so you are correct my friend !!!
See my other comment as well for useful info not mentioned here. I've performed this song to audiences many times years ago, and I just remembered something else that I figured out long ago: although it is true that the original studio recording was done with a 12 string acoustic tuned down so that an E chord is actually in the key of D.........but to avoid the hassle of doing that with a 6 string, yet still get that nice full "low sound"..........simply keep your 6 string acoustic in standard tuning, then drop BOTH E strings down to D......the double dropped D tuning.......just like Cinnamon Girl and Gold Dust Woman. It's simple to figure out the rest from there. The "money chord" that you mention at the end of the bridge is index finger on the 1st fret of the B string and middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string, as you mute the lower E string and strum all other strings open. Throughout the verses, you can even modify the D chord by fingering the B string at the 1st fret, along with fingering the G string at the 2nd fret, to get that cool minor funk sound.....you can play around with this part.........the rest is pretty straight forward for playing this song in standard tuning in the key of D. ( a G chord in double dropped D tuning must be played 2 frets up of course, which is simple enough )..........after much experimentation years ago, this double dropped D version is how I wound up performing this song ( while singing the lead vocals ) as my partner played acoustic slide & sang the harmonies. It works quite well this way. It's all a matter of opinion of course........but I urge anyone to try it this way, and see how YOU like it. It enables you to get rid of that high note when playing a normal D chord, and in my opinion, sounds much closer to the original studio recording. I would love to hear from anyone who gives this method a try by responding to my comment right here sometime. This has always been such a fun party tune that really livens up a crowd after playing beautiful, yet somber ballads. ENJOY......and keep rocking fella's!!!
There's an actual music video ( very old ) of Steeler's Wheel performing this song, and the singer is indeed playing an acoustic 12 string guitar tuned down so that an E chord is in the key of D, just as you've demonstrated here. That old music video can be found right here on youtube.
If you watch the music video, ua-cam.com/video/DohRa9lsx0Q/v-deo.html and it appears that Joe Egan (who is Miming Rafferty vocal) is in fact playing the second way you are doing it with it tuned differently and playing in an E position.
You remind me of the neighbor from the tv show "Home Improvement" with Tim Allen. We never see your face. It's a form of art really. Every single person that watches your channel has a different face they're imagining on your shoulders. Fucking badass if you ask me
James James The Beatles played many songs with George transposing say an A on the 5th fret and John playing the open chord. You hear a thickness on record. They felt that there were limits to developing a bigger sound and that’s how they resolved, in their mind. Most people, sitting at home don’t get to this place. Playing endless sets in Hamburg helped this along. Many guitarists would think it unnecessary, you have to have an ear for it. Also, I’ve had players say the down-tune on the 12 string just made the guitar more playable. Like lowering the gauge. 12 strings are loud anyway, so downtuning isn’t noticed. Jumbos with smaller sound holes are quieter than dreadnoughts with larger sound holes. Playing 12 strings on stage is an interesting dynamic. Egos get involved....
Thanks for this lesson. It got me thinking that I could just use Double Drop D and keep the chord positions as if standard tuning is still in use. It gives you the D note on the 1st & 6th strings, and I can tune and retune quickly if this song is in my set list. I like the sound of it and at the end of the day I don’t need to play it exactly like they recorded it
Looks like Stealer's Wheel actually plays it both ways in the song. What tipped me off was the intro played in standard D is the correct intro, but the intro played with the tuned down/E-A chord shapes doesn't sound right. I saw a video where one guitarist was doing what James James shows, and Rafferty is playing it in standard tuning. So, looks like he played the intro and then just vamped the rest of the song. Love your videos James! Always super helpful.
This could be played on 3 ways/3 guitars... harmony -One on E Standard Tuning (like Dove) -Two on D Standard Tuning (like J-200) -Three on D Open Tuning Sounds good or am I wrong?
but it was the singers guitar playing that way, is that Gerry. I did not see what the others were playing only the lead. I think he plays like Asus for the A and C9 as his fingers stay on the B and E strings third fret all the time I could see in that vid
Every time I hear this song I think of that scene in reservoir dogs in the garage when Mr whatever color cuts the cops ears off.....well done.... definitely tuned down and in the key of E👍🤞💪👏👌💰😎🇺🇸🤓🦫🤙🎶
The 12 string tuned down a full-step is 100% dorrect in almost all cases of them being used in the 1970`s. Bridges would get pulled out from their mount on 12 strings, and the 6 extra strings made standard tuning a freakin guarantee to destroying a beautiful acoustic.The 70`s were a decade of the classic singer/songwriter era. And Many, many songs had 12 string guitars in them. I started playing in 1979-80, and we had no tab or you tube at all to learn songs. James is the exact same age as me. We learned by trial and error. You had an incredible album coming out every 6 months in the 1980`s. You name it...and we looked forward to buying the next Van Halen, Priest, Maiden, Scorpions, Megadeth, Anthrax, Metallica, Overkill, Aerosmith, and got ready to learn a new set of songs as they came out. We hit Play, listened, figured out the tuning and key,rewind, play , rewind play, rewindplay...5000 times to get a riff down , bit by bit, the song would come together. That is how we developed our ears. Sorry for the typo on "correct". Look at all the guitarists that were around , that were legends...and this was our time to get serious. Ya had , EVH, SRV, Brian May, Malmsteen(first album...then never a new riff) Di Martini, George Lynch, Vai, Zappa, John Sykes, Randy Rhoads, Blackmoore, Steve Morse, Rik Emmett, Vivian Campbell, Adrian Vandenberg, Phil Collin, Dave Mustaine, to name a few. That is a pretty high standard to live up to. JJ is an amazing teacher, and I don`t think he would ever make a video unless he was 100% sure it was right on the money. He is by far a better teacher than I am.
Yo, Hey James James ... I've been playing for a long time. Appreciate your videos. Also grew up in Buffalo. So I love seeing the Bills and Sabres jerseys. My three brothers and I used to do the band thing around Buffalo and used to do Stuck in the Middle. I'd play the intro and strumming acoustic guitar part. Had to figure songs out on your own back then ... no UA-cam. So I've got a different way that I think sounded pretty accurate. Standard tuning but tune the high E string to D. (not "Drop D" ... "Drop high D" ?) Anyway the intro was played x00770 x00550 x00230 x00210 x00200 x00210 x00230, and that ringing D chord was that last position of the intro riff. Try the break G as 3x0033. Let me know what you think.
Yep I there's no top F# audible....good call. Also - I noticed ages ago in the official video, the guitarist ( I dont think it's Rafferty) is visibly playing a standard E shape)...this must be why :)
easy way to tune for DGCFAD while keeping sufficient tension; install a 'medium" 12 string set (nominal/approx ~ 325# tension at "E", gives a satisfactory ~~230# in D)
Man, this really put a big smile on my face. Also subliminal is having a Bob Dylan lithograph in the background while the original vocalist in Stealers Wheel twangs away á la ....Dylan ! Go figgure🤪
So I came here from a different video. Someone said your video was better and I thought they were just being a dick. Holy shit man. They weren't lying. I ended up learning your way and subscribing to all the awesome stuff you have on your channel!
Good here buddy I always go to your videos because you play them correct. What kind of strings do you use on that acoustic? I was a bass player for many years and used to thick strings But I use 10-47’s on my acoustic and they feel gigantic. I like your sound so I hope you can let me know what kind of strange you use. Thanks for all the videos.
Nicely taught James - even for a non guitar player like myself but a huge Rafferty fan! And, you are absolutely correct about using a 12 string! ua-cam.com/video/DohRa9lsx0Q/v-deo.html
If you watch the original Stealers wheels video, (even though he is lip syncing with air guitar for filming purposes..)- Jerry Raferty is playing a 12 string while strumming an E chord shape in 1st position...so you are accurate! Good job, mate! Good Guitar detective work..
Every other lesson that I've found is playing this in regular tuning, D. You are exactly right, not that you need me to tell you. I found an old Steelers Wheel video, Rafferty is playing the 12 string, and he's playing E shape opening chord, just as you are teaching in this video. It never sounded right to me in D, but I couldn't figure it out. Thanks again for an amazing lesson.
You are absolutely right. Unfortunately many stores never bother explaining this little important tidbit when you are buying a new instrument. When I was younger, much younger, I purchased a beautiful GUILD JF-55 12 string. I had the guitar for many years but eventually when I sold it the purchaser noted that the bridge was separating from the guitar due to string tension, I had to have a Luthier make me a brand new bridge and re-glue and clamp it to the guitar. It turned out great, but could have eventually cracked the top. I didn't find out until too late that 12 strings really should be kept tuned down permanently if you don't want to experience the same problem. I think Guild still makes the finest and best sounding 12 String guitars. No matter the brand, it's still makes for great advice to tune it down several steps and keep a capo. Thanks for your spot on advice as well as your lessons. I wish I would have had You Tube and your advice during my young and stupid years, no that I am old and still stupid it may be too late for an old geezer like me. Rob Johnson, north Salt Lake, Utah
Was watching the video, enjoying the groove as always, and then...IS THAT A PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD ON THE SHELF BEHIND YOU? I hope so, I had one myself for 10 years. It's the only thing I liked more than my guitars!
Hey JJ (Privettricker's) Wow i used to check you out all the time and was so bummed you left. Then my bud told me what happened and that you started a new channel under a new name!!! Its great to see you back on here because you give me inspiration to keep on playing. Keep on rockin man i appreciate what you did..and what you do.
I have a 12 string and you nailed it JJ. The way you play it sounds right. And yes I do keep it tuned down. I happened to lose the last one I played just because I kept it in standard tuning. It took 27 years for it to need a neck replacement. And the luthier destroyed the sound when I got it done. So, now I have a new one.
That seems to be the way Joe Egan is playing it in the video, he's miming Jerry Rafferty's lyrics but playing the right chords on a 12 string if it was tuned down. I once tried to learn it off that video but couldn't figure it out, now it makes sense, thanks.
Even though my dad plays the drums watching these videos sort of reminds me of playing with him. He can pick apart so many song's drum tracks and come up with how "they really played it." Even your talking sort of reminds me of him with that certain banter we also have while playing.
You are amazing. Bug thanks for the awesome lesson. Did you figure out the song just thru listening to it? If so, I'm really impressed with how you figured out the "secret" to the song.
I play the slide in open d and the other guitarist is in standard. I will share this with him, as he has a 12 string and see how that goes. Always greet that you should play it like it WAS played. Nice job!. Thanks. Took me to long to find this.
Your right about the tuning, but I'm pretty sure that like John Foegerdy and many other's or like Hendrix,tuning to eflat, it was more for ease of playing, or to put a distinctan between guitars, even easier for many singers voice ranges. I've owned a 12 string guitar early 70s never had an issue with the neck in standered tuning, but it did eat my fingers up.
@@jamesjames9275 sorry buddy, I wasn't trying disagree, just adding a thought to why he might have been tuning down to D, seems to be easier for me to play a 12 string or heavy gage strings,tuned down. A band mate ask me to learn the song, so I punched it in on u tube and seen he was playing an e shape chord, and noticed that you were the only one who seems to have figured it out
Never mind the tune, this is a lesson in so much more...but the song is an eternal classic. Looking at the official video Gerry is playing a 12 string less a capo but I thing it looks like open D tuning as per your lesson.
I'm not saying your wrong about the dropping all strings down to D but for those who don't have two guitars try just dropping the E 6th down to D and you'll here the nice raspy sound you refer to. Great lesson you certainly have a great knowledge.
Awesome! I always thought that playing the D shape didnt sound right. Down tuning and E sounds perfect. Confirmed with some of the limited GR videos I watched
you're the best teacher I've ever had the pleasure of learning from.
Me to
I really like the way you explain and teach at the right pace. No boring, annoying , crap. It's much easier and enjoyable to learn especially for people who can already play and i think newbs can grasp it if they just watch a few times. Excellent thank you
It's hard to find teachers that strike the balance, but James gets it every time. There are other channels that do it right as well.
You listen so well! What's more, you're teaching me how. I've played that song for twenty plus years and never caught that down-tune. I've learned so much from you. thanks again!
Also, I have a friend who thinks this song was the inspiration for Sheryl Crow's "All I Want To Do Is Have Some Fun." Sounds reasonable to me.
Always fun to hear you interpret what was originally done on a song. Amazing ear.
Don’t know if you’ll ever see this but, I think you are great. Thank you for all of my favorite songs that you’ve taught me to play. 🎉
You are right without a doubt man...besides knowing right off from the sound...I looked at a few videos and yep...no doubt about it...you are correct! Thanks for sharing =) I never really tried much to play this tune but when I did...never sounded right haha now I know why =)
Fantastic, loved all the info on 12 string tension.
except the octave strings-even though lighter -are of higher tension, This is why many old 12 strings are "folding". Great video!
Gerry Rafferty singing like Dylan. It sounds like a Dylan song. He was good at writing put down songs like this.
If only you could be me and see what a drag it is too see you! That’s a pretty good put down.
You started out with nothing and you’re proud you’re a self made man. I always thought that was a put down line.
Like you still got nothing. Maybe I’m wrong on that but that’s my impression.
Thanks!
🎸😎👏🏻
Great observation on how playing it in (lowered) E makes the part drive more, as it sorta encourages upstroking. In fact, John Fogerty (as you no doubt know) used full drop a lot, and the chug-in-lowered-E voicing can be heard to very similar effect on "Proud Mary"! Tempo similar to "Stuck in Middle," not identical, but it has the "chug." And once again, the latter song sounds almost-but-not-quite-right played in (standard) D.
Standard tuning is naturally to high for Jerry`s voice so they tuned it down.. And you are exactly correct on the sound and chords great ear for this,,, thanks for sharing....
Long long long before Reservoir Dogs, I was on a road trip with my parents in Canada and this song kept coming on the radio. Over and over. And we’d all sing it. It’s one of the happiest memories I have. So approaching Edmunston new brunswick I stood up between the bench seat of that Buick (cause wtf were seatbelts) and started singing it with them. And then just started puking all over them. My dad pulled over into the nearest motel and all I remember (besides watching Planet of the Apes in black and white in that room in my pyjamas) was that moment of listening to, and singing, Gerry Rafferty and Stealer’s Wheel, singing this song with me and my Mom and Dad. My Dad is gone now. He had dementia. But I KNOW if I played this song for him now he’d remember it perfectly’ because that’s how he was at the end. So anyway thanks for this. You have great taste in music, even if you might not always know why the songs affect people the way they do. I’m just a few years older than you btw. Great ear James. Great lessons. Thanks bud.
Hey JJ you are correct. Jerry Raferty plays it exactly like you said
And that's not even Gerry Rafferty in the video. They recorded the song, then Gerry quit before they did the video. So other main guy Joe Egan lip synced the song for the sake of the video.
Thank you profusely James. I have learned so much from you in just a few minutes. Various tunes that have enthralled (and baffled) me for decades are now revealed. Your explanation of this Rafferty song is a particularly fascinating and illuminating one.
You are exactly right about the down tuning on 12 strings in the 'old' days. I goy my first 12 string in 1964 and if I tuned it to 440 standard, the strings were almost an inch off the neck (fretboard). I didn't use a capo back then (almost nobody did with 12 string guitars, because the fretboard was so WIDE, it was hard to find capos that covered all the strings), so we just transposed and down tuned.
However, there's a video of the Stealers Wheel playing their song about 11 years ago, and he now plays a 6 string (vintage Gretsch) and plays in *D* chord and config. They still do a great job of it! ua-cam.com/video/-TGXK--BYbQ/v-deo.html
Great lesson! I am a beginner, but I still learned a lot from your video. Gorgeous guitars, too. Are they a Gibson Dove and SJ-200? I’m a big fan of Gibson guitars.
It's great to hear the guitar tuned down to match the jangling sound of the strings on the original. Probably softer on the fingers tuned down too. 🎸🎶🎸
Love the channel. Dean 🇬🇧
Good Work!....😉
John Fogarty does the tune down and play an E chord thing too. Nice job picking that out. Nice Dylan poster.
Good lesson! You can see where Sheryl Crow borrowed the music for her hit “All I Wanna Do.” 😝
gerry from my home town paisley
JJ, the Man With the Golden Ears, hits another one out of the park.
I’ve been trying to figure out the guitar on Gerry Rafferty’s Island for a few weeks. It’s in E but when I play it it never sounds right. I tried capoing up in two different positions but still didn’t sound right. Then I remembered THIS video from a few years ago. I realized if Gerry did it in SW I bet he did the same in Island. Sure enough. I think I finally got it. Your ear lessons really help.
I just stumbled on your final PrivatT video, and it was totally interesting to hear an insider's take on the evolution of UA-cam, and the experiences of a producer of such a channel. Very thoughtful upfront and honest sort of fireside chat, of the type that doesn't happen much any more among people. Our society is getting so jive and image based, everything has to be a frik'n act these days. I make it a point to seek out the true and the soulful amongst all the manufactured drek out there. That's why I seek out real people playing real music. As for your postings, your style is refreshing and fun. Your spontaneous approach to learning songs and the insightful explanations are absolutely valuable to a striving intermediate player like me. I hope you continue to produce lots more videos.
Very helpful. Great instruction! Thanks very much!
That is the way it's supposed to be played but if I played everything I play and you the correct tuning I would need 6 guitars on stage , that's not gunna happen so you have to make do , but it's nice that your showing people the correct voicing. Cheers from Canada and stay away from the Corona !!!!
I agree, I want a simple lightweight stage setup and teardown.
You are right , I watched a performance of stealers wheel and the 12 string guitar player was making E chord fingerings the rest of the band was playing in D ....so you are correct my friend !!!
See my other comment as well for useful info not mentioned here. I've performed this song to audiences many times years ago, and I just remembered something else that I figured out long ago: although it is true that the original studio recording was done with a 12 string acoustic tuned down so that an E chord is actually in the key of D.........but to avoid the hassle of doing that with a 6 string, yet still get that nice full "low sound"..........simply keep your 6 string acoustic in standard tuning, then drop BOTH E strings down to D......the double dropped D tuning.......just like Cinnamon Girl and Gold Dust Woman. It's simple to figure out the rest from there. The "money chord" that you mention at the end of the bridge is index finger on the 1st fret of the B string and middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string, as you mute the lower E string and strum all other strings open. Throughout the verses, you can even modify the D chord by fingering the B string at the 1st fret, along with fingering the G string at the 2nd fret, to get that cool minor funk sound.....you can play around with this part.........the rest is pretty straight forward for playing this song in standard tuning in the key of D. ( a G chord in double dropped D tuning must be played 2 frets up of course, which is simple enough )..........after much experimentation years ago, this double dropped D version is how I wound up performing this song ( while singing the lead vocals ) as my partner played acoustic slide & sang the harmonies. It works quite well this way. It's all a matter of opinion of course........but I urge anyone to try it this way, and see how YOU like it. It enables you to get rid of that high note when playing a normal D chord, and in my opinion, sounds much closer to the original studio recording. I would love to hear from anyone who gives this method a try by responding to my comment right here sometime. This has always been such a fun party tune that really livens up a crowd after playing beautiful, yet somber ballads. ENJOY......and keep rocking fella's!!!
You have a really good ear JJ and that's why I only learn new songs that you play & teach this is a perfect example thanks JJ
There's an actual music video ( very old ) of Steeler's Wheel performing this song, and the singer is indeed playing an acoustic 12 string guitar tuned down so that an E chord is in the key of D, just as you've demonstrated here. That old music video can be found right here on youtube.
Excellent. Here's to bumping up from the campfire.
Brilliant delivery. Thank you for sharing this.
If you watch the music video, ua-cam.com/video/DohRa9lsx0Q/v-deo.html and it appears that Joe Egan (who is Miming Rafferty vocal) is in fact playing the second way you are doing it with it tuned differently and playing in an E position.
James, you just cleared the muddy water up with the down tuning!!!! Thanks, Sam Henry
Good ear. Good lesson.
Have you heard Jeff Healey's version of this?
You've a great ear. I am digging that D tuning.. Sounds deep and full. Nice work
You remind me of the neighbor from the tv show "Home Improvement" with Tim Allen. We never see your face. It's a form of art really. Every single person that watches your channel has a different face they're imagining on your shoulders. Fucking badass if you ask me
"That's the money chord on the whole tune right there." Ha! I laughed out loud. Beautifully put.
wow ...awesome lesson...that J-200 is awesome...you do it a lot of justice!...Peace from Rochester!
Bad Moon Rising is tuned a whole step lower as well.
John tuned down a step on a bunch of CCR songs and Tom would play standard. The different voicings of chords gave a really cool effect to their sound.
James James The Beatles played many songs with George transposing say an A on the 5th fret and John playing the open chord. You hear a thickness on record. They felt that there were limits to developing a bigger sound and that’s how they resolved, in their mind. Most people, sitting at home don’t get to this place. Playing endless sets in Hamburg helped this along. Many guitarists would think it unnecessary, you have to have an ear for it. Also, I’ve had players say the down-tune on the 12 string just made the guitar more playable. Like lowering the gauge. 12 strings are loud anyway, so downtuning isn’t noticed. Jumbos with smaller sound holes are quieter than dreadnoughts with larger sound holes. Playing 12 strings on stage is an interesting dynamic. Egos get involved....
The six string guitar sounds better than the 12 string one☮️⛓️
Thanks for this lesson. It got me thinking that I could just use Double Drop D and keep the chord positions as if standard tuning is still in use. It gives you the D note on the 1st & 6th strings, and I can tune and retune quickly if this song is in my set list. I like the sound of it and at the end of the day I don’t need to play it exactly like they recorded it
That's what I was thinking too, I'll have to see how it sounds...
Cool! I learned something today!😬
Man your good !!!You left out that intro lick I’ve been trying to figure it out but f#%k 🇨🇦
JJ, another musical mystery decoded! Along with your Magic Bus exposé, this is fascinating stuff. You have a discerning ear. Thanks.
Yessss 👏👏👏. Now I know why it never sounded right when I tried to play it. I might actually give it a go live now. Cheers mate 😊
Wow ! Thanks 🤟😇
King are you !
Cheryl crow definitely ripped off the music
sounds like come dancing by the kinks
Looks like Stealer's Wheel actually plays it both ways in the song. What tipped me off was the intro played in standard D is the correct intro, but the intro played with the tuned down/E-A chord shapes doesn't sound right. I saw a video where one guitarist was doing what James James shows, and Rafferty is playing it in standard tuning. So, looks like he played the intro and then just vamped the rest of the song. Love your videos James! Always super helpful.
Yes, I agree on the intro part, it sounds like it was done on a guitar in standard pitch.
Days of Yore....... :) You entertain, my man!!!
thanks for info re possible nck bend with d tuning a guitar
Damn! I never would have figured that one out 😉
I just looked at the video....it is the E shape
You got some really nice acoustic guitars dude.
You can see he is using the E shape in this vid
ua-cam.com/video/Bd0-airybnk/v-deo.html
I actually think this is Nashville tuning with 12 string strings on a six string guitar. Try and see. Maybe I’m crazy.
To my mind, it’s a full 12 for sure. Nashville stringing would sound a lot more delicate.
This could be played on 3 ways/3 guitars... harmony
-One on E Standard Tuning (like Dove)
-Two on D Standard Tuning (like J-200)
-Three on D Open Tuning
Sounds good or am I wrong?
You could play it a million different ways. You could tune to open G or open C or open E and still play it in the key of D.
Exactly!
James James - the video is down 😟
James James thanks for all the great lessons. I've been playing for years and learn so much from you.
JJ...old vid but is that a 993 on your shirt?
Just watched the music vid and your right it's tuned down
However , I do enjoy your to the point song lessons !
but it was the singers guitar playing that way, is that Gerry. I did not see what the others were playing only the lead. I think he plays like Asus for the A and C9 as his fingers stay on the B and E strings third fret all the time I could see in that vid
Gerry quit right after they released this song, so he's not in some of the TV appearances or the promo clip.
Why do so u think the b#7 is so special? Sorry didn't watch whole vid but seems like its a very minor chord in the song.
+fed1776 It's not a B#7, it's a Bm7.
Mate I’m going to give you a thumbs up 👍
Hey Brother , Im sorry but you couldnt be more wrong about the chord . Its D , not E . Watch the video ua-cam.com/video/FjoqBaW6OMk/v-deo.html
One guitar is playing D, but the main one is E. Brother.
Every time I hear this song I think of that scene in reservoir dogs in the garage when Mr whatever color cuts the cops ears off.....well done.... definitely tuned down and in the key of E👍🤞💪👏👌💰😎🇺🇸🤓🦫🤙🎶
Thanks for posting, excellent lesson.
The 12 string tuned down a full-step is 100% dorrect in almost all cases of them being used in the 1970`s. Bridges would get pulled out from their mount on 12 strings, and the 6 extra strings made standard tuning a freakin guarantee to destroying a beautiful acoustic.The 70`s were a decade of the classic singer/songwriter era. And Many, many songs had 12 string guitars in them. I started playing in 1979-80, and we had no tab or you tube at all to learn songs. James is the exact same age as me. We learned by trial and error. You had an incredible album coming out every 6 months in the 1980`s. You name it...and we looked forward to buying the next Van Halen, Priest, Maiden, Scorpions, Megadeth, Anthrax, Metallica, Overkill, Aerosmith, and got ready to learn a new set of songs as they came out. We hit Play, listened, figured out the tuning and key,rewind, play , rewind play, rewindplay...5000 times to get a riff down , bit by bit, the song would come together. That is how we developed our ears. Sorry for the typo on "correct". Look at all the guitarists that were around , that were legends...and this was our time to get serious. Ya had , EVH, SRV, Brian May, Malmsteen(first album...then never a new riff) Di Martini, George Lynch, Vai, Zappa, John Sykes, Randy Rhoads, Blackmoore, Steve Morse, Rik Emmett, Vivian Campbell, Adrian Vandenberg, Phil Collin, Dave Mustaine, to name a few. That is a pretty high standard to live up to. JJ is an amazing teacher, and I don`t think he would ever make a video unless he was 100% sure it was right on the money. He is by far a better teacher than I am.
its got to be a pain in the ass to restring and tune a 12 string.
Yo, Hey James James ... I've been playing for a long time. Appreciate your videos. Also grew up in Buffalo. So I love seeing the Bills and Sabres jerseys. My three brothers and I used to do the band thing around Buffalo and used to do Stuck in the Middle. I'd play the intro and strumming acoustic guitar part. Had to figure songs out on your own back then ... no UA-cam. So I've got a different way that I think sounded pretty accurate. Standard tuning but tune the high E string to D. (not "Drop D" ... "Drop high D" ?) Anyway the intro was played x00770 x00550 x00230 x00210 x00200 x00210 x00230, and that ringing D chord was that last position of the intro riff. Try the break G as 3x0033. Let me know what you think.
Arrragh video not available it says ! :-(
Great lesson. Thank you!
Yep I there's no top F# audible....good call. Also - I noticed ages ago in the official video, the guitarist ( I dont think it's Rafferty) is visibly playing a standard E shape)...this must be why :)
Hahaha...@10:35 Is that Pokey(the orange horse) from Gumby and Pokey sitting on the shelf to the left of the orange amp? :-)
easy way to tune for DGCFAD while keeping sufficient tension;
install a 'medium" 12 string set (nominal/approx ~ 325# tension at "E", gives a satisfactory ~~230# in D)
Man, this really put a big smile on my face. Also subliminal is having a Bob Dylan lithograph in the background while the original vocalist in Stealers Wheel twangs away á la ....Dylan ! Go figgure🤪
So I came here from a different video. Someone said your video was better and I thought they were just being a dick. Holy shit man. They weren't lying.
I ended up learning your way and subscribing to all the awesome stuff you have on your channel!
Good here buddy I always go to your videos because you play them correct. What kind of strings do you use on that acoustic? I was a bass player for many years and used to thick strings But I use 10-47’s on my acoustic and they feel gigantic. I like your sound so I hope you can let me know what kind of strange you use. Thanks for all the videos.
Nicely taught James - even for a non guitar player like myself but a huge Rafferty fan! And, you are absolutely correct about using a 12 string! ua-cam.com/video/DohRa9lsx0Q/v-deo.html
thanks for making all your videos man!!!!!!!!!!!! i appreciate you man
If you watch the original Stealers wheels video, (even though he is lip syncing with air guitar for filming purposes..)- Jerry Raferty is playing a 12 string while strumming an E chord shape in 1st position...so you are accurate! Good job, mate! Good Guitar detective work..
Every other lesson that I've found is playing this in regular tuning, D. You are exactly right, not that you need me to tell you. I found an old Steelers Wheel video, Rafferty is playing the 12 string, and he's playing E shape opening chord, just as you are teaching in this video. It never sounded right to me in D, but I couldn't figure it out. Thanks again for an amazing lesson.
Thanks for doing this, lots of fun to play this one.
You are absolutely right. Unfortunately many stores never bother explaining this little important tidbit when you are buying a new instrument. When I was younger, much younger, I purchased a beautiful GUILD JF-55 12 string. I had the guitar for many years but eventually when I sold it the purchaser noted that the bridge was separating from the guitar due to string tension, I had to have a Luthier make me a brand new bridge and re-glue and clamp it to the guitar. It turned out great, but could have eventually cracked the top. I didn't find out until too late that 12 strings really should be kept tuned down permanently if you don't want to experience the same problem. I think Guild still makes the finest and best sounding 12 String guitars. No matter the brand, it's still makes for great advice to tune it down several steps and keep a capo. Thanks for your spot on advice as well as your lessons. I wish I would have had You Tube and your advice during my young and stupid years, no that I am old and still stupid it may be too late for an old geezer like me. Rob Johnson, north Salt Lake, Utah
Was watching the video, enjoying the groove as always, and then...IS THAT A PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD ON THE SHELF BEHIND YOU? I hope so, I had one myself for 10 years. It's the only thing I liked more than my guitars!
Hey JJ (Privettricker's) Wow i used to check you out all the time and was so bummed you left. Then my bud told me what happened and that you started a new channel under a new name!!! Its great to see you back on here because you give me inspiration to keep on playing. Keep on rockin man i appreciate what you did..and what you do.
I have a 12 string and you nailed it JJ. The way you play it sounds right. And yes I do keep it tuned down. I happened to lose the last one I played just because I kept it in standard tuning. It took 27 years for it to need a neck replacement. And the luthier destroyed the sound when I got it done. So, now I have a new one.
That seems to be the way Joe Egan is playing it in the video, he's miming Jerry Rafferty's lyrics but playing the right chords on a 12 string if it was tuned down. I once tried to learn it off that video but couldn't figure it out, now it makes sense, thanks.
Even though my dad plays the drums watching these videos sort of reminds me of playing with him. He can pick apart so many song's drum tracks and come up with how "they really played it." Even your talking sort of reminds me of him with that certain banter we also have while playing.
You are amazing. Bug thanks for the awesome lesson. Did you figure out the song just thru listening to it? If so, I'm really impressed with how you figured out the "secret" to the song.
I play the slide in open d and the other guitarist is in standard. I will share this with him, as he has a 12 string and see how that goes. Always greet that you should play it like it WAS played. Nice job!. Thanks. Took me to long to find this.
Your right about the tuning, but I'm pretty sure that like John Foegerdy and many other's or like Hendrix,tuning to eflat, it was more for ease of playing, or to put a distinctan between guitars, even easier for many singers voice ranges. I've owned a 12 string guitar early 70s never had an issue with the neck in standered tuning, but it did eat my fingers up.
I wasn't saying he tuned down because of tension on the neck. That wouldn't make any sense.
@@jamesjames9275 sorry buddy, I wasn't trying disagree, just adding a thought to why he might have been tuning down to D, seems to be easier for me to play a 12 string or heavy gage strings,tuned down. A band mate ask me to learn the song, so I punched it in on u tube and seen he was playing an e shape chord, and noticed that you were the only one who seems to have figured it out
Greetings from sleepy little Oundle, Northamptonshire, England! This really the most excellent video. Thanks for your help.
Never mind the tune, this is a lesson in so much more...but the song is an eternal classic. Looking at the official video Gerry is playing a 12 string less a capo but I thing it looks like open D tuning as per your lesson.
Definitely sounds better de-tuned. More jangle to the sound.
Great video thanks. Dean 🇬🇧
300 pounds of tension on a 6 string.
brilliant ,Thank you
Guilty as charged
I'm not saying your wrong about the dropping all strings down to D but for those who don't have two guitars try just dropping the E 6th down to D and you'll here the nice raspy sound you refer to. Great lesson you certainly have a great knowledge.
Awesome! I always thought that playing the D shape didnt sound right. Down tuning and E sounds perfect. Confirmed with some of the limited GR videos I watched