Keith Richards version is awesome and whoever did the video collage of Keith in the UA-cam version did a fantastic job. I go back to watch that video every few months just for the pics.
How many times over the last 30 years I have been staring at my thumb after watching stefano videos...and thought IMPOSSIBLE....carry on picking,,ciaooooo
I like what you said about verses for this song. I collected a lot of different one's but always tried to keep it to the "story telling" style. The version I originally learned was Dave Van Ronk's back in the 60's or 70's. I always wondered how old this song was. Thanks for the lesson and history.
@jaydex5 While GD may not play to a rigid framework (whatever that is), he does not mess with TIME. He sometimes appears to drop or anticipate a beat, but ALWAYS gets back in time. Count and see. One of those headshaking things he can do. (Present tense, he not dead). @gralang At last! It's been like talking to my shoe. Thank you for your support. God bless you brother!
Fantastic! Beautiful playing! I have fall in love with picking. I want to get a Martin. Can you make a recommendation? I was thinking a Martin D28. I really enjoy your playing!
Stefan has much to offer. If there are those out there who claim his arrangements are not perfectly correct in the historical sense, then make your own youtube video and teach us the proper way. Of course, Stefan Grossman may have tapes of GD that record him actually playing the song exactly the way he teaches it, but that's another matter. As has been noted, there is no perfect way to play the blues. The blues masters would have laughed at the thought that there is.
Nice. It took me a few weeks to really get it down but now I can play it quite well. I prefer the version by keith richards but some of the licks in here sound pretty good when inserted into other versions.
nice work Just wondering about your guitars does your streel string guitar have the same width as nylon or classical guitar. I just wondering how hard it is to do this song on a stee sting guitar
Hello There I live in England I am 72 and just begun learning Piedmont Blues etc etc How can I get the Tab book and DVD you mention in this You tube Video Help here please My name is Les I am a novice really but having some fun learning this stuff
Here you are, Leslie: www.guitarvideos.com/products/guitar-workshop-instructional-dvds/how-to-play-blues-guitar-lesson-1 You may also find the book and DVD on Amazon or (if you're lucky) in your local library.
ok so i finally managed to play this fantastic tune, excellently taught might i add. the only thing i cant learn how to do, is talk or even sing while im playing it. does anyone have any hints on how to practise this?
Sorry but if you students out there listen to the Reverend's versions of "Cocaine", you will notice that GD does NOT tack on an extra 2beat bar after the 4th bar to accommodate the E to F bass run. The E to F always falls on the 3rd & 4th beats of bar 4. Similarly in the bridge which should read /C7 4 beats/ E 4 beats/ F 6 beats with E and F falling on beats 7 and 8. It is a lot easier to play it the way SG does in this clip, but do you want easy or do you want correct?
I notid that Stefan didn't play the C root in the bass and played the G note instead, when playing the C chord after the G7 chord. But it sounded right to me.
You take Sally I'll take Sue Ain't no difference between the two Cocaine.............. Running around my brain. Jackson Brown ....... Album... Running on Empty
awesome... very similar to townes van zandt, or is townes van zandt very similar to the reverend gary davies, the music of course... lyrics are different.
@jovesheerwater Dude Stephan would be the first person to tell you to listen to and study from the Reverend's original recordings. Since we don't have the ability to go to Gary's house and learn from him directly, Stephan is breaking it down for us probably the same way Gary did for him.
@GwarMaggot: You're right. Somehow, just by listening closely, I managed to 'break it down' without going to his house even once. You need to read my previous comments to understand the gripe. Btw Doood, I don't think you know the Reverend well enough to be on first name terms.
@freddysmith123: If SG was playing his own composition or his own version of 'Cocaine' then of course there would be no correct or incorrect - however he is allegedly showing his students how the Rev plays 'Cocaine'. And not doing it. If you compare this posting to the Reverend's original, you will notice that the point I'm making is accurate. However it is quite possible that your cloth ears prevent you from noticing this.
i went to mister meyer's place and looked into mister meyer's face and he said: "cocaine's all around your brain!"....... MUAHHAHAHAHHA, hahad dvmkdaklwef, GAGAGAGARUMPH SCHRUMPH!!! i'm laughing till i die. ya, no, maybe, i'snt that funny but a little bit.
Jasper Bull Don't give up. If you can't learn it now, you will learn it later. Keep on studying and learn other tunes, and one day you will learn this.
Not bad, Stefan Grossman is a great player and very pleasant sounding but I wish he'd broken the song down a bit more, namely which frets to play with which fingers and the fingerpicking pattern.
i dont know if your still active, but if you are, is that a small mistake from you when you roll from the e major to the f? thinking about in the end when you show the verse chorus.
well, he can't sing at all, that's a negative thing, but still a pretty nice guitar playing with so much feeling, keep this on at least ! thank you for all hints.
When you start singing it I start laughing. Your vocals plus the lyrics makes me wannna pee myself. Very crisp playing though. Work on those Vokes though.
Gary Stephens Ever look a gift horse in the mouth, much???? Someone offers you a free guitar lesson, and you mock a pioneer and historian like Stephen Grossman. Shame on you sir, shhhhaaame on you!
Keith Richards version is awesome and whoever did the video collage of Keith in the UA-cam version did a fantastic job. I go back to watch that video every few months just for the pics.
First Phrase: 4:32
Chorus: 5:29
Guitar Bridge: 6:03
Splitscreen Playthough: 7:22
If You want to learn many finger style country blues songs this is the man to watch. 40 yrs experince and He lived with Rev. Gary Davis and learned.
Thank you Stefan Grossman. I saw you way back in 1967 in the UK (Ware, Herts). You were an inspiration, and still are.
What a fine, relaxed, folksy way of teaching...love this kind of music..
God bless Stefan Grossman
How many times over the last 30 years I have been staring at my thumb after watching stefano videos...and thought IMPOSSIBLE....carry on picking,,ciaooooo
I like what you said about verses for this song. I collected a lot of different one's but always tried to keep it to the "story telling" style. The version I originally learned was Dave Van Ronk's back in the 60's or 70's. I always wondered how old this song was. Thanks for the lesson and history.
WHO WOULD DISLIKE THIS
great guitarist hilarious vocal delivery
Grossman is a Legend..
Brilliant as usual,thank you and keep posting David in England.
Brilliant, thanks for posting. I love the live Dylan version on the B side of the single of Love Sick
Stefan can play...Good god. Like butter.
Stefan Grossman I have a book of guitar tunings that he did when he was in his 20's great folk guitarist!
Stefan- way to be! You're lessons are wonderful. Keep up the good work
excellently filmed and very helpful guitarist advice I've begun to really love the blues by now
I like it when he says, lets se what kind of iders we can come up with
This is excellent. Do you have any Blind Willie McTell tutorials. Are you able to answer the question?
Really great lesson thank you guitar shop
great lesson simple and clear,thanks mr Grossman
I wish I had only one finger pop-up. Beautiful playing as usual.
hi maestro...your friend and student Marcello from Frascati
Thanks Stefan, very instructive. Great song.
Dan in Iowa
Stefan Grossman en concert exceptionnel le 21 mai 2011 à Sauveterre de Rouergue en Aveyron, il faudra y être absolument !!!
Keith Richards did a great version of this tune.
Haha, with such a joyful impression "Cocaine, all around my brain" like reading a bedtime story to a child xD Great picking tho!!!
What kind of guitar is he playing?
I’ve never seen that one?
I have his black and white pocket booklet
How To Play Blues Guitar.
Great book.
Thank you Stefan!
If you were to buy a new Taylor or Martin, which models would you chose to get that deep rich sound?
I think Stefan plays a Franklin guitar here. You may get a link via his website
Just amazing!
@jaydex5 While GD may not play to a rigid framework (whatever that is), he does not mess with TIME. He sometimes appears to drop or anticipate a beat, but ALWAYS gets back in time. Count and see. One of those headshaking things he can do. (Present tense, he not dead).
@gralang At last! It's been like talking to my shoe. Thank you for your support. God bless you brother!
Fantastic! Beautiful playing! I have fall in love with picking. I want to get a Martin. Can you make a recommendation? I was thinking a Martin D28. I really enjoy your playing!
good teaching!!
Stefan has much to offer. If there are those out there who claim his arrangements are not perfectly correct in the historical sense, then make your own youtube video and teach us the proper way. Of course, Stefan Grossman may have tapes of GD that record him actually playing the song exactly the way he teaches it, but that's another matter. As has been noted, there is no perfect way to play the blues. The blues masters would have laughed at the thought that there is.
wonderful
Great blues... Keith Richards's version is good too.Thanks Stefan! 🎵🎵🎵
Nice. It took me a few weeks to really get it down but now I can play it quite well. I prefer the version by keith richards but some of the licks in here sound pretty good when inserted into other versions.
davy graham or nick drake are my personal faves
@ristau Rev. Gary Davis is the inspiration, not Keith Richards. Stefan learned this from Rev Gary Davis.
@LuccaTotti Good Stuff!!
Also Dave van Ronk is preety nice
Great, really great
What's this guitar your are playing with please ?
Franklin guitar
nice work Just wondering about your guitars does your streel string guitar have the same width as nylon or classical guitar. I just wondering how hard it is to do this song on a stee sting guitar
Hello There
I live in England I am 72 and just begun learning Piedmont Blues etc etc How can I get the Tab book and DVD you mention in this You tube Video Help here please My name is Les I am a novice really but having some fun learning this stuff
Here you are, Leslie: www.guitarvideos.com/products/guitar-workshop-instructional-dvds/how-to-play-blues-guitar-lesson-1 You may also find the book and DVD on Amazon or (if you're lucky) in your local library.
Hey you wouldn't happen to have a link of where to buy the guitar Stefan's using would you? At least the brand and model?
ok so i finally managed to play this fantastic tune, excellently taught might i add. the only thing i cant learn how to do, is talk or even sing while im playing it. does anyone have any hints on how to practise this?
thanks for your help on this one stefan. nice franklin - for a second i thoght it was the new martin....shucks!
what is the old fashoin pickin ! i love gary but cant figure it out becasue he changes so much
Very great sound
the blues it's all!!
c.l
Satiesfied, and tickled too.
Sorry but if you students out there listen to the Reverend's versions of "Cocaine", you will notice that GD does NOT tack on an extra 2beat bar after the 4th bar to accommodate the E to F bass run. The E to F always falls on the 3rd & 4th beats of bar 4.
Similarly in the bridge which should read /C7 4 beats/ E 4 beats/ F 6 beats with E and F falling on beats 7 and 8.
It is a lot easier to play it the way SG does in this clip, but do you want easy or do you want correct?
I hope you didn't lose a lot of sleep over this.
Woaw. this is hard :)
I notid that Stefan didn't play the C root in the bass and played the G note instead, when playing the C chord after the G7 chord. But it sounded right to me.
I noticed it too. The note is part of the chord anyway, he alternates the bass on G (5th) and E (3rd).
Do you play the C on the 3rd fret A str. with the G on the 3rd fret E str. in that C pos.?
He's doing it the regular Travis style : Thumb: bass to higher note, not like Dave Van Ronks reverse thumb style wich I prefer.
Hmm. Going by the title, I thought this would be super fast. 😄
You take Sally
I'll take Sue
Ain't no difference between the two
Cocaine.............. Running around my brain.
Jackson Brown ....... Album... Running on Empty
Love, Devil and the Blues!
awesome... very similar to townes van zandt, or is townes van zandt very similar to the reverend gary davies, the music of course... lyrics are different.
does anyone have the tabs for this version? i have a rough time learning only by video, and i would like to have the tabs to compare too
thanks!
You obviously didn't look at the description
Ciao Stefan
@jovesheerwater Dude Stephan would be the first person to tell you to listen to and study from the Reverend's original recordings. Since we don't have the ability to go to Gary's house and learn from him directly, Stephan is breaking it down for us probably the same way Gary did for him.
Borax
@Alphabetsword davy grahams version is where its at
whats the fingerpicking pattern? i can't work it out
same, is there n e one that teaches that?
did he crib this from Bromberg?
What guitar is he using?
Tab please...................!
You are right. But fingerpickers usually play the root bas note when playing walking bass lines. BUt rules are to be broken. Thank god.
It's a Franklin guitar, built by Nick Kukich.
@GwarMaggot: You're right. Somehow, just by listening closely, I managed to 'break it down' without going to his house even once. You need to read my previous comments to understand the gripe. Btw Doood, I don't think you know the Reverend well enough to be on first name terms.
@freddysmith123: If SG was playing his own composition or his own version of 'Cocaine' then of course there would be no correct or incorrect - however he is allegedly showing his students how the Rev plays 'Cocaine'. And not doing it. If you compare this posting to the Reverend's original, you will notice that the point I'm making is accurate. However it is quite possible that your cloth ears prevent you from noticing this.
Where do I get this DVD from?
hahaha 3:50 "so that was cocaine" :)
Plus Cash didn't even write that version, he just performed it
i went to mister meyer's place and looked into mister meyer's face and he said: "cocaine's all around your brain!".......
MUAHHAHAHAHHA, hahad dvmkdaklwef, GAGAGAGARUMPH SCHRUMPH!!!
i'm laughing till i die. ya, no, maybe, i'snt that funny but a little bit.
What is the picking pattern? I cant figure out how to play it without it.
@gatemouthbrown Easy to Understand, Hard to Master :)
He adds an extra beat on E-F bass line. Davis played it in 4/4, this adds a 5/4 bar and throws off the pulse & continuity.
Allan Evans I kinda like it. It's quite interesting
He adds a 2/4 bar on the FEFG bass line before the 'Cocaine refrain. Same in the bridge. This is not what the Rev wrote.'
+Allan Evans
I've listened to a lot of ethnomusicology recordings of old black bluesmen who played uneven bar structures.
Yes, I missed by a factor of 3. But if you divide $3000/3, $1000 is still a big fortune for Mr. Yamaha (mbuselco). Hey, Mr. Yamaha, SORRY!
This is just so fucking hard I cant do it!
Find this impossible to learn from
Jasper Bull
Don't give up. If you can't learn it now, you will learn it later. Keep on studying and learn other tunes, and one day you will learn this.
Try freight train by Elizabeth cotton and any Travis picking song
Not bad, Stefan Grossman is a great player and very pleasant sounding but I wish he'd broken the song down a bit more, namely which frets to play with which fingers and the fingerpicking pattern.
The open e doesn't sound right
i dont know if your still active, but if you are, is that a small mistake from you when you roll from the e major to the f? thinking about in the end when you show the verse chorus.
Thank you for posting this. These lessons have always been helpful. Check out my blues guitar vids if you would like. 8 string guitar....
Hunter S. tompson, yes
No, It's a Franklin guitar, and it's very wide priced (around $3000) Sorry!!!!
How the hell can you play this song while singing. Shits hard bro.
well, he can't sing at all, that's a negative thing, but still a pretty nice guitar playing with so much feeling, keep this on at least ! thank you for all hints.
John Martyn's version is the best
Kieth Richards version is good but nick drakes version is phenomenal
When you start singing it I start laughing. Your vocals plus the lyrics makes me wannna pee myself. Very crisp playing though. Work on those Vokes though.
GFY
Gary Stephens
Ever look a gift horse in the mouth, much???? Someone offers you a free guitar lesson, and you mock a pioneer and historian like Stephen Grossman.
Shame on you sir, shhhhaaame on you!
+Gary Stephens
Pay respect to a legendary guitar master, and you're watching the video for free, so you don't have to complain about anything...
his action look so low
Sawiopp
It sounds totally disjointed, broken and out of time to me.
It doesn't flow...
The timing is off.
He adds a 2/4 bar on the FEFG bass line before the 'Cocaine refrain. Same in the bridge. This is not what the Rev wrote.'
too fast
snorter song