How to Play "St James Infirmary blues"
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- Опубліковано 7 сер 2024
- This is a traditional song, originating in England in the 18th century as "The Unfortunate Rake", which has become a part of the folk and blues landscape of both the UK and the US. St. James Hospital was a leper hospital in London.
This video takes you through the simple chord changes and, pitched as it is in Dm, gets the fingers moving through simple chords along the length of the fretboard. The video uses live action, close-up and chord diagrams to demonstrate the chords.
Music, chords and tab available from:
www.mjra.net/WillFly/tabs.shtml
![St James Infirmary - Full Tutorial with TAB - [EASY Fingerstyle Guitar]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xBmpjXQ5BQM/mqdefault.jpg)
As an 'Old-fart' guitar player who has only been playing about 50 years, I found this style of lesson one of the best.
Many thanks for bringing another dimension to my playing. Should have been playing these chord forms back in the 60's, I might have made more money!
Many thanks for the hard work in posting this lesson video.
Wow! Do I ever relate to this. I'm in a similar position, having over 50 years. This is what I've been trying to play all those years. Now, very simply, I can do it!
Sorry for the very late addition to the party, but I just discovered it.
Will Fly, a hearty Thank You!
This is one of the best instructional videos for the guitar that I've seen. The walkthrough, the animated chord diagrams, and the patient explanation of everything you're doing is wonderful.
Thanks for those kind words - makes it all worth while! :-)
Without question one of the best presentations of a guitar lesson that I have seen on UA-cam. Thank you!
It's by far the best tutorial Ive seen in my entire life. Good job
Perfect instruction. Not too fast not too slow. Great for novice players. I appreciate your time. Thanks, Sean
Thank you so much for taking the time. I love this tune. Never realized its meaning. Had a request to play it and didn't know it. Im rolling with it now and forever!
I'll let you into a secret... The door on the left of the screen contains my extensive collection of fine wines, and the door on the right open up into a humidor containing the finest Havana cigars...
... I wish! :-)
Excellent tutorial thank you so much
Thank you so much Will for taking the time to help us.It is really appreciated.
A most delightfuly comprehensive instructional. The chord charts are what really help me as well as the close ups. I'm trying to observe the thumb picking but am not too good at that part. To master that would really complete this song.
Thank you so much for running through this song with such detail. I've loved this son since I was little and my grandpa used to listen to it and always wanted to learn it, but never could find a version I liked. Thank you again! :)
Beautiful rendition - initially I thought the breakdown of right hand fingering was a little sparse, but it made me use my ears more, and thus learn more, and add my own very slight style to it. so for playing, sharing, and teaching me to both play improvise somewhat.Thank you.
What a thorough tutorial. Thank you for all the work and time that you put into this video.
great to see the chord variations. Excellent teaching style. Thank you!
A great version of the song and a great video lesson as well. Thank you Will.
Just an absolutely fantastic tutorial. I have gotten back into guitar for the first time in five or six years and am going over the basics.. Teaching myself chords and whatnot. Not only was the breakdown thorough, the process was logical and well done. Keep up the great work man. I'll definitely be subscribing and checking your other tutorials.
+Jacob Turner Many thanks, Jacob - and keep up the good work! :-)
Thank you so much for this.
I'm the organiser and guitarist in acoustic outfit, the East Side Blues, from Belfast.
We have a singer from New Orleans.
Both he and the rest of the band were impressed by this version of the tune, after I learnt it. The cherry on top is the Blues Harp player's Dm Harp.
Its just great.
Will post a video here soon as we get one together.
Thanks again
Colin Devine
East Side Blues, from Belfast
+richardcorysghost Thanks Richard - glad to have been of help! :-)
just found this video and will surely watch a ton more. I just want to say THANK YOU. I first heard this song in my early twenties when I happened on a Josh White LP. I listened to a lot of blues and stuff then but his album blew my mind. (later albums I acquired were less impressive, as was his son.) I've started learning guitar past the basic rock/blues chords and this video is FANTASTIC. thank you SO MUCH!
Love your videos...first I've seen, and you do everything the way I would request, with a play through, then the chords in sequence sets (you're the first person I've ever seen place the chord diagrams after playing each chord, which is great for me having first taught myself how to play using chord diagrams long ago!!) Keep up the great work! You're showing many people, and reminding many of us, that we can change chord voicings within the song to make it sound better. Thanks!!
This has only just appeared in my Utube feed this week and already I can play a blues tune (very slowly) that I can regognise and it's good to play at the 'dusty end' of the neck for a change. Thank you Will
My pleasure! :-)
Good to jam to. Thank you. Keep on rocking!
Excellent! Really appreciate you sharing your knowledge - thanks very much.
Absolutely amazing. Thanks for your patience and effort to make such an educational video!
Thank you sir! :-)
Great way to teach Will! Amazing instruction.
Glad you liked it! 🙂
Really enjoyed that lesson. Thank you for taking the time to share it.
i can't wait until the video ends to thank you. Very enjoyable. You are very thorough in your exlplanation. Thank you for sharing your talent and passion.
Glad to have been of service. :-)
Hi Will. Realy nice. I played here to my sun. Very inspiring. Thanks a lot! Cheers from Brazil.
Thanks so very much for this, from the East Side Blues. Our New Orleans singer will be able to get his teeth into the song now, that I've had the benefit of your video, Mr Fly.
Thanks! Appreciate it
I just stumbled onto your site for the first time today! Wow! Your lessons and demos are amazing! Thank you for posting these and will make sure to donate! What a wonderfully explained tune! Thank you!
Glad to be of service - and thanks for the kind words. :-)
Well done, direct and clear. Basic but not simplistic, well thought out. You have a fan, thank you.
Hi Will. Thanks very much for posting this really clear explanation, and what a nice voicing you've chosen too. I have loved this song for many years, but never played it. Will be noodling on this for a long time to come. Thanks again :D
Good simple lesson...thanks.... I play it on my 1962 Gibson B25 12 string...Snooks Eaglin fan...
Whew! I'm learning a lot while I watch this.
I may not be able to play it as well as you, but I do have the same T-shirt! - Joined Up Whiting!
Just LOVE the sound of the chords you're playing.
Awesome video! One of the absolute best tutorials I've come across. Good looking guitar, by the way.
Not only an excellent video on playing St. James Infermary but can be used as a tutorial for practicing alternate chord shapes!
Very enjoyable. Great instruction, but very pleasant to watch and just listen to, as well.
Perhaps the best instruction I've seen online. Thanks.
Thanks Geoff - appreciated! Cheers - Will
Magic is in the picking hand - much harder to get than the freing hand :) Good job
Control of the picking hand is everything - the simplest chords and slowest tunes are brought to life by the picking the strings. Fair comment. :-)
You have a very pleasant speaking voice, and your video is very easy to understand and play. Thank you. :)
Hi Will, thanks fro posting this . I really enjoyed it.
Oh sir! You win the Internet! You are AWESOME!!!!
Nice arrangement. Thanks for the tutorial!
Thank you so so so much for the wonderful video Will !!! I have always tried it in Am but I think your Dm lesson beats all of them !!! Great playing and a wonderful sounding 12 Fret guitar !!
Your showing the fret board is great even players that have played a long time still need help once in a while. Especially when you are in your 70's like me and the old brain hand coordination is no longer as great as it once was !!!
Cheers Thom - glad you found it useful. 🙂
I will hopefully try it later today.
Have a Blessed New Year !@@WillFlyGuitar
Damn it, Will, you really are one of the best tutors on the 'net. Loved this song since falling in love with Betty Boop and Cab Colloway's cartoon. Champion!
Neil
Outstanding, Made an old woman's day. Thank You.Thyra
I play this one and have for a long time however you've taught me some new technique and "tricks" as it were. Thank you so much for this. I'm an old dog but you've taught this old dog new tricks. :-) I subbed.
Ron
Thank you! Never seen before lesson like that! Now the deaf could be playing...
Hi Will! Your lessons are always so well explained and very playable! I loved this one! This is a great song to learn! Thank you so much! All the best! Babs
thxs 4 sharing man! cheers from Uruguay!
Thank you Will, I have been obsessed with this song since Eric Burden did it. My current version has been A E and F, and I have a version using a D min version, too, but this is the most comprehensive instruction I have seen yet, and love your style. Thank you.
Thank you, Landon - appreciated, and glad you found it useful. 🙂
Well ... I don't normally post... but I have to say Will, I very much appreciated your detailed breakdown of this blues classic... I will be searching out more videos from you... well done!
... regards Brian
Thanks for the lesson. You have a great style of teaching and you diagrams really help. i got it in one. I will make a point of checking out for more of your posts. Cheers.
thanks for this! you play it beautifully
Great lesson and breakdown. Thanks
Thanks, was a great lesson!!
Cheers from Argentina!
Much thanks, sir! Great lesson! Very clear!
I hear classical coming through! Love the guitar and the vid, cheers
Beautiful sound.....
Thanks a lot!! It sounds beautiful but turns out pretty simple to repeat! Great song indeed.
Lovely sounding guitar and good lesson thanks
Thankyou Martyn - appreciated. :-)
First I thought I could learn it to play, which is very simple, thank you for that. Then I realised it's much better to sing the song while you play it. Oh, I'm glad I've found you ! :)
Greetings
Lovely finger style version. Makes me wish I had developed my finger picking. Thanks you so much for sharing.
Thanks very much for this..it was very clear and great to play.I came to this eventually via"Deadwood" the American TV show where Ian McShane sings "The unfortunate rake" at the end of one episode.....then to Snooks eaglin fantastic version..then to you.thanks again.Derek
Hello from Switzerland! Thanks so much for this tutorial it was really useful!
Very nice video. Thank you for sharing! Have a good day.
Very nice, WIll. Thanks for this.
Hi Will. What a great version. I've learnt a few versions and although this is the easiest it really sounds the best. Thank you for a great lesson.
My pleasure - glad you found it useful. :-)
best guitar lesson video and the song was way easier to play than i thought
This is great, like the authentic turnaround lick with a nod to the hey nonny nonny
Thanks! 🙂
for me and my guitar abilities this is the one....
i wouldn't say he was the best out there but he's Definitely in the top one...
Cheers! :-)
Superb. Thanks a million for posting this.
Thanks for such a clear tutorial.... excellent, makes me want to play!!
Matthew Dean Many thanks, Matthew - now, off you go and play it! I shall expect a progress report in the near future... :-)
I am still learning Walk on Boy thanks to you Will, I have checked out your site as well - Fantastic, so much work you have put into giving, Well Done!
your lesson is really helpful. Thanks a lot!
Thank you so much for all your videos; they're absolutely terrific. The rest is up to me now of course, but I couldn't wish to have a better start.
Thanks for the kind words. :-)
very nice explained lesson..Very helpful and simple explained
Great lesson- as always, very good way of teaching- unfortunatley too difficult to play for me by now.....Lot's of work to do-but when winter time comes, there will be enought time to practise..
Nice! I'm going to learn it tomorrow.
Fantastic tutorial. Your guitar sounds lovely too! Many thanks ;)
Superb and so easy to follow thanks have just subscribed
Excellent lesson, thank you.
Excellent all around.
Tremendous lesson - thanks
Love it Will, nice version in Dm. and what a hoot to see the 'joined up Whiting' we have it on a T towel (and thought it was exclusive).
Best wishes.
Thanks Will, i've subscribed to your videos
Great lesson Will,thank you.
Cheers, Kerry! :-)
Excellent way of teaching many thanks
Thanks! :-)
Awesome video, Will! Love your version. Here's my take on the tune.
St. James Infirmary, by Darrin Davis and The Clones
I'm playing guitar, singing, playing tenor sax and an Am harp. Plus dancing. Yup, that's me and my dog dancing. ;)
Thanks for this excellent lesson!
So great !!
this is a really good lesson . thanks so much. great fun
thanks for the great lesson!
Thank you so much : ) you made my night sir !
Thank you very much. enjoyed to play
Very nice lesson, sir!
Cheers! :-)
fantastic video pal.
Thats a very good video thanks a lot
Thank You !!! IT easy and friendly.
My pleasure - glad you found it useful. :-)
Fantastic tutorial :)
Great lesson! I think I can do this! Plus I love this song.
Thanks Jim - I'm sure you can do it! :-)
How i wish i could make such beautiful sounds ❤
It's not too hard Bea! 🙂