How to Play Boom Boom by John Lee Hooker on Guitar
Вставка
- Опубліковано 29 сер 2018
- Due to popular demand, here's how to play the iconic intro and verse to Boom Boom by John Lee Hooker! www.secretguitarteacher.com/
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Abridged Script
Here’s a blues classic that I have received requests to learn from 16 different people so I have decided to take a closer look at how John Lee Hooker played this song on the occasions where he played it entirely unaccompanied.
Researching several different recordings, the first thing that I noticed was that when he did play it solo he simply stuck to the one chord - E7. What is interesting to me is that any time he had other musicians accompany him on the song, they failed to keep the sequence this pure and couldn’t help play basslines, chords, riffs or licks that at least implied the odd change up to the A7 chord.
So, the first thing to say about this song is that It is not about chords or even really about fancy licks - it is all about rhythm and feel. Let’s look at the intro.
The first lick starts with a slide from 2-4 on the G string. Then the D note at fret three on the B string then back down the same slide with a hint of a pull-off to the open string at the end of it, then E at fret 2 on the D string, open D and back to the E. In keeping with the call and response them e of early blues, we answer this lick with a bass line that goes. Open E up to G at fret 3 on the same string, open A and back to the open E.
Of course, you can do all this with a plectrum, but, John Lee Hooker very much used thumb and fingers to play guitar so I would encourage you to experiment with this if you want to get close to the sound and feel of his style.
The next lick starts on the E at fret 2 on the D string via the open G string to A at fret 2 on the G string, back to G and then E D E again on fret two of the D string. Follow each of these licks with the same bass lick. The next lick is a slight variation on the first lick - so, instead of the slide we use a bend at fret three on the B string then off to open B before concluding with the E D E same as the first lick.
This is followed again by the same bass line lick and then the fourth line is a repeat of the second line. So that whole intro in slow time and at something like full tempo.
Once the vocals start we have the same basic lick repeated no less than 16 times, once in response to each vocal line.
(sings) Boom boom , boom boom! I’m gonna shoot you right down.. Right off of your feet.. Take you home with me..
This starts with the D at fret three on the B string then open B then before bending the A at fret two on the G string up and hit the top string or top and second string like this..
Then it’s back to working the A at fret 2 on the G string which we bend up, release and pull-off all in one very smooth motion.
Unless you have large hands like old John Lee had, then this is extremely hard to play exactly like he did. My advice is to find a way to play something like it, in a way that suits your fingers and then listen carefully to the original recordings and gradually work at emulating that amazing freestyle feel that he had.
We’ll continue exploring this song in the next lesson in this series. Meanwhile, I’ll leave you to practice this with the health warning that, if you are not used to using your fingers, give them time to recover between each practice session or you will soon get some pretty mean blisters!
This gentleman really seems to get the feel of this song. Great lesson.
Best 9 minutes I've spent on UA-cam. So clean, not a wasted note in that very very simple bit. Thank you.
Agree 100 percent so good
I usually avoid any YT channel that claims to reveal secrets ,or amazing quick methods,or has an opening screen of someone showing how fast they can play.
Despite the name of this channel this guy has some substance and depth. One of UA-cam's better instructors
just got my new guitar and start learning playing at 65 (but 35 in my head) So well explained and good photo plan to see hands disposition . Thanks again and one of those days, maybe you ll see me on TV at those rock concerts for elderly lol
Welcome to the brotherhood! Never too late to start learning guitar - enjoy the trip 🙂
One of the very best overall lessons I've ever had, and I've been playing this song for years. I was getting further away from the roots of the song, and this brought me right back. He is such a great teacher and understands how this is very bass driven, and the more you stay to the simple beat etc., the better it is. You can get crazy on the solo part - you can always do that, and JLH had his moments - but the heart of it is call and response, and reminds me of a more brutal "Hey Joe", with the lyrics so vivid and threatening between licks (though much less lethal LOL, more metaphorical). Anyway . . . this guy is a great teacher with great advice. Learn this and watch the JLH videos, you will own this song soon enough.
Prezactly.
Jimi Hendrix was a John Lee Hooker tribute act essentially. I'm not shitting on the legend Jimi, he was a great player. But not as good as the original, JLH.
Saw John Lee Hooker, Curtis Jones and Big Joe Williams in 1969 at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon. First concert I ever saw and it sort of spoilt it for all the concerts that followed.
A M A Z I N G !!!
I'm not jealous... I'm jealousy itself.
You make it look so easy, and it becomes easier,
Smooth and relaxed kinda vibe, thanks so much for your lessons
As a black person, middle aged white men unironically make the world go round.
Thank you so much! Excellent lesson. Your instructions are clear and concise. I'll give it a try playing without the pick.
John
Thanks so much for this. Ive always been a strummer, so I decided to venture out and learn this. I appreciate the clear explanation and presentation. Excellent pacing and review. .
I am delighted with the lesson and the way you made it sound so simple.
This song is the essence of blues - great lesson for a great song!
Nice! So simple, a classic. When I listen to his studio recording, I hear the bass response adding an extra note: E G A (G) E, I think letting him keep his 6th string fretted at G after beat 2 and playing it as the last of a triplet on beat 3, immediately pulling off to get the E on the down of beat 4. When I play it this way, it sounds and feels right.
Perfect lesson. Beautiful analysis of the riff. Thanks
Awesome session. This will be in my repertoire soon.
So cool! Really the best description. Rhythm and Feel. Like has been said before " Not a wasted note" Thank-you
This man’s good, and so relaxed. Thank you.
My first video I've seen of yours. What an enjoyable lesson. Wonderful explanation and close-up shots of your finger positioning. Thank you for addressing hand size and not pretending everyone can reach everything with just more practice. And you seem like an awesome person to hang with!
Great lesson with full understanding of the "timing versus ........ the feeling of the Blues" man, thanks for this.
I didn't look for this video but it's the video I needed. Thanks for a thorough tutorial on this song.
Superb , you’ve made a classic easy to play . Thank you.
Thankyou great tutorial I've only been playing guitar for 5months and this was the song that inspired me to start. Played the ukulele for 2 years so have some finger dexterity 👍
Simply fantastic lesson- thanks!
Absolutely GREAT lesson; simple, clear and concise! Thanks
I appreciate you going slowly through the tutorial it really helps beginners.
I love this, thanks for the lesson my dude
love it......what a great blues teacher
Thank You! Your teaching style is SUPERB!
GREAT Lesson !!
Thanks so much NSGT! Great vid, keep it up as we need this stuff.
Very nice lesson. Many thanks.
Great to learn from you, cool, cheers from Belgium
Excellent, clear lesson, thank you!! I am actually getting somewhere! First time playing electric without a pick, I thought it would be too hard to even try (for a beginner+) but I'm loving it. Looks like I'm a natural thumb player :) More lessons like this (blues classics)!
Thanks so much for this. Well done. The great John Lee.
Many many thanks. Wonderful video, very well explained and helpful!
This is a fantastic video. Very good instructional video. Thank you!!
Thank you very much sir.A brilliant video!! I like it when you let loose &sing...you got those blues!!!
Thanks for sharing! I'll working on this one!!
I was so relieved that I found a good guitar tutorial of this song, Awesome vid
Thank you for the content and your teaching style!
Top tutorial Sir! Thankyou!
excellent lesson
Great lesson
Superb. A great video for people to learn a classic song. Thanks.
Thank you very much for this, great lesson, and great teaching style.
Thank you for this lesson!
Thank You! Happy New Year!!!!
Great teaching
So calmly explanations 😊
Great Job 👍
AMAZING lesson!! thank you so much
Thanks great stuff enjoyed it very much.
Very clear and easy to follow thank you
Thank you for the great lesson you are amazing!
Im new here but then I noticed he doesn't upload anymore? May God bless him for his blues knowledge and wisdom. And good health
He has an enormous amount of videos to keep you busy. Some are only 1 year old. Hopefully he'll be back when the pandemic has passed. I might add that he's taken a few breaks that lasted over a year previously.
Yeah, working mainly on my own I find it hard to keep up with everything at once! So, the last three years I have concentrated on creating a new course (The Five Main Elements of Music) that is a bit different from previous courses in that the student uploads videos and takes little tests as they go along... check it out on www.secretguitarteacher.com/ - it's in the Interactive section of the new site. I really appreciate your concern, but I am fit and well and have plenty more lessons in the pipeline 🙂
Ah, that was what I was looking for. Thx!
So cool! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for your kind support 🙂
Great job
Thank you Nick. Much appreciated.
sure have been looking forward to a tutorial for the licks in muddy waters/johny winter mean old frisco blues.
nice job.
absolutely brilliant. thank you so much.
Exiting. One of the very best on this site.
Excellent
Excellent! Great video. Thanks.
This man made guitar so easy. i never thought i could play somthing that sounds this cool
Very nice. Many thanks
Great work!! Thank you.
Excellent. Thank you.
Hahaha that cut at the end! Great video!
love this !!!!
Outstanding tutorial mate , 👌 thanks from an old Australian dude for the inspiration to keep playing 🎸.
Merci pour cette superbe lesson👍
Great lesson.
Yep I could go all around it all day and not quite get it right but I think you nailed it on the head thanks
What a great Lesson. I’m and old guy and this was well done! Thanks!
Great lesson thanks a lot!
Thank You for sharing
Quality all round 🙏
Thank you so much!
Excellent lesson, thanks very much.
Very good guitar class!! I'm learning from Brazil.
Aces! TY!
Very nice. Thanks
Fantastic video, I'm on the way home from work and can't wait to pick up my guitar!
Master Class teaching 🎉 many thanks 🙏
Great video!
Your a Legend, thank you for helping a begginer like me make my dreams come true. You rock. 🍻
Nice lesson 👍🏻
Great!!!! Thank you very much! best wishes from Austria
Great lesson. Love the singing too
Thanks, that is very kind of you 🙂
Best 9 minutes and didn't get an ad thanks!
excellent stuff ,nailed it in under 10minutes
nice class. beautiful guitar.
Great instructional guitar video. Thank you boom, boom, boom, boom
Thanks NSGT, for a very concise and informative lesson. As much attention was paid to John Lee Hooker, a lot more should have been paid. He was the living fossil of the Blues. Like the shark and the crocodile etc, John Lee never changed. He kept on playing the basic Blues that his step-father taught him in the 1920s. When you think about it, that made his step-father probably one of the very first men to play the Blues! The intricate finger-pickers like Robert Johnson hadn't made an appearance yet. They were the next wave.
Excellent. Thanks.
Brilliant, got it! Thanks
Great!
Wow, where were you when I needed you! Back around '65 I was just learning guitar and was asked to play bass with an older student at school and this was the first song I needed to learn.
He gave me the record to practice with and when JLH went off on his own towards the end I just lost it. I couldn't figure out how the band was to fall behind and catch up so smoothly!
Bonus points for "Plectrum"
I just stumbled across this video. Wow, what I've been looking for for a long time. A simple, slow, patient lesson. You sir are a godsend.
Thanks subbed
Thanks. I never would have even attempted to play this tune but you made it so clear and accessible. I really appreciate it!
Dude, it was so great, I have to leave a comment and I write NO comments !!! "so clean" directly to my last two remaining guitar synapses! I think they also forced me to write that to you. God bless you, Bing and Bong
@Antonio K. That’s a pretty long NO comment dude. Or was it just the Bong?
Thank you very much for this. I am a new guitarist at the age of 48. I looked for a teacher that would teach me music and note songs. My hoalnisbto develop an ear and play with others. I love how you teach using actual notes and not tabs. I also like how you do a close up on your strum hand which most everyone forgets to show or teach.