Helter Skelter- The Beatles (Guitar Cover)
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2022
- After recording a slow blues version of Helter Skelter on July 18th, Paul, John and Ringo re-recorded the song much faster on September 9th, 1968. 54 years ago to this day!
John played six string bass on his Fender- you can hear my cover of John's bass part here! • Helter Skelter- The Be...
Paul played the main guitar part on his Epiphone Casino. I used to be of the belief that he used his Fender Esquire, but listening to take 17 from the White Album box set you can hear the guitar had a lot of feedback. Casinos are fully hollow and Paul specifically bought his Epiphone to feedback, after hearing Jeff Beck achieve this effect
Once the backing track was recorded, there were multiple overdubs made on the following day, September 10th. During the chorus there are two heavily distorted guitars playing similar parts. I'm not sure if this was George or Paul (or both). It couldn't have been the Esquire or George's Les Paul because at the end of the part there's a tremolo arm raising the pitch of the Low E. I predict this was Paul using his Casino's Bigsby. My Casino doesn't have a trem arm, so I raised the pitch by bending behind the nut 1:31
George did use his Les Paul for the other main lead parts. He performs an impressive solo at 1:33, with other lines sprinkled in afterward. He also played some slide guitar towards the end
You'll notice throughout the entire song that the main Casino part has a wobbly pitch effect on the Low E string. Some people thought this was George on a fretless guitar, but it was 100% Paul hitting the low E string very hard. When you have light gauge strings and hit the lower strings hard, the pitch gets raised a semitone. You can hear on take 17 that there is only one guitar on the backing track and it does this. I specifically used a super light gauge E string for this song .38
Paul might have played the main Casino guitar through his Fender Blonde Bassman, or a smaller Fender amp. The distorted guitars sound like their Vox Conqueror amps. George probably used a Fender Deluxe, or Showman amp. I'm using a custom built Tweed Pro amp with an Analogman King of Tone for Paul's main guitar. For the rest, I'm using my 1965 Fender Black Bassman amp. And an Aclam Dr. Robert for the distorted chorus parts. This pedal specifically gets the sounds of Vox Conqueror/UL730 amps
My Gear:
2021 Epiphone Casino USA Royal Tan
2005 Gibson Les Paul Standard (OX4 Low Wind PAF Pickups)
2017 Marcara Music Amps Tweed Pro (1x15" Weber Alnico Speaker)
2019 Analogman King of Tone
Aclam Dr. Robert Overdrive/Distortion
Neumann TLM-103
Thanks for watching and please subscribe! I have lots of other Beatles covers, as well as many other artists-
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#helterskelter #epiphonecasino #guitarcover
I like how you got the “boing” sound in rhythm. We used to call this the “boing-boing” song when we were kids.
I'm amazed how this song is indeed the first "metal" record ever. It ever has a suble galloping pace that became signature of metal songs later on.
🤘
@@sampopkin great playing btw. Just found you out while searching for dissections of Beatles songs. You don't skip even the "hidden" guitar parts.
Do you always use the same models of guitars used for the original records? Or there are some songs you're not so sure?
@@1918BARsam thanks! I always try to use the guitars used on the original (if I have one). But sometimes you don’t know if a strat or casino was used, les paul or sg. I use my ears to guess
3:02 love that part soo much
Before watching this I 100% thought they used some kind of machine to get that crazy computer like noise, but no it was just Paul strumming the strings under the bridge of the guitar. That's just genius. Especially for 1968. These guys weren't just great musicians but great thinkers and experimenters. One thing that made them so great and revolutionary. This hole song is proof of that.
That tone is spot on! A nice treat while I’m sick with the flu. Well done, Sam!
Get better homie!☮️❤️
OH NO COVID SHUT THE WORLD DOWN FOR 6 MILLION DEATHS........
Great cover mate! This is always my go-to song when I want to play loud.
Agreed! Thanks Nick
Hi Sam, how do you know which Beatle play what? I always thought played the lead fills? You are amazing!!!@@sampopkin
@@juliosanchez95 I usually research the session info, and make judgements with my ears. The backing track was John on bass VI so paul played the main intro riff guitar. Using deductive reasoning, we know George had to play one of the other lead guitars (the solo)
Nicely done! That casino sounds great
Hum, funny... Always tought the solo was recorded on a Telecaster, but your tone is so spot on that I just changed my mind.
Love the E going sharp!
How do you do that ? It’s killer ?
@@bobcummins2813hit the string as strong as you can
Fabulous cover Sam!!!! Part of the song was recorded on this day in 1968 so happy birthday Helter Skelter!
What is amazing, as a guitarist, is that the group knew just where and how to add tasty licks that can even be very simple but end up contributing way more than endless noodling that can be both self indulgent and not decorate a great song. Love the Hari pants and the Tea Casino (not really seeing this same color in the tea reissues I have looked at). Keep up the great work.
Absolutely! George was inspired a lot by Robbie Robertsons playing in the Band which was kind of the opposite of Clapton. Understated like Ringo’s drumming- all about fitting in the song. Thanks
@@sampopkin I give more credit to Paul. Even these licks sound more Paul to me than George. Paul has more great “lead” playing than George on Beatle tracks. Not taking anything away from George’s great playing here, but Paul can play some very cool parts.
@@marcbolan1818 I agree Paul’s lead parts are some of the highlights of Beatles guitar solos. But if you listen to George’s leads early on or in yer blues, savoy truffle, old brown shoe and the End- they were subtle but very skillful. Bending up to the 4th or 6th notes which is something Paul didn’t do
@@sampopkin Agreed, but Paul’s style on “Another Girl,” “Taxman,” and I even prefer Paul’s lead on “The End.” Love his playing on “Too Many People” and “Maybe I’m Amazed” as well. Poor George had to pull in Clapton for the lead on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Paul even sang the lead for what would be the Harrison played lead on “Something.” I love Hari, but Paul’s soloing is always interesting phrases.
@@sampopkin George was definitely a Band convert, but beyond seeing Robbie with Dylan in ‘66, he wouldn’t have heard Big Pink until July ‘68.
This is perfect!! I'll file this video under "reasons why I need a casino and les paul"
Every time I go on a rollercoaster or other rides, I put on earphones and listen to this. I love this song so much 🎸
Nailed the chops - amazing to listen.
🔥 🔥 🔥 perfect as always
Amazing video one of my all time favorite high energy songs.
Really appreciated the tonal quality and slight distortion. You are always spot on!
Hard rock 🤘 🖤
Brilliant, as usual! You are amazing.
Great video description as always. Invaluable info and background.
Awesome! The George Harrison pants and of course with the Les Paul.
If I haven't disabled UA-cam notifications it's because I love the sensation of seeing that you have uploaded a video and trying to get home as fast as possible to watch it, as always perfect cover 👌
The Royal Tan looks so beautiful on the Casino
also fantastic cover ✌️👌
Perfekt gemacht!!!
Ace as always!
Nice! I love the attention to detail in explaining an recreating the song - this must have been a real shocker back in 1968. 😁
Casino Tonal Heaven ;)
Amazing amazing cover!! Love playing this song too. So fun!
It’s amazing how you did this
Love this song.
My favourite! Damn it. I could do that...in one hundred years. Incredible Sam.
Pretty sick once again. 😜👌You really NEVER disappoint us. 😍👍
Love it❤️💥
If he included where Ringo says: “I GOT BLISTERS IN MY FINGERS” I will put a like on this video right now
I did put a like
Sounds great!
So freakin’ accurate and amazing!
Awesome
Que guitarra tan hermosa 😍😍😭😭
You nailed it like nobody else, wow!
I got blisters on my fingers 😄😄😄
This sounds very good. I always believed they got that 'bending sound' on the low E string by holding the E-chord with your middle finger, ring finger and pinky,and then using your index finger to bend down on the low E-string between the nut and the tuner while strumming the chord.
I think Paul just used extra light strings and pounded the E string hard so it went sharp. That’s what I’m doing here
Wait a minute, this isn't mattiboo. Anyway, great work!
top! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
great cover!
Thanks!
@@sampopkin i have also some Beatles Cover Sam.hope you have time to visit.
Still surprised after watching this being covered on UA-cam for the past 15 years that nobody has been able to produce the last 2 seconds of this song ( 3-4 chords) and this video is not the exception. Good cover though
Cool
I've watched a lot of your videos recently and it's super cool but this is a suggestion can you do For You Blue cause you have a Lap Steel Guitar?
Yes! That will be soon. Thanks
Nice cover! I always thought Paul's Fender Esquire was indeed used on this song, but your cover seems pretty spot on, so I'm not entirely sure. It makes me wonder what songs Paul actually used his Esquire on. I think he did use it on Good Morning, Good Morning and possibly Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! and Back in the U.S.S.R.
Yeah I always thought so too but I don’t think he even used it on white album. Possibly sgt pepper (the song), good morning good morning and benefit as you said. Thanks
@@sampopkin Yeah, from what I've heard, he allegedly received it during the Revolver sessions back in 1966 but I'm not even sure if he used it on that album either. He only played guitar on three songs on that album, I think, which were Taxman, Here, There, and Everywhere, as well as alongside George on And Your Bird Can Sing, but I'm pretty sure he used his Casino on all three of those songs.
@@harrisonho8934 He also played the solo on Tomorrow Never Knows.
The casino doesn't have enough distortion.
1968 beetle
Excellent playing and demonstration!
If you don't mind me asking..what program do you use to multitrack videos?? Thank you!
I use Pro Tools to record and edit the audio. IMovie for editing the clips. Thanks!
I thought that it was Paul who played the solo on the Esquire at 1:33
Nope, it was George on Les Paul
@@sampopkin is it written in the 50th aniversery edition ?
@@user-lc5ph5lq8x I don’t think they specified that. But other sources have said it. It’s also just so George. Paul wouldn’t come up with those complex Clapton quick bends. George had a little more finesse
@@sampopkin Hmmm, weird quirky bends are Paul's M.O.
Also george is noted as playing slide guitar. And the solo cleanish tone matches the slide guitar tone perfectly
I’ve heard that p90’s and a fully hollow guitar is probably not a good beginner guitar but I really want a casino 🤨
It’s ok as long as you’re not playing too loud or with a lot of distortion
@@sampopkin Alright sounds good , I only want beatles tones anyways
Should be fine. Wouldn’t recommend this but on I Me Mine and Let it Be solo, Harrison taped up the f holes on his Casino lol
A Stratocaster, 335, SG, gretsch should all get good Beatle tones too
@@sampopkin hmm , are those guitars cheaper than the casino ?
@@ordjk4797 I can’t remember off hand but check out squier Stratocasters, epiphone SG’s and casinos. Cheaper Gretsches. They should all be in the same ballpark
The two double-stops on the solo sound better with your finger at the fifth and seventh fret. It gets that sharper sound the recording has.
Could it be possible that George used his Casino for the chorus riff since it also has a Bigsby?
Yes george had 3 guitars with tremolo arms. SG, Strat and Casino. Totally possible, although by this point in the White Album he was using the les paul almost exclusively
Are you using an effect? The low E on the rhythm guitar sounds like it's effected. It's cool, it gives the entire song it's flavour
I’m doing what Paul did which is hit his low e string super hard with slack strings. I chose a lower gauge for it. When you hit it hard it goes up in pitch temporarily to almost an F
@@sampopkin Thanks that answers my question
Great job! The solo is George 100%, but I'm almost sure that the lick at the 2:04 mark is Paul. If you listen to the isolated tracks, you'll notice a completely different tone from the one of the solo, more crispy and crunchy. Also, the approach is more familiar to Paul's playing than George's. It's not very fluent, and it remembers me of the lines Paul plays throughout the take 2 of the song.
Yeah I know what you mean. Paul's lead style is very fast and chaotic, less melodic and fluid like George
Is the low E string tuned to F? If so, then that's AMAZING!
No it’s standard tuning. Hit the e string really hard and it goes sharp!
@@sampopkin WOW.
@Sam Popkin are you saying there is no fretless guitar on this track?
It’s just Paul’s Casino being hit hard. Listen to take 17- it’s one guitar and it’s doing those sharp wobbly bends
@@sampopkin I thought George's slides could have been
I'm still slightly on the fence as to the presence of two guitars on the basic track. It definitely only sounds like one. But then you wonder what George was doing?
George wasn’t involved in the backing track. But him and paul overdubbed later on. Backing track was just john on bass, paul on guitar and ringo on drums. Check out take 17 from White Album box set!
@@sampopkin I suppose.
On the alternate take of the song, was Paul the only one playing guitar? Or was George in there as well?
Just Paul
Wait do you mean the slow early take? Or take 17
@@sampopkin take 17
@@elirosen1391 yeah take 17 was just paul guitar, john bass, ringo drums
3:02 Can’t replicate that sound to save my life, do you need a hollow body or just longer strings between the saddle and the bridge?
I’m not sure, the trapeze bridge might help. Also it being hollowbody, it feeds back easily. I’d mess around with different distortion pedals and amp settings
Hi Sam! Do you have tips on how to get a clean tone on your amp? My amp is like 10 bucks and i can't get a clean tone on it when I strum hard.
Hey! Generally you need a larger amp (higher wattage) to get clean tones at louder volumes. Some things you can do now though
Turn volume knob down on the guitar
If your amp has a drive or master knob(s)- turn master up and drive down
Use guitar with less hot pickups
Mess with eq settings
Hope this helps!
@@sampopkin Thanks for the tip. I can only do the volume knob thing. Even though i rolled the volume knob down it sounds like I'm using an over drive pedal, but very subtle. And my amp only has volume, treble, and bass, for my amp, treble basically means more gain and bass is just a knob that you use when you want to get a trash Gretsch/Chet Atkins tone. Anyway, thanks for the tips. Can you do Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (all 3 guitar parts)? Also I wanna know do you think Paul used the Esquire for lead or the Casino? Sorry for my bad english english isn't my first language.
@@user-ge3oy1vl6v I’d definitely recommending upgrading to a higher power, preferably tube amplifier. It’s more important to tone than the guitar itself
I can definitely do Sgt Peppers! I believe Paul played his Casino on it, but he probably used his esquire for benefit of mr kite and good morning good morning
@@sampopkin Hi Sam! I'm wondering what I should do with my future Es-335? Should i add a trapeze tailpiece or a bigsby?
@@user-ge3oy1vl6v bigsbys are awesome
Got your Beatle boots on?
Weird question. But can you tell me where you found those striped pants? Or maybe they were made for you?
Fuzzdandy Mens Red Black Striped Bell Bottoms Flares Retro Pants Trousers
always amazing to think how the same bad that appeared on Ed Sullivan was capable of creating this song only about 4 years later
🧶👍🐄🖐️
What kind of Alnico magnets are in the humbuckers of your les paul?
Alnico 4. OX4 low output PAFs
What pedal is Paul's guitar?! 😭😭
I've been searching for the tone for many months
Analogman King of Tone
@@sampopkin Yes thank you so much 🙏🏻🙏🏻
@@sampopkinthe one with the four year waiting list
So just to be clear, do you think Paul used a Fender Bassman or Vox Conqueror as his main amp?
Bassman. I used my tweed pro amp because it sounded closest. The conqueror sound with casino is more like Paperback Writer or Dr Robert, compressed and smooth. The blonde bassman is closer to tweed fenders and is cleaner but grungier
@@sampopkin could he have cranked out a Tone Bender or some other effects pedal?
The main guitar? Doubt it. It’s definitely that cranked fender amp sound. He also could’ve been using one of the black deluxes
Sounds great. Question: Here (ua-cam.com/video/tAgyNC4hYAY/v-deo.html) something is going E E E E F E F E or something like that - is that the bass?
The wobbly E and F part throughout? That’s me hitting the low e string hard on the Casino so it goes normal and sharp in pitch
@@sampopkin Wow - amazing that you can control just that one pitch without affecting the rest of the chord - very cool.
@@kevinmoore4237 yeah Beatles used somewhat light gauge strings which makes it easy to do. I specifically put one light gauge (.38 a string) string on my Low E to make it even easier to raise pitch
Imbatível
OK, nobody else has said it so I guess I will… I think that the basic track is John on Casino, Paul on Jazz Bass. Hear me out: take 17 shows Paul demonstrating to John how to play the guitar intro, and you can hear him playing bass as he vocalizes. Sure, this COULD be John playing bass… but let’s be honest, John never played bass this way. The tone is EXACTLY the same as the Jazz Bass tone on Yer Blues, Glass Onion, and several other songs that Paul plays bass on. The rhythm guitar on HS is much more Lennonesque, aggressive and simple. The bass fills toward the end are pure McCartney. I don’t think John was incapable of playing a decent bass part- I firmly believe he played bass on “It’s All Too Much”, but that part is much simpler and a bit messier than HS. The confusion arises, I believe, with John playing bass on the first (sloooow) version, just one note per measure. It seems to me they switched instruments as they sped up the song. The same lineup is on the outtake of “you’re so square (baby I don’t care)”, which is a VERY McCartneyesque bass part and further supports my argument. I’m interested to hear your thoughts on this- analyzing Beatles personnel has become a bit of a special interest of mine over the last few years, lol.
After covering this song, listening intensely to the outtakes, and reading everyone’s theories I still believe that John is on bass. The only evidence that it’s paul on bass is, like you said when he’s singing to John at the beginning of the outtake. But that still could easily be John picking on time with Paul’s singing. The bass playing style is pure John, and the aggressiveness of the guitar is very Paul to me. Of course, we’ll never know for sure but those are my two cents. I love chatting with all you guys about this stuff and hope I never come across as argumentative. I purely enjoy the discussion! Thanks
@@sampopkin I hope I don't come off as argumentative either, Beatle-nerd debates are always fun! Anyway, you raise several good points, and I agree that there is a non-zero chance that it was John. I used to fall more into that camp, but let me point out a couple things: I don't think the bass on HS is very John-like at all. Listen to his bass on TLaWR, Let It Be, Fixing a Hole, and Rocky Raccoon (these last 3 were mostly replaced by Paul's overdubbed bass, but you can find the original takes on UA-cam or Spotify's deluxe editions). These all have a very bassy, round, somewhat chorusy tone, with extremely little top-end and a simple, somewhat choppy and hesitant style- for whatever reason, John doesn't like to let the notes ring out for the whole measure, often stopping them halfway or so. The bass on It's All Too Much has a similar tone as well as a very McCartneyesque lead guitar, which is why I think John likely played bass on that as well. But on Helter Skelter, the bass is played insistently and aggressively, with no hesitations or slip-ups, and has a distorted, rich top-end, extremely similar to that on Yer Blues, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Glass Onion, and Dear Prudence. Whether on his Jazz Bass or the Rick, Paul was obviously trying to achieve a dirty, trebly, Entwistlesque tone in this period (funny enough, Helter Skelter was written as a reaction to The Who). If that doesn't convince you, listen to the outtake of You're So Square (Baby I Don't Care) from the same sessions that produced Helter Skelter. The bass is doing a walking line, a bit like Paul played on All My Loving. There is no evidence John ever played walking bass, and the guitar on this outtake sounds quite a bit more complicated than what one would normally play if they were doing so while singing. The guitar's licks sound more like the bluesy stuff John played on Yer Blues than the angular, Hendrixy style that Paul often employed on lead. Let me know your thoughts!
@@perhapsxarb7226 yeah your points are very thought out and I don’t disagree. It’s not impossible for Paul to have played bass lines like that. But watching the oldies rock covers at Savile Row in get back, you see John doing those walking bass lines as heard on you’re so square too. I feel like this really could go either way haha. I still say John on bass because of how primitive it sounds but your reasoning does make me question it a bit