Hi Dave, this is Dave, 40 years a bassist, messed about on guitar - saw Free at the Oasis club in Portsmouth in 1969 (before they hit the big time in 1970) and was blown away. I've been trying to get those chords ever since. You Wonderful person, it's taken me 54 years to find the right chords and you've done it for me THANK YOU. I now have to battle with arthritis to get that sound and stretch the fingers .... aaaaaaargh - Thank You again.
Dave's guide to getting cramp in your fretting hand. Always wondered how he played it live given there were 2 parts on the recording. Now I know. More like this Mr Simpson please
I'm very happy for you that you got to witness that. I was only 10. As for the magical third chord (a G with a rub between the 4th and the 3rd), the only other place I've heard it is Allan Holdsworth (on his Road Games album).
SPOT ON! I found those heavenly 3rd and 4th chords by accident after 1000s of years of experimenting. I had them apart from the extra low A on the E string which I am going to steal. Brilliant. Very well demonstrated and you've made a million guitarists very happy.
This is easily my favorite guitar UA-cam channel. Dave makes my day and life better, and his music on bandcamp speaks to me. I would have thought he was a Gen-X'er!
Be My Friend is such a touching song, it's impossible to listen to it without choking back the emotions. The same goes for Heavy Load.....beautiful songs, beautiful vibes ✌️
This gives me a ridiculous amount of joy to finally see, and hear how he got that sound! As ever, your down to earth explanation filled with all the human frailties of tired fingers etc,make this a joy to watch! 😊
Bro - this was an awesome lesson !!!! You're soooooo right - the correct chords and its resolution are just beautiful - thanks so much for sharing this !!!
It's cool to know how the original artists play stuff. Doesn't mean anyone else has to play it that way. Play it the way you like to play it and what sounds good to you. Play it with different chord shapes if you want. Play it in a different key if you want. It's not "wrong" or "incorrect," it's just different. Sometimes the artists themselves play it differently live, or play it one way early on and play it different later in their career.
Your right but this video is made to focus on the way the person who originally played on it played it. If you don’t want to play it the way Paul did fine. I don’t care.
@@thedavesimpson I understand. Not a criticism of you or your video, which was great and helpful. Rather it was a criticism of the idea, which I see way too often, that unless you play something exactly how the original artist did, you are doing it wrong. Knowing how the original artist played a song (and how he or she may have varied it) and being able to play it that way is a good idea, though, and can only help us grow as musicians, as long as we don't get locked in.
@@jackgilchristWhy not learn it the right way first? Then, if you do decide to play it the wrong way, you’ll have more depth of understanding! Like the old saying goes, learn the rules before you break them.
Thanks Dave! Oh my, I love Koss. I went to the Isle of Wight Festival 1970, primarily to see my mentor, Pete Townshend. But then, Free came on stage Sunday morning and Koss stole my heart! My avatar here is my Gibson Custom Shop Paul Kossoff 1959 Les Paul Standard Green Lemon Burst Tom Murphy Aged. Of course, there’s not one day when I pickup this guitar that I don’t think of Koss and all the joy he’s given me over the years. My ambition was to play rhythm to his lead, but sadly before we knew it, he was gone. Continue to rest in love and peace dear Koss.
Yes by jove! I believe you have successfully deconstructed the ingredients for one of the coolest guitar riffs ever! Thanks so much for sharing and taking the time to make sure that even the rather slow learners, like myself, could still get it! 🧐🎸
I always wanted to pay homage to this song, but was never able to sort out the chords to this level of accuracy. Thanks for sharin- can't wait to get it down...
Shut Up And Play did a really good break down on this as well and agrees with the principles but does put in the high A because it sounds more like the studio version and that is what that video is focussed on. Most of it is A major to D major and back again but the third chord is complicated. It is A F G D E across the strings but that means it is basically D E F G A which should really not work because it is five consecutive notes from the scale of A mixolydian. A jazz guitarist might call it D9add11/A but then most likely their head would explode.
I have that video in my library, and every time it comes on I just look behind the band at their stacks. It looks like they just throw any amps they had at the time in their old Volkswagon van and hit the road playing gigs. Those were the best of times, all leading to the 80's...what a time to be a teenager.
LOL! That last part playing the lead was worth the price of admission! Nice vibrato, mate! Did P.K. proud! HA!, HA! One of my favorite songs playing in a cover rock band back in the day. Damn - I wish I had the right chordal pattern back then! Those chords were gorgeous! Thanks for posting this! 🤟👍
Yup, that's the way I've played the song for years, and so many people play it wrong. Hope they will see your video and start playing this great song properly as it sounds so much better. Great job cheers
Paul Kossoff's' guitar playing was lovely. When it comes to 'feeling' he's up there with Peter Green, Dave Gilmour, etc. He doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Thanks for the upload Dave.
Hi Dave, amazing to see you show this. I've been playing this song since the mid seventies and now realise I worked out those chords just by ear listening to the track when I was in my early teens...😮😮😮
The reason most folks play it that way Dave is when you're a single guitarist & to make it sound right while only having 1 guitarist, then u have to compromise between the 2 high & low octaves. No one's wrong or right, there is only compromise between the 2. Once again you've done another wonderful video though. I've missed you & your mates a lot. I can't wait to see part 2 of that guitar video your working on. Any ideas when we can see that?
@@Dad-Gad The vast majority of people have never seen Free live, but have heard the record version on the radio, Spotify, vinyl, CD, TV. There's two versions, right is a matter of perspective.
@@Dad-GadSays who? If it's got a high A on the album, obviously playing it is a perfectly legitimate choice. Aside from that it's rock and roll which comes from improvised music, and it's lame and silly to call someone covering a R&R tune "wrong" if they play a chord voiced with the same notes, except it's "different than how they played it live. Saying you're playing a song wrong because you're playing the album version is beyond nitpicky and just plain silly, and like I said, It's rock and roll; there's room for variations.
Kossoffs playing is unreal like ........very underrated guitarist the stuff he played with Free for the age they all were was unreal their music deffo stood the test of time 🤘🤘
It comes across. There's a big difference adding that A at the 5th fret. 👍 Free had such a melancholy sound with those chord voicings like that third chord. Nice string bends and vibrato at the end there too! You come very close to replicating Kosoff's speed and accuracy with your vibrato technique. Right on it! 😊
Thanks for the explanation of this timeless classic Rock gem. I’ve been wanting to learn this on guitar, so I had to see your video on how it was actually played, so I don’t learn the wrong way. 😂 I love the tone you’re getting out of your set up. That raw classic Les Paul tone. 👍
A few years ago, I was going to cover this song, and it never sounded right. So, we shelved it. I'm in a different band now, and after seeing this video, I may pull it off the shelf and give it another try. Thanks for posting this video. All this time, what Paul was doing was right in front of us, and you were able to see that.
That’s part of the problem. There is a tendency for people to either over play it or use too much distortion. There is a video of a famous guitar player (Doug Aldrich) and frankly the way he plays it is god awful, both in sound and style. It’s a hard rock blues number, not heavy metal.
@philfyphil Years ago, I learned that like everything else with sound, distortion is like makeup and should be used to enhance and not cover. After all the years I've been playing, I've never tried an Orange amp. I used to use an Ampeg B15-XY Portaflex with a Hughes and Ketner Cream Machine for a nice rock sound. Nowadays, I use a Fender Mustang III with a Les Paul. For a modeling amp, it can get some amazing tones without sounding like a tin can full of pissed of bees.
I have small hands and looking Dave teaching these chords my fingers they start hurting but can't wait to arrive home tomorrow to check if i can do them .
Absolutely brilliant thank you. I have been playing that On the high A for so long. My hands are still numb from playing it on a Strat lol but they will recover.
Just had to subscribe, as I loved your delivery... and your playing. I have a 1968 Custom with a 'broken head stock' and it's my favourite and that makes me feel better about it now knowing Kossoff played one too. Sounds amazing.
How brilliant seeing someone give Paul the recognition he deserves. 👏👏
Aahh this is brilliant Dave. I've waited since the 70's to find the true Elixier - and now I've found it .
Cheers Dave.
Hi Dave, this is Dave, 40 years a bassist, messed about on guitar - saw Free at the Oasis club in Portsmouth in 1969 (before they hit the big time in 1970) and was blown away. I've been trying to get those chords ever since. You Wonderful person, it's taken me 54 years to find the right chords and you've done it for me THANK YOU. I now have to battle with arthritis to get that sound and stretch the fingers .... aaaaaaargh - Thank You again.
Alright Dave !
Dave's guide to getting cramp in your fretting hand. Always wondered how he played it live given there were 2 parts on the recording. Now I know. More like this Mr Simpson please
I saw young Paul kossof play this live in 1970. And yes that third chord is simply cosmic. Well done Dave for highlighting all of this stuff.
I'm very happy for you that you got to witness that. I was only 10. As for the magical third chord (a G with a rub between the 4th and the 3rd), the only other place I've heard it is Allan Holdsworth (on his Road Games album).
2:39 2:45 3:10 3:10 3:17
3:43
So very JEALOS , lmao....
SPOT ON! I found those heavenly 3rd and 4th chords by accident after 1000s of years of experimenting.
I had them apart from the extra low A on the E string which I am going to steal. Brilliant. Very well demonstrated and you've made a million guitarists very happy.
Are you a vampire? 😆
Only Dave can make a 1 minute lesson 19 minutes long and still keep it entertaining. 😎🤘Thanks, I've been playing it wrong for 40 years.
Got cha beat, I’ve been playing it wrong for 44 years 😮 d’oh!!!!
Ughh.
Da können wir uns alle die Hände reichen. Ich spiele es 41 Jahre falsch😂😂😂. Aber wir lernen ja jeden Tag dazu.
This is easily my favorite guitar UA-cam channel. Dave makes my day and life better, and his music on bandcamp speaks to me. I would have thought he was a Gen-X'er!
Be My Friend is such a touching song, it's impossible to listen to it without choking back the emotions. The same goes for Heavy Load.....beautiful songs, beautiful vibes ✌️
what was the first chord again? just kidding bud, thanks
This gives me a ridiculous amount of joy to finally see, and hear how he got that sound! As ever, your down to earth explanation filled with all the human frailties of tired fingers etc,make this a joy to watch! 😊
Oops! Have been playing this wrong for ages.. many thanks for sharing the correct way Mr S!👍🙂🎸
Thank you for sharing! Paul's definitely one of the greats!
Joyous and infectious, as always, thank you.
Bro - this was an awesome lesson !!!! You're soooooo right - the correct chords and its resolution are just beautiful - thanks so much for sharing this !!!
Few songs bring as visceral a response in the feels as this one, and none hits quite the same. Thanks, professor Dave!
agree !!
It's cool to know how the original artists play stuff. Doesn't mean anyone else has to play it that way. Play it the way you like to play it and what sounds good to you. Play it with different chord shapes if you want. Play it in a different key if you want. It's not "wrong" or "incorrect," it's just different.
Sometimes the artists themselves play it differently live, or play it one way early on and play it different later in their career.
Your right but this video is made to focus on the way the person who originally played on it played it. If you don’t want to play it the way Paul did fine. I don’t care.
@@thedavesimpson I understand. Not a criticism of you or your video, which was great and helpful. Rather it was a criticism of the idea, which I see way too often, that unless you play something exactly how the original artist did, you are doing it wrong.
Knowing how the original artist played a song (and how he or she may have varied it) and being able to play it that way is a good idea, though, and can only help us grow as musicians, as long as we don't get locked in.
@@thedavesimpson Paul Kossoff did play it the way you call "wrong" and "not real." He played it that way on the album.
@@jackgilchristWhy not learn it the right way first? Then, if you do decide to play it the wrong way, you’ll have more depth of understanding! Like the old saying goes, learn the rules before you break them.
@@jeffreypaulross9767 Yeah, I think I've heard that before somewhere. 🙂
8:00 and we're now doing the 2nd chord in the intro. I love this stuff. Dave, you're a legend!
Finally someone who gets Paul Kossoff, Dave thanks for this great Lesson sounding killer as always I see you have been Loving the new Les Paul!
Good stuff Dave, and your enthusiasm for those chords is a sight to behold! 😎
It’s this kind of deep dive analysis of the right way to play to play this riff, that elevates Dave’s channel above most of the others…
That second chord picked is the first beautiful chord of "Love you so".
Thanks Dave! Oh my, I love Koss. I went to the Isle of Wight Festival 1970, primarily to see my mentor, Pete Townshend. But then, Free came on stage Sunday morning and Koss stole my heart! My avatar here is my Gibson Custom Shop Paul Kossoff 1959 Les Paul Standard Green Lemon Burst Tom Murphy Aged. Of course, there’s not one day when I pickup this guitar that I don’t think of Koss and all the joy he’s given me over the years. My ambition was to play rhythm to his lead, but sadly before we knew it, he was gone. Continue to rest in love and peace dear Koss.
It's about time somebody enlightened us about the correct chords for this song. Thank you.
Love your enthusiasm!!
Thank you, Dave! This is great and useful! I have loved this song since I was a little boy, and I love it just as much 50-plus years later.
Legend as always Dave.
😮 awesome I love ❤️ this song 🎵 Thanks Dave great video 👍😎🎸🤘
Dave you are a absolute legend ❤
great video, shows how kossof, was such a quirky and unique player. gone but not forgotten...........thank you.
Class video and so funny! An eye-opener. Well done and thank you Dave!
Bravo Dave! Nailed it 👍👏
You had me totally absorbed Dave. Wish I'd known this 50 years ago when I couldn't figure out why I sounded crap.
Thank you for this, and thank you for posting.
Yes by jove! I believe you have successfully deconstructed the ingredients for one of the coolest guitar riffs ever! Thanks so much for sharing and taking the time to make sure that even the rather slow learners, like myself, could still get it! 🧐🎸
I always wanted to pay homage to this song, but was never able to sort out the chords to this level of accuracy. Thanks for sharin- can't wait to get it down...
Well done Dave! I'm always learning a little bit from you...
Always wondered about that song. Now I understand! Thank you for that, Dave, that was beautifully explained. 🤓
Fun video and thanks for your insights. 👏🏻
Thanks Dave!
Thank you! Ive been playing this song for years, and it never sounded quite right. Now I see why. 🤘
I love this, thanks Dave, awesome stuff. Love the t-shirt as well :)
Shut Up And Play did a really good break down on this as well and agrees with the principles but does put in the high A because it sounds more like the studio version and that is what that video is focussed on. Most of it is A major to D major and back again but the third chord is complicated. It is A F G D E across the strings but that means it is basically D E F G A which should really not work because it is five consecutive notes from the scale of A mixolydian. A jazz guitarist might call it D9add11/A but then most likely their head would explode.
Not F but F#
Brilliant, .... as usual.
Brilliant, Dave. Merely brilliant.
I have that video in my library, and every time it comes on I just look behind the band at their stacks. It looks like they just throw any amps they had at the time in their old Volkswagon van and hit the road playing gigs. Those were the best of times, all leading to the 80's...what a time to be a teenager.
Great analysis!
Brilliant….I’m going to try it out now.
LOL! That last part playing the lead was worth the price of admission! Nice vibrato, mate! Did P.K. proud! HA!, HA! One of my favorite songs playing in a cover rock band back in the day. Damn - I wish I had the right chordal pattern back then! Those chords were gorgeous! Thanks for posting this! 🤟👍
Okay, I've only watched nine seconds of this, and I'm already convinced this guy knows his stuff.
Yup, that's the way I've played the song for years, and so many people play it wrong. Hope they will see your video and start playing this great song properly as it sounds so much better. Great job cheers
Don't recall how he played it when I saw Free live May 1971 ... but was certainly impressed. 🤩
Paul Kossoff's' guitar playing was lovely. When it comes to 'feeling' he's up there with Peter Green, Dave Gilmour, etc. He doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Thanks for the upload Dave.
Playiing along on a Jazzmaster. You're right about it being harder on this scale of neck!
But thank you, these chords sound huge!
Paul made so much of what he had !! always has very clever inversions going on !
I agree. 'pretty chords'. Thanks for the video.
Cool stuff, Dave. Thanks!
Hi Dave, amazing to see you show this. I've been playing this song since the mid seventies and now realise I worked out those chords just by ear listening to the track when I was in my early teens...😮😮😮
The reason most folks play it that way Dave is when you're a single guitarist & to make it sound right while only having 1 guitarist, then u have to compromise between the 2 high & low octaves. No one's wrong or right, there is only compromise between the 2. Once again you've done another wonderful video though. I've missed you & your mates a lot. I can't wait to see part 2 of that guitar video your working on. Any ideas when we can see that?
He shows you how Paul played it live , thus , That's the right way . Any other way is inherently wrong .
@@Dad-Gad Different.
@@Dad-Gad The vast majority of people have never seen Free live, but have heard the record version on the radio, Spotify, vinyl, CD, TV. There's two versions, right is a matter of perspective.
@@Dad-Gad You got bullied at school, didn't you?
@@Dad-GadSays who? If it's got a high A on the album, obviously playing it is a perfectly legitimate choice.
Aside from that it's rock and roll which comes from improvised music, and it's lame and silly to call someone covering a R&R tune "wrong" if they play a chord voiced with the same notes, except it's "different than how they played it live.
Saying you're playing a song wrong because you're playing the album version is beyond nitpicky and just plain silly, and like I said, It's rock and roll; there's room for variations.
The first single I ever bought. God, that makes me feel so old!!!!
Super vid, great explanation. I’m subscribed 👍
One of life's great mysteries solved. Thank you!
Really interesting Dave and very enlightening, I”m looking forward to severe cramp trying this out😂😂cheers mate.
Thanks Dave, another cracking video. 👍
You're a very good teacher ty for explaining correct chord shapes.
Kossoffs playing is unreal like ........very underrated guitarist the stuff he played with Free for the age they all were was unreal their music deffo stood the test of time 🤘🤘
Great stuff thanks..
Your' excitement is infectious Sir.
Thank you for the revealing of what I was hearing, but couldn't quite nail it down. It's been like an itch I couldn't scratch for 53 years! 🎉😮
Awesome thank you !
I believe you. Thanks for the keys to the city Dave!
Brilliant! 👍🏻
Finally someone who gets it right 👍!!
Yeah, that sounds more Paul!!
Thanks mate!! 🙌🙌🔥🔥🎸💯⚡⚡
I saw free 5 times around Essex, I got pictures of them on stage & back in there changing room all in 1970
Ooo I love this. Did I miss the chorus? There is something sweet going on there too. Thanks for helping to nail this classic
This was great including your lead lines!
It comes across. There's a big difference adding that A at the 5th fret. 👍 Free had such a melancholy sound with those chord voicings like that third chord. Nice string bends and vibrato at the end there too! You come very close to replicating Kosoff's speed and accuracy with your vibrato technique. Right on it! 😊
I have played it wrong for over 40 years, I have seen the video clip of Paul playing it dozens of times and not once did it occur to me 😑 Thanks Dave!
Clearly I'm talking nonsense, PIST O'CLOCK, just trying to make a connection, because I think you are CLASS!!!!!
53 years later it's still being heard in commercials.
Thanks for the explanation of this timeless classic Rock gem. I’ve been wanting to learn this on guitar, so I had to see your video on how it was actually played, so I don’t learn the wrong way. 😂 I love the tone you’re getting out of your set up. That raw classic Les Paul tone. 👍
Thanks Dave 👍🏻
Thanks for hanging out in my living room Dave. Just quality stuff dude!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
It is a great day when Dave uploads a new video!
Superb video Dave. I have always played it the other way but not anymore 👍
Well done dave, im glad you got to the scale difference early on, i got a strat , I'll sit this one out
You're all right now Dave (pun intended I think). Thank you for sharing this video. All the best to you & yours & stay well !!!
Hey Dave ty I played this for a bit the wrong way knowing it was close but now I know.
A few years ago, I was going to cover this song, and it never sounded right. So, we shelved it. I'm in a different band now, and after seeing this video, I may pull it off the shelf and give it another try. Thanks for posting this video. All this time, what Paul was doing was right in front of us, and you were able to see that.
That’s part of the problem. There is a tendency for people to either over play it or use too much distortion. There is a video of a famous guitar player (Doug Aldrich) and frankly the way he plays it is god awful, both in sound and style. It’s a hard rock blues number, not heavy metal.
@philfyphil Years ago, I learned that like everything else with sound, distortion is like makeup and should be used to enhance and not cover. After all the years I've been playing, I've never tried an Orange amp. I used to use an Ampeg B15-XY Portaflex with a Hughes and Ketner Cream Machine for a nice rock sound. Nowadays, I use a Fender Mustang III with a Les Paul. For a modeling amp, it can get some amazing tones without sounding like a tin can full of pissed of bees.
You are the man Dave
They really did do well on their A levels.
Since I pretty much play everything wrong I'm not surprised that I play this wrong also. Thanks for setting me straight. Great lesson.
What you are describing is the " G" chord shape in the CAGED system
I have small hands and looking Dave teaching these chords my fingers they start hurting but can't wait to arrive home tomorrow to check if i can do them .
Hey that is cool, thanks for the real chords Dave
Thank you for this video good stuff 👍😁✌️
Absolutely brilliant thank you. I have been playing that
On the high A for
so long. My hands are still numb from playing it on a Strat lol but they will recover.
Great Video!!! Great Song!!! - 🎸🤘😀👍
Just had to subscribe, as I loved your delivery... and your playing. I have a 1968 Custom with a 'broken head stock' and it's my favourite and that makes me feel better about it now knowing Kossoff played one too. Sounds amazing.
Just went and played this. And by jove he's right! Sounds awesome