How to play "Blackbird"

[philtangerine]

This is different from the original recording -- its pretty this way too, but, this is actually a bit more difficult than the original way..I've posted a video on the pick/strum technique McCartney plays, which might be helpful, and also a vid on the chords if you need it. This is pretty too.You can find them by searching for philtangerine blackbird.

[Turnipanator]

72 people obv cant play this even whith the help of this great man :D and btw u explained really well .. i can almost play it perfect and that was my 1st try ^^ <3

[flywithchip]

Great job! Please show the rest!

[ArnoldFig89]

maccalennonstarr…but where's harrison??

[PetratheSinginglady]

Just thought I would comment and say I liked your way of picking this song. It was different, but good different. For me personally...I'm diggin' the faster plucking. tehe :D

[maHBeckham]

maccalennonstarr? and what about harrison? haha just kidding.

I just wanna say that you're really good, man. You helped me a loooot! Thank you!

[Sodahpop96]

i love your username. (the tutorial was good too) :)

[Marcelaojc]

Dude, you made me play this song perfectly, thanks so much!

[Zeckellin]

Nice job! Excellent job with demonstrating the picking - that was the part that was screwing me up. Now I got it - thanks, pal!

[TheGuitarPeter]

bad bad bad

[laxmandigi18]

Very skilled. Helped alot

[BecauseThisIsMyName]

im a beginner ... am i able to learn this ?

[PinkMilkCarton]

You make this look so easy! What a wonderful job!

[gotflips]

Omg thank you soooo much for this video. I never thought I'd learn this song but I'm catchin on! :]

[geniusguy2000]

u r a whole half step up on tuning

[hahafunny1225]

thank you 

[jamalprentice]

very well done, i'm new at guitar and have picked up a few songs off youtube. most videos assume i'm already decent guitar, but this was dumbed down just enough for me, no sarcasm :) tyvm

[airlauairlau]

Man, you have a great educational approach, I really appreciate it. Thank you!!

[robotparty42]

thank you very much. I've been trying to play that song by ear but I can't get the timing right, that helped me straiten it out.

[saraenable]

Thank you!!!:)



[macoyishere]

yep it helps me a lot, thanks

[craziecookie]

Thanks so much for these videos!

I can finally do it now. :)

[mercuryfred]

really great, dude. but let me tell you something: you play with your thumb G, D, A, when in fact it is G, A, B. Good work, man!!

[jralfmr]

Wow! thanks for uploading this video... It's really nice! thought I won't be able to play it until i saw this video.... :))

[pichacoloco]

really great tuto!!

[theromashka1]

Awesome video!!!! Thank you very much!

[jonnyjonny135]

DUDE!!!! this is sickk! thank you sooo much! and for sureeeee do the rest of it :D THANKS!

[kdheithaus]

Hey this is a great tut. If you're interested in learning how to play the rhythm, check out my Blackbird Rhythm vid. It's kind of a tut, but I've also got some links to some really great tuts (both on youtube - I'm not selling anything here!) that can help you get that strumming pattern down. It's cool once you get it - like fingerdancing!

[paparazzi1979]

Thumbs up.... when i asked my m8 to play a song that ment alot to him he played this, and i thought that id never be able to even get past the first few notes, .. But , with your lessons im slowly getting it, ive seen other tutorials on this song and yours are by far the beat and easiest to learn... THANKS!

[bigbadbenable]

u r an excellent teacher but u need a new camera!

[maccalennonstarr]

@bigbadbenable thank you and I just bought a new HD camera, so the quality will improve. Thanks for the comment and for the visit.

[bigbadbenable]

@maccalennonstarr nice! i will watch all your future tutorials!

[shabir121]

i have never left a comment on youtube and i must say, you are an amazing teacher. i have been playing the guitar for 6 weeks now and because of your amazing video i can almost play the second part of blackbird. you have a gift. please keep posting more videos like this as i learnt how to play this in 30 mins and i am amazed how fast i picked it up. you explain everything so well and clear. thanks

[maccalennonstarr]

@shabir121 Wow.. I'm speechless... Thank you SO much for your very kind words. They meant alot to me - so THANK YOU. It's comments like yours that motivate me to put more videos up - so I will! You're very, very kind - so thank you once again... You made my night.

[shabir121]

@maccalennonstarr your welcome..... i can play it now. just need a few more tweeeks can you play any jack Johnson songs?

[jramtrini]

can you tab the seond way please?????

[ConnorHenry1]

Nice tutorial man, close up picking view was very helpful. Keep up the good work.

[TheAbsentOneX]

This is just downright impossible. But easiest tut I've seen so far for Blackbird.

[maccalennonstarr]

@TheAbsentOneX Don't give up on it! It takes time and patience...

[TheAbsentOneX]

@TheAbsentOneX I learned it. I just kept watching your tut. Thanks man.

[luisiko24]

Scopey-tone????lol

[shadow55921]

I can't thank you enough for making this video, i had already been ( trying) to learn this song, and thanks to you, i have now!!! thank you so much!

[pickledfruit]

Thankyou so much! I never would have gotten the picking pattern if it weren't for you. :)

[emilee42]

easiest lesson i've found! thank you so much! finally understand the picking patterns

[ThePonyKM]

Thank you very much! Great lesson! ;)

[ThePonyKM]

Thank you very much! Great lesson! ;)

[MrCrunchyCarrots]

amazing tutorial man, good job

[MrCrunchyCarrots]

amazing tutorial man, good job

[jordanthecat]

Nice lesson. And if you don't say "sorry" at least once during a lesson, you're not connecting with the person you're trying to show the tune to.

[Em3rica4life]

This is a really helpful video! Except you know that one chord that you slide all the way across the fretboard? I couldnt really tell where to place my fingers. Can you tell me what strings to place them on and which frets?

[JoolkaJF]

Thanks, couse I couldn't find out the pattern! Very helpful!

[wordthatscool]

man this song is tougher than i thought. i wanted to pick this up real quick then go outside and play it in the sun.. now ive spent like 2 hours inside trying to get this right

[wordthatscool]

man this song is tougher than i thought. i wanted to pick this up real quick then go outside and play it in the sun.. now ive spent like 2 hours inside trying to get this right

[phoebe3696]

thanks so much man. this was really heplfull. thanks again :)

[SpartanB22]

thanks dude ur a great teacher...beatles forever

[sspuFORlife]

This lesson is awesome! I am usually slow at picking things up quickly, and iv tried other guitar lessons on youtube. But i feel like you actually take into consideration that there are some beginners ! Thank you :)

[grenadedprouductions]

*bridge

[peacockbass1966]

You sir, are my guitar hero! Thank you for your excellent instructions. I have benefited loads!!

[AbortMyShortness]

thanks so much! i would be so lost without it!

[junecharcot]

I love you man, this is everything I needed & more.

You're a genious, thanks a lot!

I'll start practising that finger strenght thing.

Cheers from faar away land!

[pinkandsparkling9]

thanks so much for this, you're a great teacher! I'm normally terrible at learning things off youtube, but i understand this one :) thanks for taking the time to go through it step by step, you're really appreciated!

[maccalennonstarr]

Thank you very much for the kind words. They really mean alot to me, so thank you!

[telavo]

I LOVE U MAN

[chuytonio]

this really helps

[gusmad71]

thanks for the video

[didabeat]

You are an excellent teacher...there are lots of tutes on Youtube but you go at just the right pace with the right amount of repetition...Well Done!

[analiaginekokracia]

cool

[mildbugs]

I just want to thank you for taking the time to record this lesson, as imperfect as it might be (as though I would ever know without reading all these critics' postings) & that you are still checking back to see what folks say after all this time is admirable. I wanted you to know that I've spent many evenings learning and re-learning this song with your assistance and that you are appreciated.

[maccalennonstarr]

@mildbugs Thanks again for the kind comment... Your kind words mean alot to me - so thank you!

[nashhanna]

Pero...y vos quién te creés que sos para decir que Paul la toca mal?...encima hacés falsete y no tenés buena apoyatura. Andá a estudiar!

[bobcatter23]

thanks mac, i'm a beginner and this is a good start for me.

[LinkThatLove]

wtf just send me the tab itll be easier for me to learn this song

[Animat400]

lol, this is so funny. i didn't learn it because i was laughing so hard i died. umm...

[robynbird28]

dude, you are my hero. you just taught me the beginning to my favorite song. I just went out and played it for my parents and they knew what I was playing! I've never even finger picked before!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!! :D

[evelsteev]

"fartbird" more like it

[evelsteev]

the guitar keeps farting

[magicaldiablo]

I KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!

[satriani32]

Correct me if i am wrong but i believe the second chord should be on the "A" string not the "D" as it is an "A" minor interval which requires an A in the bass? Yours turns it into a D7 or D depneding on implied notes from the song. Interested on your thoughts on this, btw where the rest of the song?

[maccalennonstarr]

You're right - it should be an "A" and not a "D". I don't know why I started playing the D bass, but ever since I did, I kind of stuck with it. I like the sound better - but that may just be because I've heard it that way for so long! Thanks for watching, and for the comments. I really appreciate them. Stay well.

[ReidN79]

I forgot to thank you - great video!

[ReidN79]

Is your guitar tuned a half step up? or do you have it capoed at 1...

[acdc62591]

very helpful. thankyou

[j0p]

gracias!

[fisherdog123]

sorry but i kept laughing at the guitar farting it was funny but a good lesson never the less

[bennharry101]

u play it WRONG

[MegaSilverBlood]

maccalennonstarr?, where is harrison?

[rebeccadenise]

You need to come out with the next part... that was great!

[click104]

lol your guitar farted lolololololol :) awsom lesson though :)

[Guitaramaniack]

A little fast to learn but it was easy to guess how to do it, overall dang good job.

[awesomeusername12345]

this is really a great video! im still working on plucking my fingers in the right order, its pretty tricky. but thank you soo much for putting these videos out!

[jnogen]

Thanks for sharing your talent..really appreciate it

[aaronailes]

thank u best tut. out there

[maccalennonstarr]

I wouldn't go THAT far, but thanks anyway!! LOL I'm overwhelmed by the number of hits that this video got, and that people are actually using it. I posted it for a friends years ago with an out of tune guitar, and I never DREAMT that this would be the outcome... Pretty crazy stuff.

[franumetal]

very good!(igual soy chileno)jajajaja xd

[AshenJustice]

You're in the wrong tuning, mate. Blackbird is played in standard.

[maccalennonstarr]

My guitar's just out of tune! See the comment below... I didn't think that I'd end up getting 200,000+ hits - otherwise I would have tuned it!!!!

[mrdodobird]

Haha, you're awesome, man!

[wtmyageagain]

thanks this is really good

[alltimefavorite1]

hey can u give me a tab for trhat its hard to follow ur kinda to fast

[ThisDude4]

SLOW DOWN THE PICKING PLEASE!!

[Emu0024]

Great tutorial. Only problem I have it when you play the D string. Try sticking to the A string instead. Sounds better and makes more sense since the the E and A strings get played throughout the song. Adding the D in there just seems odd to me. But meh, that's just my opinion. Great video otherwise. Keep it up.

[dawood121]

good tutorial

[BloodCruise]

He sounds like Krist Novoselic from Nirvana. O:

[noreallyiskate]

really good man...my only advice would be to slow it down a bit, because i had to watch every part 4 or 5 times to really get what u were saying. But it was very good overall

[millymuffin456]

thanks! my guitar teacher downloaded the tabs off the internet, but he didnt know how to do it, so im trying to figure out myself, i couldnt get the tune quite right, so this helped,

[gallo1776]

thanks a lot, very clear!

regards

mariano

[pugpresley]

wrong tuning

[Autioslave]

tune up man

[JafSinatra]

Im gonna play this evry day to learn it baby! :)

Thanks!

[ziegfeldgirl027]

Can anyone tell me what strings are being plucked beginning from 1:09? It's a bit too fast, I can't make it out.

[AGCFILMS]

thanks, but you sound out of tune a but

[OnaHoliday]

is there anything i can do to help myself learn the last picking technique

[sailabonkie12]

everyone else plays it different then me! i put the travis pick in it... it sounds better

[guitarrox200]

thanx soo much

[moye1989]

Thank You

[ilooveNewYork]

Really helpful thanks !

[mikmc]

Thanks for takin the time to share this....very helpful

[SgtSlickSleeve]

Very clear and useful lesson. Thank you.

[doctorlove14]

dude, thank you so much.

by far the easiest guitar lesson

rock on

[IKakasanI]

your* lol

[Longeway38]

i am beginner like i mean i just got my guitar today! and when i saw this video i could follow it so well! :) thankyou! :)

[monkeylover502]

thank u so much :D

other videos just show ppl playing it, u explained it :D

thanks again, this really helped :D

[MoraruTheodor]

Thank you for teaching us "Blackbird".

Can you show us how to play "And your bird can sing"?

I really want to learn that song.

I hope I don't ask too much.

Thank you again!

[will7470]

This is truely an excellent how to video! best one ive ever seen,thank you for sharing this with us!!!

[themushieman]

Fucking excellent!

[Denman123a]

thanks Mac, .... the extreme close-up of your right hand is helpful, ...I corrected out several picking errors with this, ... cheers ... Dennis

[scouterrs]

Seriously, thank you so much. This was the best how-to play blackbird video! I was looking around forever and then I came across yours. Your the best! Keep it up. Subscribing..

[mrmcmad]

Till now I thought it was IMPOSSIBLE to play that song lol, thank you SOOOOO much! let's see if the second part is as easy as it was xD

[besjacha]

but i've understood that i'm hopeless with my English =)

[besjacha]

Thank you, thank you, thank you : )

After wathing your video i've bielived that i'm not hopeless with guitar : )

[kaexo]

awesome , hes canadian too =)

[TaylorPaige]

This video was incredibly helpful for me!

I'm new to guitar and it seems most instructional videos will teach me which notes to play without actually teaching me how to strum, so this was a great change.

[plangentmusic]

With all due respect, you should tune to A 440 when giving instruction.

[maccalennonstarr]

I will in the future. My guitar was out of tune when I recorded this, and I never imagined that so many people would actually look at it and/or use it. The fact that I got so many hits on this video kind of freaked me out. Anyway, in the future, I'll be sure to tune my guitar! Thanks for the comment.

[kaexo]

You are a very good teacher, thank you so much now move to Canada

[maccalennonstarr]

I actually live in Canada!  :) I'm 100% Canadian!

[hopppppp]

umm im confused... after u pick the first part, the second part where u say theres 2 ways to play it. i need u to do that part slower lol. or can someone tell me the strings hes picking in order?? plz.

[pafagel]

totally agree

[GlowBrazil]

Thank you very much for the nice teaching. I hope you did move on to the second part of it the nasty senseless comments put up by some idiots here. They are probably envious of your ability Thanks.

[smoothfunk]

mmm..... I'm really sorry, but you are wrong.... you should hear the song again ... The right way is nicer BUT harder. If you want to play an easy way, then it's ok. But it is absolutely not the way McCartney wrote it. Sorry Dude !

[maccalennonstarr]

I never claimed to be playing it the way Paul plays it! Paul plays it in a similar way, but you're right - he finger picks it differently. It's not about being "easier" or "harder" - it's whatever makes you happy. Play it the way that makes you happy. There are many variations to this song - this is just one. The left hand fingering is pretty close to the way that Paul plays it though (sorry to disagree) - but I agree with the right hand picking - it's very different.

[dunlapdylan]

no song should be played exactly the same way.

[kamlsan]

whats the tuning?

[maccalennonstarr]

Standard - but I wouldn't go by my guitar - it's out of tune.

[Tjz93]

Thanks a bunch...

at first this song looked impossible...

now its looking good

thanks for the lesson

[DieAgony]

thanks for the video it helped soo much, this was my first song learned thanks again!

[57458701]

your first song congratulation

[DayTripperLennon]

Cool! I play this song way different! there's a lot of ways.

[maccalennonstarr]

Talk to Smooth Funk!!!  LOL

[Doodie2112]

I think I just found a video that'll help me with this song. After I listened to Blackbird I just wanted to try to play it. Thanks for the video post :D

[prrothed]

How come so few people use McCartney's index finger strumming technique for this? To my ears, Blackbird just doesn't sound authentic without it. It's that strumming that gives the song its signature sound. It's a little harder, but not very much.

[realzubunapy]

Thanx, very much!! I played Black Bird after studiing your vids at the 50th Birthday of my father (he is beatlesfan and loves BB, but he can´t play it)

[nitramjimcaz]

5/5

thanks...

[cocainebrains]

thanks! i'm just learing and this really helped me out...i prob should have picked an eaiser first song. :)

[ilovecheeziness]

Thanks so much!

[54anickel]

Thank you so much! You're a great teacher. I've pretty much mastered the basics now and am working on alternate picking patterns that feel a bit more natural for me. Like you said earlier, "Play it the way that makes you happy!". I'm working on it. Thanks again Maccalennonstarr!

[Rainman270]

sounded pretty good to me. Nice job

[madinx]

very good, great teaching, fantastic job. help a lot.

[maccalennonstarr]

Thanks for the kind comment, madinx...

[madinx]

when i first saw someone playing this song i thought that i was never going to able to play it, and know i do it pretty well. thank you very much

[MaxwellsAttourney]

Don't make tutorials if you are going to teach the song incorrectly. The bass of the intro chords are G-A-B-G.

[maccalennonstarr]

Play it the way that makes you happy!

[RockYouVideos]

mmmmm decent video but you miss up the intro part. . .in the plujcking hand, from the start, it goes 2nd string and sixth string then pluck the 3rd string but then you should the the FIFTH and second string followed by the 3rd string. . .NOT the 4th string.

[gavin69696969]

good job but the proper way is to use your thumb for the 3rd string and the low E string

[386587bokroy]

thank u so much bro...i got and play in jst an hour bec. u teach so well...mabuhay ka and godbless from Philippines.

[RexNunc]

your not tuned to A 440

[Sclera2k6]

Thanks for showing the different picking/strumming techniques to this song, I only knew one =]

[Darrylk123]

Great job!

[BlitzregnBaby]

YAY!!! Thank you! Please continue!!! :D

[trustmetouchme]

Thank you! Very helpful!

[annielovesgolf]

thanx ALOT of help very understandable!!!!!!

[kaleguy]

youre truly responsible for teaching me my first song on guitar, thanks brah, now all the ladies will flock

[cloudy4shores]

ts 'a little tricky' cuz you aint playin it the way the played it.....try open G tuning harr harr

[diarmuidorio]

your the man! i learned this in like 2 days and im a real amateur 3 chord trick kinda player for years, and its so easy when you have a good teacher. keep it up.

[paramorers]

thank you so much!ican play it now!!

thank you!

[jy1123]

Thanks a lot!! C FU(mean master)

[KARLIJIM]

Don't stop. Great song, easy to follow. I might even start playing again after thirty years time off.

[Rikk303]

Save yourself a lot of trouble and just play it in open D. It kind of makes itself obvious. Paul never made a meal of this tune. Try it

[zowi1rawr]

waaaaa!! it does help but gosh you go fast D: x3 ehem.... next time it.d b so great to go juust a lil bit slowly to see the order but thnx sooo much :D <3