Lesson 3: The Needle and the Damage Done Part 1

[thomas221100]

a little theory is great if you plan to improvise or switch the song up without having to try like 5 different notes to get the one you want

[besheba]

at any rate, back to Neil...I also like his "Long May You Run" version of MTV Unplugged.

:)

[mlong785]

wow,, learn chord names,,,, "this thing"

[jamesblackburnlynch]

I disagree. I actually, as I said, could have used the chord names, but that would not help. Many people mistake memorization of names as some kind of knowledge that will help. It won't. Those names are only good when you are fluent in them.

For the beginning guitar player, saying "this thing" is much better than saying Dsus2 or the like. All that will do is hide how simple the chords are under complicated names.

People make the same mistake when learning math.

[BizarreHarper]

@jamesblackburnlynch Thats true but it can also be good to use the names anyway so that when people learn these things on youtube they pick them up even if they're not interested in what its called.

[jamesblackburnlynch]

@BizarreHarper, Yeah that's why I did actually list them in the second video. For those who are ready, it's good to know the names. But a hindrance for many people at first.

[besheba]

@jamesblackburnlynch Hee hee...I taught myself this one when I was 12. I play only by ear and have since I was 6. I can play most anything; however, ask me a chord name, and I can only name a few. I guess that qualifies me as a "by the book musical illiterate." I don't use a pick 'tho - I tend to fingerpick. There are a few hammer notes as well in the chorus of this one. :D

[jamesblackburnlynch]

@besheba, it's nice to see you over here! I think you may be the only person to cross over in this way with my videos.

I don't know if this is clear, but I made these videos for people who are NOT like you. People like me. People who, sadly, cannot learn by ear. I only wish I could do what you did. Especially at 12. I hope you are an excellent musician, because you sure could be.

This was my version of a live version Neil did. They took it off youtube. The original is a little different.

[besheba]

@jamesblackburnlynch Meh. Music is a universal language. We may disagree on math programs -wink- but I don't hold grudges. :) Nevertheless, learning by ear is overrated IMO. If you learn to read, it's one heck of a lot quicker to learn a new song (although by now, I can hear most chords after years of practice). Plus, if you want to learn, say, a Bach prelude precisely, it's much nicer to be able to read it note for note.I have kids to chase now, so not as much time to play.

[jamesblackburnlynch]

@besheba Oh cmon! Math is THE universal language. From culture to culture, it's all the same. Music varies immensely. Now math programs.,..they clearly are not universal.

You can say learning by ear is overrated, but you can do it. I can read music and understand the theory and I think it's totally overrated. I'd trade it for a good ear any day. Especially an ear that would allow me to play a Bach prelude after hearing it once.

[besheba]

@jamesblackburnlynch Oh I'm sure I could teach myself how to do it (much like I did EDM LOL)...but, after 30-ought years of playing by ear, I'll admit it: I'm lazy ha ha...as far as playing a Bach prelude after hearing it once - oh, noooo...it takes me a lot more than once to pick it out. :) It boils down to time, practice makes perfect (and the ability to love guitar enough not to hurl it against a wall.. :D The beauty of youtube is not having to record it on tape and hitting rewind repeatedly.

[jamesblackburnlynch]

@besheba I'm sure you could too. That's why I think it's overrated and learning by ear is the key. In fact, as long as you and I are discussing this, this is exactly my point about math education. Many people teach and learned math as if they were playing an instrument by memorizing where their fingers go and what to do with their right hand. But they NEVER actually listen to what they are playing. So, if they make a mistake they don't even notice. Years down the road, it's all mistakes.

[besheba]

@jamesblackburnlynch Ah yes, I understand your point; however, if I didn't memorize the sound of each chord as it relates to where I place my fingers, or if I skipped around learning the actual chords without solid practice in mastering them, I'd have given up long ago. Seriously. I learned because I loved it and I followed the directions that my ear told me consistantly and practiced "the boring stuff" constantly until I "got it." There really is value in that - it's perserverance.

;-)

[jamesblackburnlynch]

@besheba Yep, as I said in my videos, we need understanding first, and then practice. They both matter. But practicing something that is wrong isn't of any use. I've done it for years on the tennis court. Then not only do you have to learn how to do something right, you have to unlearn how not to do something wrong.

By the way, did you really memorize any of that consciously or did you memorize it without effort just because you did it?

[besheba]

@jamesblackburnlynch With most basic chords, yes, I memorized. Other notes I eventually memorized by playing (single string notes and riffs). I am a person who needs to follow directions before I can have an "a ha!" moment. Once I memorized where my fingers had to go for chords, it became easier to learn different riffs. I agree about practicing something wrong. That's the biggest issue I had with my son and math. Until he was ready to accept a different way, he got the wrong answer.

[besheba]

@besheba The problem with his chronically being off by 1, 2, (or 10 as the case may be) was that he truly began to believe he stunk and stopped trying. When I found a way that worked for him, he got better and felt more motivated. I just received his report card. On effort, he scored a 4 (exceeds standards). On "scores indicate a good grasp of concepts and skills" a 2+ (partially meets) and in "able to apply math in diff. contexts" also a 2+. It's more about passing a test now sadly.

[unwoundreamr]

Thanks for your knowledge & keeping it free!

[skin1879]

Thanks for the lesson James. I appreciate that there are guys like you out there that break down songs for us beginners. Very helpful.

[freespirit189]

beautiful and very helpful! thanks

[Tigersharkmma]

thanks for this video. you really nailed the strum.

great stuff

[flowerlegs]

this video is amazing, thankyou so much!

[utahprof]

Now, let me start by saying that I LOVE Neil Young and have for years but thanks for working through this and validating the "weirdness/brilliance" of his chord selection.

[jamesblackburnlynch]

I think the only validation needed is what Neil produced. I think (and suspect you do too) that it doesn't matter what the theory is or what the chords are named...the only thing that matters is what is made of them.

[utahprof]

Absolutely - as i was forming those chords and strumming them last night i wondered how he had created that progression - by feel or by theory or by a combination of both- his subtle genius is very humbling. On the surface, it is great music, but when you unwrap it (thanks again for that) the depth becomes readily apparent. I like your approach as opposed to the "now we transition to a Cadd9 root triad of the 5th key ... - i wish you were out in Utah - I'd take some sit down lessons from you!

[sonofthesea]

Bravo - great lesson :)

[ohnapier]

Hey this is soo cool as I have been playing those strange cords all my life as I play by sound and don't know a line of music. I love Neil Young also. Thanks OH

[Keviiin100]

any one know where i can get tabs of the chords?

[thedoorsrock6771]

big help thanks

[TheCheesecake101]

do you think you could do another lesson with the actual notes? even though i'm a beginner, somehow i feel it would be easier.

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Do you mean the notes? Or the chords? I do detail the names of the chords in the notes in the second part of this video.

Or do you actually mean the notes? I do quickly mention that the notes in the beggining D-like chords are C then B then B flat. Which others are you interested in?

[Russells92]

wut

[jamesblackburnlynch]

ut ut!

[StrumTheStrings]

Thanks,

"This thing, then this thing, with your finger here, and then this."

Good lesson.

[OliElJau]

Thank you very much. Perfectly explained. clear and clean ! From Granada. Spain.

[ZELPHOR]

Thanks

[imjburks]

yo man this is the best lesson on here, hands down.

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Thanks! Glad it worked for you.

[scullpolisher]

thanks that was great:)

[dominicjd]

I love your laid back teaching style, keep up the good work. I am new to steel string acoustic...

[scrotus13]

Nice man. I liked everything except its hard to see you play the chords( zoom in on the frets).

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Yeah, I certainly understand. But it's just me and the camera. I don't have the video software (or the mad skills) it takes to reshoot and edit and combine like that and get all the timing right. I could move my hand to the camera when I have a particular chord, but again, I can't really see what the camera is seeing. I don't use a webcam for these longer videos.

[Tranthum]

You may want to check out the video before you post it. It also helps if you played the song right

[benenock]

you're a bellend tranthum

[MONYMONY72]

agreed.

[Lindsay1000]

You're a dick mate

[Hitrate]

good job

[Rigbyband]

Great Vids!

[LtStroganoff]

great lesson James, thanks!

[kyach1108]

Thanks for your instructions dude. Nobody else explains the strumming patterns for us late blummers!

[mtdd2167]

thanks very much james , makin sense at last

[vrslil]

Thankyou so much for posting this. I'm no expert but have picked this up in about half an hour and practiced since. You made it look and feel very easy. Keep up the good work, I shall be looking for more of your tutorials

[jamesblackburnlynch]

I'm happy to hear it helped.

[tjefferson10]

Thanks for the effort man--this is a great lesson. Been learning and enjoying your videos a lot.

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Cool. Glad to help.

[Spitfireseven]

You have just the right personality for helping someone. Thanks for posting this.

[Spitfireseven]

Your doing a great job of teaching this! Skipping the non Essentials

[antipete]

oh and Richard... I use to think like that also but to be a good sound musician your going to know how to read and write music as well as know your root chords and such so take a few classes, you have a great future if you can play already without them! Other than some shmuck that plays a "harp", never do that richard its like a metal dick with spit on it.

[bluzharpin20]

Nice lesson dude. But I hope the dark circles under your eyes are from staying up late learning this song. No reason to jump on the "horse" to prove your point. Be safe, and stay off the China White, cuz I suspect the latter. Sheeesh...

[jamesblackburnlynch]

You must be messing with me. As is clear from one look at me, I've never even seen heroin in real life. I'm a bit too straight-laced middle class for that.

I did see crack once. I was on a jury and there was some crack put into evidence. We all wanted to see it. It was pretty nasty looking stuff. It looked like yellow snow, but not the kind you could make into a snowball. The useless kind.

[bluzharpin20]

Just kidding bro. Bad joke. I enjoyed your tutorial. Keep posting!

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Dude! It's mine that must have been not funny at all. I thought yours was funny. I always jump at the chance to talk about crack, so I forced it here. And truth be told, yep I'm a junkie.

[antipete]

I AM an ex-junkie, and guess what? So freakin what........ what was funny about the comment tho was bluzharpin20 is a child, in fact I am suprised your mommy let you stay up this late or did you sneak out of bed? What would you know about china white other than what you read about it you adolescent!

great tutorial and method James.

[bluzharpin20]

antepete, it WAS childish of me and I apologized to james on the above post, moron! You need to read other's posts before you bark, little pup. You don't know of what you speak when you assume who I am. Hey james, took me about 3 months, but I can just about do it. thanks man.

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Well, that's great! Any chance you might post your version?

[Tucker22bbp1]

Well done. I looked at the tab and I was just depressed until I found this.

[RhetoricCamel]

Great tutorial thanks a lot I appreciate it the tabs and chords online were confusing me, you made it easy to learn.

[richardd2063]

Finally...someone who can teach music and not note pedantics, thanks man you made me realise that i`m not a retard but just someone who cares more about sound than naming chords, you speak clear to me  thanks

[jamesblackburnlynch]

You thought you were a retard because you don't know the name of some chords? You could learn them if you wanted to. Just a bit of memorization. But if there's not point, why bother?

[richardd2063]

Yea, what i meant was, lots of people seem quite hung up on the theory and finer points and sometimes even seem to relish expounding deep and complicated theory just to perhaps elevate themselves but of coarse the chords themselves are only as difficult as your fingers and mind will allow, but learning a riff or tune from someone neednt be long winded...

[jamesblackburnlynch]

I do understand. Different approaches work for different people. Naming chords doesn't interest me much, but I do like music theory. Just because it's fun to learn.

I think you're the first person who suggested I'm not long-winded.

[hoodmike69]

thanks for the lesson man it was a good one !

[TrevorTolt08]

Well I will probably just leave it out, but I would like to try it out, do you know where I could find how to learn it?

[TrevorTolt08]

This was really good, great work mate. I was just wondering, I was watching the best of the Johnny Cash Show that I have on DVD, and Neil plays this song... There is a slide in there somewhere. Do you just leave it out in the lessons?

[jamesblackburnlynch]

I did. There are two versions of this song that are played normally. I decided to do the one without the slide, though having watched others cover it, I choose the atypical one. The version I patterned myself after (which is no longer available on youtube) did not include the slide.

I think I did mention it in the video, but I don't really remember any more. It's actually quite easy and can be quickly learned.

[puma3476]

GREAT lesson. can you do neil youngs old man??

[s810ist]

Very good lesson. I worked on it this past weekend, and with your help I am on my way to playing this song. Thank you.

[MSimp2k6]

Excellent stuff.  Thank you.

[chillaaaaah]

thank you verry much

love his work

you rock!!!

[Freebird51993]

dude thanks so much i know all of his famous songs but this is one of my favorite and i couldnt figure out like the last 3 chords thanks alot bro

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Sure. My pleasure.  Really, it is. Like your username. I should have made mine SkyDog1967.

[MPabs]

THANKS! I couldn´t really understand the tabs on internet but with you it´s easy! KEEP IT UP!

[cremington10]

Teaching is a whole separate skill and you have it ...I wish I had you 20 years ago as an intructor

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Thanks. It is my profession (though I actually teach math, not music).

[BongFuFighter]

please come to my school, we could do a jam session during math!

[Cubansanta]

Just thought I'd let you know that I have been struggling with this song trying to read tabs, but after I watched your video it really helped me out, Thanks!

[jamesblackburnlynch]

You are welcome.

[understood123]

this is a very good video, hah, Neil Y sure was a genius.

[somnambulistyes]

very good. its helpful for me that you pay attention to the feeling thats needed and the 'off' chords because those are a few things that come more naturally for me. nonetheless I will have to watch these maybe 100 times to get it all, but maybe not, this is new for me....will you consider putting on MY MY HEY HEY by neil young if you dont already have it on? Id love to learn the intro on that (plus chords) that reoccurs thruout the song. THANKS!

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Odd that you mention that...it's up.  I just put that lesson up a week ago.

[paparazzi323]

THANKS:)

[Quamapi]

Wonderful teacher! Just got a banjo and wished I had such an accessible kind teacher to show me the way! Thanks for posting this!

[jamesblackburnlynch]

What style do you want to learn? Clawhammer or three-finger (Scruggs) style?

[rustnevrsleeps]

wow, been playing that song for awhile, but the first couple minutes of your video opened my eyes a little bit, thanks.

[radcam69]

loser.

[jamesblackburnlynch]

You are. (Say with Boston accent.)

[ChrisMcann182]

thanks this help a lot well detailed

[jonelliott1976]

You guys need to get a job and quit butchering Neil Young songs...seriously...it aint cool

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Can't speak for everyone, but I have a job.

And I disagree with your foolish concept of music. And I'll bet Neil Young does too.

[microtechg7]

I appreciate the good work. Ignore this retard.

[badassfrontier]

Screw you jonelliot...I have a job as well and when Im home I like learning these songs that people like james offers.

[garyp27]

u have a good way of explaining chords its awsome to watch and learn thanks...

[tourkid]

I HAVE seen the needle and the damage done...RIP Dustin Smith...miss you bro.

[HabeasCorpus420]

is it just more or does the way he shows us the chords sound alot like Dennis Learys song Im an asshole?

[Henriquetavares]

It´s Wrong !!!

Some note does not exist in this music !

[SpoTMobil]

Your video made travel around the world. I live in paris and thank you because now i can play this song. Thank you very much !

Rebecca -Spotmibil-

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Pleased to be of help. Youtube really is amazing. The international piece is probably the best part. I hope it helps as much as it seems it could, instead of being mostly detrimental.

[DocVader]

D, Dsus2, Dsus2/C, G/B, Gm/Bb, C, C6, Fsus4, F, Fsus2, Esus4, E.

for those that wanna/should know what they're playing...

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Thanks. I did put that in the "About the Video" in the second part.

[richardd2063]

very cool instruction, and enjoyable to watch, well done nice to know people who arent gettin paid for stuff still care..you rock

richard

[GUILLOTINEinc]

dude you're a freakin genius

[deehs]

Thank you so much. I learned the notes and chord strumming by experimenting.... but listening to you do it, it all finally came home ... I like the way you do it better XOXOXOXO

[ecumsecumjanet]

O wow--thank you so much--you're first guitar teacher I've known who is able to comprehend creative laziness---hehe---and appreciate it's often amazing beauty... [hehe]

[sargentD808]

awesome, period

[bob37307]

Thanks for going into so much detail about things some fly by, assuming it's all obvious. Great job.

[chip4949]

James thanks a bunch for taking us all through this. You are a great instructor, but it is your attitude with your instruction that makes (you) legendary. Again thanks for reaching out.

[thegreatgwin]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Real clear! Many thanks!!!

[dhaffner101]

I love your attitude about interpreting someone's elses song, sometimes if you get caught up in the details you miss the feel of the song, excellent instruction!

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Thanks. I do think that's an important thought. Especially with someone like Neil Young who plays it differently all the time and yet it still feels the same. Just try to get the core song at first.

[6strngplayer]

Wow you are a great teacher im so glad i found this video

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Thanks.  Glad I could help.

[Sravandrabellagola]

You're a natural teacher dude! LOL

[out2oftunes0]

Great instruction...looked at the rest or your stuff too...you break it down. Thanks! Kevin

[jonahsimon]

thanks a lot. You are a natural teacher, look forward to more of your lessons. Great.

[DAY2BUSY]

How about 'Don't Let It Bring You Down' can you post a video of this ..thanks....

[grunjiyt]

Excellent thank you for posting this, it has revitalised my interest in guitar. Very good teaching, methodical and broken down into easy steps. Cant believe some people will actually criticise you when you post these things in your own time and for free. More power to you

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Nature of youtube. Accepted. Glad this helped.

[Winston523]

good lesson. can you post "no more" by neil young"?thanks.

[fcolbert666]

umm sorry to be a jerk but you should take lessons before you give lessons, then after you have taken lessons to learn guitar you shouldn't try and explain Neil Young music cuz it is from the heart and has nothing to do with theory, thanks for your time

[jamesblackburnlynch]

As you can see from comments above, whether or not Neil's music is from the heart, people want to learn to do their own version. If you look around on youtube you can see hundreds of versions are out there. As I say in the videos, all the weird chords in this song are there because they sound good and are easy. Theory has nothing to do with it. People just want to express themselves with songs they like. Sorry if you feel that they shouldn't be able to.

[jamesblackburnlynch]

It's basically all on the G string from there. After that open G, fret at the second fret for the A, then on the third fret for the Bflat (though this is where you are also playing the D string on the third fret to get the F--this is that F chord shape) then go back to the A (2nd fret), back to the open G, back to the A, and then to the Esus2 chord. Hope that helps.

[jamesblackburnlynch]

I'd be more than happy to clarify anything you need clarified. Which ones are you wondering about?

[HilynChan]

nice. it would be very useful if you sing as well

[jamesblackburnlynch]

Please try the link I have given in the video description to see Neil Young sing it. I've tried to play it just like he does in this version.

[wburnlynch]

I have now posted a version of the whole song with me singing, for what it is worth. It's really not good.

[ec12087]

Nice!