How to Play Alice's Restaurant

[maquaglieri]

LOL I think I had an easier time learning Dust in the Wind and Blackbird than the infamous Alices Restaraunt... Good Show, hope this will help me out for 2moro...

Happy Gobble gobble...

[1451george]

hello! y'all hillbilly!! :) how long have you been playing guitar?

[thenoodlesarelumpy]

You sir are a gentleman!

[bocephus510]

it's better with a turkey in the oven and a punkin pie on the ready!!!

[RedneckCasanova]

@bocephus510 Heheh...I HEAR ya!

Thanks for watching!

[Wats4Crick]

Love it Redneck - but I don't think the tab that's showing is what you're playing. The tab is showing a '3' on the sixth string when you're playing the '4' on the second string (the D sharp) - but you're not hitting the sixth string with your thumb at that point. You're hitting the fifth string at that point. Thanks for tutorial.

[RedneckCasanova]

@Wats4Crick There's a definite chance I may have some mistakes in the tab since I did it in a very round-about way (you might even say bass-ackwards) using PowerPoint and PhotoShop before incorporating the resulting pics into the video, so something could have easily gone astray. Sorry 'bout that...and thanks for watching and commenting!

[TonyTheDriver100]

I have trouble picking my nose let alone finger-picking. PLUS, I play a 12 sting so I'm doubly handicapped.

To overcome this, I've de-tuned a whole tone and use a capo on two, plus I use a flat-pick ... et voila!

For an arthritic old fart I've managed a passable alternative. All I have to do now is remember the words which is another challenge as I can hardly remember my own name some days. Still, if I keep taking the medicine and stuff I should be OK...

Now, where was I?

[JerryWE]

Is there a version of this with a capo on the guitar like in the video of Arlo Guthrie singing Alice's Restaurant? Or did you transpose it ?

[RedneckCasanova]

@JerryWE This version is basically the way Arlo plays it, just without the capo. The fingerings are the same and putting the capo on 2 actually makes some of the reaches easier.

[collosimon]

Great Video! You are awesome!

[collosimon]

Great Video! You are awesome!

[brady2346]

ur great.......... dont let anyone tell u different...

[RedneckCasanova]

@brady2346 Thanks so much...so far nobody who matters HAS! ;-)

[bobninethirtythree]

Many, many thanks. I've been trying to learn this for years, and tahks to you I think I'll make it.

[AKCornelius]

Thank you so much! I had been struggling to find good tab for this for awhile, and was making no progress on the song. Within an hour of having your tab and video, I had it down. Great video!

[RedneckCasanova]

@AKCornelius Thank YOU so much for watching and commenting! Glad you're making progress!

[stmarysks]

thx for responding I always wanted to learn this song but I still don't get 5th note are u sure its open G instead of open high E seems like this is all my problems

[stmarysks]

thx but are you sure the 5th note is 0 on the 3rd fret? note sounds more like an E on open 1st string thx again I always wanted to learn ths song

[stmarysks]

I just can't get it after the 1st 4 notes 0 on 3rd and 4 on 2nd doesn't sound the same thats as far as i can go

[RedneckCasanova]

@stmarysks Learn all the chords in the song first then practice an alternating-bass/chord fingerstyle shuffle. You can't learn this note-at-a time from tabs unless you're a different kind of OCD than I've ever encountered! All the in-between stuff gives it character, but it's still basically a 6-chord ragtime.

Bottom line...don't try to do it all at once!

[philipglaser]

Many thanks to you for this! We need more people like you in the world!

Philip

[RedneckCasanova]

@philipglaser Thank you SO much Philip! You're too kind!

[parkergmatas]

wow this is great. thanks for posting this

[RedneckCasanova]

@parkergmatas It's sorta my 'scaled-back for the front-porch version'! I've heard from others that it's not 100% Arlo...but then again I'm not either!

Thanks for watching!

[scody311]

awesome... thanks!



[RedneckCasanova]

@scody311 You're most welcome!

[1451george]

soz didnt meen to rght htt twice

[1451george]

cheers m8 this helped loads i can show my dad now......

[1451george]

cheers m8 i can show my dad now hell be jelous as.......

[Rtc36]

Is that a Washburn?

[RedneckCasanova]

@Rtc36 Nope, it's a Gibson J45, but I do have a Washburn copy of an old Gibson archtop that's truly sweet! The neck's a bit narrower than I like, but jazz guitars are like that! Thanks for watching!

[DeaDSilenT03]

the link for the tabs doesnt work... thanks a lot for the video btw. :]

[RedneckCasanova]

@DeaDSilenT03 I checked the link and the tab's still there. Depending you your browser you might want to copy/paste the link instead of directly clicking on it. I can't vouch for the lyrics since that's not my site, but I just checked it and it works fine.

[docsavage98]

almost makes it worth sittin on the Group W bench!

[RedneckCasanova]

Yep...ALMOST!

Thanks for watching!

[Maerchenela]

cool - I love this song since nearly 30 Jears  thank´s for this very good tutorial

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks very much!

[jimbo9580]

thanks for posting the lesson....all i have to do now is practise..........and then some!!!

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks so much! Just gotta keep on keepin' on!

Thanks for watching!

[evil911666]

this is great BUT! capo @ 2ed fret :O trust me thats the way he plays it (this is good though :D)

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks! Yeah, I figured that out...sounds better and a little easier to play with the capo!

Thanks for watching!

[willzyx12]

ahhh its so hard to play D:

[RedneckCasanova]

Just keep at it. Base what you do around the chord-shapes...it helps a lot!

Thanks for watching!

[clorrainet]

Oh Boy man thank you so much..u went out of way to do just this. I actually played of here on what u taught but then got a bit confused. This helps soooo much. tahnks man..

[RedneckCasanova]

You're very welcome!

[ujayboydog]

i can't play any instrument yet i estimate there are 18 notes in the riff. just learn the notes forget casanova's suggestion of strumming chords. good video. thumbs up!

[mrbdb64]

Why does that look complex to me..........maybe because iam just new to guitar playing....hope i can play this some day

[RedneckCasanova]

My suggestion would be to focus on learning the chords by themselves just in a simple strum pattern and then work on adding the bass notes. The melodic notes are all accessible from the standard chord shapes by raising or lowering fingers, so if you get the bass/chord pattern down you'll be off to a good start. Hope this helps!

[TonyTheDriver100]

I've only been playing my box for 40 years; maybe in another 40 years...

Love this tutorial.

[RedneckCasanova]

Just remember everything falls pretty much around conventional 1st-position chords that stay in place and you'll be fine! I also have a link to a more useful version of the tab in the description of this video so check it out if you get a chance.

Thanks so much for watching and commenting!

[sassyangelsshow]

and by the way it sounds GREAT :]

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks so much! Sounds better and truer to the original with the guitar capo'd on 2, but that's really a fussy detail I think!  It's easier for me to sing in regular tuning. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!

[sassyangelsshow]

Haha I Love this song me and my grandfather listen to the whole song like a million times and never get tired of it...

[RedneckCasanova]

Yeah, I've got similarly fond family memories of this song. My dad and I used to make a trip by the dump every Thanksgiving Day just to make sure it was REALLY closed...never got arrested though!

[sathomaso]

damn, that's a really nice tutorial!

also thanks for the tabs, they look a lot more different than the ones i already have, BUT therefor a lot closer to how arlo guthrie himself plays the song! thanks!

[RedneckCasanova]

You're most welcome! I've been told it's not 100% accurate, but hey it sounds pretty durn close to me! Putting the capo on 2 makes it sound even closer.

Thanks again!

[jkfozl]

yeah, and besides, this is music, not painting or architecture, if it sounds good...its 100% perfect :)

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks so much!

But every form of music has always had this tension between literal copies of a specific performance and faithful interpretations of a composition. But all the same you probably don't want me to design a house for ya! ;-)

[jkfozl]

hey i have been trying this out lately, and i'm kinda confused, im perdy sure its cuz im not able to play it up to speed but for some reason it just sounds off, but idk

[RedneckCasanova]

My suggestion would be to get used to strumming JUST the chords as they happen in the song, then do the same thing but play the bass notes as well. Get that bass line down to the point that you can play it on 'autopilot' and THEN try to work in the melodic licks a couple of notes at a time. You could start with the melodic licks first, but good bass/chord technique is the most important part of getting the feel of ragtime fingerstyle technique. Hope this helps!

[umajunkcollector]

WAY KEWL!

I gotta watch that movie, have not seen it in a long time!

FATHER RAPERS!

I WANNA KILL! I WANNA KILL!

[RedneckCasanova]

Definitely a fun flick! Thanks for reminding me...I haven't watched it in a while myself.

Thanks for watching!

[nagchampafreak]

wow my grandmother is gonna flip when i play this for her. lol this is awesum thanks!!

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks so much!

[saltyxx99]

thanks :) helped me very much

[RedneckCasanova]

No problem! Glad it helped! And thanks for watching!

[Chameleonbreeder]

Hi Redneck, I just CANNOT make out the Guitar TABS on the screen even on a super new monitor in HQ mode.

Maybe it is because I am so far away in the UK.

Is there any chance you could publish them somewhere separately or email them to me ?

Kind Regards,

Peter

[RedneckCasanova]

Up in the video details section I just put a link to an image that I hope will be easier to make out. Thanks for the suggestion!

Matt

[theycallmeju]

Thanks so much for posting!

[RedneckCasanova]

My pleasure! It may or may not be 'technically correct' but then anybody who uses words like that to describe folk music needs to find a different pasttime! ;-)

Thanks so much for watching!

[dmeckle]

the reason i ask was yesterday was woody's bday...i work in a nursing home and we print this "today is history" and it showed woodys bday and said that this was one of the songs that he was well known for. i was kinda like really.

[RedneckCasanova]

Yeah, I kinda doubt this is one of Woody's...I mean it's about avoiding the draft during the Vietnam War with references much more in line with Arlo's generation and the times it was written in. The tune could've been taken from a Woody song or from an old ragtime standard by someone else that Woody played, but the lyrics I'm pretty sure are totally Arlo.

It's interesting to think of though, folk music being a highly recyclable and renewable resource and all!

Thanks again for watching!

[dmeckle]

i agree. thanks for posting

[dmeckle]

isn't it a woody song? not arlo?

[RedneckCasanova]

I know Arlo did a number of Woody songs in his set, but I don't think this is one of them. I could be wrong though...wouldn't be the first time!

Thanks for watching!

[jdogs333]

great job teaching it. Love the sound of your guitar. To me this song is one of the classic songs of the 60" and I never tire listening to it.

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks so much! It never gets old for me either...in fact, my dad and I used to take an honorary load of garbage to the dump every year on Thanksgiving just to celebrate!

'Course it was never open!

Dad's cousin is the one who taught me my first chords as well as this song, eventually. So it's definitely a family thing, whether I play it exactly right or not! Thanks again!

Matt

[person15575129]

nice job. I don't mean to be insulting but this song and songs like it would probably be a lot easier if you used the thumb to play even quarter notes (there is a quarter note bassline through the whole thing) instead of sometimes using the pointer finger to play the bassline when it reaches up to the d string. just trying to help, it sounds good either way.

[RedneckCasanova]

Nothing at ALL insulting about sharing different approaches! I just personally never got the hang of playing ragtime with a quick thumb-bass because it feels disruptive rhythmically to the sense of the music that's very left/right piano oriented like stride piano. I could be wrong and probably AM...no sweat!

Thanks for watching so closely.

That's truly an honor...and I'm not being in the least sarcastic! THANK YOU!

[person15575129]

That's when its most helpful! Once the thumb is given a completely even rhythm to play, it becomes more and more like its on auto-pilot. It very clearly separates bass from melody, because generally whether you use a thumb pick or not, the timbre of the thumb and fingers differ slightly. It also allows melodies to have more fingers available to them. The thumb does gain more area to cover, but its not uncommon for the two parts to overlap on what strings they use. Anyway, keep up the good work!

[RedneckCasanova]

I think you're right...thinking of it in a ragtime piano sense, that's exactly what the left hand does on piano. It bounces from root basses to fifth and octave bases and higher bass runs sometimes mingling into what the right hand is doing, so the same thing can be said of thumb-picking on guitar. My tendency is to use fingers as low as the D string when it's convenient to do so, and so it's good to think of other approaches! Thanks so much for making me think!

Matt

[lauwren]

Heej this is really helpfull, i used to have such a hard time and i think i finaly got it. thnx allot

Now i just have to learn the lyrics, but thats the easy part :)

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks so much! This is how I learned it from my dad's older cousin, and I'm sure people can find fault with it, but it sounds basically right (capo on 2 improves it a bit) but that's what you strive for in folk music!

Sound good...FEEL good...and anybody striving for note-by-note accuracy has no business messing with folk music!

[CRUDEFINDER]

Arlo plays it with a capo-Godd job tho RC

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks a bunch! Someone suggested I try it capo'd on 2 and it makes it sound not only more like the original but makes it just a tad easier to play the reaches!

Thanks for watching!

[AVBlocker]

hey to let u know this versoin SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ur leving out all the little pits and parts that make the song great as it is

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks for watching.

[jessupar]

does he look like arlo guthrie? i didnt think so! if you want a better lesson go listen to the original and try learnign something for yourself. i would like to see you play it flawlessly.

on the other side of things... "RedneckCasanova", your out of tune, and it didnt sound quite right in the last 3 chords... but its stiill worth while to find out the chords.

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks for the input...I'll take it all however it comes, and yours is nicer and more to the point than most!

I appreciate every bit of it! You never learn as much about something as you do when you try to teach it!

Thanks again, and thanks for watching!

[deepnavel]

Put yer capo on the 2nd fret and its purty spot on, ding dang doo Sir Casernover!

[RedneckCasanova]

Hey I'll try that...It'll make the reaches easier to nail for sure!

Thanks!

[Belzanazza]

it sounds good but its not right.

[RedneckCasanova]

You may be right. I've always played it this way though.

Thanks for watching!

[martynbiker]

Hey Dude. its close enough ! Maybe YOU would like to post YOUR version so we can rip you apart and pick fault huh?

[Musikman511]

I'll check it out. Thanks for the post.

[Musikman511]

Great Job... don't listen to the riff-raff. It's a difficult song to master unless you have that fingerstyle mindset. Keep em coming!

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks! Well, the technique I guess is what makes the song difficult for a lot of people...but once you have THAT down then the rest is easy. I feel equally envious of guitar players who can use a pick which is one technique I've never been able to master! I just did a follow-up to this with a few more hints and more legible tabs if you want to check it out.

Thanks for watching!

[ghahandi]

I have yet to learn how to read the tags. Any links? Thanks...........Chas

[RedneckCasanova]

I just checked...and BOY there are tabs everywhere for this song and they're all GARBAGE! Well, I can't say they ALL are...just what I found. Even the ones that are close miss the point that the song is basically all 1st position chords! My version isn't perfect, but I had no IDEA how little good info there is on it! I'll try to do something about it...stay tuned, and thanks for watching and commenting!

Meanwhile, if you watch my vid on high quality it might be easier to see tabs.

[ghahandi]

A note. Joady, Arlos little brother showed me this riff about 28 years ago. Joady is still around here in the bay area, I may look him up and see if OI can't get him to tutor me on this rag. Again thanks for posting.

[RedneckCasanova]

I'll try to post a follow-up to this one in which the tabs were kind of an afterthought and make them bigger and more legible. Meanwhile, I think you can try watching this video on high-quality and enlarging the picture which could help some.

[ghahandi]

This is a song. "Bernie" It's called walking blues. It ain't easy. I'd like to see you do it. Thanks for posting Redneck. It's a little too quick for me to follow... at the moment anyway, but I will revisit many times, because I love the song and would feel it a great accomplishment to learn it.

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks for the suggestion...I'll definitely check it out.

[BerndUR]

i don't even consider this "song" music . one of the absolute worst "songs" ever and it's way way too long . a million times over and over . bad news .

[RedneckCasanova]

Guess it's not for everybody.

Thanks for watching.

[kenmabie]

well i dont even remeber anyone asking you what you think and accually if you dont like it then why the hell are you posting on a how to play video of it you fucking moron

[Ryeskii]

i'd love to hear what you call music.

[Ryeskii]

by the way that was a reply to BerndUR who was being negative.

[luke8250]

Well i dont play,and i always wanted to, i just wish we had youtube and you in the old days. Still, i suppose we didnt have all the hangups and distractions you people have today, so lets call it even. thanx 4 the vid.

[RedneckCasanova]

It's never too late OR too early to bring music into your life...Yeah, hangups and distractions can be a burden for a lot of folks, but once again I've found that music helps!

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[Rollinestilo]

ok so you definitely play the best version of this song i've heard as a cover but i've been trying to learn this for hours with no luck. i have no idea what your playing because i can't see both hands at the same time. any tips or pointers?

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks!

Well, first check if there's a high-quality version of this video...I think there is and that'll make the tabs a little clearer. Then pause it over each section of tab. From there as long as you remember to use your thumb for basses and for the most part either full or partial ring/middle/index descending arpeggio patterns starting at either the E or B strings you'll be off to a good start.

Hope this helps, and thanks for watching!

[Rollinestilo]

thanx man, it took quite a while but im well on my way to joining in on the thanx-giving musical fun. just workin on that third group of measures

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks right back at ya! I'll help any way I can...just let me know where you're having trouble.

Take care, and thanks for watching!

Matt

[efay420]

great lesson! hey if by any change you know or what the learn "faro's rag" but john renbourn for a lesson that would great

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks for the suggestion and thanks for watching!

[RedneckCasanova]

Check out the version done by guitback2 here on YouTube. It's a performance and not a tutorial, but it's well played and well filmed.

[tazzarman]

Thanks for the lesson man.

[RedneckCasanova]

You're very welcome!

Thanks for watching.

[pippofilippo1]

Great lesson redneck!

I play this song over the last 30 years and now I know a bunch of littlebig mistakes of mine!

Thanks for share it (the song, not the mistakes...)

[glencram]

Great job on this tutorial. Definitely one of the best I have seen on YouTube for any song.

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks SO much! That means a lot to me! I'd like to do more tutorials like this because they're fun to do and a lot of folks seem to like them. Any requests? :-)

Thanks again!

[joybuzzer]

Redneck, this is a great tutorial.

I've been wanting to learn this song for about 10 years, and never got around to pickin it up.

With this video, I really dont have an excuse.

Thanks a lot.

[RedneckCasanova]

Aww thanks! Good luck with it! The great thing about learning this guitar part is that nearly all of it applies in some way to other songs with any kind of ragtime feel or picking style in this key or closely related keys. The trickiest part I think is getting your thumb to 'think' independently from your fingers (like L and R hands on piano) which can be hard to start out but once you 'get it' it seems so simple you'll wonder why it ever seemed hard!

Thanks for watching!

[tbs78]

great tutor. would you send me the tabs i can't see them on the screen

[RedneckCasanova]

Nice try! I don't think I can spell it out much better than I just did! ...I played it for ya and provided tabs...I don't think I can do much more than that.

Best of luck, buddy!

[joybuzzer]

Did you bother to click "watch in high quality" and view in full screen?

[zorky101]

lol, its a fun and funny song, its good, but the acctual time of the song its really 18 minutes, and im pretty sure thats correct

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks! Yeah, I knew it was more like that...after all it fit on one side of an LP!

Thanks for watching!

[HiddenFromView]

That was pretty..I really enjoyed watching the first and the last part of the video.. LOL, My evil sister is here today and I'm making her behave...

It's a hard thing to do some days..

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks! Keep an eye on that evil sister of yours!

[justpassnthru]

Always one of my favorites! I listen to it every Thanksgiving!!! :^)

Amazing how such a "simple" song has so many intricacies. Very nicely done, Matt!

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks! It's one of my favorites too!

[flutterbies77]

ugh! i can't do it! *hangs* head in shame

[RedneckCasanova]

Sure you can! I KNOW you can! ;-)

[flutterbies77]

Look, Im like the little engine that could. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!

Ohh, uhh grr, no, no I can't. LOL

[RedneckCasanova]

Yes you CAN!!! Yes you CAN!

[DawndeeDALLAS]

That was great Matt but all I can play is "Guitar Hero"...hehe

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks! HEY, don't you have a VIDEO to work on?! ;-)

[OhCurt]

I have no idea how to play guitar, but I like this tune and I like the way you play it.

:-)

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks!

[WaltonThomas66]

I like the song, but there is no way I could play it. I am in no way musically inclined. I admire the talent in those of you that are.

[RedneckCasanova]

Aw c'mon...you can do it!

Thanks! M

[DAVIDDAMIENR]

By the way, while I'm here I like mine:

Over easy with sides of Bacon and Ham, Home Fries, Toast with Grape Jelly and a bottomless cup of Coffee with Cream and Sugar.

David

on the side

[RedneckCasanova]

Sounds good...you SURE you're not from the South? ;-)

[DoggBisket]

By the way I fave'd it too.

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks a bunch!

[DoggBisket]

Thanks for the lesson RC!!. You did a great job showing the right an left hand stuff, and slowing it down so us mere mortals can see it clearly. I'm so gonna learn this one.

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks DB! The basic licks here can be applied in one way or another to a lot of other songs in this key so the technique's more versatile than just playing this song. Off the top of my head I think I've used this approach to play 'Don't Think Twice It's All Right', 'The Charleston', and half the Leon Redbone catalogue!

[Cameragirl803]

Boy that sounds so pretty! I wish I could play like that! Nice learning videe Matt! 5*****

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks Jane! Y'know there's a whole world of ragtime-style finger picking out there (and I don't claim to know but a dab of it) but the basic technique is pretty straightforward...if a little tricky at first because you sorta have to use your thumb and fingers independently like left/right hands on piano.

Maybe a subject for another video?

[DAVIDDAMIENR]

GREAT ONE

DDR

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks David! As has been pointed out though it isn't the central lick that's all that hard...it's the 20 minutes worth of lyrics!

[wizardeal]

Thats a mighty fine acoustic blues tune you just taught me, very excellent lesson, superb!

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks a bunch! It's a handy progression and set of licks that can be applied and modified to one extent or another to a number of different tunes in that key.

[JimmerSD]

Playing this song isn't the hard part. It's the 20 minutes worth of lyrics that are tough. Nice job

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks! Yeah, you're right on that...

SHHHHH!  ;-)

[angelboku1]

I think I got all that.. now where did I put my dang guitar?? =^.^=

[RedneckCasanova]

Ain't that the way of it?! ;-)

Just retrace your steps and I'm sure it'll turn up!

[rebalgirl247]

cool ;)

[RedneckCasanova]

Thank ya!

[Tobie2]

Very bitchin!!!!!

[RedneckCasanova]

Thanks!

Hope you had a great trip!