Like a Bird Without a Feather: RL Burnside How-To

[TheJimjimjames]

any possibility of doing a very quick lesson for that little song you did before bird without a feather? Looking for a beginner kinda thing :)

You sound amazing by the way!

[ashbillykidders]

you play it well but your explanation of fingering/tabs could use some work. i have no idea what the tuning is nor can i fully see the fingering...but great job on the history of it, that was nice.

[101luke79]

You should do Let My Baby Ride. Great tune. Great vid man. Keep it up. I'll try to learn it without a pick, although i don't know how t fingerpick yet. Maybe it's time to try.

[TheDeltaBluesAlarm]

Yeah!

[surrealIdeal]

i'm glad i'm not the only one who plays this music just with his fingers... Good lesson!

[RenegadeStudios01]

trying to tune to his bad (and wrong) instructions, i broke a string. fckn pissed right now.

[Druish000]

Ive watched this video quite a few times and still cant figure out the tuning....can you give me the tuning in open strings then i can put the capo on ..dont know written music at all so i just learn where to put my fingers...thanks a lot

[TheSwissGuy1]

Hell thx for the Tip with the Album... i really love it!

[theWeiselGenius]

ahh, im so confused. without the capo what would the tuning be for each string?

thanks

[OO9Lives]

Great philosophy for the guitar, man. I think people need to realise not knowing every note perfectly from tablature doesn't matter. Hell, i cant even remember half the stuff i learnt way back when and i just make it up as i go along now. Nice vid.

[shpongle1234]

man, i'm i the only one confused about the tuning? tune it to open D but one step down (C) and then capo 1st?

[JonnyGrave]

no need to worry about the key. as long as you have the open D finering, that's all that really matters.

[amitguitar96]

@JonnyGrave Can You me/ youtubers i guess how to play someday baby by RL Burnside?

[destinyrae17ily]

@JonnyGrave oh my, i love you..........r playing and singing ;)

[chynacatson]

I think you're one of the very rare people who truly understand the blues. I've grown up in the delta region hearing these great songs and guitar improvs and most young folks don't get it, it just sounds cool, but you gotta feel it...besides, a guitar's like a woman, you wanna stroke her with fingers, or a piece of plastic?

[delu5i0n]

the reason why real blue isnt played with a pick is because we could get one back in the day so we made it work with what we had and its just not in me to play with a pick i lose them all the time they get in my way .

[pablo9588]

I think thre are something wrong maybe the 6º string tune...

[elementbrds]

100% agree about the flat pick comment. I'm self taught, and I can remember when I first learned on my acoustic, practicing John Lee Hooker tunes over and over without a pick until it sounded good.

I think playing without a pick really let's blues guitar happen the way it's supposed to happen. People try to nitpick it as if the music is supposed to be flawlessly played, like classical guitar.

Personally, I believe those little imperfections are what make the blues feel truly genuine.

[erj215]

I disagree because BB King who is the King of the Blues always plays wit a pick never uses his fingers, in fact he only down picks because he never learned to alternate pick

[chynacatson]

@erj215 B.B. is electrified, whole different style, you're right about the pick when it comes to electric, but you gotta finger the acoustic...

[erj215]

Also those "old Blues guys" he refer to as only using their fingers is false the fact is they would use chicken bones to pick the gtr it just depends on what sound you want to reach

[Cthuhlu]

Love this song. Didn't hear it until I watched the movie Black Snake Moan. I have to disagree with mv2slash when he says it doesn't sound like the one in the movie. I'm trying to learn to play it, but it's taking some time as I'm a relative beginner at this.

[mv2slash2]

Dude, you play great, but I dont think that it sounds like in the movie...and btw, plz skip the "bar"-thingie so we noobs can play...

[huckaby40]

Hey man i was introduced to this movie a few days ago. Like the bird w/o a feather song started researching it. Found you and u have been great help. But in the movie it is played w/o a kapo and i think it is C# tuning (C# F# B E G# C#) Check it out... Thanks again

[FraJa1980]

This is great!! Thanks Jonny, i maneged to play the first part in like 20 seconds!! I think i'll try to wing the other phrases with the slide or something.

Thank you very much for posting and reacting so quik to my question Mr Graves, you sure do know your stuff!

Cheers from Holland!!!

[MSB76]

Great vid as always. I'm with ya on the flatpicks. But Joseph Spence? Did you mean Joe Callicott? I never heard either do "Black Maddie", but Callicott seems more likely. I'd love to a hear a Bahamian "Maddie" if there is one...

[j3ohnny]

i agree not using a pick sounds more authentic with early blues although i've been play w/a thgumbpick lately and most of the blues i play i end up muting the top 2strings sometimes 4th too really great vid brother...

[JonnyGrave]

heya, thanks so much! i use thumbpicks too, and metal fingerpicks when i play live. it's hard to get a nice loud sound when it's just your bare nails and fingers--especially if you're playing in a crowded bar.