How to play "I'll Be Around" by The Spinners for Guitar

[ndoroutlets]

This is what I like about YouTube. Great interpretation. Thanks brother. Sounds cool to steal the first chord from the three chord structure and improvise and draw out the the play on octives and then drop back into the structure starting on the G#m. (if that makes any sense) it makes for a nice 'mix it up'.

[FunknGrvn]

@ndoroutlets Thanks for checking it out man:)

[stans06]

Like to add my thanks. I was missing the 2nd Abmin in my interpretation but yours is right on.

[FunknGrvn]

@stans06 You're welcome thank you.

[HHSmarchingfalcons]

@scjoe7 most likely Norman Harris or bobby El its some videos on here about the Philly international records check them out. instrumentation was done by mfsb the house band at sigma sound studios for Philadelphia international records. But the spinners were singed to Atlantic so the musicians are not credited.

[FunknGrvn]

@HHSmarchingfalcons Thanks for the info man.

[XAzzuroX]

that would be cool if you could make tabs.

[FunknGrvn]

@XAzzuroX I'll look into bro.

[Rafe6200]

Jes awesome! apart from bein VERY FEW(almost none) guitar lessons on this, this is by far da best! Thnx 4 ur insight man

[FunknGrvn]

@Rafe6200 You're welcome thanks for checking it out.

[FunknGrvn]

@Rafe6200 No prob thanks man!

[fosterjazz]

That was really smooth my man... Thanks.

[FunknGrvn]

@fosterjazz Thanks man:)

[XAzzuroX]

i think thats really cool you found a way to play it on guitar. you got skill my man

[FunknGrvn]

@XAzzuroX Thanks bro!

[XAzzuroX]

dam guy i was hoping youd play it for us all together

[FunknGrvn]

@XAzzuroX lol sorry man just instuctional this time:)

[FunknGrvn]

No problem I understand up is down and down is up on the guitar wasn't even thinking about it.

[aaronspotlight]

Don't confuse my guitar students!!! You slid *down* to the second fret!! Just trying to help! :)

[FunknGrvn]

@aaronspotlight What would I do without you...

[aaronspotlight]

@FunknGrvn Things have a funny way of sounding sarcastic over the internet... Darn non-verbal communication... Genuinely just trying to help.

[FunknGrvn]

@aaronspotlight No problem I understand up is down and down is up on the guitar wasn't even thinking about it.

[quicknessstyle]

Great, bro! Can't wait to try it.

[nubirthgod]

Im just starting to play guitar and this is one of my goal songs to play... Nice video:)

[jammy5152]

Jonny Buckland was the lead guitarist for the Spinners...one of the best guitar songs ever !!!!!

[rusafety]

Great instructions!!! I was seeking all over the web; for how to play this song thanks Ruben from The Latin Waves Band

[FunknGrvn]

@rusafety You're welcome:)

[JMBELK]

GREAT....!!!!

[FunknGrvn]

@JMBELK Thank you:)

[soheyman]

dude! this is awesome. great tune, thanks big time.

[FunknGrvn]

@soheyman No problem:)

[scjoe7]

does anybody know who the name of the guitarist was on the Spinners "I'll Be Around" who originally played this hook ?

[mdstingray]

I am a bassplayer for 25 years and just started to pick up the guitar just because of this song.

It's still a mess when I play it, but I'll get there in time :-)

Thanks for sharing man.

[FunknGrvn]

@mdstingray No problem good luck:)

[mraymus]

Hey, I noticed your hat is Chaffee. Is that Chaffee College? Are you in the Inland Empire? If so, we should get together some time and jam.

[FunknGrvn]

@mraymus Hi, no sorry that's my last name it's also the the name of my company :)

[MrBuc128]

Yes I agree going from the B in the opening lick to the E maj 7 chord shape is difficult to get to in time .It doesn't sound bad but it does not sound as quick as in the recording.Another way to play this might be to play the octive 8 fret 3rd string [G] and 11th fret 1st[E] string this of course is an E flat note .Then from there go to the E maj 7 chord shape that you mentioned .Just a suggestion it might or might not help

[MrBuc128]

Thanks for teaching this.I will need to practice it a lot before I get it but at least I know how now thanks

[FunknGrvn]

@MrBuc128 Good luck!

[89wls]

If you want to know anything about post war (WWII) Blues, R&B, Soul and some rock, then you need to look up Billdahl.com. If your question sounds like this....who wrote this song, what label were they on, who sang lead, who were the musicians on that track, who played lead guitar, who did the original...then you must ask Bill Dahl. Oh, BTW he is the author of Motown: The Golden Years. And The Spinners were signed to Motown first so our host giving the lesson is half right.

[FunknGrvn]

@89wls Hey thanks for the info 89wls, these guys always reminded me of the motown era and as another poster pointed out the were once the "Detroit Spinners" so I'm glad to know i wasn't completely wrong Thanks.

[89wls]

@FunknGrvn No problem. "It's A Shame" was a hit for the Spinners on Motown in 1970. This was a pet project for Stevie Wonder. Berry Gordy gave Stevie the Spinners to work with so Stevie wrote the song, played almost all the instruments on the track and produced it. The problem was that Motown already had a 4 & 5 piece singing act (Temps & 4 Tops) so the Spinners just sat there until their release to Atlantic & Thom Bell :)

[testmepunk]

@89wls Thanks for this little lesson. I think this is a bit above my skill level right now (I can only really play those major chords) but I'm going to bookmark this and come back to it when I'm better. But it sounds just like the song. Great.

[FunknGrvn]

@testmepunk Sounds good let me know if you need any help with it.

[scjoe7]

who was the original guitarist who played this guitar lick for the Spinners on their recording ? i can't seem to find any where the name of him.

[FunknGrvn]

@scjoe7 Boy you got me on that one I assume it would have been a studio guy but I'm not sure.

[scjoe7]

@FunknGrvn still wish i could find out the name of the actual guy who played that KILLER lil hook.

[kbmfass]

they were called the detroit spinners

[FunknGrvn]

@kbmfass Thanks for the input man maybe that's were the whole motown connection in my brain came from:) I have been reminded repeatedly by people watching that they were from Philly...

[scjoe7]

@kbmfass i was under the impression they were called the Funk Brothers. i still wish i could find out the actual guitarists name.

[CHATARICK]

Great Teacher, Great Guitar sound... Keep up the good work!

[FunknGrvn]

@CHATARICK Thanks bro!

[Soullover212]

When are you going to post the song?

[FunknGrvn]

@Soullover212 What a cover version? I guess one of these days I need to get around to it:. I don't sing so it would only be the music anyway:)

[willdill]

hey i posted my piano cover as a respons check it out

[willdill]

omg man if only you could do this tutorial for piano i would be the happiest person in the world

[FunknGrvn]

@willdill Actually I have been working on a cover version and I did figure out the keyboard fingerings at least to the best of my knowledge. I may put a short vid together so you can check it out.

[willdill]

@FunknGrvn omg please do so..please please and there is also another person who posted a cover if you want to check it out..he plays it pretty well but i cant really see so its not helping me out plus im a beginner..but if you post a vid i SWEAR i will learn it perfectly then post a vid to prove it..i wanna learn it soooo badly..

[Poeta559]

THANKS BRO! I LOVE THIS SONG!

[FunknGrvn]

@Poeta559 No prob thanks for checking it out.

[ViktatheSlicksta]

great lesson mate!

[FunknGrvn]

@ViktatheSlicksta Thanks Slicksta;)

[blooze50]

Yeah I guess for the rest of the world Motown is the only Soultown around. Being a kid from Philly and knowing a lot of those TSOP musicians, to me, the Soultrain came from Sigma Sound and Philadelphia International. But thanks for the lesson. That song has always been a favorite.

[blooze50]

Thanks, this song has been rattling around in my head for days now. BTW, this isn't a Motown creation, it was written by Thom Bell, and recorded at Sigma Studios in Philadelphia for Atlantic Records. The beginning is actually a guitar, probably the work of T. J. Tindall.

[FunknGrvn]

@blooze50 Hey glad you liked it! Yes people point out all the time about the Philly thing I just used that as a generic term because it reminds me of the whole era I guess, and yes I know the beginning is a guitar lick the main riff is on a keyboard though I'm pretty sure. Thanks.

[rockolav]

hey man im in ireland ,u r class, my favour song....u hav great set up there thanx 4 this...

[FunknGrvn]

@rockolav Well thank you very much glad you liked it. One of these days I would love to visit Ireland.

[bushkini]

Great job/tutorial!..........Thanks for posting it!!

[FunknGrvn]

@bushkini Thanks bushkini!

[cv6644]

Outstanding! Thank you for teaching me something new of my fav song. Ur a gr8 teacher!!!

[cv6644]

Outstanding! I haven't taken a guitar lesson in over 35 yrs & You broke it down simply. You taught me something new about the music of this classic song(one of my all time favs) too. You made my heart smile sir!

Ty,

Shawn

[FunknGrvn]

@cv6644 Well very kind of you sir, thanks for checking it out:)

[toppofff]

THATS THE BEST TUTORIAL EVER FANTASTIC YOU ARE A GOOD TEACHER THANKS MAN

[FunknGrvn]

@toppofff Thanks glad you liked it.

[CodyCEngdahl]

Dude! Exactly what I was looking for. This is why I love youtube! Thank you, thank you thank you!

[FunknGrvn]

@CodyCEngdahl Same here bro! Hope it helped.

[CodyCEngdahl]

@FunknGrvn played in rehearsal tonight.

[marseillesdefrance]

Wow!!! amazing demonstration! wonderful!

[FunknGrvn]

@marseillesdefrance Thanks a lot:)

[jacquesdemealkeys]

great mann! you should consider doing a full cover

[FunknGrvn]

@jacquesdemealkeys Thanks man I love to play this song I may do just that.

[ghjtredsw]

exactly what I was looking for--thanks Funk

[FunknGrvn]

@ghjtredsw You got it! Thanks.

[aabatez]

You've done an excellent job at presenting this. I really appreciate your presentation of this cool song.  Keep up the good work!!!

[MrZofo]

Yep, just what I needed. Nice work!

[FunknGrvn]

@MrZofo Thanks brother.

[AutopsyReport22]

@FunknGrvn Hey Funk, I love this song too, but it's not a Motown song. It was done at Atlantic by the Spinners.

[FunknGrvn]

@AutopsyReport22 Yes you are right. I really just used "Motown" in the generic form for all that classic R&B because most people associate it with that era but you are correct and not the first to mention it:)

[AutopsyReport22]

@FunknGrvn This seems like trying to do calculus to me. It's amazing how they were able to create wonderful music like this back then w/what they were working with, less technology. Some Jamaican guy produced the song, he was amazing. It all seems quite amazing how they put it together.

[FunknGrvn]

@AutopsyReport22 Yes indeed!

[FunknGrvn]

@MrZofo Thanks!

[cedakota1]

Thanks, that's a classic.

[FunknGrvn]

@cedakota1 You're welcome.

[Blaazaram]

super well done, nice job dude thanks

[FunknGrvn]

@Blaazaram Thank you very much.

[bill3979]

It's not a Motown classic, it was recorded on Atlantic, stupid.

[FunknGrvn]

@bill3979 Let me show you how the block feature works Mr. Braintrust.

[FunknGrvn]

@ManicStreetStevO Thanks a lot:)

[kingstar4411]

good job

[Blessewe]

wow........you're amazing!!! This was great!

[FunknGrvn]

@Blessewe Thank you very much glad you liked it:)

[BiologicalUnit2380]

great lesson- I thank you for posting.

[FunknGrvn]

@BiologicalUnit2380 No problem thanks for checking it out.

[svalchemy]

This was quite helpful. I realize you're just doing a one-shot, locked-off video, and probably aren't into doing anything more elaborate, but I thought that if you could do cut-aways to your chord shapes in close up, that would be helpful.

[FunknGrvn]

Thanks man, Yeah your right I'm sure that would be helpful I just need to figure out how to do it:) I'm using a web cam and haven't done any video editing. There is a link in the description that shows one of the shapes. Hope it helps.

[afrolystic]

great lesson, man. thanks for posting!

[FunknGrvn]

Thank you very much, Glad you liked it:)

[nootaramus]

jesus you talk tooo much just play it a few times.

[FunknGrvn]

It's a lesson in case you couldn't figure that out. Some people like or require an explanation. Don't like it go somewhere else.

[angt5000]

thanks been looking for this song sounds great don't play those chords a lot but seems pretty simple..

[FunknGrvn]

Cool hope it helps:)

[rip4100]

very nice ... was looking everywhere and couldn't figure out this progression

[FunknGrvn]

Glad you liked it was my first lesson style vid hope you were able to decipher my chord names:)

[funknsoul4eva]

Thank you . That was a very nice lesson.

[FunknGrvn]

Thank ya my friend gald you liked it.

[belairhotrod]

hey could you please message me the finger placement fo rthat last chord? i cant find an e m flat anywhere and cant quite get that chord thanks for the great lesson too.

[FunknGrvn]

Hey bro thanks for checking out my vid. Let me see what I can do I will send you a message Thanks.

[InuyashaPrincess14]

Thanks so much for the guitar lesson! You're really very good!

[FunknGrvn]

Thanks you so much I'm glad you liked it.

[belairhotrod]

@InuyashaPrincess14 Hey thanks alot, I'm getting it now, sweet!!!

[belairhotrod]

like this alot but wish you would play it. Thanks

[FunknGrvn]

Hi thanks for watching. Perhaps I'll record it in Sonar and do another vid thanks for the suggestion.

[jonelaw1]

Thanks much, I was looking for this for the last several months, and there was NOTHING out there...I appreciate it....great riff....

[FunknGrvn]

Thanks glad you liked it:)

[vampin6]

I knew this song had those hard to reach cords...

[FunknGrvn]

You'll get it, Hang in there brother!

[foreveralive]

Very cool. Not a song that I would expect to find a guitar lesson for, but I was pleasantly surprised. Nice job.

[FunknGrvn]

That's awesome, thanks for checking it out

[susan462]

Hello, amazing and thank you so very much, this is one of those song's when i hear it i smile and feel the music/lyrics in my soul, and now i am off to learn to play it..

[FunknGrvn]

Thanks Susan glad you liked it hope it was helpfull let me know if anything need better description:)

[codythunder]

Great job! I've been waiting years for someone to do this for this song on youtube! One of my favorite songs of all time to. Keep up the good work man, cool set-up to!

[FunknGrvn]

@codythunder Hey thanks brother glad you liked it.

[BreakingGlass77]

i think the octaves are easier for me if I play them on the A and G strings, two frets apart.

Also, I'm having difficulty on that third chord. It's hard to see which frets you're holding.

[FunknGrvn]

@BreakingGlass77 I put a link in the info on the right it shows the chord shape just remember to leave off the notes on the 5th and 6th string, Thanks for checking it out.

[Orphesa]

This guy is on POINT! He knows great Motown! Awesome guitarist!

[FunknGrvn]

@Orphesa Wow! Thanks for the kind words my friend:)

[Orhuxley]

Great job man!

[FunknGrvn]

Thank you very much!

[smizzle528]

EXCELLENT VID! I've found after a little noodling that its a little easier to play the chords without those huge jumps if you just play the Emaj7 with the "A shape" and the Bmaj7 with the Jazz "E shape" and apply that same finger picking logic... just adding to a great lesson for a great song!!!

[FunknGrvn]

Hey thanks for the input glad you enjoyed it.

[metallicacdc]

I was actually just going to try to figure this out on my own on guitar, but then I stumbled on this video looking for a video with the actual song! Huge help, thanks a ton!

[FunknGrvn]

You're welcome brother, thanks for checking it out:)

[RenaissanceElf]

Nice work, I'm a keyboard player myself, wished we lived closer I would love to jam with you.

[FunknGrvn]

Hey thanks, and yes that would be great I don't know where your at but if you ever make it to KC look me up:)

[RenaissanceElf]

I have never been to KC, I live in Boone NC at the present, originally from London, England. I'm working and doing Split Rail at Appstate which is a student run record company which we are starting to do a small focus on Celtic music too. It seems a lot of students like jam bands up here, but the market outside this area is not as much.

[pd1030]

great job.. love this song!

[FunknGrvn]

Thanks a lot, hope it helped.

[woteverboy]

i love these song soooo much. thank for the lesson but can u help as with that last bit when u doin the bridge.... i just love that part the most

[FunknGrvn]

Yeah after watching this again I did just kind of breeze through that part I'll see about making a follow up to this. Thanks for watching.

[brianpeters]

That E 7 trick is smart

[FunknGrvn]

Thanks for watching:)

[TheGeezey]

great work you've helped me through the chords.

[FunknGrvn]

You're welcome, thanks for checking it out.

[TheGeezey]

Great walk through, very informative but, I think you missed one more octive which is an "E" flat ( I could be wrong) but I think that I hear it in the song just before you start with the chords. In order to play it you would have to have two guitar parts or very fast hands but its not impossible to play with one guitar because I'm not that good and I've almost got it there along with the chords.

[FunknGrvn]

I believe you are correct. I noticed that after I posted this and re-listened to the song it would fall at the same time as the EbMaj7 chord so you would need to be very quick:) If you were playing with a keyboardist it would be no problem, if you are only playing on guitar you will most likely have to leave it out. Thanks for posting:)

[CTB3]

Nice. Keep it up, bra.

[FunknGrvn]

Thank ya man:)

[Mageskey]

Pretty sweet walk through. Five stars.

[FunknGrvn]

Thank you, hope it helps:)

[chrisg14mac]

Great lesson Dave! I am going to try that when I get home.

By the way, your studio looks great! The only thing missing is a ukulele :)

[FunknGrvn]

Thanks Bro! good luck with it a uke version would be very cool, We need to get you out here sometime.