Skip James - Hardtime Killing Floor Blues

[zentist00]

this is rather beautiful, yes.

[TheWinterShadow]

Something about this song. No matter who is playing it. My first guitar teacher stated that the blues scales is one of man's greatest inventions. He was right.

[simplethunder]

When I play this song (a different version, mind you) I like to throw the 3 highest strings in at certain points. Dminor lets you do that and it really creates a very full sound, but still with that Dminor feel. You could try it once.

[harryjerks]

That is a sexy sexy version.

[rediryou]

I like it! If I have to complain, it's the tin box sound. But the interpretation, execution, and composition is really very cool.

[anhelo911]

Damn, I am always skeptic of clicking on covers by error.. but I was curious to see how would someone intepret this one, and that was utterly beautiful!

Its one thing to feel it, another thing to be able to put that out in sound. Hats off!



[caveman5335]

Thanks for the acoustic aphorism!

[TheMilonius]

one of the best videos i have found on youtube this is the shit

[verlaine4]

You are a very talented man

[rbutler8585]

whew!,,,that really sounds great on a twelve string. The playing was superb also :)

[joecoote]

sounds so nice

[WoodedOwl]

For real that guitar really have a nice sound.

[OMGWUNSIU]

Eddie Van Halen fans eat your heart out! THIS is what guitar is about - soul, feeling, emotion. Loved it! Thanks for posting.

[DirtyBillClinton]

@OMGWUNSIU

I have broad taste. I'll take evh and skip. Thanks

[Saskiyoo]

Great.

[troyes2010]

That was really awsome! bring back the old school blues brotha!

[holyswordsmanoffaith]

Oh dear god... this screams the blues. Love this song, your an amazing musician and I hope to hear more. I'm glad that people listen to and play the blue, sadly I'm afraid I'm the only 17 year old around my area that even likes the blues. there are people who like rock.....but think blues is out dated and crappy... so there missing out on the roots of rock...the blues is what makes rock ...rock. Too bad they wont find the joy that blues gives =/ anyways thanks again for the music and keep going!

[idn]

Really nicely done. Thank you!

[ziggylish10]

Awesome playing man

[SECtennesseeSEC]

I love Skip James, hardtime killing floor blues is a classic. Have you watched the Martin Scorsese blues dvd 7part series? It discusses this song and talks about his discovery by Lomax I believe. Killer series and it's awesome you play some delta blues.

[jodymueller]

Check out a version by a guy called mrbabar...It is VERY accurate. Between his and yours...I have what I need. Most people are just playing the notes and not the song...if you dont know what I mean....stop posting blues clips NOW!

Again...great job.

[jodymueller]

Although I agree your version has inaccuracies....all the same I REALLY like your fills and your style (especially the walkdown with the vibrato...that works SO well). I am learning it verbatim off another recording that is balls on....however I will be stealing some of your stuff (and adding some of mine as well). Great job working your soul into it. What would Skip have done....really?

[klusmanp]

This is the best version on YouTube right now. I've got one that is as close to the Chris Thomas King version as I could get, but this one is the best.

[Spookimitsu]

Subscribed. That was just awesome. Could anyone that has the time and patience to please send me the tabs for this as well?

[Cevieuxbluesman]

T'as le blues man !

[dwightstones]

Are there any good tabs to this, or could you send one directly John? I'm on Facebook. Thanks!! Kevin Jackson

[HeatherRigsby]

hey this is really great! you put your soul into it-5 stars. And i would really appreciate it if you sent me the tabs. Thanks :)

[bernied55]

HI. any chance of a copy of the tabs. sent you a myspace request. if you ever get to the UK love to get you on my radio show to do a session.

[antonyarthuredmunds]

dam!,id like the tabs aswell please if its not to much trouble.

Speaking of "trouble "im off to listen to "Ray LaMontagne" now,nice vid,dude,5 *'s

[cr0wley11]

i'd hate to bug you, but if you could send me the tab as well, i would appreciate it

[BlinkExists75]

Awesome man. This is the best version on here. Do you think you could send me the tabs?

Thanks.

[thetangerinepanda]

Thanks for sending Tabs John. Surprising how long it takes to get basic rhythm/swing but I'm getting there and its beginning to sound like it should. Excellent version of yours. Thanks again

[toweringmatt]

twelve string?

[MsKeepinItReal]

i love the sound of your guitar!!

[brucekirk89]

I play alot of my bands songs in CGCFAD pretty cool sounding tuning

[opiated12]

Man ...you do this tune justice...well done..36,960 views.. i guarantee the last 60 are all mine

[madshebs]

NIce going! Dreamy harmonics

[jeremiasrobinson]

I searched dadfad on youtube and this is the second thing on the list but unlike the first, this song actually is in dadfad.

[popyourcorn]

wow man i'd love to have those tabs

[pauldcastro]

you dont need tabs for blues...just open your ears and play from the heart.

[54spiritedwill54]

awesome.

[honya666]

nadherny pjudyfl kamo fakt lavsong jak svine

[zeik14]

wow man those harmonics thrown in there just absolutely amazed me! that was amazing! Great job!

[MISFITROBBY138]

very nice

[procussionaire]

sounds pretty good. it would sound better with someone playing a cajon or somethin

[sk8akid666]

great! very well done

[jsctthll]

thats got to be a takamine, sounds great

[jrood369]

absolutly amazing...good stuff

[srs7734]

Notice a little Jazz fusion style around 1:00 min. Good timing man.

[starrchild99]

Nice one!

[dymonddog3]

great cover bro...what tuning are you in?

[whodyrods]

Cover? He wrote the song foir Chris King

[bluesuburban]

it's a skip james tune obviously an adaptation but it even says it in his description! credit where credit is due great version and a great version in it's original form

[bambumbang]

duuuuuuude soooooooooooooo nice

[BluezBro604]

def dig it my brother.

[pete2778]

Sounds great on the twelve string, it'd be cool to hear it played like this with lyrics. I'd love to try it on the twelve string but I'd not relish the tune up! 5*

[JiubLink]

Very nicely played. Feeling the guitar.

[nickothompson]

For those who don't know.. that is a 12 string guitar.. thats what gives it that FULLNESS. Blind Willie McTell (the best blues musician ever) played a 12 string... check him out. Most of these songs are taken from him as well as most of Robert Johnsons... and the list goes on... but their all great and they all BORROWED.... thats how it is, and was.

[kutigoi]

Iam so happy to see new generations like u play old Skip James's songs..Keep his legend grow.Good stuff dude.RIP Skippy

[OneBlueFever]

Brought out some GooseBumps !!

[nonidentity]

great - haunting

[pauldcastro]

one of the best renditions I have ever heard. major kudos man!

[PariahFish]

Just beautiful music. I love your take on it! Any chance you have a tab for this song?

[willszmans]

D minor tuning (DADFAD)

[cgxphoto]

Man, this is some really calming stuff, definitely helped to slow my mind down. Great interpretation of Skip, beautiful.

[bobjones7432]

awesome. what is that tuning? is that what he used?

[scriber2b]

lush depth of feeling... like a river flowing unrushed... magnificent

[Laurenan69]

Where has to original version from skip james gone ??? Did they remove it from youtube ? Good Job by the way ! i liked it

[whosnippedmyprong]

it is on here, just search for skip james and you'll find it

[sheps1200]

what kind of guitar are you playing?

make/model?

[plastilinave]

You made that baby yours, man. Keep 'em coming!

[moloko89]

***** for sure

[OriginalRubberJesus]

can i get tabs for this

[ZacharyAllenCerrato]

yeah buddy, mmm good

[mejarhed]

This is phonomonal. Needs no singing. Maybe some light humming. 'tis Awesome.

[Mollweidekadet]

Smart playin'.

[inikokir]

no singing? no even like the original?

[cphoover11]

the guitar in this song really speaks for itself.

so beautiful.

[Richishot2]

Nice vid,... Respect!

[cecerej2]

This sounds amazing man.  The version I know is in Dropped D minor. Is yours? I can't tell

[MortenBoHansen]

goddamn one wasn't enough! its sounds so great!

[MortenBoHansen]

you blew me away, this is so far from Chris thomas kings version i've heard. But still, the everlasting ring on the guitar, just the "calmness" of it all, it fills you with either happiness og sorrow, n it's hard to tell wich, and it makes me happy! It sounds very good!

[RastaLomengo]

nice sound of soulful guitar

[timechannel]

slow & easy tops

[rs4031]

I like what you did with the song, you can feel the soul. Good sound quality and interesting guitar.

[zat1]

Great! Good job dude! What tuning are you using? Standard?

Again, great.

[friiiikan]

Nice 12-string and nice playing...

[webster99]

It's been a lifelong desire of mine to learn how to play acoustic blues. I never would have guessed youtube would be the school. Thanks for sharing.

[tomr79]

I think this fantastic. A great interpretation that keeps the soul of the original song while bringing something new to it. Wonderful.

One question: What kind of guitar is that? It sounds amazing.

[jomomattew]

Thanks very much. It's a Takamine 12-string.

[jclarencelove3rd]

@jomomattew you got some seriously big hands goin' on there, too, son...

[existentialfingers]

Good on ya.

You gotta put your own heart into it, and thus make the song your own... yes, an INTERPRETATION.

Sounds great to me.

[JakeRaytheRounder]

I think it is heartfelt

[bucksofburban]

good try! i think your missin the heart of skip's playin though. he tumbles his highes over the rythem; this fools the ear in think the time sig is changin. your version is a biginner's approach to skip's plain'. like miss john or somethin. trust me. we all know when we hear skip. He really SKIPS around through the highs. rewind city 4 us. ur walkin through the sng. take this email to heart and show me your new version kid. i know u rip! -bucks

[jomomattew]

You're certainly entitled to your opinion my friend. But if I wanted you to hear Skip James I would just play some air guitar in front of a recording. This is an interpretation. This is me making the song my own. I didn't record it to show everyone how well I can emulate someone else's playing. Maybe that's my soul you're hearing? If you just don't like, that's fine, you don't have to, I just want to make sure you don't think I'm trying to be Skip.  Thanks.

[bucksofbourbon]

i love it! don't get me wrong, but if you're going to make it you're own put in some killer stuff. don't make it guitar 101. especially with the 12. i know your're better than that. i can hear it in your playing. don't jump the gun on the u tube videos. i just think you can do better. show me more tumblin brudda. it's great though!-bucks

[seaclark]

Wow, on a twelve-string no less. I'm motivated now, what tuning are you in and where do you have your capo placed? I've got to learn this and then blow my friend's Skip James addicted mind. Great work man.

[jomomattew]

The song is in Dminor tuning. I'm tuned a full step below that with the capo on 2 because I was using heavier strings than usual.

[mcob1]

skip tuned it down a half to saveon strings i do dminor too but just drop d tuning wise. sing a vers to mark it. you heard rl's on wish i was in heave sitting down?

[MIKE8854]

that sounds great, nice version.

[inikokir]

sounds just like cepas;s recording. I got the dvd too, i dont like it, i got a tab book from grossman from the 80;s, he tabs dead on!

[MIKE8854]

Sounds awesome, good job!

[Drunkencrow]

this instrumental holds up very very very well in its own right. terrific.

[markdery]

Thanks much for sharing your wisdom, and best of luck with future Skip James covers. And why not some originals? Go fot it!

[markdery]

P.S. How did you learn this? Book? Online tab? By ear?

[jomomattew]

I learned it from watching Cephas and Wiggins play it. Two great Chicago-style bluesmen.

[dalet63]

Is It Available To Buy Somewhere?

[markdery]

Very soulful. You take the time to let the song speak. Wonderfully done. Is this in open E minor, as were many of James's tunes?

[jomomattew]

It's in Dminor: DADFAD

[jomomattew]

Thanks for all the support guys, it's much appreciated.

[chuckicks]

The most somber, elegiac and RIGHT interpretation of that tune I've heard. From what I've read about Skip, he would criticize it publicly, but deep down he would know it gets to the heart of it. Excellent, very original!

[nordicskiah]

nice song, i look forward to hearing some originals!

[bobheaton]

Deeper than the deepest well and sweeter than an angels kiss.