Stefan Grossman teaches "Cocaine Blues"

[ristau]

Keith Richards is the inspiration here.

[peerman2006]

@ristau Rev. Gary Davis is the inspiration, not Keith Richards. Stefan learned this from Rev Gary Davis.

[EverTommy]

I bet old Stefan has had a few lines in his time....snortin off the groupies tits! Not that theres anything wrong with that like!

3:52 "So that was cocaine"

[wb8984]

whats the fingerpicking pattern? i can't work it out

[mistervoice20]

super :)

[whocares1694]

He's doing it the regular Travis style : Thumb: bass to higher note, not like Dave Van Ronks reverse thumb style wich I prefer.

[dajoler]

Not bad, Stefan Grossman is a great player and very pleasant sounding but I wish he'd broken the song down a bit more, namely which frets to play with which fingers and the fingerpicking pattern.

[PargocciNalungun]

Stefan Grossman is a maestro,,,,,, thanks all this time i only use picks,, but now i m starting use my all finger perhaps haha

[DrNoth]

Where do I get this DVD from?

[darranbarker7]

ok so i finally managed to play this fantastic tune, excellently taught might i add. the only thing i cant learn how to do, is talk or even sing while im playing it. does anyone have any hints on how to practise this?

[Sandro140586]

well, he can't sing at all, that's a negative thing, but still a pretty nice guitar playing with so much feeling, keep this on at least ! thank you for all hints.

[pbstratocaster]

Satiesfied, and tickled too.

[ccinnz]

awesome... very similar to townes van zandt, or is townes van zandt very similar to the reverend gary davies, the music of course... lyrics are different.

[ApeeGuitars]

Stefan Grossman en concert exceptionnel le 21 mai 2011 à Sauveterre de Rouergue en Aveyron, il faudra y être absolument !!!

[jovesheerwater]

@jaydex5 While GD may not play to a rigid framework (whatever that is), he does not mess with TIME. He sometimes appears to drop or anticipate a beat, but ALWAYS gets back in time. Count and see. One of those headshaking things he can do. (Present tense, he not dead).

@gralang At last! It's been like talking to my shoe. Thank you for your support. God bless you brother!

[teamhex]

How the hell can you play this song while singing. Shits hard bro.

[LeighOak]

Really great lesson thank you guitar shop

[LuccaTotti]

Check out Davey Graham Version from Folk , Blues and Beyond

[HeseQ]

@LuccaTotti Good Stuff!!

Also Dave van Ronk is preety nice

[zaydex5]

I had the pleasure of being Gary Davis' student in the summer of 65. I have heard him play the same song multiple times( I was a slow learner) ,and he had dozens of variations,all fruit of an inventive mind Sometimes he would,as a bit of humor ,play a 2/4 or4/4 song in 3/4 or 6/8 time. He WAS NOT confined to a rigid framework

[FriendlyDD]

no nono man u dont have the keuth's style.. dont like how do it sounds this song on this video..

[BIG6DODGE9]

WHO WOULD DISLIKE THIS

[yvanleguitariste]

très bien expliquer dommage que se n'est pas en français merci stefan

[belikewater001]

12 dislikes....I guess they can play it better than Stefan....

[celloprofundo]

What a fine, relaxed, folksy way of teaching...love this kind of music..

[jovesheerwater]

@yoshie1298: 1. Read my comments of 5 months ago. Stephen is a fine teacher, no doubt. But evidently he is capable of unintentional? structural inaccuracy. Davis is not a blues improviser, he is a unique, masterful, musically educated, meticulous SONGWRITER and always works and plays within a well-defined structure. There is INTENT behind every note Davis plays. Which is exactly why it is possible to break down his music into teachable fingering and chordal patterns. 2. Take your own advice :)

[jovesheerwater]

Don't listen to this crap - study the Reverend's own version if you want to do it right. Or you could just follow Grossman's instructions and do it any old what-the-hell way.

[yoshie1298]

@jovesheerwater if you got nothing nice to say than dont say anything at all !

GREAT TEACHING !!! KEEP IT UP A++++++++

[GwarMaggot]

@jovesheerwater Dude Stephan would be the first person to tell you to listen to and study from the Reverend's original recordings. Since we don't have the ability to go to Gary's house and learn from him directly, Stephan is breaking it down for us probably the same way Gary did for him.

[jovesheerwater]

@GwarMaggot: You're right. Somehow, just by listening closely, I managed to 'break it down' without going to his house even once. You need to read my previous comments to understand the gripe. Btw Doood, I don't think you know the Reverend well enough to be on first name terms.

[nischergurgje]

12 people got me feelin' sick.

[vegetableman409]

Please check out my video of my dads version of cocaine blues. Please leave a comment. This guy is good, but my dads version is a little more soul.

[windsurf7772]

snorter song

[420Cannabis]

so fuckin hard to play this the way he does

[daniurb]

good teaching!!

[billybonghorton]

I like it when he says, lets se what kind of iders we can come up with

[darshan104]

Love, Devil and the Blues! <3 it

[steveo27545]

God bless Stefan Grossman

[freddysmith123]

lol . baboon with tourettes....good im glad you get the message.now slink off back to the hole you came out of you pedantic young whippersnapper

[DougalPE]

Stefan has much to offer. If there are those out there who claim his arrangements are not perfectly correct in the historical sense, then make your own youtube video and teach us the proper way. Of course, Stefan Grossman may have tapes of GD that record him actually playing the song exactly the way he teaches it, but that's another matter. As has been noted, there is no perfect way to play the blues. The blues masters would have laughed at the thought that there is.

[abent360]

Stefan- way to be! You're lessons are wonderful. Keep up the good work

[jovesheerwater]

Sorry but if you students out there listen to the Reverend's versions of "Cocaine", you will notice that GD does NOT tack on an extra 2beat bar after the 4th bar to accommodate the E to F bass run. The E to F always falls on the 3rd & 4th beats of bar 4.

Similarly in the bridge which should read /C7 4 beats/ E 4 beats/ F 6 beats with E and F falling on beats 7 and 8.

It is a lot easier to play it the way SG does in this clip, but do you want easy or do you want correct?

[freddysmith123]

@jovesheerwater correct my ass.....no such thing in the blues

[jovesheerwater]

@freddysmith123: If SG was playing his own composition or his own version of 'Cocaine' then of course there would be no correct or incorrect - however he is allegedly showing his students how the Rev plays 'Cocaine'. And not doing it. If you compare this posting to the Reverend's original, you will notice that the point I'm making is accurate. However it is quite possible that your cloth ears prevent you from noticing this.

[freddysmith123]

@jovesheerwater if you listen carefully you will notice that no two blues tunes are ever the same.especially rev never played same thing twice.and why not i hear you asking in a tiny little voice.Because my friend the blues comes from the heart not from some fucking mathematically exact score sheet.So why dont you fuck off and listen to some blues before you come parading your puny little ass with your bullshit here ,. Thank you.

[jovesheerwater]

@freddysmith123: Gosh freddy don'i get your g-string in a knot. I appreciate you're trying to guide me in the right direction, but please tone down the language - the Reverend is present. I realise now from your aggressive tone that appreciating the blues just isn't possible unless you have a bony white ass and the vocabulary of a baboon with Tourette's. I humbly bow to your superior knowledge and trust our conversation is now over. I just don't think this relationship is working out ;)

[freddysmith123]

@jovesheerwater Fanny was a total alcoholic cocaine snorting slut

[BeatleUniversity]

Fantastic! Beautiful playing! I have fall in love with picking. I want to get a Martin. Can you make a recommendation? I was thinking a Martin D28. I really enjoy your playing!

[neenennaam]

@BeatleUniversity

Stefan Grossman plays the Martin HJ38

It is a martin guitar that has Grossman's  name.

Look for it on Google and/or the Martin site

[neenennaam]

@BeatleUniversity

Stefan Grossman plays the Martin HJ38

It is a martin guitar that has Grossman's name. 

Look for it on Google and/or the Martin site

Greetings from Holland

Nico van Eenennaam

n.vaneenennaam@hhs.nl

[Alphabetsword]

Kieth Richards version is good but nick drakes version is phenomenal

[theblahman]

@Alphabetsword davy grahams version is where its at

[G3FORC3]

Such a nice man. Such nice music. Such a brutal art made up of inescapable, merciless physics. You know when you are in the groove. Just hammer-on the pinky, here... Oh, and keep the thumb going.

My guitar still sounds like physics gone bad.

That's my blues song - PHYSICS GONE BAD.

[beegeeguitar]

Cocaine Blues~Rev. Gary Davis arrangement

[MagnytheMagnus]

Tab please...................!

[TravMack1]

what is the old fashoin pickin ! i love gary but cant figure it out becasue he changes so much

[liquidhyper08]

i think townes van zandt's version is the best out there for this song!

[FiaschtBamsti]

i went to mister meyer's place and looked into mister meyer's face and he said: "cocaine's all around your brain!".......

MUAHHAHAHAHHA, hahad dvmkdaklwef, GAGAGAGARUMPH SCHRUMPH!!!

i'm laughing till i die. ya, no, maybe, i'snt that funny but a little bit.

[dkjayjay]

Dear Stefan, you are my 'guitar god' - all those fine books with tabs - i owe you to be able to play 'alices restaurant' . (that's good enough for me).

[carbomarcello1]

hi maestro...your friend and student Marcello from Frascati

[intrga86]

he has cocaine blues

[wetriddim]

i think the Keith Richards version is better than all of these

[bonbon1995]

same, is there n e one that teaches that?

[wetriddim]

@bonbon1995 One guy online plays it and if you watch the video you can pick it up. I haven't seen anyone teach it online yet.

[wetriddim]

i like the Keith Richards version a lot

[anycolouryouwant]

davy graham or nick drake are my personal faves

[arbiterrecords]

He adds an extra beat on E-F bass line. Davis played it in 4/4, this adds a 5/4 bar and throws off the pulse & continuity.

[bigtarrose]

Thanks for a great lesson in ragtime blues guitar.

[siyuntz]

did he crib this from Bromberg?

[rollant]

great lesson simple and clear,thanks mr Grossman

[ex0ja]

his action look so low

[mbulseco]

oh, thanks Flat5 guitar. It just looked wide necked but it could be the video.

[mbulseco]

is that a Yamaha guitar? looks pretty wide necked.

[Flat5guitar]

It's a Franklin guitar, built by Nick Kukich.

[biologias3]

No, It's a Franklin guitar, and it's very wide priced (around $3000) Sorry!!!!

[joonkeester]

actually like 9000$

[biologias3]

Yes, I missed by a factor of 3. But if you divide $3000/3, $1000 is still a big fortune for Mr. Yamaha (mbuselco). Hey, Mr. Yamaha, SORRY!

[turmeleva]

Ei osaa käyttää kaikkia sormia! Ei hyvä kitaristi.

[GEORGIE127]

Stefan Grossman I have a book of guitar tunings that he did when he was in his 20's great folk guitarist!

[amantonicmetal]

Pangit imong guitar.

[Demandred14]

Nab lol

[pufforosso]

Have you any idea of who that "guy" is? :)

[Dadutta]

excellently filmed and very helpful guitarist advice I've begun to really love the blues by now

[grasshopa]

I love the big grin on his face when he plays :) Doesn't quite fit the song but it's like that video of Gene Krupa playing Sing, Sing, Sing

[afraser62]

hahaha 3:50 "so that was cocaine" :)

[grasshopa]

lol I didn't notice that

[musicisgoood]

:D.....

[blueturtleblues]

love playing this tune love cocain..;)

[nev6502]

hell yeah i love this shit this song made me so fucking high!

[DayTripperLennon]

great guitar playing here. i wonder if this guy has ever tried cocaine!?

[bensation]

does anyone have the tabs for this version? i have a rough time learning only by video, and i would like to have the tabs to compare too

thanks!

[grasthube]

aw i thougth it was cocaine blues from johnny cash

[dimitreis]

i'm having problems with more from...videos.i try to open it and it just won't open.can anyone help?

[mufasamusic]

Thank you for posting this. These lessons have always been helpful. Check out my blues guitar vids if you would like. 8 string guitar....

[dpaland]

In 1967, Cocaine blues came out on a record by Dave Van Ronk and I loved it. It was part of what was going on during the "summer of love". I bought a book entitled, "How to play the blues" by Stefan Grossman". That little book and the record that came with it helped me to figure out how to play Cocaine blues, although it was not included in the record. Thank you very much for your instruction, then and now.

[gatemouthbrown]

i think he might be the best teacher ever...so clear,very easy to understand

[MysteryHunterz]

@gatemouthbrown Easy to Understand, Hard to Master :)

[buskerbuoy]

"His arrangement....his version" - I thought the good Rev wrote it.

[LloydSandy3]

Jackson Brown also did a great version of this, anyone else heard it?

[iljib311]

great song, im a huge jackson browne fan, and yes, he did a version of this

[h0tpoop]

aww, its like a bald bob ross(no offense, if you take any to it, good video helped a lot)

[rob1927blues]

I was teaching myself this arrangement and really struggling with it thanks to this lesson i can now play it!!! Thanks for posting.

[nellster66]

awesome video!

personally, the best version of that song that iv heard was one played by davey graham

that rocked my socks!

but like i say, this is pretty awesome n all!

[marcelbizien]

Excellent teaching. I own 7 Home Spun videos and have learned a great deal more from your few videos than over 30 hours of instruction from other well known people. Your passion for educating and for music is a great help. Merci beaucoup!

[qmac10]

You take Sally

I'll take Sue

Ain't no difference between the two

Cocaine.............. Running around my brain.

Jackson Brown ....... Album... Running on Empty

[enricocia]

hello stefan i listen that you live in rome it's real????? enrico

[CarloLosavio74]

Very great sound

the blues it's all!!

c.l

[emanam]

Great job.

What model is your guitar ?

[roland197294]

Great, really great

What's this guitar your are playing with please ?

[PrincessLizzie1987]

Stefan was playing in my uncles club a few weeks ago and he was wikid!!!

[beatlesoasisfooflibs]

I love this songs, it reminds me of dire straits 'romeo and juliet'

[stompdownrider]

Great-this is one of the hardest fingerpicked blues song to figure out and he nails all the correct nuances.

Thanks Mr. Grossman!

[FG365SE]

It's part of one of his VERY EDCUCATIONAL DVD's.. Well worth buying if you want to improve.

[mike2601]

Thanks for posting. Really enjoyed the lesson. Rev Gary Davis Cocaine is one of my favourite songs. I will be sending off to buy the DVD. Maybe learn to play it properly at last.

[bligocki]

Learned this years ago in 'dropped D'. So excited to learn the 'official' style!!

[JMRBAQ]

Did anyone heard Stefan with John Renburn?

[guild618]

I just bought his 3 DVD's How to Play Blues Guitar. They are great.

[herman1234567]

Woaw. this is hard :)

[kettuantti]

Just amazing!

[arleycowboy]

Brilliant as usual,thank you and keep posting David in England.

[fridrikur]

I notid that Stefan didn't play the C root in the bass and played the G note instead, when playing the C chord after the G7 chord. But it sounded right to me.

[idolseyed]

You're probably right fridrikur, but it will fit perfectly well because the note G is the 3rd note which makes up the chord C. C+E+G = C major triad.

[fridrikur]

You are right. But fingerpickers usually play the root bas note when playing walking bass lines. BUt rules are to be broken. Thank god.

[fridrikur]

Thank you Stefan!

[ilpoppante]

How many times over the last 30 years I have been staring at my thumb after watching stefano videos...and thought IMPOSSIBLE....carry on picking,,ciaooooo

[dan007ar]

Thanks Stefan, very instructive. Great song.

Dan in Iowa

[BabiczGuitars]

thanks for your help on this one stefan. nice franklin - for a second i thoght it was the new martin....shucks!

[goodmorningnovember]

Hey you wouldn't happen to have a link of where to buy the guitar Stefan's using would you? At least the brand and model?

[robindavies24]

I think Stefan plays a Franklin guitar here. You may get a link via his website

[honestrate]

thank you!

[Peckinpahh]

Thanks a lot. Very good.