Andy Summers - How To Play: Message In A Bottle

[tarzanmorrison]

This dude's playing it all wrong.

Psych--thanks for posting it.

[DtheWizar]

@tarzanmorrison WTF are you say?

[Tapiola2007]

Andy clearly resents having to add The Police stuff to this video to make it sell. He'd moved on a long way from The Police by the time he made this tutorial video but in reality most people were/are only interested his earlier stuff. Shame but true!

[salmonfishandships]

how great to have a lesson with andy Summers himself ! thanks a lot !

greetings from france - Philippe

[mgmityu]

Jesus, what a hell he is doing at 2:15 ???

[geraberl]

@mgmityu Harmonic Chimes, I go into detail on how to do that in my tutorial; Play The Police: Can't Stand Losing You

[beavis408]

@geraberl harmonic "chimes"? He seems to be basically raking up/down the harmonics--or is there an added level of complexity i'm missing

[geraberl]

@beavis408 he is doing a form of it called 'crabbing' where the fingers 'walk' across the strings like a crab while the index finger sounds the chime. It's pretty tricky to do and takes quite a bit of practice

[Greyswyndir]

@mgmityu,

Haha! Yeah really. I've never seen that before and I'm having a hard time reproducing the effect. Andy is one the most creative and underrated guitar players out there. Even Stewart Copeland is underrated and he's one of the best drummers in the world. I guess you have to do one million-mile per hour guitar solos to be considered one of the best these days, what a shame.

[ArtDonna84]

@mgmityu I hear you on that ! I've been trying to work on it for the past few weeks and I'm still not smooth.  I'm just now reading his book "One Train Later " and think perhaps the Jazz guitar influenze he studied early in his mastery of the guitar really paid off.

[LeathanL]

Wow!...love what he does in the "post-chorus" at 3:37. Many consider the term "accompanist" an insult, when in fact it's one of the most challenging roles to pull off in all of music. To me, Summers' and Copeland's accomaniment of Sting's tunes made the Police the huge success they were.

[marbleheadband]

sweet....thanks for posting.....met the police in philly (then jfk stadium) thought nothing of it cause i wasn't into them but got invite to backstage to watch show (early 80's) & was wowed by copeland & summers especially.........stings bass tech. was actually playing with them on stage too.....nice job danny....where are you now?

[VictimOfChagnes]

It really is not difficult. It is just ninth chords. He was talking about removing the 3rd from chords actually not the fifth. I can see how it would be difficult for someone who is a beginner but an intermediate guitar player can play it if his/her hands are limber enough. The only hard part are the finger stretches.

[UncleTito72]

I play the B chord on the 2nd fret, fifth string. I just like the brightness in that position, on the 7th fret sounds a little darker.

[HEADBANGBALLER]

"it's really quite simple"...(ahem) Ah, no. It is not simple in any way, shape or form. Mary Had A Little Lamb is simple. This is advanced guitar playing technique. Altering chords by eliminating the 5th, or whatever he said, and playing each note with no noise and making it clean is very tough for an average player. Andy is very good.

[VictimOfChagnes]

@HEADBANGBALLER It really is not difficult. It is just ninth chords. He was talking about removing the 3rd from chords actually not the fifth. I can see how it would be difficult for someone who is a beginner but an intermediate guitar player can play it if his/her hands are limber enough. The only hard part are the finger stretches. I am barely decent and I can play it.

[TerrorNoctus]

Anyone seen a video for the 2nd guitar part, the harmony during the sus2 arpeggios?

[BDeiste]

Thanks for posting I've tried to play it all my youth but there were some missing links..I found them . Awesome powerful song!

[go2ldook]

I actually can play it accurately , note for note, on the top 5 frets, using more open notes. It was the easiest way to play it 30 years ago when I was a kid, just starting. I have tried to learn his way, but I got so used to my way, it is just much easier...especially when I sing and play at the same time. Every Breath You Take however, I learned to play it like Andy does, with those long stretches.

[geraberl]

@go2ldook Sounds good. Interestingly enough, I noticed a lot of the time on the Police reunion tour a while back, Andy was playing it differently position-wise, more inline with how one can transpose it up between the first and fourth frets like you were describing. Maybe being a lot older now, even Andy was tired of doing those stretches ;)

[go2ldook]

@geraberl I was wrong...was not really note for note, but close enough that few would notice. Great for newbies with small hands or who have not developed much strength. I got tired of being lazy after 20 years and learned to play it correctly after this post...I am too much a Police fan to skimp! Was not as hard to sing and play as I thought.

[ROCKSTARCRANE]

A little too grungy on the 335....should be his Strat or Tele.

[The1970sInfatuate]

Is that guitar a De Armonde?

[jaon1969]

andy summers is one of the most underated guiter players ever.also sting would never got so famous if someone like andy couldnt play the things he wanted,i don't think you see sting playing this kinda of guiter in his solo set up.

[ikeman1156]

He looks miserable as hell

[ffsyourself]

message in the bootle by police is better :)

[geraberl]

In terms of a bit of perspective, he put this tutorial video together not long after Sting had just called it quits on them after the Shea Stadium gig in 1983. Both he and Copeland were pretty devastated by this and there was a lot of anger and resentment being felt amongst them at that time. This may be a contributing factor to why he looks so cheesed off at having to go through all the Police stuff. Even so he could have cheered the fuck up a bit more. He's usually a very engaging, witty guy.

[redskin133]

@geraberl he made this in 1997, the Police broke up in 1984, I think he had moved on by that point.

[chrislj2005]

I met Andy when he came over to Argentina about 16,17 years ago. He had to endure my crappy fan questions and a crappy interview and he did it like a gent.. No stadium back then ,he mustve played for maybe a 1000 people back then but he was doing the sh... I believe he thinks is "real" music, jazz.Mind you Sting is pretty much down the same alley. Andy was respectful but yeah, sad. But I`d never call him a sorry fuck.

[geraberl]

@chrislj2005 I don't think anyone's saying he's a sorry fuck, just a miserable one in this particular tutorial dvd

[redfenderguy]

great guitarist Andy Summers never really been a fan of the police but i do rate Andy as a good guitarist

[bboychoc]

lol drummer sounded almost just like copeland???

[ScrewAttackChina]

man, he really hates doing this

[206151]

is it me or do all old musicians always look REALLY grumpy

[simonate1]

Police was one of the greatest bands and Andy Summers is an amazing and pioneering guitarist and song writer but in this video he seems bored and pissed off as if he really doesn't wanna be there. Maybe thats just his way. In any case he is a genius

[1970Said]

One of the best (but very underrated) guitarist...

[DonnyandtheFuzz]

@1970Said

Andy is not underrated, and he was very much enjoyed back in his glory days. Now, there may be a degree of under-appreciation; he is not known to everybody, but not everybody deserves Andy. Those who love his playing would not underrate him.

[1970Said]

@DonnyandtheFuzz Yes, of course...

[dazpatreg]

Andy Summers and Johnny Marr in a band together would be sexual

[MsAaaaaa333]

Thank you Mr. Summers. I'm very new to electric(6 months). Still managed to learn most of it the first night, still need practice but I like the sound of what I play. You have reached and touched an Iranian soul.

[eliasjoe]

Anyone know what make or model that green guitar is? Andy, if you're still reading these comments can you tell us?

[TheMuenzer]

i do this with my band, i sing it and play it!

[skullduggery]

You're the Gov'nor!!

[iaminbetweendays]

Great video. Thanks so much. A band that worked outside the box.

[GravityBoy72]

He's no Andy Summers.

[camlpg]

Can anyone elaborate on that chord voicing and offbeat strumming in the chorus part?

[eversoul16]

pay for what? How he ran thru explaining the song!! No Thanks!

[Eltroim]

Direct from the man himself indeed. Funny.

[ayshortier]

Gosh it took me three days, fell in love with Andy and almost needed a chiropractic visit, to get that and now it is that last chord that has got me.

[barramzer66]

Andy summers tu es un Dieu

le meilleur guitariste au monde

[reniisgod]

The finger stretches in this song is a fucker

[Zanderhill123]

andy sommers is a brilliant guitarist but u can tell he was trained classically

[soulplatos]

2:14 Eric johnson type chimes :D

[ChristopherDowning]

@soulplatos More like the way Chet Atkins did it actually - and he said he got it from another country player anyway.

[darkmarine50]

awersomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­eeeeeee

[JCReaP]

The master himself showing how to play it! No need to see cheap imitations around here

[Wiltallica]

i can't see what strings he holds down on the chorus during 1.50 anyone help me find out?

[Wiltallica]

i can't see what strings he holds down on the chorus during 1.50 anyone help me find out?

[leon55429]

O cara q é o melhor guitarrista da rua sempre c julga acima do bem e do mal... Uma aula d humildade do mais criativo guitarrista da década d oitenta!Genial!!!!

[geraberl]

Can't help but notice his stifled yawn as he starts playing it with the band :)

[edesir]

LOL

[ayshortier]

@geraberl I think people gt nervous and hyperventilate by yawning. I used to do it before swim meets and Mike Phelps does it also.

[brooklinmike1]

@geraberl I have to agree about his apparent boredom. I wish these musicians who make it big and make a ton of money wouldn't look down on the commercial success as a bad thing. I am tired of hearing things like " Jazz is my true love, but I played with the Police as a way of paying the bills".

[mariomariado]

Oh look! Hugh Grant!

xD

[mistercrane]

ONE OF THE GUITAR MASTERS OF ALL TIEMES

[Schon2112]

I study Flamaco and This is a Stretch For me I have Little hands but can do it... I love Summers....

[robertk2007]

big hands helps

[ayshortier]

I love youtube

[ayshortier]

@ayshortier Finally got it after 5 days. Of course it will take a little more practice but not bad for someone who's only been playing for a year and a month.

And no chiropractic visit.

[TheMuenzer]

@ayshortier i love you

[fenderbender28]

u can barely hear the C# wen he plays the B9

[lachlanhiggs]

@fenderbender28 - i'm not sure he got it once... even with those 'incredibly strong fingers'

[FranzBond007]

nice guitar!!

[tobto1]

GUITARIST!!!!

[saanzacs]

Did Andy have his guitar tuned down or did he have it tuned normally?

[geraberl]

It's standard EADGBE tuning

[SxcAustralianGuy]

he has such an angry expression...he gives off a "come closer and i'll cleave your head off" aura lmfao

[outhouse124]

He's tapping harmonics of the chord an octave higher.

[Stuartcgsb]

i think, hes playing it wrong lol

[AERIA]

Hey Andy!!!

You forgot to show us how to play the solo silly :)

Or was it in fact Mark Knopfler who played the solo?

[Boardstheman]

What's with all the psychoanalysis about the guitarist. Another example of the femininization of men.

[DrummerKid05]

great guitar playing andy

[scrumpymanjack]

What a great musician, sure. Love his songs and greatly appreciate his incredible talent. But he comes across in this clip as a miserable fuck. Does anyone know what he's like as a person? Looks like he hasn't smiled in years.

[geraberl]

LOL!! Your comment really cracked me up!! I thought the EXACT same thing when I got the dvd, I don't think he could have looked more bored and disinterested if he'd tried! Must have been still pissed off at Sting for leaving. Yeh must be hard having all those millions. 'We''ll deal with that' :)

[scrumpymanjack]

Haha. Yeah, he seems to be almost resentful. The bit where he said "What we tried to do in that band was to...." was really weird, as if the Police were just one in a long list of equally important and famous bands he's been in. C'mon, dude...I understand you want to move on as a musician but just accept that it was the best music you ever made, and it got you rich and famous in the process. That can't be such a hard idea to live with.

[geraberl]

Antsy Summers ;)

[meccaturbo]

@scrumpymanjack let him react to it the way he wants to, you fucking moronic retard. Quit your whining.

[scrumpymanjack]

@meccaturbo whining? I'm not whining. I'm commenting in a thing called the comments section. You got a problem with that?

[meccaturbo]

@scrumpymanjack like I said, quit your whining, you retarded loser.  Andy has earned the right to do things as he sees fit without some moron like you whining about how he "should have done" something.

[scrumpymanjack]

@meccaturbo Ok, I can see that argument doesn't work with you so I'm going to do things your way: fuck your mother! That's it. End of conversation. You don't exist.

[meccaturbo]

@scrumpymanjack go fuck yourself, you retarded moronic loser. Quit playing with your chode and start acting like an adult, you fucking twat.

[Mr22mill]

@scrumpymanjack It appears he was just referencing an historical fact-as he (they) are no longer together and making music-to the best of my knowledge. He has moved on as all of the other members have moved on also.

[ayshortier]

@scrumpymanjack It was the break up Dude! That has gotten them put out> Sting got bigger than his own head when the real sound of the police is Andy Summers.

The police were no where until Andy with his years of guitar experience showed up.

[rockstarsenty]

@scrumpymanjack It wasn't really his best. I love the Police. I think they're great. But, frankly, they never reached full potential. The three of them seperatley are incredible musicians. But together, they never really surpassed famous rock band. They could have gone so much farther.

[MsAaaaaa333]

@scrumpymanjack - Sir I have to disagree with you. He looks a little burned out to me not bitter. Reading between the lines are sometime tricky. Besides you and I weren't in the band, if he felt that way, probably due to a good reason/s. So lets not be cynical.

I do appreciate the fact that among all iconic guitar masters, I am found of, he's the only one I found willing to share his art and skills with us and I thank him for that. and I will order his DVD.

[fordendk]

@scrumpymanjack ... ever thought that the guy is a musician by heart and nature. He probably just doesn't think about it that way. Being rich just ain't everything. I'm sure he moved on a long time ago. If a few more people embraced the concept of not doing, saying and acting out everything in a money-centric manner then we might just have a better world. BTW the harmonics he plays off the F#m sound fantastic. Very cool technique. Love it.

[vibhutesagar]

Vertical Harmonies is how Andy himself describes The Police's music. Let everyone do his own thing while staying in unison ... what a great musician!

[meestermeen]

thanks andy,u own:P. the song is pretty easy, except for the stretching:(. thanks so much, its loads of fun to play

[nicon99]

Thank You Andy. The Police would not be The Police without your great guitar playing.

[dino6888]

How cool is that..and How Cool is Andy-Wow

[guillaume109]

Thank you Mother, Thank you God.

And of course.

Thank you Andy.