James Taylor guitar lesson #3 (Close Your Eyes) -- by ThinkingDog

[fullcirclea]

Such a big help. Thank you so much.

[myredfestiva]

Thanks for posting this video. I've worked with it tirelessly for a week and I have it down pretty good now. I've played it so much I'm near sick of it though but that's the way it is when I learn a new tune. I lay in bed and hear the song in my head and picture the chord moves.

[klicky2]

Nice voice as well!

[JaneGladys]

WOW.

[LowryMatchsticks]

I have now put so much time and so much energy into this song over the last three weeks (on a Seagull 6-string acoustic)! I don't know how "Close Your Eyes" escaped me in the 70's...but somehow it did. With sore fingers I say THANK YOU for the lesson. I am determined to keep at it until I sound a lil bit like you, ThinkingDog! Again, many thanks.

[ThinkingDog06]

@LowryMatchsticks - so glad to hear this video helped... it's a great song, I hope you get many years of enjoyment from playing it. Thanks for the kind note.

[Clematis27]

thanks for showing how you play this great JT song...

[Frank97851]

Thanks, this is a favorite of mine as well. It's a pleaseure listening to you. Ibelieve "Sting" commented about JT that hewas a "coniseur" of the guitar...I believe your in the same catagory. You have help my and now I have your YT site in my favorites. Ihave along way to go but I'll keep plugging along. All I can say is thanks for sharing...Frank

[ThinkingDog06]

@Frank97851 - hi Frank, thanks so much for the kind comments and encouragement. Agree that JT is one of those rare musicians who seems totally in sync with his instrument. So glad to hear this video has helped in some way -- just keep at it and don't get discouraged when you hit what feels like a barrier (we all go through that)... be persistent and keep it fun.

[macculloch2]

Thank you so much for posting this song. I've been trying to learn it and this was the best lesson by far, and a beautiful version. The songbooks don't really give you the right chords. My other requests are "Long Ago and Far Away" and "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight." If you're looking for other JT songs to teach, I hope you will consider those. Thanks again, and keep up the great work.

[ThinkingDog06]

@macculloch2 - Thanks, really appreciate it. Agree that most songbooks bring the chords down to the lowest common denominator which never sounds right. I will try to lay down another JT lesson before the holidays if I can find the time, and will consider those suggestions (both great songs!). Thanks again.

[macculloch2]

@ThinkingDog06 Thanks Thinking Dog. Can you also tell me - how do you record your songs for Youtube? The sound and video is good but there aren't any microphones in the picture, etc. Take care.

[ThinkingDog06]

@macculloch2 - hi, my earlier videos just used the built-in mic from the main video camera. Later videos I experimented with different combinations -- sometimes using two external mics, sometimes the guitar running directly into an audio interface (to Logic) mixed with an external mic; that's what this video uses (you can see the Rode NT5 in the lower right corner during the wider angle at the beginning of the video). Thanks for listening and commenting!

[LiamCapt]

Thanks for this. Good way to break it up in separate pieces to learn. I find the most difficult part of this song not the chords or fingering, but the timing of transistions. If you ever update this, it would be helpful to play it at on quarter or half speed which is what I had to do to get the timing right.

[ThinkingDog06]

@LiamCapt - great suggestion, I need to be more aware of slowing down when doing these tutorials. Will try to do that next time, thnx

[musicmanrn]

Ive been a big JT fan for years but was never super familiar with this song, showing my age i guess. Was so glad you had a tutorial on it, you are hands down the best JT teacher on youtube. I have a bunch of JT lessons on my page but yours put mine to shame. You to a great job of discussing his baseline melody's and chord embellishments that are the heart and soul of so many of his songs. Again, your a wonderful musician and a great teacher as well. Thanks for all your help.

Jesse

[ThinkingDog06]

@musicmanrn - Jesse, thanks so much for the kind words, I really appreciate it.  Hope all is well, take care!

[Pbon10]

@thinkingdog06 Thanks man, I absolutely love this track and learning it is stretching my playing ability at present so your video is a godsend! Cheers!

[manaliveable]

Thanks so much for posting this video, you helped me tremendously!

[nbanolfkid]

Thank you! Great job!

[zeitounish]

Thank You !

[shaunvanunu]

great job!

[petervonbahr]

@TD06 - Any chance of you teaching us how to play Carolina in my mind?

[ThinkingDog06]

@petervonbahr - yes, that's one I've always loved playing and have thought to post ... hopefully soon. Thanks.

[bytwyzz]

@ThinkingDog06 subing to find out when you do bro !!! great cover !

[BrettSwailes]

Wonderful playing! Tone is equally and notably nice. Just saw JT's site. He offers lessons! (Can you believe?) He's such a great player & sensitive writer. Deserves all his fame. You break his style down like he doesn't. You mentioned JT's emphasis on bass lines & opened chords. BINGO! ' You teach so darned well! You really compliment JT's own lessons. Thanks so much...

[ThinkingDog06]

@BrettSwailes - wow, thanks for posting such kind comments, I really appreciate it. Yes I recently saw his site and have been following some of his video posts -- very cool, he's a true artist in every sense. Take care.

[julian1471]

very nice lesson and skill mate.

[newsichome]

Great Tutorial.. you're a master my friend

[ThinkingDog06]

@newsichome - thank you my friend, I'm a fan of yours as well!

[brobdj]

Your GOOD TD06!!! Thanks for all your JT tutorials!! I'm enjoying them all.

[ThinkingDog06]

@brobdj - thanks for the kind comments, glad you're finding these videos helpful.

[trainnnc]

Thank you so much. Very good job. More! More!

[ronrogers2]

Dear fingerpicking deity.

Thanks

Ron



[teltyrone]

excellent...really interesting song and you teach so well

[davidg22100]

Thankyou. Very clear and repetitive enough to learn from. Brilliant!

[ThinkingDog06]

@davidg22100 - thanks for listening and for such encouraging comments.

[cky3000]

You have certainly 'de-mystified' the brilliant James Taylor sound for me,there are lots of great JT lessons out there which tend to be a bit complicated and very specific. You say the obvious by stating 'play around with it',by doing this I have had so much fun getting the JT sound. Many many thanks,you are a gifted player and teacher.................keep up the great work!

[ThinkingDog06]

@cky3000 -- thank you for such kind and encouraging comments, I'm glad this video has been helpful! All the best...

[tommyquinn181]

thanks friend any chance of getting copperline,brilliant stuf keep up the good work

[ThinkingDog06]

@tommyquinn181 - thanks, very much appreciate your comments. I've never learned Copperline, but would like to spend some time on it, great tune. I'll do my best... thanks again.

[saidthey198]

The best lesson I've seen so far, clear perfect tuition for those who appreciate your time , Thank you so much.

[saidthey198]

absolutely brilliant, I've watched this so many times and as I see it more the more I see your brilliance and kindness for this post !

[ThinkingDog06]

@saidthey198 - thank you for listening and for the encouraging comments, I really appreciate it. Glad the video helps in some way!

[saidthey198]

thank you, excellent

[Robinzingt]

You are a blessing. it is clear.. i am breaking my fingers but getting there slowly....

Thanx for sharing your talent and hard work.

if you ever need someone to teach you how to sing.....I am game!!

Once again thank you for doing this!

[ThinkingDog06]

@Robinzingt - thanks, very much appreciated. You sing extremely well, so I may take you up on the offer some day! Take care my friend.

[smoothnsf]

Thanks so much, TD06. What a great guitar lesson. I am in love with this song.

[quentinorem]

awesome, thanks so much!

[magboyldc]

Great song,appreciate this lesson as I have been trying to learn this song for some time! Well done, can we have more JT lessons? Thanks for posting this

[ThinkingDog06]

@magboyldc - thanks, will try to post another one within the next few months.

[gilgillis]

Thanks. Great teacher and player. Gil Gillis  Dublin, Georgia

[ThinkingDog06]

@gilgillis - thanks so much for the kind comment.

[BunBrown]

Great lesson, best on the web. Thanks for helping guitar players everywhere sharpen their chops. As a bass player, it's appreciated :)

[ThinkingDog06]

@BunBrown - thanks for listening, and I really appreciate your comments!

[gbuggy006]

Great lesson & close-up for the left hand. Can you help us out with the right hand picking too? Is there a pattern to the picking? Thanks.

[ThinkingDog06]

@gbuggy006 - thanks for listening and commenting. I probably should spend more time talking about (and showing) the right hand -- for this song in particular, the thumb is used in classic fingerpicking style to hit alternating bass notes while the other fingers are either articulating the higher notes of the chords or they're used for short bursts of strumming. I'll try to do a better job next time of explaining the right hand, thanks again!

[unknown620]

thank god. finally a decent james taylor guitar lesson. i start to get annoyed with all the videos giving simplified versions of all his songs. thank you for a dead on james taylor instructional video

[ThinkingDog06]

@unknown620 -- thanks, glad this is helpful!

[LiamCapt]

Nice but I hate the way he fingers the A chord!

[tumalojim]

best instructional video I have seen on you tube.Thanks thinkingdog

[ThinkingDog06]

@tumalojim - thanks so much for such an encouraging comment!

[valeriofalco]

Strepitoso! Grazie, grazie per tutto quello che ho visto, sentito e potuto imparare!!!

[schooder]

Looks like you need a guitar with a 1 7/8 neck like me

[gazoscreek]

TDog- Great Lesson. I love the fact that that you're calling the chords by their shape as if they were in the nut position. One of JT's books renames all the chords so that if a capo was on the 2nd fret, and you played a C Major chord shape, they'd call it a D. Really confusing and no idea why the publisher would have let that go to print.

[ThinkingDog06]

@gazoscreek - thanks my friend. Yeah, I've seen those books, probably trying too hard to speak to all instruments (and therefore trying to be theoretically accurate for all) and they end up making it way more difficult for guitar players than it nees to be. Anyway, thanks again. PS: need more guitar posts from you!

[ElizaGraves]

Great lesson! Many thanks!!! Humble alternative suggestion - for those who are trying to nail it - regarding the bit that links the verse with the chorus: follow the picking pattern as shown but try using your THUMB on the low E string, second fret when u play that D chord. This allows you to pick an easy, FULL D chord while still incorporating that nice bass note, and it makes the shift to the following A chord slightly easier as well. Again, ThinkingDog many thanks!

[ThinkingDog06]

@ElizaGraves - thanks for the comment, and yes using the thumb often helps on chords like that ... I've never been very good at doing that, even when I learn the Tommy Emmanuel stuff, but for those who can work that thumb it's often a better technique. Thanks again.

[allison1356able]

thanks man, that does help, i was just frustrated, getting the hang of it now.

[allison1356able]

the chorus starts with g then goes to c, no it doesn't, what was the bit inbetween.

[ThinkingDog06]

@allison1356able - the chorus starts with a G chord, then goes briefly to an A chord as a transition before the C chord (the A chord gets a fast embellishment -- A sus to A). Hope that helps...

[tobestill]

Amazing playing and lesson (and video quality)! Thanks so much, I'm going to try to play it now with this great help...

[chrisalsopguitar]

I think I can learn a lot from your lesson about this song.... and about giving lessons on camera !. Great Job - I enjoyed it - Thanks .

[richardwrigley]

Excellent lesson...great that you break it down to sections and slow it down. Much appreciated. I've been playing it wrong for 35 years.

[ThinkingDog06]

@richardwrigley - thanks, very happy to hear this is helpful.

[bobbeanbags]

Excellent ... I've got it with your help! I really appreciate it (been playing it all day)

[ThinkingDog06]

@bobbeanbags - nice! Glad to hear this helped.

[bobbeanbags]

Thanks so much for this lesson. I really appreciate you remembering the request. So me being from Massachusetts, all I have to say is that this is "wicked" good!

I love your YouTube channel!

[ThinkingDog06]

@bobbeanbags - thanks, I'll take "wicked good!"  Hope you find this helpful.

[regalstring]

Always excellent work TD! Just marvelous playing. Very inspiring!

[ThinkingDog06]

@regalstring - Thank you for the encouraging comment, it's very appreciated.

[aeh0417]

Thanks - another great lesson!

[maxflyingcowboy]

very good one man! 

[PhalainaBelgium]

Great tutorial ! Phalaïna

[HanzP]

Great lesson, my friend!

[ThinkingDog06]

@HanzP -- Thanks as always for your kind words.

[ordepix]

This is great dog...keep on thinking!

[ThinkingDog06]

@ordepix - thanks!

[fn211349]

Like your playing Thinking Dog06 you should post more lessons.

[ThinkingDog06]

@fn211349 - thanks, I'll try to post more in the future.  I appreciate it!