Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby, Stills & Nash | Guitar Lesson

[@zdcyclops1lickley190]

It's called Bruce Palmer Modal Tuning. or somtimes its simply called E Modal Tuning. Stephen Stills got it from Bruce Palmer when they were both in Buffalo Springfield.

[@jonnyb2532]

Stephen Stills calls this the "the Bruce Palmer modal tuning". Bruce Palmer was the Buffalo Springfield bassist.

[@kellystauffer8479]

Oh yeah, I wanted to put out some appreciation for how calm and relaxed your vibe is. It's airways pleasant to listen to your tutorials. And interesting too

[@Glicksman1]

I have tried to imagine all of the tens of thousands of hours of playing, listening, writing, watching, asking questions, "borrowing" ideas and just imagining songs and sounds that went into the creation of a song as good as this. It takes so much more than just the writer to get to this point. It's almost as if some 'muse" is using you to get the thing out. Every good writer will gladly acknowledge it. Learn everyone's things, copy, steal, borrow, and play, play, play. That is how you become a Stephen Stills, a Neil Young, a John Lennon, a George Harrison, a Paul McCartney, etc., etc. And oh, yes, a great hunk of genius and talent helps a lot, too. I call this tuning "Es with a B."

[@georgeargon5113]

I can't begin to thank you for demystifying "Suite: Judy Blues Eyes." I've longed to learn the piece since the early seventies. Once I master it, I'll consider it another important milestone in my ongoing musical journey.

[@greglavine4035]

Thank you this one will get you from 0 to 90 quickly... tunings are for bringing simplicity and ease to performance...do not over think these fingerings.. empty yourself,,, think of them as substitute shape structures the lights of aha will go on soon enough...pure celebration is what this one shines

[@robertostrander1026]

I understand Judy was not swayed when Stephen played his new song for her...,...

[@marktwain5232]

​@@robertostrander1026 She tells the story herself in an interview somewhere on KZbin. Nope. It apparently did not move the needle on her for Stephen! But he tried beautifully which is so clearly portrayed here! I just love this amazing song since 1969! Those were the days! DADGAD was my goto bag back in the day. Best wishes to you and yours!

[@MJ-we9vu]

Great lesson. This is one of those songs where being close counts because it's unlikely Stills has played it exactly like the record since.

[@Huston31]

87

[@PsalmOnenineteen11]

Totally agree, don’t think I’ve ever seen him play it the same way twice. BUT, he is so creative it does not really matter. I’ve seen tons of bands, Zep, Stones, Who, Clapton, etc and live they were all different from either the studio/record or when we first heard a particular song on the radio. Some very disappointing. But Stills just did magic every time. And his use of modal tuning as in Suite or 4&20 is just masterful. A remarkable and gifted musician for someone that is nearly totally deaf.

[@ColKurtz-xr9ie]

I've seen them many times in the 70's and 80's. He played "Suite" exactly how he played at Woodstock. When they toured in 09 he did not play "Suite" till they opened the R&R HOF. He can't play it the same anymore due to illness he has. But he arranged it differently and it was awsome.

[@backpages1]

Indubitably…

[@donaldroberts7055]

E modal tuning. Bruce Palmer first showed it to Stephen Stills. The other version is Joni Mitchell showed it to him. The other tuning is EBEEBE. "Four and Twenty". When I saw CSNY right after, Stills played it without a pick. His whole approach at that time was like flailing on a banjo. Anyway.... excellent video. I broke a many strings trying to learn this in 1969.

[@cjsligojones5101]

The tuning was created by the bassist for buffalo springfield Bruce Palmer. Stills used it for several songs as well as Joni Mitchell.

[@danielwick2852]

Also, sometimes Stills uses that same tuning idea, but in D: DDDDAD, which is fun to mess with, without tuning strings up

[@PsalmOnenineteen11]

I’m 70 years old this month. I love Stills. I remember when it was released, WOW. Great times and great music. Thanks so much for the insight. Gonna attack this with passion. Tons of memories too!

[@jamesmichael3607]

Stills geniously made his acoustic into a sitar 2.0. Awesome 👏

[@jamesgriego1089]

The best lesson of SJBEs I've ever heard, I have played it in standard tuning and it sound good but now I see it can sound great with this lesson, thanks for a great tutorial!

[@robverschueren4617]

Great video. Thanks you for sharing! Makes me pick up my guitar again. I forgot about the other tuning, which we (most probably) didn't even use, when we played and sang this song mid-way Seventies for a 600 people audience. At that event (collecting moneys for starving Africa countries) us allowed to play max. 5 minutes (which we did at the rehearsals) and in the end still playing the full 11-12 minutes. Luckily the audience loved it. Thanks again, great, to see this song on KZbin the way you shared it. Brings back so many memories of the "good old days" !

[@Jallatt]

Dude... I've watched an unbelievable amount of guitar tutorials on KZbin just for specific songs and a fast track for a new setlist piece or whatever. I have to tell you man this is one of the most impressive, professional, informative, cool as hell guitar tutorials I've ever seen. So so so so good. A players player man. Loved it and thank you so much for the intelligent comprehensive and spot-on breakdown. What a cool tune and what a cool guitar masterpiece. Well done brother

[@12footchain]

Thank you, much appreciated!

[@shawnkilmer3079]

I've just been trying to get back to basics; I'd practice what is my latest lesson up to the first lesson as far as I can remember. It's not often easy to keep it simple, but it pays off being a practice-musician. Thank You!!!

[@FMorgigno1]

Another masterful lesson. Thank you for being so articulate and for picking such great songs to cover. You really know how to choose excellent classics!

[@MrTrickstar46]

Hello, How “bout “Midnight Highway” by Southern Pacific:)!?? Thank you!!🎸 Also another great tune, “Cherry Red”!!

[@nml4546]

Absolutely fantastic!!! I knew he had some kind of alternate tuning, but never knew what it was. Thanks.

[@kevinstewart7657]

Thank you! Never tried this song much because I couldn’t figure out how to get the droning open notes. You opened my eyes.

[@dyarllewis3653]

I find your teaching style to be very effective. You make it look easy! I have a request for a song for you to teach us how to play. It is, "Merlin's Time" by Al Stewart. I'll be looking for the notification that you've posted the video. Thanks!!

[@markdesod561]

Very Ambitious in depth instruction. I am agape at this stuff!! Thank You!!

[@thegolfnut812]

Excellent rendition. Learned a few new things. Consider Do For the Others please. Thanks.

[@davyhendrix]

Nice lesson I could probably play this since I can only play 2 note chords because of my dislocated ring finger

[@franksweeney1784]

Great lesson, i tried playing along to the woodstock version, and surprisingly it is a step lower in the key of D. maybe Stills dropped the key to reach those high notes. It does change the open tuning , with the D String being the only string unchanged. But he's definitely using the open tuning.

[@andriesscheper2022]

I reckon the tuning is inspired on indian sitar music, to be more precise: on Ravi shankar who also inspired The Beatles.

[@DESERTCYCLI5T]

Great song and very nice job; thorough and concise. Adding in the dabs of vocals here and there helps with where you’re at in the song and the segues between movements which can be difficult in some songs. The chord charts beat trying to describe where every finger goes. I don’t have much trouble learning the different sections, but when stringing them together I’m usually back to the record trying to make it all workout. Anyway, well done. I’ll be back. 👍👍

[@baselbob8012]

Great lesson, thanks! Easier on the guitar (i.e., the D up to an E) is to tune DDDDDAD and use capo II

[@12footchain]

Yes!

[@markgardiner1767]

A TERRIFIC TUITION ON THIS ICONIC C,S N MASTERPIECE... KUDOS TO YOU SIR 👍👍

[@melissa9375]

Stills played everything on it.

[@tcw5611]

Stephen Stills and John Fogerty were my reasons for wanting to learn to play guitar when i was a late teen - never got any good though! Still love to listen, watch and learn theory. Regarding your comment about playing the song with your fingers, as opposed to using a pick, I am convinced that Stephen played that particular part with his fingers. I've watched so many videos of him doing this, and he makes it look effortless. The "pick method " you demonstrated didn't sound quite right. I was going to mention his use of the Bruce Palmer tuning, but someone beat me to the punch. But, your video is excellent and your playing is very, very close to the original Stills' sound. Thanks a lot! -Tim

[@12footchain]

Thank you!

[@lubstorfk]

Do you think you'll ever do a lesson on those electric fills that you had in the demo?

[@RC-ed3sc]

Great tutorial. I'm a new sub to your channel and loving it! I'm also an old fart like Fightingtiger524. 1953 was a great year! I'm huge into modal and open tunings. There's a YT channel where the guy plays an acoustic guitar rendition of New York Minute by Don Henley in some manner of tuning that I can't sus out. I would love to see you do a tutorial on New York minute! Thanx for the channel and the great tutorials!

[@12footchain]

Welcome. Will look at NYM. Great guitars on those solo Henley songs

[@coolmacatrain9434]

My friends sister bought both triple albums some time in the 70's and me and my mate have been enthralled with this particular track since 1978 (at least) ... it was only with the advent of the internet (KZbin specifically ) that we learned it was played at night ..I've always imagined it played during a bright, sunny day. Such is life PS The same with Ten Years After - I'm Going Home --- I've always imagined it played during the day Regards from Ireland: 12 Foot Chain -- I absolutely love your channel - but then again, I'm a wee bit OCD about classic rock as well :)

[@12footchain]

Thanks! I lived in Ireland for a few years as a kid growing up in mid 70s. Foxrock near Dublin

[@listairgin]

12 foot chain Wow, thanks for letting us know that you have actually lived in Ireland. You will surely know about our treasures that are Gary Moore, Rory Gallagher, Phil Lynott / Thin Lizzy. 👌🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠

[@christopherk10]

Do you have a video that shows how to play the electric guitar part and bass?

[@davyhendrix]

It helps if you have new strings for these alternate tunings

[@davyhendrix]

I learned it from a song book I'm looking to see if it is mentioned in the songbook to alter tuning

[@56lyrad]

Thanks for your great dissection of this song, one of my favorites. Can this be accompanied by another guitar playing standard tuning?

[@12footchain]

Yes, absolutely

[@TheMachinesWon]

Incredible lesson! Would love to see the rest of the tunes from their first record. Amazing work! 👏🏼👏🏼

[@ReverbAndBeer]

While perusing your Tutorials I came to number 107, and number 118. These are political views that I find disgusting, and a true danger to my beloved USA. Did you intend for these to be listed, or have you been hacked?

[@12footchain]

No idea what you mean, I don't number my lessons and don't put any political stuff in my lessons.

[@ReverbAndBeer]

@@12footchain then you have been hacked. Try logging in on someone else's account, and look at the lessons listed on the right of the screen.

[@DjNikGnashers]

This is one of my favourite songs of all time. I think the vocal harmonies make up for the 'lack' of complicated guitar work, and together they just sound fantastic. This era of music was all about trying to use different tunings to simplify the guitar music, and many others (Joni Mitchell for example) used this technique. Here in the UK, we had amazing acoustic Folk artists using weird tunings such as Nick Drake, John Martyn, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, not to mention the original daddy of DADGAD Davey Graham. Davey Graham really brought that middle eastern sound to guitar music, as he tried to invent a way of playing the music he learned while travelling through Morocco, Turkey, and India, and convert that sound to a traditional 6 string guitar. He started his travelling / busking adventures in 1958, and by the early 1960's was writing music in DADGAD, which was copied by other Folk artists of the time.

[@jipes]

Nice video and well demonstrated ! Might call it Modal Tuning right ? Small detail In fact looking at several videos Stills is playing the A7 by fretting the big E with the thumb while fretting the B and small E strings with the index finger. Several live videos are actually down to D tuning (maybe due to voice arrangement)

[@adriantyler6911]

I believe it's called E Modal

[@genegiello3319]

I play all strings d change the b to a it's easier to sing

[@nicovelthuijsen]

Thanks man!!! Very good lesson. Never heard about this tuning and I play for such a time 🙂. The song... also didn't know it, but wonderful. Practicing now. Regards from Amsterdam - Holland

[@joeurbanowski321]

Oh man.! Just in time..! I just listened to Spotify Top 10…😩 I just need to have my brain flushed out with some righteous music..lol Thanks Mister 12Foot ✌🏼❤️

[@MaguireGuitar]

Thank you - does the second guitar also need to be E tuned or can someone play chords with standard tuning to accompany ?

[@12footchain]

No you can do it however you want!

[@edgardocarrasquillo9]

Gracias very much.

[@bobw1559]

Great tutorial! Thank you! I agree with you on how to play the end. Dododododo! Sounds better playing that way and mixes with vocals although like you stated you can play it any way you want. Great acoustic tune to play. So different. Tx again!

[@jayogden773]

Just found your channel and love the content so far! Thanks for posting all these classic songs! Love the detailed lessons!

[@12footchain]

thank you! tell your guitar playing friends! :-)

[@coreymihailiuk5189]

Apparently that unconventional "E" tuning was created by Canadian bass player Bruce Palmer who played with Neil Young before playing with CSN later.

[@odelljl]

Hockey guy

[@rexwitten]

the tuning is called the Bruce Palmer tuning because the base player in the band invented it. I deletes the major 3rd so all you play in 1st and the 5th when playing the song

[@henryharvey6609]

Great Song! Could you figure out, In my World, by Justin Hayward?

[@tba1879]

I believe it's called "Bruce Palmer modal tuning". I like to look at it as though you're tuning your guitar to an E power chord.

[@123omairma]

very good suite judy, pleas 4+20 Stephen stills

[@stevenmaccio4741]

Modle E

[@lawrenceklein3524]

Outstanding! You've broken "The Code" for so many of us! I can't thank you enough!

[@jorgetrejo135]

Thanks for this fantastic tutorial. It saves a lot of work and headache as well as frustration. It has been 50 some years since I first heard this song. I could not have imagined would be able to recreate it so closely thanks to your work. Please keep it going!

[@jordipuigmiquel3688]

Thanks!

[@MyDeCaff]

Great 👍

[@sterlingmcvay2469]

Basically, turned it into a Drone-Like instrument, like a Sitar...

[@kellystauffer8479]

That's the wackiest tuning I've ever heard of. Wow!

[@yrulooknatme]

drone

[@mikeofiesh2211]

Thank you for taking your time to make such a great video this is really helpful I’m going to play it out tonight and sing it with play acoustic harmonizer

[@mikeblair4017]

Yeah

[@listairgin]

Brilliant! Thank you so very much. 🌠🌌🌅👌

[@chezbranski]

Love your lessons, thanks for the forensic detail, I’ll give this one a go, pray for me

[@Tubes12AX7k]

Great channel! More CSN and Stills solo stuff, please.

[@stephentookey5519]

Thanks for these tunings I have been playing about with the c one you showed on the love the one your with which i love these tunings just give such a huge sound to the acoustic

[@freddycookjr.2164]

E MODAL

[@earlmorton6265]

I need more time to filter this lesson out. I saw him play this in Lahaina back when.

[@piperofsimms]

Thank you, I really appreciated seeing how this is played after all these years. We used to hear this tune 3x's a day when on the Boss 40. An unusual tuning and a real treat to see this. Tucson, AZ.

[@lawrenceklein3524]

"The Boss 40" Was that on KTKT, 99 on the AM Dial? I've called Tucson my home since the mid 1950's until moving to California in Fall of 1968.

[@piperofsimms]

@@lawrenceklein3524 Hi, I was in San Diego, KGB and KCBQ am. I lived in the rural town of Jamul. I was glued to the radio and calling in to win records and concert tickets. Thx Lawrence !

[@piperofsimms]

@@lawrenceklein3524 Hi again, The Boss 40 was what the radio station called it's top 40. Keep on truckin'.

[@dukeofearl4117]

Could you call the tuning E Modal?

[@12footchain]

Yes

[@fsback1965]

Struggled to learn this song many times and could never get the right sound - thanks so much for this lesson!!!

[@danielswierczynski2001]

Great lesson. I would have loved to here you run through the whole song at the end, but still very awesome. Thank you.

[@h2er80]

Thank you for another awesome guitar lesson!

[@12footchain]

My pleasure!

[@Jim5150jvc]

Beautiful! Hey, what were you using for the Leslie effect on the telecaster? Sounded like a real rotating speaker.

[@12footchain]

Thanks, yeah it does an amazing job. It's called the ventillator II, here's a link. Highly highly highly recommend if you have the means imp.i114863.net/dogooQ

[@sterlingmcvay2469]

One of wanted to Learn and do, for a Very Long time!! Thanks!!

[@aarlee96]

Joe perry uses the same tuning on No More No More off of Toys in the Attic

[@peterrocha9474]

Thank you. Great guitar lesson. 🎸

[@gary6449]

The CSN songs "Carry On" and "4+20" also use this same tuning (and similar chords)..

[@12footchain]

Yeah carry on is also on my list to do. Great stuff

[@alainleclere4070]

Comment faire sans casser des cordes??

[@12footchain]

That's not enough stress to snap them. The other option is to tune them all to D (and B string to A) and capo on 2nd fret to have less string tension

[@richardlynch5632]

Great fun to play😎👍 😎👍❤🖖

[@lindakiely8175]

Hi 12 Foot! Skill testing question... so for this tuning, to play with other guitars in standard tuning - must the other guitars playing the song in Key of E?? This tuning would not be compatible with other guitars playing in D, would it? I think I've seen both keys of E and D for playing this song. Which key (E or D) is "compatible" with this modal tuning of EEEEBE?

[@12footchain]

If the other guitars are tuned standard, then they play in E

[@lindakiely8175]

@@12footchain Thank you! Sometimes I really get confused over Capo transposition. Inexperience. I'm learning. Your video is great by the way!! This is like a university education!! What a talent Mr. Stills is.

[@jamespower9208]

It’s great to know how but most magicians don’t reveal their tricks to they lose interest then reveal to reexcite again.Stills is a musical magician.

[@12footchain]

he really is. such a talent, super creative

[@yrulooknatme]

does that work with a 12

[@12footchain]

I guess you could do that, yeah

[@MyZxcvb12]

This is the best teaching version as its spot on 😊

[@daggettbeaver828]

Looks like you have a '66 cherry ES-335. My favorite year and model. Wish I had one. LOL I played Suite Judy Blue Eyes with a band many years ago. I tuned the guitar to an E chord, which probably wasn't very smart, since it creates more tension on the neck. For the 7th, I barred the lower strings with my thumb and barred the top 2 strings with my finger.

[@12footchain]

Good eye, close! It's a 67. I love that guitar. Collectors and some players turn their nose up over ones after 65 because of the nut being skinnier and the chrome hardware and trapeze, but I love love love that guitar

[@daggettbeaver828]

@@12footchain I had a '66 ES-335 but sold it in the '80s in a fit of insanity, and I've been kicking myself ever since. It was sunburst, not cherry, but it had the trapeze tailpiece and nylon saddles like yours, which is why I assumed yours was also a '66. You know how Gibson is - the models don't always sell exactly by year.

[@NjGent01]

Loved this thanks!

[@sstills951]

Sounds good dude. I'm not a musician. Just here for the music.

[@12footchain]

Thank you!

[@robertbourke7935]

Wow! Fabulous tutorial.

[@nickforbus378]

Awesome!

[@Johnnylefk793]

Excellent man!!!! what's the effect for electric guitar? Thanks 🙏

[@12footchain]

Leslie effect. Used my Ventillator II pedal.

[@Johnnylefk793]

Thanks 👍🙏🙏🙏

[@doughartley3513]

Great lesson

[@ogsofly1268]

Awesome lesson for a great song! Is there anyway you could do a lesson on Tales of Brave Ulysses by Cream? I just got a wah pedal and I really want to learn that song but I can’t find a good lesson anywhere.

[@12footchain]

Great suggestion, totally will do that. For me, that was White Room's practice run. Same progression different key,

[@ogsofly1268]

@@12footchain Awesome thanks a lot and I totally agree, a little less technical than White Room but that riff is so mesmerizing.

[@DESERTCYCLI5T]

BTW when I saw Nashville as the location I thought I’ll bet he knows Tom. I opened my eyes a little wider and saw we have the same T-shirt doh 😂 Then I thought hey I think I’ve seen him on one of Uncle Larry’s vids🤔😁

[@12footchain]

I know OF Tom, met him once (couple weeks ago at Franklin guitar show), bought an amp from him a year ago - made a video on that too. But love all things Uncle Larry, hope to get to know him more over time.

[@12footchain]

...and here's that vid kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2bTnKmlpJKVZ5Y

[@DESERTCYCLI5T]

@@12footchain That’s cool! Believe it or not, in 2004 I bought a JPLP from him. I heard him talking about his store that he had for a while. I remember the LP coming out of Nashville and thought wait what are the odds, no no no way. I hadn’t played it in years. Pulled it out from under the bed and sure as 💩 in the case was the cashiers check receipt made out to Tom Bukovac. I couldn’t believe it. Blew my mind. Next time I get it out I’m going to send him a few pics. It’s a beaut. If I was in Nashville I’d be hoping to do the same. Good luck and best wishes!

[@jbear4662]

Awesome job and song thanks ! On the electric tone in the beginning is that a Lessle speaker or stomp box ?

[@12footchain]

It is the neo instruments ventilator 2 pedal. That and the 1st version tube rotosphere from hughes & kettner are the best Leslie pedals ever in my opinion

[@jbear4662]

@@12footchain I got the first big ventilator. I know they came out with a smaller version. Whish I would have waited for that. Thanks

[@dchanson55]

E modal tuning?

[@12footchain]

yep I think you are right, looks like E modal

[@SergeCeyral]

You could also call it E5 chord (E major chord with no 3rd)

[@LivZsLife]

what are the odds you have a meeting with a guy and then want to spend the rest of your afternoon in his guitar lesson? thanks Doug!

[@12footchain]

ha! were we on a call today?

[@LivZsLife]

@@12footchain yes Frank Gallagher is my alter-ego - this is Bill L :) I think I've got this down - started to mess around with a banjo accompaniment. thanks for the great video!

[@kellystauffer8479]

Who composed it?

[@12footchain]

Stephen Stills I think

[@waynejackson3301]

What we have in mind is breakfast in bed for 400 000. Why Stills told Crosby at the beginning of the song to watch the bottom end was because they tune it down to D, Crosby was really hammering the low D. I guess Crosby took offense and Stills handle the guitar on it from Woodstock on ? They are all D except for the A on the second. Leave the 4th it's already D dud. As far as your teaching goes...VERY well done...EXTREMELY helpful! Thank you!

[@godseed2214]

This is awesome.