Chordplay - The Chords Of Pete Townshend

Here's the next episode of Chordplay with The Chords Of Pete Townshend. I've had several requests to feature the music of The Who and reveal a little of Pete's chord-based mastery, so I figured it was finally time to hit some essential and pioneering moves from this complete icon of rock guitar.
This lesson features chord-based moments from several classic hits from The Who such as 'Behind Blue Eyes' and 'I Can't Explain' along with some lesser-known "fan favorites," such as 'Tattoo,' 'Imagine A Man,' and much more!
Needless to say, with a guitar legend like Pete Townshend, you know there's plenty of new ideas to pick up and explore as he's historically known as a guitar chord wizard, so get your fingers ready for some challenges and dive in! There's a lot of acoustic moments in this lesson, but I made sure to include some electric guitar examples to try and balance it out.
Give this episode a view, leave some comments/feedback, and please subscribe to Late Night Lessons - THANK YOU!

[@bryanstaddon5998]

Really sick of all the “he’s not a lead player” comments. His soloing is completely original, listen to Young man blues, or almost any of his solos. He didn’t sound like anyone else on purpose! Like we really needed another endless riff hog in the late 60s early 70s! Not! When he was the only guitar player in The Who (before The large band tours) Everything he did WAS the lead guitar! This video is great and really shows how unique he was in relation to his peers.

[@jkta97]

To anyone who says he can't play lead, I tell them to listen to the entire "Quadrophenia" album, especially the title track and "Love Reign O'er Me."

[@webz3589]

John entwistle was the lead guitarist.

[@knightfall9394]

@@webz3589you mean bass guitarist, which is what john referred to himself as

[@jasonalbert9939]

Townsend has always been my favorite guitarist

[@nkmcfrln]

Obviously, since you can’t even spell his last name.

[@huskvarsm]

Pete’s chord work is pure musical alchemy……and there is no other guitarist/songwriter that comes close to his all encompassing use of partials half Barr and drone chords.

[@rrrayrrray]

Exactly!!

[@gianpaolousai1768]

Who and Pete Townshend is pure magic. When they ask you who you prefer among Beatles and Rolling Stones you have to say: The Who

[@danielcox-gonzalez7430]

Word

[@96driver]

Here 5/19/22!! Happy 77th Birthday Pete Townshend

[@davidbaron8330]

He also invented the Marshall stack. Pete's a genius. You could do 10 chordplays on Pete.

[@Shamilt3]

Hiwatt stacks. Sun city before that

[@davidbaron8330]

@@Shamilt3 He used Hiwatts and Sun Cities later after a fallout over money with Jim Marshall, but he was responsible for making Marshall build him 8x12 cabs, and then, when those proved too big, having Marshall split them into two 4x12 cabs.

[@Shamilt3]

@@davidbaron8330 I had no idea. Hiwatt with treble boost/tone bender is the "pete" sound to me.

[@BrungersBandRock]

@@Shamilt3 well , thats the Pete Sound for 69-71.. really a small period of time.. he used all kinds of stuff, I like his 79-82 Schecter Tele period and his current set up with the Strat, Vibro King and the MXR Dynacomp/ Trex Delay..

[@jdemarco]

Townshend had the unique ability to mend lead and rhythm guitars into one...

[@stratorarious]

Great lesson, he is a master at making chords mean something.

[@mountain_girl]

The Who are one of those bands that were so good it was/is actually scary. And talk about historic and iconic rock and roll moments. I forget which show (or perhaps it was more than one) it's all over youtube....Keith has broken headphones duct-taped on his head....cymbals are strwen about....JE is in a just enough drugs kinda-groove-sweet-spot silently killing it, Pete is like, grinding his jaw and literally bleeding....windmills abound....and then Daltry launches in to the opening scream on Won't Get Fooled Again...doesn't get more rock and roll than that.....

[@MrEspo117]

I have to agree with you.Who by Numbers is one of the great Rock recordings. Always enjoy your playing and perspective.

[@dodgedandle8311]

Townsend Really is a tour de force as a Guitarist Songwriter and all round visionary, I grew up from an early age Listened to The Who as my older brother was a massive fan, they were mind blowing for me and still are after all these years 🌞⭐️❤️

[@bricelivoti3398]

Yes ! I have been a Pete fan for 50 years now. I absolutely love his style of rhythm play as a lead guitarist. I am just an aspiring intermediate guitarist, but you have really opened some doors for me with this video. There is a reason his music has found its way to many other media destinations, movie, tele. ... He is truly a master at his craft... Thanks...

[@lincolnballard3588]

Im gonna like this before I even watch one second of it

[@benwabp]

Me too! Lol

[@glaucosouza1971]

Same here!!

[@TheDogPa]

I so thought the same thing!

[@chrisgrabowski2678]

Thank you for that "Dreaming from the Waist" lesson. I've always liked that song, but never even attempted playing it. Now I've got another gem to practice on. Over the last few years, I've seen Guitar Snobs dismissing Townshend as a quality guitarist. Because he didn't/doesn't play like BB King, Clapton, Lukather, Knopfler, Malmsteen, Van Halen...they don't think playing lead via rhythm is deserving of recognition. They should realize Entwhistle primarily played the lead lines and Pete had the job of bringing the power fills without washing out everything sonically. As you showed, acoustically he did very interesting things and came up with quality songs from them. Thanks again!

[@peterforget946]

That was a very enjoyable performance. More Townshend please!

[@cinpa2968]

FINALLY credit is given to “The Who by Numbers”! Disc 1 of Quadrophenia is my all time favorite but “Numbers” comes in 2nd. If “Squeeze Box” was eliminated it would be a perfect album. When “Numbers” came out I sent my mom to buy it for me while I held down the front desk at our family’s bowling alley (Bell Bowl in Queens,NY) since I didn’t have a driver’s license yet. She came back with the import version and in shock asked why it was so expensive ~$15 instead of the $6-7 I said it would be. I still have that album and am still in love with it. Thank you soooo much for the acoustic lessons from this album! As soon as I drop my grandson off (retirement job) I’m grabbing my guitar and gonna “Dream from the Waist”!

[@monkface]

I was so glad you mentioned the acoustic side. Because he kills it.

[@mattyoxide3650]

Drowned from The secrets policeman’s other ball footage is probably the greatest thing I’ve ever seen.

[@johnnymossville]

behind blue eyes has some of the most beautiful chords. It's pure ear candy.

[@williambradford8265]

Been playing The Who since the 70s, and you make it as relaxed as it gets. I like your style of teaching. Thanks man.

[@chrissnape9537]

You captured the essence of Pete. He is far better than given credit. Pete can play lead, but as you say, rhythm was his game

[@sotirios6882]

I am "The Seeker "/ "Won't get fooled again" Also great songs. There was a movie out in 2000 called Hendrix. In one part The Who n Hendrix were playing at the Monterey festival in Cali. Pete walks back stage after smashing his guitar looks at Jimi n smiles, Jimi yawns n says Peter Peter Jimi Hendrix baby n don't you forget it n laughs. Then Jimi comes out with the experience n cranks out some massive feedback n goes into Wild Thing lights his guitar on fire n smashes it at the end of the song. That was awesome . ROCK ON.🎸

[@michaelmastrangelo4665]

Simply put...Pete is a genius.

[@jay56wilcox]

Hello, All I needed to hear was the beginning, " Can't Explain". You get it and I Love It. Dave Brewster Rules

[@sloppy_hand]

would be nice to make a comparison between Pete Townshend, Steve Marriott and maybe the Davies brothers from the Kinks... they all have the chord style from mod era goin' on

[@georgemurphy5981]

Excellent video! What a great breakdown of Pete Townshend’s creative genius. I will be watching this many times. Much gratitude.

[@MrPete-pe6uk]

Great stuff...thank you for posting/sharing

[@danmarcucci3207]

Tattoo!! One of my favorites. Thanks Dave!

[@barryhaynes103]

Pete Townsend wrote some classic songs that will live on longer after he is gone ... Long Live Rock, I need it every day !!!

[@chrisrausch9134]

..."every night."

[@allbottledup9513]

@@chrisrausch9134 Come on and join the line!

[@buddylobos5277]

I learned a lot from Pete. Mostly thru Guitar Player Mag. He talked about recording acoustic guitar. He said, you can't play along with the electric or the acoustic gets lost. He said you have to strum slightly BEHIND the electric and let it ring. I used that tip to much success in our recordings.

[@z1g]

Nice to see awesome songwriters getting some love. It's not all about the weedly weedly.

[@bertgetner9397]

Wow. That was pretty incredible. Awesome job Dave! Nothing can touch that early sound.

[@peterprice5896]

Man that “behind blue eyes” breakdown gave me chills you really nailed it 👍

[@ollid.5590]

A great selection of Pete’s chords, thank you indeed David! „Behind Blue Eyes“ is such a great piece of music. Btw, Pete was/is of one of Ace Frehley‘s main influences. Just watched your previous Ace/KISS lessons again and I could detect some similarities. That is what students should do, right? Get interested in a topic and start researching on their own. Looking forward to your next lesson, Professor Brewster! 😂😂👍🏻👍🏻

[@dr103]

Excellent video. Pete is my favorite guitarist. It would be fantastic if you do more clips to show his impact on music.

[@BostonWhoFan515]

Dude! Pete's my all time favorite guitarist! Great lesson! Thanks! Btw, you got me hooked on Hawk picks almost 2yrs ago. Thanks again! Cheers.

[@kevinstimelsky673]

Petes lead, soloing is awsome! Pete is a great lead, soloist guitarist. Sometimes less is more. I was never in to the 20 minute solos

[@wulfenii64]

Amazing band.

[@chrisrausch9134]

Damn, dude. That was a great lesson. Pete is one of my very favorites. Yeah, he's a chord/groove guy. About midway thru the Pinball Wizard part, I started hearing Hotel California...would not be surprised to learn that Frey was influenced there. Anyhow, thanks man.

[@stratman9449]

as you say....pete Townsend is a strummer, not a soloplayer...and he did know how to promote the who with some PR stunts..(including smashing up some guitars...)..I'll learn a couple of your picks anyway,,,it is epic stuff, whatever one's musical preferences are.....great lesson, as always...;-)

[@DanielHuman1996]

Wow, there is quite a similarity between Can't Explain and the Clash City Rockers!

[@musicmotorskate7540]

Pete was great. I really need to spend some time learning some of his songs. Thanks again for another great lesson 👍.

[@strivingx67]

My Fave album for sure is "Who's Next". Was lucky enough to see them on the reunion tour in 1989 at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Damn what a great show that was. The whole show was one big party! Hacky Sack being played everywhere on the field. Drinks flowing and a great mood. It was one of my fave shows I attended ever. Great stuff David, thanks!

[@TheDogPa]

I was there too. Great show. Seen them every show in LA...I mean many nights on every tour from '76 until the first one after Entwistle at the Hollywood Bowl! 5 nights at the Sports arena and one at the Forum once...had to miss one of the 7 shows that year :O) For me there is The Who, then there is everything else. Since the statute of limitations is long gone...I cut the hole in the outfield fence at Anaheim in '76 to take pictures through. I had no idea people would open the hole farther and rip the entire outfield covering down. Oops. Got great pictures of them though. Moonie too :O)

[@eddiejr540]

AWESOMENESS....great break down...great job Brewster!!!!!

[@frankdusoswa9583]

Can you make an episode about the Golden Earring? They recently stopped because George Kooymans was diagnosed with ALS. It is going to be a fantastic episode because they have so many great songs to choose from and they've been running for over 50 years.

[@twentyonetwentyguitars9344]

Another great breakdown. Thanks again!😎

[@roystonsbailey]

Great lesson, looking forward to a part II! For historical accuracy's sake: according to Townsend, it was John Entwistle (The Who's bassist) who came up with the Marshall stack. Pete copied him, and Hendrix copied them.

[@DjangoThunders]

I like Bowie's cover of "can't Explain" on the Pinups album. He totally transforms the song but remains true to the spirit.

[@MrMassivefavour]

Bowie worshipped PT when he was young trying to break through. Pete did a lovely obituary style interview about him when DB passed

[@jpastor99]

Enjoyed it. Thanks!

[@STAMPER-DESIGN]

Amazing lesson! Thank you

[@Jhossack11]

Love me some Townshend! And your awesome!

[@StealthParrot]

Awesome, thanks!

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

Excellent. Thanks for the unconventional sing choices! Amazing chords.

[@chrisjones8977]

WOW!! That was a GREAT lesson. I like all of your vids but this one was exceptional. Keep up the fantastic work.

[@jasonpowell8832]

Really good lesson.

[@andyracksthecams]

Brilliant. De Ja Vu. I'm sorting guitar tone recently and about to finally build my pedal board properly. I keep picking up my acoustic for some sanity and find myself playing Pete Stuff. There is no better or more fulfilling sound. He's amazing.

[@blakegilliam8223]

Thank for this

[@fxdbmgtow]

David keeping it fresh!

[@BangBangBeefyMacNCheesy]

Not sure if I’m an idiot or if I just never noticed this... but do you change the photos on the wall to match the topic of each video? If so... very cool... great channel 👍🏻 🤘🏻

[@orwellsgoatatemyradishes4358]

He does,but don't worry,we're all idiots together in our own individual way.

[@kendog7096]

Great lesson. Townsend's is awesome 🔥

[@donwershba2319]

Well Done!

[@aquajew3000]

We need a Lindsey Buckingham episode of this!!!

[@jerryc3240]

great stuff as always

[@sprocketman927]

Not sure if it's been requested, but how about the chords of Cheap Trick sometime? I appreciate the effort you put into these videos. Love 'em!

[@ronhedblad2415]

Thanks, man! Great study and lesson - Pete is incredible, and thank you for the insights

[@patrickmaline4258]

basically, great lesson.

[@uncleremus5046]

That Acoustic sounds great 🍺’ski!

[@stepanbandera5206]

When are you going to cover Pete's methods of guitar smashing? What guitars would you use for this lesson? Great channel.👍

[@andymellor9056]

Fantastic. Studying Townshend was on my agenda. Your lessons are always spot on and this one is very timely for me 🧡

[@ericsfc1ea.16]

Been watching and appreciating alot of your vids, your easy to listen to both vocally and musically!

[@praudery6249]

Simply GREAT solid playing and passion

[@mohambobujambo]

wow this is amazing

[@1955chevyconvertible]

Excellent! Thanks!

[@andrewmoore1735]

Another great vid! I have one small request, cover that blinking light on your amp before someone has a seizure.

[@TheDogPa]

Sorry if I hit my desk too hard doing Moonie's part after the Dreaming intro :O)

[@jerrywilson4371]

Man I should have paid more attention to Pete when I was a kid. I was always so pissed at him for smashing up those Les Pauls when I couldn't afford one. Thanks David

[@stepanbandera5206]

His living room wall is covered with smashed classic Rickenbackers.😬🤦

[@jerryoutlaw3396]

Great stuff, my man!!!

[@johndawson6975]

very good...people need to listen more to Pete and Harrison etc:.

[@LiveMusicCT]

Don't think I noticed it before but the first 4 chords of that opening riff you did sooooo reminds me of the cars... "bye bye love" 🤘

[@LiveMusicCT]

Technically 3 chords...

[@markgrant1302]

Pete kept the beat, in his own words ....Keith played all over the place and John did as well, so i kept the rhythm because somebody had to.

[@aclaudiocerqueira]

Great job, but I just missed lessons on Drowned on acoustic guitar... I think his work in this particular song is the very best of Townshend's. But anyway, thanks!

[@seanodonnell9826]

Just found your channel but I'm really diggin it dude, you have a great demeanor and your evident love of Star Wars is an unrelated yet certain plus! haha. The first vid I watched was your Steve Clark episode, both of those guys are total riff monsters and huge influence on my creative sensibilities. In fact when trying to defend my love of Def Leppard to naysayers, I've described High n Dry as the early 80's equivalent of The Who, most people seem to have overlooked that era it seems.

[@seanodonnell9826]

Also mentioning the Scorpions! another group with fantastic chord progressions!

[@ebullient_3937]

You’re great. If you could walk us through the finger placement a bit that would be super helpful. Thank you.

[@leeturton9254]

I play love to play magic bus on my acoustic...dam i get carried away when i play that 😆...every single time...my dog looks at me like wtf!! 😆

[@imannonymous7707]

Trying to learn overture / ita a boy from tommy. His use of chord intervals and killler acoustic guitar rythym.....this was a cool episode bro. And i agree completely

[@zapphoddbubbahbrox5681]

'somethin like that'... (wry smile).; Dude, you are expert at altering the rhythm just enough..:) love it and thanks!. FWIW, a low rent katana does a good rotarish and/or roto effect.

[@marcjordan29]

Give blood..... Mr dave.. Check out "nuclear power trio". Song "clear and present Rager".... Dudes are jammin

[@strivingx67]

Any chance you can do a Chord Play on Marillion? And go in depth on Kayleigh? Such an incredible song imo. Thanks for all you do man!

[@trajan6927]

Actually The Who were in some form or another formed in 1962. Detours, The Who, The High Numbers and then finally The Who again in 1964 when Moon joined. There were other musicians in the early years.

[@Ned88Man]

its like he trademarked that "downstroke, up stroke, downstroke"

[@weedywet]

the second chord of Tattoo is really just an F add e , the bass is the giveaway.

[@directassault1662]

Just starting to watch, but crossing my fingers for an analysis of the PW intro

[@directassault1662]

Did not disappoint

[@gokberkmusic6865]

Tattoo has unusual but the others usual chords but sounds great all of them

[@dorkbrandon4422]

I like the term chord wizard it's appropriate to Pete Townshend I know folk refer to george Harrison as a chord Smith

[@PetraKann]

Nobody has ownership of chords - they are already there for musicians to discover and play in their own way.

[@LateNightLessons]

Yep and that's the entire point of this series of lessons. "Chordplay" is about finding/locating chord-based ideas (and voicings) and playing around with what you've discovered to make your own music while borrowing and getting some new ideas from the masters. These aren't really "Pete's chords" but some of the music he made using them.

[@PetraKann]

@@LateNightLessons So the title should read "The music of Pete Townsend"? Music is also about 'spaces' and where these spaces are placed within the musical composition. Like Miles said “There are no wrong notes in jazz: only notes in the wrong places” and “It's not the note you play that's the wrong note - it's the note you play afterwards that makes it right or wrong.”

[@michaeljorfi3552]

@@PetraKann the title is fine

[@vinfreeman1602]

Another great one! What kinda acoustic are you playing?

[@jamesmilton8765]

Daltrey was the lead guitar but gave it up to sing. Townshend was the rhythm guitar, which is why he was big on chords. The Who never made an money from live gigs because of smashing up all the equipment, in fact Townshend had to moonlight as a house painter, which is why he always appeared in white overalls.

[@johnc.mitchelljr.2716]

when playing pete songs , i break strings !

[@griffinbliss7362]

Can't Explain : d

[@petew.1418]

Acoustic guitar is great for cleaning up any sloppiness that may have crept into your playing.