Chordplay - The Chords of Thin Lizzy

Here's the next episode of Chordplay with 'The Chords of Thin Lizzy.'
I noticed a lot of Thin Lizzy requests recently after I posted The Sword lesson and briefly mentioned this influential and popular classic rock group. That brief mention led to the comment section and my inbox lighting up like a Christmas tree and with that noticeable reaction, I realized there were a lot of viewers out there that wanted this lesson - so here you go!
This lesson takes a look at a number of great rock songs from Thin Lizzy, including classic rock staples such as 'Jailbreak' and 'Cowboy Song,' and some lesser-known tunes such as 'Ray-Gun,' 'Don't Believe A Word,' and many more.
Thin Lizzy was massively popular and influential during their heyday and helped pave the way for the arena rock style and sound that dominated the mid-to-late 1970s and well into the hard-rockin' 1980s. Their style, sound, and attitude influenced legions of musicians and bands that came after them and it's important to notice the major impact their music had on the scene, not to mention their image, street-smart attitude, and legendary antics touring on the road.
Give this episode a view, leave some comments and feedback, and please subscribe to Late Night Lessons - THANK YOU!

[@LizzyMan76]

Phil is my favorite rocker all time, Maiden owes everything to Lizzy Love the chords in She Knows, & Cowboy Song, Ray-Gun is very cool, great video!

[@EllisGordon33]

Thin Lizzy's "Live and Dangerous" another great 70's double live album. Nostalgic.

[@jlow532]

love Thin Lizzy. Jailbreak is an essential 70's "pinnacle rock" album. Every song and solo of each song is a precious gem.

[@lees7836]

Incredible band. Only saw them twice, both times in London in the 1970's (I can't remember the venue for the first gig but he second time was at the Lewisham Odeon, 14th December 1977). The line up on both occasions was Phil Lynott, Brian Robertson, Scott Gorham and Brian Downey. So good to be reminded just how great and influential they were. I am very lucky to have lived through that era and to have experienced them live. Thank you.

[@artfromtex]

I hope this is the first of a 10 Part Thin Lizzy series!!! Seriously, the chords behind the verse of "The Boys Are Back In Town" are very colorful. Great fodder for "Chordplay".

[@if6turnedouttobe9]

Thin Lizzy opened for Nazareth...First concert I ever saw at 14 years old...Houston, Tx. 1979...I was blown away...

[@leafamania1]

Lynott was born in the West Midlands of England, but grew up in Dublin ... not African American ... Love your lessons ... peace and stay safe

[@LateNightLessons]

Yes, his father was from Brazil and his mother was from Ireland. So he was technically half-African American. : )

[@river4837]

African father Irish mother I thought

[@jkraft8655]

Late Night Lessons. Sorry mate but technically he was British as he was born in Britain. His parents nationality is irrelevant. Love the lessons though.

[@nicktrierweiler3690]

Even in chordplay there's gonna be politics

[@JuanDeSoCal]

@@jkraft8655 Two dictionary definitions of nationality: (1) the status of belonging to a particular nation. (2) an ethnic group forming a part of one or more political nations. Dave was loosely half-correct only in the sense of the 2nd definition, meaning an ethnic group (ethnic black Africans) forming a part of one or more political nations (inclusively, all the nations contained in South, Central and North America). But, he wasn't correct in today's popularly used sense of the term, which is more like the first definition. I would agree that it is correct to say he was African-British, or just British, not African-American. That's probably a little pedantic. I love Dave's lessons!

[@theodosiosvafias4244]

Every tune from live and dangerous could make it here. And black rose!

[@mikesylvester1021]

Thin Lizzy deserves to be in the Rock and roll Hall of fame,they keep getting snubbed! Rip Philo.

[@johnnesbitt688]

Greetings from Dublin Ireland. Thanks for this. I've been playing in Lizzy tribute bands for years. My all time favourite band. Cheers man.

[@johnkerr6141]

Thanks David for this great lesson. I saw them live in the Kings Hall in Belfast on the “Live and Dangerous” tour I think I was 16 - nearest thing to legends in our homeland - also saw Rory Gallagher a lot - blessed I am 😇

[@IrishStewGuitar]

yes man i know what you mean.i saw them about 5 times including headline at Slane Castle and when people ask me what religion i am i tell them 'I'm A Rocker' : )

[@RackhirTheRed]

I've always loved Thin Lizzy. Chinatown is still one of my favorite albums. It was actually my brothers record and he got so sick of my playing the songs over and over as I was trying to learn them that he ended up telling me I could have it if I only played it if he wasn't around. One of the only benefits of sharing a room with an older brother! He was always picking up great albums from bands I'd never heard of and I got to get influenced by them.

[@rolandmarckwort]

Thunder and Lightening was a total guitar-gem album - HEAVY!

[@ronaldososa1975]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4uzgHiBZr6GrMU

[@sk1968dart]

The Rocker! Love that song, I seen Thin Lizzy open up for Journey in Fresno, Ca in July of 79, They absolutely smoked Journey, Gary Moore's second to last concert with Thin Lizzy. One of my top three bands of all time.

[@robert2948]

Thanks David. Saw them open for Kansas in ‘ 77. Fantastic show.

[@arthurmee]

I saw Lizzy half a dozen times. They used to do the college circuit including a venue very close to where I lived in the Uk in the mid seventies. Very tight, great live act.

[@uncleremus5046]

🍺’ski the awesomeness continues! One of the most influential pre metal bands of all time. Scott Gorham is criminally underrated as a guitar player & writer. Of course Moore joining was legendary also. Then you add in Lynott who had the charisma of a true frontman like Scott, Roth, Ozzy, etc. Not necessarily the best voice but the cool factor! The band was a complete powerhouse & probably my favorite to imbibe rye too. As always 🍺’ski you rule!🤘

[@GeoffSweet]

Fantastic Professor Brew!! You need to do a part 2 for Thin Lizzy...exploring their guitar harmonies...Thin Lizzy is the gold standard for guitar harmonies!!

[@tshouse2782]

Brian Robertson was so young during his time with Lizzy, his solo in "Still in love with you" was absolutely epic!!

[@sebastianfibes2126]

It really was delightful. He had a similar tone and some some riffs reminded me of Santana during the same period. Ive got eight of their albums on vinyl and refuse to part with them.

[@KajHeGeHaggman]

It was actually Gary Moore who came up with the solo and played it on Nightlife, even if he was never credited for it. But Robertson definitely plays it beautifully on Live and Dangerous.

[@sebastianfibes2126]

@@KajHeGeHaggman I believe Moore is credited on the back of the cover. If you have it you'll see his name with a reference to the song.

[@Ned-ke3ui]

He was only 17 when he joined Lizzy He was classical trained on piano but took up guitar A precocious talent RIP Phil🇮🇪

[@KajHeGeHaggman]

Sebastian Fibes I usually ”Don’t Believe A Word”, but I trust you on this

[@cleanhit777]

Love and Dangerous was the first album I ever bought, wore it out learning all the parts, good times, good memories. A covers band I was in at the time used to start with Are You Ready, certainly set the mood for the rest of the night! Loved this, thanks from the UK 🙂

[@roderickhager8154]

This guy is accurate with the industry's history as well as his views and opinions. Thanks for the riffs Brewski! 🗿

[@tonepoet]

Dude, Johnny The Fox is one of my top 5 albums of all. Such good rock and roll with so much soul. The solo to Fool's Gold is so melodic and in the pocket. Thanks for this, Dave!!

[@ronaldososa1975]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6PWgJ-ZnKebpac

[@tonepoet]

@@ronaldososa1975 This makes me very happy.

[@jimmiller2270]

Great band. Every piece just as strong as the next. I can listen to them for hours and find so many musical wonderment's.

[@lxathu]

I recall it all when we were small how he tried his best to warn us all

[@anthony27436]

One of the original band which made popular the two guitar harmonies trade-off guitar solos ... Are unique influential banf thank you David

[@andyoc]

I'm from Ireland and live in Dublin, there's a full size statue of Phil on the street outside Bruxelles bar off Grafton St. here, in early days Lizzy used to rehearse in a room over Bruxelles. Wish the lock down would end so I could have a pint there or across in McDaids!

[@jperryfan]

Very cool. I saw Thin Lizzy at Madison Sq Garden in 1977 opening for Queen. Gary Moore & Scott Gorham were fantastic .Been a fan ever since. Another song I always loved was Showdown. Cool chords with nice bends.

[@fernandes5986]

Man I love Thin Lizzy. So good you did this video. I can't stand out a single guitarrist in that band because they were all so good, even if I love Sykes. I think the band in itself was bigger than the individual guitarrists specially due to the creativity of Phill Lynnott. His lyrics and melodies were, to me at least, the main driving force behind the band, which was embelished by every guitarrist in his own style. Please do a Pat Thrall video.

[@chrisbarlow2131]

Brilliant. Please highlight their lead guitar work. They're gems. Thank you.

[@todhamilton5055]

I really enjoy watching and listening to your videos. As someone who’s been playing for a long time I also enjoy the fact that you do not explain exactly what fret your on and what finger you’re using etc, Watching those types of lesson videos is like getting my teeth pulled out. Appreciate you man keep up the good work.

[@Icedsymphony7]

That ray gun riff thats so hot

[@TGormania]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was wondering when you would get to Lizzy.

[@MARIO-uf1no]

Thanks for talking about one of my favorite bands ever.

[@chrisgeal6327]

Thanks for the woderfull insite into my ALL time favorite band. Been all over to see'em , such a shame Phil getting so ill that they never broke the USA.

[@atlantaguitar9689]

Saw TL back in the 70s several times. Always great. Also Brian Downey was/is a great drummer. His work on Emerald is stellar. I love that Les Paul u have.

[@akinoshoko4258]

I would say the same and add "Massacre" 🎼🎶👌🏾👍🏾😁

[@atlantaguitar9689]

@@akinoshoko4258 yes, Massacre is a great song also.

[@luisvillarreal5262]

Hey David. I remember jammin' to the Jail Break album at my friend's house, along with Kiss and AC/DC. This was about the time we were learning to copy songs to guitar on a cheap acoustic guitars. The action was higher than a kite and the gauges were enough to tear our fingers to the bone, but this lead to a more simplistic and comfortable transition to a real electric guitar. You're right about The Boys are Back in Town. That song has been beaten into the ground so much, it's turned to dust. LOL The thing I like about that song is the constant chord changes. It's not the boring, same old repeatable power chords we're so used to hearing. Thanks for this chord play. \m/

[@thedeadonmusic1]

That Raygun section is badass!

[@rjsilvas8597]

Instant like. If I could give it twice, I would.👍🏼👍🏼

[@kevmet84]

😎🤘 "Turn it upside down Turn yourself around"

[@65Lynchy]

Done it again👍dancing in the moonlight,emerald,killer on the loose,even less renowned stuff,Hollywood,pressure will blow,love this band so much,great meeting sic n a great 'look',Bell n Downey still do gigs,seperately,thanks for another killer🤘

[@martinvanburen3124]

growing up in the ‘70’s Thin Lizzy was all over the radio but over time I forgot about them and oddly enough when watching an early vid of Guns and Roses at the Ritz in NYC seeing Axl Rose wearing and eventually tearing a Thin Lizzy tee shirt got me back into the band with a much deeper dive than before - Great Great Band. Thanks for another great vid !!!

[@mikesylvester1021]

Axle has a black rose tattoo on his bicep!

[@absea7918]

Great lesson. You chose some great cuts. Not really chords, but Thin Lizzy was the first band to really nail the harmony guitar leads (Wishbone Ash as well), but Def Leppard and Iron Maiden took that element of Thin Lizzy as a main part of their sound. Definitely agree with you about the "toughness" of their riffs. They actually do a song called Toughest Street in Town which naturally features a dark/tough riff.

[@ronaldososa1975]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2PHZZ5oYr-jla8

[@absea7918]

@@ronaldososa1975 Yes.. He's excellent. That solo is crazy intense..

[@jmata4237]

Jailbreak Love Gary Moore's version(s) of "Don't Believe a Word" live. Great stuff once again 👍🏼 Much respect!💯

[@bertgetner9397]

Awesome lesson Dave. Thin Lizzy is an incredible band. Bad reputation, Fighting are my favorite albums. Jailbreak is awesome but absolutely overplayed. There will never be another. Loved those guy's. Thanks again!

[@ronaldososa1975]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpPRY5xug9Z6eqc

[@ronaldososa1975]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4TGhIFnlrimf6c

[@meteor09]

This is my new favorite channel. Song/riff analysis is exactly what I've wanted! Thank you for this great content! I would love some more Thin Lizzy and Testament!

[@robertdyer8517]

THANKS FOR THE TRIP BACK !!!!

[@sacredgodslayer]

Great lesson! Skid Row when? Making a mess has a shining chordplay

[@voronOsphere]

Awesome, David! Great stuff!!!! Thank you!!!!

[@kimchi2780]

Hell yeah! I love Thin Lizzy. I also loved Scott Gorhams band in the 90's 21 Guns. Robo and Gorham were amazing with their dual leads. Jailbreak, Renegade, and Johnny the Fox are amazing albums. It def. has that tough Irish bar fight sound to it. Angel of Death was a song that was way ahead of its time too.

[@lamnag01]

Thanks for covering the wide spectrum of the Thin Lizzy discography, really enjoyed the analysis of Eric Bell.

[@chrispeterson73]

I whole heartedly agree! Thin Lizzy totally influenced countless guitarists 👍

[@GuitarHack66]

Great lesson. Love Thin Lizzy.

[@atlantaguitar9689]

03:50 - Jailbreak (Main Riff) 04:50 - Jailbreak (Bridge) 05:32 - Don't Believe a Word 07:08 - Ray Gun 08:15 - Cowboy Song 10:30 - She Knows 12:25 - Bad Reputation

[@wooliegeek]

Opium Trail, especially the live version. All of the Lizzy Catalog really. I lived in Europe when they were at the top. They were everywhere. It was a good time to be a fan.

[@tomdutra977]

Hi Dave great band. I saw them at winterland when I was a kid, great show great energy. I'm just really glad I got to see them. Maybe one day you can show us some of the leads...unison's...etc. and yea no worries about feeling a little lazy that day. Seems to me you deserve it, you can tell you work very hard.

[@Busyfingers24]

You are killing it Dave👍your channel is just one notch behind hitting the lottery or an inheritance! 🤣 please keep it going brother, 'cause neither one of those are gonna happen🤘

[@williamsimmons4678]

One of my favorite bands ever !! Thanks David !!!

[@strat0871]

Nice licks from Thin Lizzy.

[@allenlocke1935]

This lesson was a long time coming and I didn't even know it! I'm ashamed to say that I didn't have any of their stuff back in the day. But I've revisited them big time since the turn of the millennium. Too many great songs to cover in just one lesson. Please feel free to do volumes II, II and IV! Everyone check out Gary Moores Live Tribute To Phil Lynnot...amazing! "The Legend Of The Black Rose" is highly recommended." Bad Reputation" was awesome. "I'm A Rocker" and "China Town" would be awesome lessons as well. Rock On!!!!!!!

[@cooper1415]

Hey dave , i sat with the guys in 1975 /76 at electric ballroom in dallas , crazy story but they were all very quiet except scott Gorham , l.a. jets opened for t.l. great experience , anyway love your late night lessons , have learned so much man . Thanks Dave!!

[@davidbaron8330]

With Thin Lizzy, it was more like you were gonna get in a fight IN the bar. Google the story of Robbo beating up Sid Vicious with his clog. lol LOVE LOVE LOVE LIZZY Please do a part 2 with some Moore and Sykes rhythms like Black Rose and Holy War.

[@centeroftheearth1598]

just discovered your channel, amazing stuff! Thank you for the lesson \m/

[@meowwoem6372]

I can remember how sad I was when it came on the bbc news, back then, that lynot was dead. thin lizzy were one of my fave bands as a kid. I still listen to them once in a while now.

[@chetcalhoun613]

She Knows puts me In mind of some of Van Morrison’s music…can’t put my finger on what song, but similar…thanks for doing what you do.

[@mikalwatkins5526]

Love your channel!

[@frankortega4280]

Favorite band of mine. Every song is great. Nice guitar tone.

[@iankeel7914]

Through music history, there have neen a few bands with a list of guitarists that put other bands to shame, two that come to mind are the "Yardbirds" the other is and will always be, the one and only "Thin Lizzy" an exceptional band with and exceptional line-up.

[@franksantos7163]

Great segment..love thin lizzy..was hoping you played the emerald

[@voronOsphere]

I love "The Emerald." "Warrior," too!

[@CVGuitar]

Thin Lizzy rules and Phil is a legend

[@Scottocaster6668]

Jailbreak baby!!

[@andyracksthecams]

Yes

[@river4837]

One of my favorite bands Brian and Scott a couple of badasses. David would you consider covering Ronnie Montrose sometime? ( Another badass)

[@icurt06]

Back in 83 I bought a new Black Les Paul Standard just like the one in this video. I lived in an apartment in Moline, IL at the time. I paid $500 for the guitar. I remember playing Keep On Loving You by REO Speedwagon. The solo by Gary Richrath sooooo good!!. The neck and sustain were so amazing on that guitar. One day my cousin brought over his collection of Jimi Hendrix and VanHalen albums. After that day I only played Strats. I remember selling my Les Paul Standard for $450. I wonder how that old girl is doing?

[@jimmeade9961]

Hey Dave, great to see you get around to Lizzy. I'm from Dublin so I was reared on Lizzy, saw them first time in 1975 on the Fighting tour. Nit pick time....when you played the riff from Bad Reputation I was counting out with your foot stomp. Pretty sure you were playing 4/4 all the way, but the last bar of that riff is in 5/4. Love your channel.

[@bluesdude1194]

Got to see them on the Thunder & Lightning tour 1983 at Birmingham Odeon, England. Great gig, John Sykes definitely added something to the band.

[@williamsimmons4678]

Ray Gun great tune !!! Love cowboy song !!!!!

[@rikshredder]

Check out ANY tune on Black Rose! My favorite of all their albums. That record is a masterpiece from beginning to end AND it's got Gary Moore opposite Scott.

[@weejim48]

Thin Lizzy we’re the reason I learned to play guitar, 👍

[@10INCHCRUSHER]

Great video.

[@ch0g0nda1]

Riot? Maybe the Fire Down Under album in-particular? Fantastic content! Really has me picking up my guitar a lot again, thanks!

[@azbluesdog]

I always loved playing "Jailbreak" and "The Boys Are Back" in my late '80s cover band. They were part of our "Classic Rock" set. The songs were like 12 years old then.

[@rawkinj6609]

Rocker is also a good street fighting song! But cowboy song is my favorite, followed by Bad Reputation ;) Thanks so much for this, i discovered Thin Lizzy in a guitar magazine in the 80's when i was 13 and bought Dedication the best of Thin Lizzy on Cassette at the same time as Hendrix Are You Experienced? Whataya know! Rock on ! Only Phil Lynott can sing : '' I always get chocolate stains on my pants '' and be taken seriously!

[@williamsimmons4678]

You're right about phil being the second jimmi !! Phil was a phenomenal player and front man persona !!!!!!!!

[@jerryc3240]

Came across this and thought, if he doesn't start with Jailbreak...

[@adrianwoodward6029]

Another belter David, any chance on the first skid row album lesson? Sabo and Hill Rick on that.

[@frankquinn1296]

Lizzy and Budgie ( lesser known ), really heavily influenced a lot of 80`s metal. But it kinda started with Wishbone AshéABB. Lizzy`s Johhny the Fox and Bad Reputation still stand up to this day.

[@guillotinedeath]

All time favorite band every member wasGREAT!

[@diegonolasco616]

I need the Chordplay of Brian Robertson

[@HeadbangersLocal]

Great lesson! How about some AC/DC chord play? 🤘🏻🤘🏻👍🏻

[@petertownley7586]

Great lesson! they were one of my favourite bands from my youth, especially when John Sykes joined them. How about doing a lesson on "Manic Street Preachers".

[@IvanMtl]

Thin Lizzy were technically the first band that I saw live (opening for Queen), and Gary Moore and Scott Gorham were the guitarists. They were amazing as well, and I have been a big fan ever since. Thanks for showing the respect that you did! By the way, why don't you sing between the guitar parts when you cover songs that have a musical break in them? ;-)

[@TheK20sedan]

Finally

[@andyracksthecams]

Jailbreak

[@NoLegalPlunder]

Eric Bell is one of my favorite guitarists. His stuff on Vagabonds of the Western World blows me away. Too bad he self destructed shortly thereafter.

[@Jacksonkellyfreak]

I get what you meant, but Phil Lynott was Irish, born in England I believe. Lol I know what you meant though haha. He was a person of color. Excellent lesson David! Knocked it out of the park.

[@scottwilson6138]

Midge Ure from ultravox was their guitarist for awhile to I first got into thin Lizzy after hearing Phil on the War of the Worlds lp

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

Seen TL open for Queen in Boston 2 back to back performances.👍🏼💪

[@davidfisher5177]

Really enjoy your videos David. Wish the audio quality was better. Also wish you’d do a video on Ian D’Sa, he is very unique IMO. 😊

[@pdooley730]

Greatest band of all time!!! Especially with Gary Moore!

[@williamsimmons4678]

Lest we not forget that Bad Reputation was a Scott Gorham and Phil album !!!!!!!!