Chordplay - The Chords of ZZ Top

Here's the next episode of Chordplay with The Chords of ZZ Top.
Billy Gibbons is a complete legend of the electric guitar and blues-rock music itself, as his career extends back to the late-1960s and actually kickstarted shortly after he met Jimi Hendrix backstage at a show. This meeting inspired Billy further into his music and career, which technically began with him watching his father working in recording studios as a child and famously watching another legend, B.B. King, record and work in the studio at a young and impressionable age.
This lesson takes a look at a number of famous and lesser-known ZZ Top cuts from the 1970s and the examples were pulled from a variety of their classic and influential albums. From 'Cheap Sunglasses' and 'I Thank You,' to 'Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings' and 'Sure Got Cold When The Rain Fell,' and more, there's an assortment of material here to devour and should be something for just about everyone.
Locking into Billy's famous slick and gritty rhythm guitar style, not to mention his top-shelf biting and expressive lead style, will surely boost the playing for anyone searching for some new rhythms, riffs, and blues-influenced ideas that will certainly add some grit and muscle to your guitar playing.
Give this episode a view, leave some comments and feedback, and please subscribe to Late Night Lessons - THANK YOU!

[@LocoDirewolf]

Billy has always been one of my favorite guitarists. His playing is neither fast for the sake of being fast, nor flashy or showing off. His playing has smoothness, funkiness, nastiness, grittiness, stankiness, bluesyness, boogie, swagger, and chillness, all rolled into one epic, unmistakable style.

[@JamminJim42]

NO other word can cover it like "stank" !!! Great choice.

[@mariuszeven]

Agreed

[@wilhelmrogue1]

‘Stankiness’ hell yess

[@ManCrew]

Well said. Billy G is a one of a kind national treasure. The best tone in the business. When I am improvising I hear his style of blues rock in my head. He is sneaky good. When you start trying to learn his stuff it's amazing how efficient he is. He chooses some really interesting notes. Nobody squeezes the thickness out of two notes better than Billy.

[@garrrrrryyy]

Love billy gibbons one of the very best indeed

[@azzuro195]

"You didn't have to teach us like you did but you did, but you did and we thank you"... IMHO Billy has the most coolest licks, very melodic and intelligently designed, always making my blood boil. Long live the king!

[@markhamilton8765]

Agreed! BTW, the first part of your comment is pure genius!!

[@ernestturner915]

My favorite all time solo from Billy Gibbons was the Rough Boy solo..It has given me goosebumps for 30 years..

[@myoldmate]

Mine is the solos from the original take of La Grange. I was very young then and it just blew me away. The whistle notes are effing fantastic. Also a track of theirs that no one ever seems to acknowledge is Planet Of Women, that is a proper headbangin' track, also with great solos.

[@userjasker76]

My favorite is I need you tonight. I feel so much emotion in that song . My eyes well up lol.

[@midnightexpress1567]

So true

[@swoopdog54]

Another excellent nuanced lesson that every guitar player should dig and emulate. This kind of thing just drips coolness. Excellent teacher and player. Great tone. It's ALL good!

[@DmaraGuitars]

When I saw Billy playing Cheap Sunglasses live, I noticed he’s playing the A-Bb at the second and third fret. That sneaky sucker has his high e tuned down a whole step.

[@uncleremus5046]

Always thought Billy Gibbons was underrated & had exceptional phrasing! Great job 🍺Ski!

[@dabsafe]

ZZ Top’s first 3 albums are just the most amazing

[@rcanderson4328]

ZZ Top is one of the tightest bands EVER. Billy Gibbons is a top notch guitar player too.

[@peterdoiron6435]

Love that earlier ZZ TOP.

[@davidrpriest]

The genius of Billy Gibbons is he can play an incredible solo with very few notes. He takes you on a journey using slight bends, harmonics and feel. He can stay in one position and entertain you for minutes. He doesn't fly all over the fret board. His ability to do this is reminds me of Albert King.

[@randyroberts4239]

"He's a badass..." Pretty well summed up, brother!

[@joeflotta]

rain fell this mornin' ---not from my eyes but from the skies. LOVE THAT SONG!

[@ziggylayneable]

"ZZ top's first album"will always be my favorite. when you flip the album over and look at the picture on the back and they don't have long beards. and there in a cattle stall...lol. have mercy...

[@absea7918]

Great lesson! I love how Billy Gibbons always seems like what he's playing is effortless, its so second nature to him. Amazing how he was so young when ZZ Top started out, and as you said, they were fully formed right out of the gate. Thanks!

[@jboughtin7522]

Gibbons is a talented songwriter as well as a great guitar player and has a unique ability to create simple riffs and phrases that have very distinct musical character. When I first started hearing his music I used to think "now why hasn't anyone else thought of doing that"?

[@mutt8553]

Well put. The riffs from La Grange, Legs, and Tush are all pretty simple , but Billy’s playing just ascends them to another level

[@mikeivey8471]

Everybody loves "Billy Gibbons" !! Truest statement ever made !!

[@tonefish3825]

Billy is so good that he made me think I could play guitar. He makes it look so easy and smooth.

[@rogeralleyne9257]

Billy Gibbons is a master to me because he can get so much sound out of very little information!!! 1 chord sounds like 4 different tonalities!!!🙏🙏🙏Thank you!!!

[@gautamasakyamuni6688]

Greta stuff,and Reverend Billy Gibbons is the living proof that "Less is more" 👍

[@stuartmiller7419]

...and that substance beats style, every time.

[@rickvia8435]

ZZ Top's First Album is legendary...

[@musicmotorskate7540]

Billy is a subtle genius. I thought he was just playing simple blues until I tried to figure some of his songs out. I quickly realized there's alot more going on, but it's subtle.

[@charlesnosich1049]

Lotta folks call them EZ topp, until they realized what was going on.

[@TheStones1965]

Charles Nosich Very challenging. I hear the same comments for AC/DC. When I say play Riff Raff then they shut up pretty fast.

[@crisprtalk6963]

no filler all killer!

[@theplayers3507]

I am stealing that. Right now. Just a'runnin off with it in broad daylight. Gonna shamelessly use it, too. Just watch.

[@oatnoid]

Zactemundo.

[@grantshenton7079]

Totally agree mate, it’s what he doesn’t play,reminds me of Freddie Kings style ,who was also from Texas of course

[@markbaird2657]

Thank you! Finally! Some good ol ZZTop! Now let’s get some leads and licks into a lesson! Thanks as always! Love your lessons!

[@EllisGordon33]

This was a great one. "The Rev" is a master. Can't wait for your turnaround lesson.

[@flemdisch8690]

Definitely look forward to a turnaround lesson. This one was great as usual. Thanks man!

[@wulfenii64]

A nice stroll down memory lane.

[@BrianCanavan]

Now, these are the kinda lessons I love. Thanks for breaking it all down for us all.

[@unfcknblvbl]

AC/DC’s Ride On always reminded me of JJLC.

[@rogerdalesk]

I was going to comment about how I thought AC/DC and ZZ sound similar, not just Jesus left but other songs as well.

[@curtwehrmeyer124]

Another great lesson. I will share this along with all the lessons. Rock on. Great shirt !!

[@ntscbars1]

You have a cool way of teaching man. I appreciate how you show us how to do these licks. No showing off just showing how to...

[@juniorkong9587]

Thanks Boss. We love you bigtime. Share this guy's channel everywhere, my brethren...

[@TheRiverRiseII]

excellent episode!

[@johnwaugh365]

You realize how EPIC Billy Gibbons is as a guitar player and songwriter when you try to PLAY what he wrote and played. It is very difficult to decipher and replicate Billy Gibbons playing and get it right or sounding like him. Then you watch him live and think "how does he get so much out of so little?" He is excellent all the way around. ZZ Top is a great band live too. Thanks for the video.

[@bigswededog]

Always enjoy watching someone who loves Billy and ZZ as much as I do. Thanks for this.

[@Martos59]

Tres Hombres is the best American rock guitar album of all time for me. The amount of unique, interesting & powerful blues rock textures on this album are amazing. Even sheik…. What is that??? Just awesome rythym and a wah solo that’s just insane. Hail the king!! Thanks for the great breakdown as usual!!

[@jem550]

Awesome episode. Sometimes a little Texas Blues Rock is all a man needs on a Saturday night!

[@russelstrings9978]

Let me say thanks! I learned those songs when they came out! Yep I’m old! Self taught with a lil’ theory, played clubs since 1976. But I was way off on most of the songs I learned by wearing out LPs & cassettes near Woodstock NY, mountains made FM nonexistent, so all these years later I find out the REAL chords & riffs. The internet generation sure has it easier than mine was! You’re awesome!

[@if6turnedouttobe9]

Opens up with my favorite ZZ song...Nasty Dogs Funky Kings...Billy the Tone Master...Another great video on my all time favorite guitar player...

[@Blue_3rd]

What a great video, thank you! Pure class. I met Billy very briefly in Madrid as he was rushing to a session. He said hello and gave me his autograph on a little writing pad with a cartoon of himself on each page, which he pulled from his waistcoat. Made my day 😎 Looking forward to the turnarounds lesson!!

[@oscar35575]

Thanks so much for this. Billy is extraordinary. You hit all the chords so so well and I am envious of your guitar!

[@STAMPER-DESIGN]

Thank you! Love this band and that was great!

[@SuperNick090]

Thanks ..Awesome lesson ! 👍Cant wait for the turn around video !!

[@FlyguyLV]

That little old band from Texas great doc. Thanks for the killer chordplays brother

[@hanesbrindley2730]

Big thank you for teaching me the licks to one of my favorite bands. You are a great teacher, and that is coming from 27 years of coaching high school soccer/teaching world history in the classroom. Been playing since 1990 by looking at guitar player magazine lessons. You have greatly increased my learning curve, my wife and kids are already tired of my endless noodling of “Jesus just left Chicago”

[@haroldsargent979]

Thanks for the cool chord play , Billy from ZZ TOP complete legend

[@michaeldinwiddie5754]

Just now seeing this....TX born...I first heard ZZTop when I was 9 years old watching the Von Erich's on TV entering the ring. I had been playing country/rock/Elvis since I was 5 because of my Dad. Lagrange blew me away and I had to find out who it was making that sound! Of course I fell into heavy metal/alternative and all points in between since then but I'm 48 years old now and all I want to here or play is what you just showed us. Thank you sir. Great job and please keep it up

[@gooberthoreau]

I love these videos because they actually focus on song foundations, when so many channels focus only on lead work.

[@StealthParrot]

So many great Billy Gibbons riffs, but really love the early ones, this was fantastic David. Thanks!

[@salyer28]

ZZ Top’s first album is fantastic. Such a great library of music.

[@thedaver8]

Man I have always loved ZZ Top, but this video makes me appreciate them even more!

[@cymro6537]

ZZ tops playing is so distinctive - you know it's Billy within the first couple of seconds..🤘

[@ManCrew]

Agreed. It's that thick Texas tone. Best in the business IMO. Billy's go to guitar is the 59 Les Paul he calls Mrs Pearly Gates. He paid $250 for a guitar that routinely sales for 5 digits. I honestly believe it's the Holy Grail tone of Blues/Rock. Pure 6 string magic. He has a warehouse full of guitars and he will tell you none of then exactly match the tone and feel of that guitar. When you find "YOUR" guitar you just know it.

[@cymro6537]

@@ManCrew On finding 'your own' guitar is so true: I played a Fender Strat for decades - then played a Gibson Les Paul - it was a moment of epiphany - it just suited my style of playing so much better.My only regret is that I hadn't picked one up when I started to learn. I just love the resonance of the guitar. I'm know the proud owner of a Gibson Les Paul classic .😊 Greetings from Cardiff, Wales UK 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🤘

[@mountain_girl]

I think I likely wore out my copies of zz tops first 4 albums in college. Grunge was (rightfully) taking over radio and tv and we loved a lot of that too, but we had a thing going for old ZZ top, and the early Joe Walsh and The James Gang, Albert Lee and Head Hands and Feet and of course anything that Duane Allman touched.....but yeah, it's always crazy to think that there are entire generations of people that might only know the Fast Dressed Man side of ZZ Top. Billy Gibbons built a sound that is both uniquely his and made it work in a career that spans multiple decades and incarnations. The basic DNA is the same, but his creative nature is always coming up with stuff that is so current at the same time. amazing.

[@craigwood8862]

Sign me up. Thanks for this simple all killer no filler overview.

[@navispictures]

You are the BOMB. Your pure LOVE of the the artistry and excellence of others is so beautifully supported and uplifted by your own profound HUMILITY. God bless you.

[@frankbrancatisano4743]

On my sixth beer , really enjoyed watching you and capturing the feel of the great Billy F Gibbons , Lord have mercy 🙏

[@sbrave]

Awsome as always, as was that doc. Just watched the other night. Precious and Grace!!

[@mcbswolf]

Great lesson! Thanks, and looking forward to hearing the blues turn arounds.

[@srisidvicious]

Great lesson! Love Billy Gibbon's gritty style and rhythm

[@SempaiSinatra]

Thank you so much for giving us these videos to enjoy. Just completed a lengthy hospitalization re-visiting early ZZ Top ie "Waiting for the bus" & "Jesus just left for Chicago". So dam good and soothing.

[@matthalo89]

Excellent lesson! I watched that ZZ Top documentary 3 times now and it’s phenomenal. Thank you for the video. Keep ‘em coming!

[@briancarlin2266]

Fantastic playing and attention to detail. I’ve been playing these songs for years and you taught me new things.

[@st9919]

Nice follow up to your article on his lead work. Keep up the quality work!

[@nicksmithworld]

This was fantastic, very well explained and I love your enthusiasm and reverence. Thank you.

[@tatersalad573]

Definitely 1 of my favorite lessons here, more Billy G. please

[@Musicsports]

God, this was a good lesson. Everytime I start to get lazy on guitar, I look at your You Tube Page and get re-inspired. Thanks again man. Tom

[@sirwilliam9017]

Well done! Some of my favorite riffs!

[@nathancloud6344]

Another solid lesson! Their first was terrific as I agree fully. Boston comes to mind in those terms... Thanks again for more solid work. You capture the tone.

[@briankierans2926]

So cool. This was excellent. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnboleyjr.1698]

Yeah, "Sure Got Cold..." is by far my most favourite ZZ Top song. I've been rocking that one since I learned it in 1988. I used to follow it up with Lynyrd Skynyrds "I need You." Great vid.

[@EdKidgell]

Thanks for this. Always loved Billy's sound / style / hat. The King of Texas......

[@edgarsnake2857]

Thanks for this terrific breakdown of the stylings of one of the all time greats. Highly appreciated.

[@TheNambuccaboy]

Thank you for the heads up mate. Nice guitar work yourself, I love your comments about Billy and the respect that you give the REV is truly beautiful, Cheers from Down Under

[@markhorton3041]

Always loved early ZZ Top! Billy uses that attack that’s so signature.

[@dkpitt3912]

Love this one! Observation, I have never seen you give this many examples. Like all cool good players, you really love Billy. All these years later and all the great players that have come after him, he still is the man. His stuff is just plain fun to play.

[@gergemall]

I love how you read played that really simple part of that one riff that goes down and uses the E string the A a string coming back up

[@michaelmerrullo2043]

Just saw this for the first time tonight. Great lesson! I love After The Rain Fell too. Good choice

[@ryanstaggs5956]

Love it man! Love ZZ Top! Love this channel. Thank you

[@reinerstevie289]

I loved that music from ZZTop and the great sound from the amazing Billy F Gibbons, super Video

[@martino5150]

You’re a cool cat Dave! Thank you

[@bobrichardson3854]

Gibbons is a master. Thanks for showing some of his killer techniques. Feel free to do a part 2. Can't get enough of ZZ Top.

[@dillipphunbar7924]

Had those 3 albums on cassette many years ago...my favourite ZZ albums

[@jerrywalaszek2473]

Thank you! Glad I found you.I dig How Billy Gibbons has been pretty busy the last few years with plenty of spunk.👍

[@TheCream14]

another outstanding lesson!

[@JRandallS]

Good stuff, made me remember being 16 years old and hearing the stuff when it came out. I gonna have to ad a few of those tunes to my set.

[@jimcole6423]

Thank you for sharing, great job!!!! Keep'em comin!

[@PhotoTrekr]

Thanks for the video. Loves me some ZZ Top.

[@thomasstevens9551]

Great lesson and material! Very straight forward. Thanks!!

[@kenlelon369]

woke up this morning not meaning to watch this video thinking, "I know all those chords already." Billy is one of the reasons I picked up that first guitar anyway, so, I thought I'd check it out. Glad I did! Very well done. I think I'll go dust off that Rio Grand Mud now.

[@r.llynch4124]

Thanks for this Billy is my # 2 after Jimmy Page and has been for 40 plus years. He is such a badass player. You do such great work on these videos, lots of hard work Thanks again.

[@ronfrey6639]

Im in Texas cut my teeth on those licks.. Met Billy and Dusty very very down to earth cats Billy did Magic for us sleight of hand... His Mother lived next door to a buddy of mine Id sit and wait to see if he would ever show up lol Glad you did this great lesson.....

[@EC-sv1ns]

I gotta learn more zzTop!!! Great video, Thanks!

[@sergebasque8460]

Excellent playing thanks for showing these great licks.🔥👏👍💪😎

[@ribbonsofeuphoria5744]

A great and timely diversion from the shredder material that I’ve loved so much here recently. If only I’d discovered Billy when I first picked up guitar thirty years ago rather than trying in vain to practice Yngwie licks 😂

[@JoeToomey100]

Way cool, Billy is one bad hombre! Thanks for the lesson Mr Brewster¬

[@mickmack777]

Cheers brother ,great insight to billy's style .keep em coming .....

[@hrstrat57]

Gotta say this is flat out killer! Well done and love the limited theory explanation and calling out individual notes👍

[@Fastlane05]

What a fantastic video. Thanks!

[@upvoter666]

Badass, just what I was looking for tonight, thanks!

[@birddog51]

Thank you so much, I am hooked. Love it!!!!

[@lovegun7]

best guitar tutorials ! thanks