Dave Grohl Private GW Magazine Lesson/Interview March 2011

Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters gives a private lesson/interview, discussing "The Pretender" and "Rope." From the March 2011 issue of Guitar World Magazine.

[@ielizabethm2]

I could watch Dave play his guitar all day.

[@ZippieLetsPlay]

+Elizabeth Medina i know what you mean!

[@julkitan3017]

He's got something that some guitar players don't have: a great timing, those solo riffs demos show it. Maybe thanks to his experience as a drummer... I often noticed guitar players are obsessed with so many stuffs... scales or licks, or what is the best guitar to buy, gauge strings, amp, pedalboard and so on... but don't take enough time to think deeply about their inner beat, speeding up or slowing down when playing solo... Becoming a decent musician is a really long way I think, and it starts with being aware of your own tempo.

[@Acehan]

You're right!

[@rushpowerpratt]

+Julki Tan lol his timing on is actually pretty bad for a professional musician. I've seen more than a few videos of him playing a song by himself and unintentionally slowing down and speeding up throughout the performance; he has shit tempo.

[@julkitan3017]

Well, he's not so bad.

[@TheSlash389]

So i can be a good musician because my tempo suxx 2. Ah and i also dont know all chords like him. Damn im gettin so pro

[@julkitan3017]

The thing is, it's really up to you if you want to earn a living with it and be a pro, just try harder than the other guys around you to be there, no matter how you play, the chords and the scales you know, do something and don't only stick to your home practice...see the world.

[@joecold1243]

This was refreshing. I can't read music to save my life, and I find odd chords/notes and play with them. Just makes me appreciate Dave Grohl'e process even more.

[@sound.silence]

Re: Rope..."It's a really simple song." Um. Yeah. LOL

[@thefoosrockstar]

I wish Dave was my guitar teacher. Love how he admits he doesn't know everything about music but still makes THE BEST music around! Dave, you're the coolest guy ever.

[@mertbalbal4624]

Dave Grohl: "It's a simple song" Me: "Whaaaaaaaat"

[@forrest.0569]

mert balbal you and me both brother

[@MongerOfStrings8222]

To be fair it is reasonably simple in terms of composition and playability excluding the intro

[@authorquinnavery]

This clip should be named "Glimpse Inside the Mind of a Genius"

[@ChiliDUDE27]

Oh my god this guy is my freakin hero. He can't read music at all but he's so good at it and creative. There are just some things you can't teach.

[@lostmyedge_]

I know. My favourite man alive.

[@ChiliDUDE27]

***** A good producer is part of the equation, yeah, but he still has to play, he still has to sing, a producer can't "do that in post" or anything. Still talented even if that's the case.

[@whyyeseyec]

Musicians not knowing how to read traditional sheet music is nothing unusual. So many of our modern day guitar hero's can't read either. Humans played music before someone decided to convert sounds into symbols that could be read and understood by the trained eye. So in this respect, Grohl is no different than many others. However, Dave is a hell of a musician. Nothing better than a guy who can write a song, play all the instruments, sing it, produce and engineer it. Dave is good at it but McCartney is probably the best....

[@kennykent5336]

Full bullshit ! Sorry man, but Dave Grohl is not a good guitarist, he is not even correct, it's not about reading notes, or musical theory etc.. it's about learning guitar, he doesnt even know scales, in one year of serious work, everybody can be way better than him

[@kennykent5336]

Guys, you have to listen good music and real good guitarists, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Slash, Marcus King, Prince, Clapton etc.... That's good guitarists and good musicians

[@CliffyyyP]

that guitar is sick

[@ajalpha5422]

Cliffyyy P that my friend is a Gibson ES 335 Trini Lopez

[@ajalpha5422]

Cliffyyy P also in the Pelham blue finish which is really rare for that guitar

[@1106Winter]

The Chevy Man 2005, the color isn't rare. It isn't even a Trini Lopez, it's a Gibson Dave Grohl signature. This guitar is based on a Trini Lopez, with some tweaks.

[@MinecraftAndIndie]

Vivek Youngzsoft wtf is the wooden plaque, you mean the pick Guard? The plastic pick guard but yes that is a trini

[@Knux576]

4:41 my life has just been validated

[@PapaJohn1612]

It warms my heart knowing the mighty dave is a small bit clueless like me.

[@protoype123]

Right?!

[@henkestenke]

This man is our generations Mozart, and I’m not even kidding. Pure genius and from what I’ve heard the nicest guy in music.

[@eneskaraytug514]

This video is like basics of rock music and being a rock musician If you watch this video like studying lesson you will learn how to make good music, how recording process works, how touring works, how to make fun while playing something while making music even you don't have good equipments. It is literally how to rock 101 Dave is much more than awesome

[@uncutVidsd123]

Dave is a true musician plays so many instruments and he plays them very well

[@lilbluekitten]

Damn. To see how he wrote "Rope" is really fascinating. You'd think that it would be a very difficult thing to write, but to break it down like that...amazing. I wish he'd done more of these interviews for their other songs. Thanks for sharing this!

[@thescowlingschnauzer]

"The chorus is basic -" G Em Bm A. Right basic. From a technical perspective, sure. From a music theory perspective I vi iii II is pretty wild.

[@fretbuzz59]

+thescowlingschnauzer Except that it's not I vi iii II. The G isn't a I chord. The song is in Bmi (2 sharps).

[@thescowlingschnauzer]

+fretbuzz59 Sure, you can view it as a VI iv i VII in B minor or IV ii vi V in D major. But the order it hits your ear in is I vi iii II, G major in the Lydian mode. That may be peanuts to Debussey, but for a rock musician that's pretty wild.

[@fretbuzz59]

thescowlingschnauzer Well, the G might hit you as a I chord, but that would be wrong. The song does NOT change key. All the chords in that section are w/in the domain of D/Bmi. Rock music is always doing stuff outside standard harmony conventions. Sweet Home Alabama--D, C, G--LOOKS like V, IV, I, but it's not b/c the tonality of the song is clearly D.

[@thescowlingschnauzer]

+fretbuzz59 Yeah, I hear you saying that the song does not actually modulate key. It doesn't change modes like going from G natural major to G Lydian major. The chorus just moves to a different emphasis in the same key. Sure. And rock songs often do stuff outside of standard harmony conventions. Sure. I still think this particular step outside of a basic I chord emphasis is more interesting than Dave Grohl is giving himself credit for in this video.

[@timdupre3799]

+thescowlingschnauzer Anybody else read this conversation and feel like they just read another language? Lol.

[@sgim43]

I think there are so many people on here not understanding what "knowing", or knowledge, can consist of. Dave knows his shit. Just because he can't communicate it to others in an academic way doesn't mean shit. Maybe all these haters I'm seeing on here would have more of a point if he was a novelist, needing to communicate through written word. Music is audible. Sound. He doesn't need to know the written version of that to have understanding.

[@equismas]

know that feeling bro!

[@JohnSmith-yd5wq]

Yeah i would like to know the actual chords he's using

[@JohnSmith-yd5wq]

I do

[@RayAvitiaMusic]

My greatest hero of all time!

[@thewedge8823]

Love the rhythm of rope. so unique and proggy

[@handidrummed]

I'm not a guitarist. I'm a drummer and a dabble on bass, but I love Dave as a guitarist as much as I love someone like Flea, as a bass player, because they don't know how to read, they might not know much if anything about theory, but they play what they feel and even if it's a little weird or unconventional, they MAKE it so sound like it's right, and that's what music is about.

[@liligman]

I thought Flea went to UCLA before recording the last record and actually learned a lot about theory

[@ahyaok100]

+liligman Most pros do know at least some music theory. They just down play it a lot for some reason. I mean he can play great trumpet and you got to know some scales at least to play it. Of course there are different levels of theory and all that.

[@lauriestrode8522]

Dave has an awesome talent, it’s always so cool to see just see him play in video clips.

[@T0BBi94]

I have watched this to many times so now everytime I listen to The Pretender I hear the riff extra strong throughout the song..! :P (epic)

[@lukeism2]

T0BBi94 I didn't hear the pretender in here

[@equismas]

he wont let humbleness go away from him, such a great man he is.

[@Ben-uq7sm]

one of the best bands

[@GuyRR]

Thanks for putting this up. foos for ever!!!!

[@BlackestEyes111]

@2:48 anyone else think Paint It Black?

[@EliPorter456]

Yes I did. Epic song right there.

[@michaelanderson7266]

Oooh, what an intelligent and well thought out response. You really got me there.

[@jasondoling5382]

Just find a chord, move it here and there, and poof instant chart topper. Dave makes it so simple, yet he is so humble. I would love to party with him.

[@WhoToldYouThis]

I find this really interesting because this is exactly how I learn to play guitar, I've never had a single lesson or watched any videos on how to play. I just picked up a guitar and would pick different strings until I found things that sounded interesting to me that worked well and went with it. I can play some really awesome songs that I make up on the spot now.

[@anthologyofinterest1]

hit machine

[@reniisgod]

The tone coming out of that amp is stunning

[@ellesnik]

He has better hair than mine..

[@ToroSAS]

Our most favourite energy-ball explains his music. Gotta love it!

[@CaseyCazeaux]

I love how he's just like oh this is so easy haha. Wish I could say it was so easy! He is a genius haha

[@spamwagon]

I am a drummer of 40 years who also plays guitar. I have been fascinated not only with Grohl's transition from drums to guitar and songwriter, but the way he constructs the multiple rhythms within 2 or 3 guitar parts. When he stated that each of the layers was like different pieces of a drum set playing differing complementary rhythms, it all made perfect sense. He rarely writes in flashy guitar leads, just incredibly interesting and integrated guitar rhythms. Brilliant and unique.

[@SumailDota]

so he says he doesnt know about music but then he mentions root notes.

[@rdvgrd6]

Sumail even bass players knows what root notes are haha

[@SumailDota]

haha glenn approves.

[@adas91]

Dafuq sumail fangay. Go play dota

[@incubrian]

exactly man. well put. dave understands music very well, hence why he writes SO much stuff that we all love. he understands rhythm as well its interplay with melody. he knows more than he'll admit, he just doesn't approach his vast knowledge in the assumed sense. he might even "record in a garage" but let me be the first to say, he is recording in the most state-of-the-art, expensive, and material purpose-built "garage" known to man!

[@oisinwalshagnew908]

The distortion on his guitar is soon good

[@assassinsarecool1]

yeah I wish I could get that tone

[@nathanc6611]

Whats his amp here??

[@assassinsarecool1]

it's like a fender blues jr or something

[@assassinsarecool1]

it is most certainly not distortion, I'd be really surprised if its not, but damn it sounds good

[@bradleyspinks7922]

Nathan C it's a vox mate

[@ia5662]

Rope is a very complex orchestration of guitar parts and riffs and such a pleasure to listen to on that warm analog recording. Sick song all around, as Dave says totally reminds of Zep songs like a combo of "Achille's Last Stand" and "The Song Remains The Same". I hear their influence throughout and that's the first thing I thought about the drum sound, it's SO Bonham.

[@BulletFrenzy543]

Dave is proof you don't need to be a godly player, write amazing songs with complicated notes or know how to read/write music perfect...just have fun and play

[@completelycluelezz]

I'm a self taught guitarist who has around 4 years playing and when he said that he wasn't a technical player and can't read music, I instantly felt like I can do so much more because I can't read music either and don't know much theory. It was really comforting to hear him say that. Dave Grohl is really inspirational

[@5stringofFernandoSor]

"That's kind of a nice chord...I don't know what it is, but..." I love Dave Grohl. Not alot of people, let alone artists could handle being so open and honest about their lack of musical knowledge.

[@ilookedintohiseyesandiseen7320]

This was really really good man

[@bouvierinnj]

Love how he ends with...."its a really simple song"...it's just that simple if you're an incredibly gifted musician.

[@Massigangster]

his guitar and amp together sound SO NICE!!!

[@greasedpretzel591]

welp, looks like I've been playing the pretender wrong...

[@MrKarmapolice97]

I once read a reviewer say Dave writes the music around the drums and writes it like a drum and I understood that watching this video

[@W38h34D]

I think that the reason the Foo Fighter are the best is because they take the best parts of good rock songs and mix it in with their own creativity.

[@TheAlbello]

thats a sick guitar. dave is the man hands down. one of the most important musicians/song writers of our generation.

[@svegaldde]

4:47 exactly the same way I try to write songs. lol

[@kaynendeck9624]

I know right

[@kaynendeck9624]

I know right

[@MrSlider5]

Thanks for posting this, it helped me imagine my writing process (similar but different) in a way that I think is kinder and more freeing to myself. Not being a 'technical' player, like you.

[@jacobl4597]

Presence isn't anyone's favorite Zeppelin album.

[@DamionAnderson]

Presence is my favorite Zeppelin album.

[@l8i1v4i]

It's likely Dave Grohl's favorite... P.S. Don't speak for me (or anyone else) unless you enjoy sounding like an idiot.

[@DamionAnderson]

p.s I was only speaking for myself. Re-read what I said.

[@jacobl4597]

Levi Hamilton I apologize it was meant jokingly.

[@jamiebigham294]

It's not my favorite Zeppelin album, but it has my number one favorite Zeppelin song on it. Achilles Last Stand. It also has two of my least favorites. Candy Store Rock and Hots On For Nowhere.

[@Tha.Riddick]

the chorus gave my goosebumps !

[@seanpanuncialman9643]

HE DOESNT KNOW HOW TO READ OR WRITE MUSIC. If there is a Music God, they spent extra fucking time on Dave, fuckin beast.

[@christophersmith8486]

He's not the only one

[@Lehury86]

Christopher Smith but what if I say he's not like the others?

[@MartiniSaysNo]

I know how to read and write music but if I were In band I doubt I'd use it at all. I'd just write anything I thought of down in a way that only I could understand, and probably annoy a few people by doing that as well haha.

[@tankform]

Simple song or not, Rope is one of my favorite Foo song and I believe that if a song has energy it doesn't need to be all that complicated. There are some (many) things I want and need to ask Dave Grohl about, about music and about him, but I probably won't have that chance in my life.. I see him as my hero and I'd give almost anything to meet him!

[@kimbloganteng3740]

udah ah, udah jam sembilan gua masih ada janji nih

[@debidi1461]

+Kimblo Ganteng Bless you

[@shadyknopfler7720]

Presence is maybe his favourite album by Led Zeppelin. I'm so happy to hear this because I love it deeply.

[@junkfoodeater]

Knowing music theory is just knowing what has been done and accepted, which is very good and all but people tend to go to deep with it and make it up like rules..and that is why those people almost never create new fresh stuff that will make them blow up. About Dave, I think he knows more then you think, its just "basics" for him, not even worth mentioning! But maybe 10 years playing learning progressions,rhythms, playing etc for you :p

[@dyr234]

love how dave works his songs out.

[@mra2714]

pisau tumis diambil si buyung yang mukanya bulat seperti tempayan

[@fahrizalna8289]

Sewindu kubilang masih nancep, belum direndem

[@alfath5266]

+Fahrizalna WKWKWKW ANJIR DI VIDEO ASLI NYA AJA MASIH ADA FLUXCUP HOLIC

[@horison6485]

+Ali Haidar AKWEOKAWOEKAOWEKOAWEKOAWKEOAW ANJING ASLI ITU KOCAK ABISS

[@mra2714]

eh gue suka duren

[@MrThisissomeone]

+Ali Haidar ga nanya :v

[@OinkYouDie]

This is such an important lesson in music

[@MrCold012]

2:42 Dave definitely farted.

[@astrog7361]

if you turn it up real loud lol!

[@L33M_0]

Dave writes very percussive parts. Playing some foo fighters stuff can be very hard and I really like that

[@amaroudis]

It amazes me how many VERY successful "musicians" in big bands know NOTHING about music theory. He doesn't know what chord he was playing in this video????? Does he even know the notes on his guitar?

[@MrMegaAwesomeSauce]

amaroudis Doesn't really matter though, does it.

[@amaroudis]

MrMegaAwesomeSauce It depends on what you are talking about. Does it matter in the fact that they will still sell records and make lots of money? No. But if I was a person playing guitar for 20 years and didn't know notes or any theory, I would be embarrassed. It is his job as a musician, if you can call him that....he should know his craft. How does he write songs with his band mates? I assume other guys in the band actually know music and can "translate". Grohl is more of a singer and frontman, than a guitarist.

[@davidv1880]

amaroudis Music is music. There's no rules or boundaries. He plays from the heart. Unlike someone who just reads music and knows a bunch of technical stuff. That's why they're not famous oftentimes.

[@amaroudis]

Oreo Eater you are right. But I am not talking about super technically gifted musicians that only have a small following. If you are a musician, then you should learn the basics if you don't know stuff. If they are playing a song, how does he tell his bandmates what chord he is playing, or what the changes are, etc.? I am actually more curious than anything on how they collaborate and write if their music theory knowledge is severely lacking.

[@davidv1880]

amaroudis If they're any good at all they can just pick up what the other person is playing by ear

[@jchang2210]

"It's a nice chord. I dunno what it is, but..." 😆😆 Dave's a living legend ❤

[@MichaelGeoghegan]

Pretender is my fave foo fighters song of all time

[@joshmartins560]

Can tell he writes a lot from the perspective of a drummer...Pretty cool

[@swanman1984.]

Muso's who can't read music but are such good musicians are a rare breed! Dave's one of the best!

[@SaultiBalldeip]

I know of Dave via my Brother who has been best friends with him since the Scream days. I have hung out with him and he is a genuine down to earth non-rack star persona as you see him, he takes the time to blab with you and a cool chap for sure. He's the real deal

[@adityarifqi5286]

Dave Grohl is REAL MASTERPIECE! Multi instrumentalist, composer, and have great taste on music. He just like Albert Einsten on ROCK MUSIC especially. The pretender is the good one since first second.

[@ohwellwhateverr]

You can totally tell he is a drummer at heart, haha. Just the way he'll count in time and make hand motions as if he's playing drums when he's meant to be doing a guitar lesson/interview.

[@mieschglenn]

Made my day!

[@djt1967ss]

good god that tone is to die for

[@angelaburns5411]

Dave grill is am excellent musician and brilliant writer and learned by a gift called by ear

[@robindreier9796]

Dave Grill? Sounds like a BBQ place.

[@TheShapingSickness]

the son of dave grohl and bear grills

[@jackthedipper3332]

2:00 - is probably the nicest clean sound i've ever heard!

[@sagegracemusic5981]

+Jack the Dipper thats not clean at all....

[@jackthedipper3332]

you're right but its not to dirty is it? ;)

[@sagegracemusic5981]

Id say its pretty dirty, We will settle on crunch ;)

[@sutoor99]

DAVE IS THE MAN!!!

[@renouncedequation3923]

Danke, Dave...

[@tanm-1991]

pure genius ☮❤🎸🎶

[@stevieraymettes7288]

I can hear back in the foo fighters songs why Présence is Dave fav album.

[@ridck369]

it shocked hell out me when he said he couldn't read music and yet he's still a musical genius and you're my favorite artist/band of all time!!!! just saying

[@Dagger1934]

Inside job of a creation of genius. A little piece of gold...

[@veonnisual]

Gorgeous tone.

[@Kravis63]

I love Dave Grohl. He may pop up and do mainstream stuff once in a while, but you can tell he is the same nice and pure guy he has always been.

[@pipandrew]

that is possibly the best guitar I've laid eyes on

[@moesalem3957]

they make it look so easy yet its soo hard thanks cruel world

[@forshigity5000]

thank you...come again.

[@89murmur]

@RHCPFitz I was there too! What a great gig, and they even met fans after the show.

[@MrPaQet]

Similar situation here...and also - mind blown - on the multi-layering....it makes much more sense to me now.

[@BioCofMN]

he just makes songwriting look so easy

[@sebsoriano19]

Dave's tone is amazing.

[@MarianneOrset]

GOD, that tone on the Rope section of the video...

[@tyronehuff]

while I believe that Dave is honest in all of the interviews I've seen, at times there is a lot of humor used which just leads me to believe he's trying to keep his serious/intimate side out of the conversation. but when he begins saying "I don't know anything about music...", it's such an open and honest side of him that I haven't seen much of. he talks about 'sensitive' subjects (like Kurt and Nirvana), but it's usually followed by something funny. this interview was very refreshing.

[@cristoffL]

i never realized that lead bit reminds me of the sitar part to paint it black, when its by it self. pretty cool.

[@RelaxingMusicHeaven]

That Gibson is niceeeeee.

[@raylgonzo]

Dave Grohl is probably our generations greatest songwriter.

[@cliffnboyzy]

i hear ya dude. i'm self taught also. not long ago i started getting professional lessons. def helped. i find i have the best of both worlds now. would def recommend teaching yourself to start tho. cheers.

[@jarednew13]

tht guitar is just beautiful

[@hkmv1]

The guitar tone sounds really good.

[@cnewtoneov]

I heard that too. Very inspiring to anyone who is not properly 'trained' to do something. Don't let that stop you. If what you are doing is really cool to you, Then kick ass with it. :)

[@BrokenHarmonic99]

GOD...please, bless Dave's guitar.. that is so Great sound. love it much ^^

[@zkassai.audio.2]

the face he makes before playing "the zepellin hookie" is epic.