Deep River Blues - Traditional FINGERSTYLE Tune | Bluegrass Guitar Lesson with TAB

[@BeebopConnard]

it's amazing how such a sweet song can induce such hardcore anger while learning it .

[@dgmike1]

That’s hilarious. I know exactly what you mean. Lol!

[@soofitnsexy]

welcome to my world try learning winter walking by jerry reed..CORRECTLY... Its been 3 months no.....jeez

[@diggintheblueswithaparrot1329]

👍😂👍

[@chrisrose5885]

Yayy, your comment and these replies make me feel human again !! 😂🤣

[@chrisrose5885]

@@soofitnsexy You and me both, man ! 😆

[@johnmarron1944]

I'm coming up 68 year old soon and bit of arthritis getting into finger joints but this tuition of this great tune is perfect for me ..so much easier playing the opening 2 chords in the b7 position..thank you so much for sharing it with us all .👍👍

[@philipnelson7613]

Ditto those comments. The true b7 in that position is not easy for anyone with sore or aching fingers. Those alternative chords do the job fine.

[@Mykadelic]

That 8th fret bend on the B string always gets me aaaarrrghhh!!! Great lesson tho thank you so much :)

[@pickingandscreaming]

Me too it’s driving me up the wall. I heard another version where that part was played a little different

[@mjazzguitar]

I was thinking play the low E with first finger on the F#, middle finger on D, ring finger on the B and use the little finger for the bend.

[@colefuller5400]

use your 3rd finger on the first string instead

[@samcharbaji6168]

This is the best lesson I've seen

[@colonelfonky]

Hey thanks for the free lesson, helps me to learn how to play fingerstyle smoothly

[@anthonycarolan6374]

Really helpful thanks,

[@NOTurbuisness-r5q]

This is an amazing tutorial can’t wait to get home !!

[@geoffreybreasley9845]

Your unbelievable OH!!!

[@amk8596]

Your a legend, Thanks.

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thanks! :D

[@markmartin3221]

Enjoyable lesson Gracie!

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thank you, Mark!

[@jhooper5548]

Hell yeah dude, good lesson. I have been wanting to learn this song for years and you showed me, and now I just sort of mess around with it and see what I come up with lol. Thank you 🙏

[@1530max]

Great arrangement, sounds fantastic. Don't know why so many mention that it's not exactly like Doc's or Tommy's versions. Probably all of Tommy's cover songs are re-interpretations. Personally I found it easier to play and it's a great arrangement for people getting into fingerstyle (like me after countless starts over the years). On your website lessons though you've repeated Part B in Part A so this clip here doesn't appear.

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thank you Max! I agree... it really is just an interpretation of the classic tune. And thank you for bringing that to my attention. I will look into it.

[@rockitflash]

Great lesson but the chord after the first E7 is a E diminished.

[@raoulduke8720]

An E diminished *

[@los_rubos]

Correct

[@campparsonssundayschool7844]

Yup. That’s the way I play it with the E dim

[@Stray1One]

You,

[@geoffreybreasley9845]

​@raoulduke8720 it's a E7sus4add9#7

[@Papaioulele]

Thank you verry much nice video! Keep up your good job!

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thank you! :)

[@goodstain]

The sweat on the guitar at 4:03 is 100% me right now

[@iKnivie]

something im starting to learn is that it doesnt always have to be exact. If you can manipulate a few things an make it almost intoyour own thing its just as great. Awesome stuff. I like this video allot.

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thanks... very true. It's not an exact science. Music is art!

[@pointy5911]

Great video! But i can't stop looking at the grease on the 7th fret. Also, if you could put the rhythm flags on the tab that'd be awesome.

[@wendywongmcguire8678]

can't blame a guy for eating some bacon first.

[@jeffjohnson7381]

Was just watching hey hey blues lesson and wondering why you don’t finish the song lesson???

[@mikenolan9920]

Started playing 3 years ago and this tune was always my goal. Watched the video a long time ago but i gave up, today i played true it for the first time. Thank’s man!

[@jblflatpicker]

I was so glad KZbin recommended this. I knew i wasn’t playing it exactly like Doc...this is much closer 👏🏼

[@johnsowerby6061]

Second chord definitely diminished. But you pick well.

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

John Sowerby came here to say the same thing. That second chord is wrong. It should be diminished.

[@MichaelJordan-vk4vt]

4:00 do you eat off your 7th frett?

[@JoeyCour]

Am I missing something or is the second tab picture missing at least 3 notes from the lick he plays @5:04 and at the end?

[@chrishawk2960]

Split screen, measure by measure explanation with tabs; this video is great. If you miss the diminished E, just substitute it in; this video has everything you need to learn this song. Great job, thanks.

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thank you Chris! And yes, it's my interpretation based on Doc's version. :)

[@jasoncardenas2613]

Second cord is actually 6 5 6 5 0 0 Great job though!

[@kc8923]

Be nice to hear the whole song played with vocals.

[@tomo-thebear3891]

I love this style of playing, love watching Doc Watson and Billy Strings, i'm just learning, as frustrating as playing can be your tutorial videos are awesome and make it easier for me to understand, thank you. Subscribed

[@JerAtoZ]

People like you are the very lifeblood of YT Brandon. Great video and instruction. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. Awesome!

[@jasonc8170]

Why do they say traditional about this song? Didn't Alton Delmore and Rabon Delmore originally write this song as ive got the big river blues?

[@embwee]

thanks for the lesson--what is with the chicken smaltz on the 5-7 fret? ; )

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

That's a hard workin fretboard! :D

[@pointy5911]

Ugh who'da thought learning a song by one of the greatest country fingerpickers of all time would be so hard!

[@brockertteambrockert]

This would be great if only each bar was played a few times slow enough to play along. It's tricky enough and the rhythm is important. Just too fast like most tutorials .

[@danielloidolt1644]

Oh man didnt touch my guitar for 2 months but that tutorial made me pick it up again and practice. Thx dude appreciated a lot! Awesome Explaining, good speed to follow and i love right hand /left hand/tab camera, great stuff! I didnt want to use my middlefinger for the e at the jump to the a in the second part so i just make a big fat strum with my thumb over both sides, makes it a little bit muddy but powerful ;)

[@rolanddoucet458]

Second chord is just wrong. Diminished all the way.

[@dukepeterson]

true, the second chord is very important and what he's playing is NOT correct

[@hans9573112]

yes, you are right

[@shaneanthonypitts]

@@dukepeterson what is the correct chord?

[@dukepeterson]

@@shaneanthonypitts It goes from E7 to Edim7. The E7 is fretted E 7th fret, B 5th fret, G 7th fret and D 6th fret. Keep the 2nd string fretted at the 5th fret with the index finger when moving the other fingers down 1 fret. See Doc Watson kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXaVpKqhrZ6Kjqc

[@calvinpettis8969]

Thank god the lessons free! Always makes me mad when I learn half the song and have to pay $15 for the rest of it 😂 love your teaching, you got a 15 year old being able to bust out some doc watson

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

That's awesome... thanks! :)

[@jysmtl]

The last measure is cut off?

[@Stray1One]

I’m a Jackson c Frank kind of player, I’m doing shady grove and hopefully I can pull it off,? Cheers man for this to,Stray1 Britain’s best Unknown stuntman that never was,

[@rolanddoucet458]

Second chord definitely diminished. But you pick well.

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thanks Roland

[@sullycliftona]

Oy oy. Brandon. Who r your guitarist greats. And who u follow on other music. Ie. Punk. Pop Indy hip hop. House 🏠 very interesting if you answer … I got a guitar I play country or blu grass ,, but I’m into collecting house Detroit style .. and funk from mid 8o

[@xxMrAfroNinjaxx]

you got some sweaty fingers boi

[@kofblz]

That works but those aren't the chord voicings Doc played. The E diminished makes the song.

[@bluemeadows40]

sorry noticed the tab at end of measure 2 is different to what you play, bnut thankyou after years of praco this got thru to me i can make measue 1 swing and thats good enough for now. THANKYOU Brandon Johnson

[@Northyorkspaul]

Fretboard certainly looks messy!...you bend the pinky on bar 2 but not in the tab...no matter its free thanks! good job.

[@SjaakShirly6559]

You’re a great guitarplayer. A little remark though...the second chord is to my opinion a diminish chord (5-6-5-6 on the highest strings) but your version sounds good too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIekk6Wkn8mnj9k = version Doc Watson. I love your stuff.

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thank you! You're right, you can play a diminished chord there too. A great early version of Doc playing this song. Thanks for watching!

[@nigelbullock4411]

Sorry Brandon but for me both of your first two chords are not quite right, the first chord should be 6th open then 46/37/25/17, the second chord is then 45/36/25/16 without that it just won't sound quite right.

[@MrWopwink]

Nigel Bullock what do these numbers refer to please?

[@SjaakShirly6559]

J .B see my comment too. 45 means 4th string 5th fret. Etc.

[@martintimothy1915]

Hiya .. on the tab at 01:45 after the first bit it says play the third string at the 7th fret then the fourth string at the 6th fret, however in the video you say play the 4th string 6 then the third string 7th .. have I made a mistake or have you ??

[@johannskocek8148]

Like rocki flash said lat year, you are missing the essential flavour here, your second chords is wrong, in reality is is an E diminished

[@colefuller5400]

Use your 3rd finger on the first string instead of doing that horrible pinky jump

[@jonathanbolger6173]

Am i crazy or is there a couple of beats missing in the tab before he goes to the A riff?

[@tomhussey2084]

There is something slightly missing, still a great lesson but I know what you're getting at

[@jonathanbolger6173]

@@tomhussey2084 yea it's a great lesson, I think it's like a note and scratch before he goes to the A7

[@EponineThenardier-gt8vs]

why is there grease or liquid on the fretboard at around 2:45? Also great song and merci!

[@elisabethminet4676]

Merci pour votre générosité , le tuto et la tablature .🙏😊🎸🇫🇷

[@chrisrose5885]

Fantastic lesson, Brandon, thank you !!

[@TheFreestyleFamily38]

Thanks you this song is perfect with my Martin 00028 ec! Great job 🙏🏼

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thanks Lo!

[@janseendiguiseppiThomasMC]

Man this lick is sweet!!! Can’t wait to get off work and learn it!

[@rustylove3033]

If I can learn this I'll not ask God for anything else.

[@opoknock]

That would be an Ibanez AW23.

[@nigelbullock4411]

Sorry Guy but your first two holds are inncorrect

[@Ilove4U2sing2]

Nice lesson.. thanks for taking it slow .love Doc but can’t play his songs……might get there with your help!

[@MyBackHurtsALittle]

Easy substitution: in second measure no need to play an A7. Just slide a C to C# while plucking strings 2 and 5. String 4 isn’t necessary here and don’t lose too much in the sound. Just a sub for us beginners

[@stinkwhistle756]

In measure two before you slide into that A7 chord, theres an open G note and the D string 6th fret. its just not in the tab but it makes a difference! listen closely.

[@jonathanmichelsohn7165]

Very nice tutorial. TY

[@richardvaughan9994]

Hi Brandon, sorry to blow up the comments section. I’m super determined to learn this and get a video posted again. I’m just curious about 5:36 in the video, ( I’m stuck I think ) I’m just confused on the high e there... does it go from A slide, to the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret high E to Open high E to then 3rd finger 2nd fret then another high open E?

[@monksretreat1291]

hi cant seem to sign up. am i doing something wrong.

[@richieg8432]

That second chord just doesn`t sound good..I know its your version etc.. but that chord is just foul sounding.

[@jerry-st7rc]

What a dumb comment. That's how doc watson played it, it's not his "version etc."

[@minimal_enthusiasm5971]

Hi man, I stumbled upon your lessons recently and after watching a few I just had to hit that subscribe button! I've already hit my first hurdle though: in the 2nd measure, where the pinky has to quickly move to the B string 8th fret. Man, I just can't do it! I've realised that I have been really neglecting my pinky for years and consequently it's weak, slow and almost useless, lol. I guess the obvious answer here is to start using it routinely and do hammer-on/ pull-off and fret stretching exercises with it. Anyway thanks, keep up the good work! :)

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thanks Ross! For sure the pinky is still my weakest finger and probably the least used. I usually don't play the b string bend while singing but do while playing the "lead" part. Cheers!

[@arthurcaesar2200]

The tab for measure two is slightly off. After the open E he is hitting the D on on the 4th string(fret 7) not the E on the 6th(fret 7). I love these lessons though.

[@stevencooper4483]

Thank you for this gift!

[@Northyorkspaul]

Its free?..but you got to pay?...dont get it..

[@endersw]

Sweaty hands = good guitar playing confirmed?!

[@josephanderson3889]

Can you do sheet music instead of tabs or both?

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Hey Joseph - I made this lesson before I started doing the sheet music and the tabs. I will probably re-tab this out with the new program I'm using (TablEdit) which will include the sheet music.

[@josephanderson3889]

Okay cool I can’t read yet slowly learning and like teaching myself but it’s nice to get a lesson on something new. Thanks again

[@mjazzguitar]

The first time I saw someone use the B7 form up the neck like that was when they were playing 'Beck's Boogie'.

[@claytushaywood3823]

He’s playing extra thumb notes after the pinky move e7 and before switching to a7

[@Joeyz1]

You’re the best guitar trainer I have seen! Keep it up dude!

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thank you! :D

[@traytonsorensen8352]

Wait a tick, I hear last steam engine train into there

[@MGreen-vz6yb]

Lol

[@Inyourflavor]

👍

[@isaacbenavram5790]

Thank you for the lesson! I really appreciate it!

[@lechugafria8266]

U have win a new sub dude! Thank's :3 your videos it's pettry good

[@raybrewer7480]

Fantastic job you are doing you are a great help thanks heaps mate

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thanks! :D

[@123rodrigo]

Ty for your free tutorial, i learn this and i will try so hard now, i will back here later to say if i really learned this song :D

[@clelandstephen4181]

You're playing the A bass note too soon in the second bar. Play it at the end of the slide, which is the 1 in the A, you lose sychronicity playing it off the end of bar 1 as you're doing.

[@rickyallan3825]

Second chord is not even close. So wrong. Should be E diminished.

[@harrisfrankou2368]

great

[@jamesrusso2523]

Best doc song

[@josephanderson3889]

Is it just me or is doc Watson remind you of Dewey Cox lol

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Ha I can see it! Love that movie.

[@robertjohnson1246]

Wow! Have a. Headache 😀

[@campparsonssundayschool7844]

At 2:22 minutes I move down half a step but play an E diminished : Bb E Db G

[@richardvaughan9994]

Hello, just had a question about the music tab above. I am wondering how to determine when a note is played on its own or pinched with another note at the same time. Would the number be on the same line above and below each other if played at the same time and if on there own they would be staggered on the tab?

[@thewiltedplums]

My grandfather and dad saw doc a lot at festivals (we are from nc) this is great

[@milosmilenkovic4610]

Where is part 2?!

[@johnsee7269]

Very grateful for the tutorial. Rock on! Rip it up! Thanks

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thanks John! :D

[@Northyorkspaul]

I have it in a good book by Happy Traum and in that it opens with E7 and then Edim..not just a slide down a fret but change index and middle finger over...but this sounds cool as well..

[@orbodman]

Yep, that's how Doc does it. This is close enough. The song is clearly identifiable

[@vittoriochimetto]

Ok Jes

[@jasonramirez9532]

Moreee!!! Please moreee!!!!!!

[@richardvaughan9994]

I just posted the video of me playing on my wall I really hope the lighting is okay I tried to go slow so you could see my fingers. Thanks so much, whenever you have some free time. I labeled it Brandon Johnson Music and I gave you a shout out :)

[@cmroe87]

Very good lesson, very much appreciated

[@Flowerstep]

The first chord has to be E7 and the second E deminished - so are the original chords from Doc Watson

[@makokan2000]

great teacher

[@cyrilrayedwards]

nice job

[@brucetoo3294]

Begins with a seventh chord going back down to a diminished chord--same way Robert Johnson's "Evil-Hearted Woman" begins--a progression probably from ragtime piano, which was very popular before bluegrass and blues. Many players miss this distinction in playing Doc's version. Check out the original version of this song by the Delmore Brother--you'll hear more of the Ragtime-Jazz roots.

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Interesting! Robert Johnson's influence runs deep.

[@jysmtl]

Also Merle Travis Cannonball Rag. Thanks for tip to check out Delmore Bros original, which I had not!

[@sstann56]

thank you for a great lesson for a great ditty !!

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thank you, Blair!

[@buddyryeSE]

Pinky on the pick guard?

[@peterjoseph2132]

This is good and Doc has a video tutorial of this piece and should be viewed as well

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thanks Peter... I definitely took a lot of inspiration from that video.

[@Northyorkspaul]

Great