How To Play BLACKBIRD 'like McCartney' (Plus Free Charts!)

[@mvdeehan]

Thanks this is a great tune and your sheets and directions are awesome!

[@tuna22lm]

This is such a beautiful song to not only listen to but to also learn how to play properly, thank you for showing us how to play this and play it properly. I loved it.

[@jeromekovacik1198]

Love your teaching style Rob... And you are a rare breed amongst others who charge a lot in some cases, while your teaching is free. We all thank you.

[@HarryCollins99]

Thanks!

[@bernhardhansen1098]

Danke!

[@KenK710]

Count me amongst the many guitarists who have been playing this wrong all along and weren't quite sure why. Great lesson-thank you!!

[@stoozy65]

Thanks

[@stringmantony]

Without question this is the best lesson for this song on KZbin! Great singing and playing too.

[@bernhardhansen1098]

It´s really a pleasure to listen to your lessons. Thanks a lot and don´t change your way of teaching!

[@_Rob_G]

Good heavens .... 17 pages !!! Is that the most pages yet ? Sure you needed a cup or two (or maybe a pint) after this one. Great lesson as usual -- will give it the effort it deserves --- thanks !!

[@fennahrob6934]

I’ve literally broken it down shape by shape do you can’t cock it up. ✌️😎

[@Wanderingsomewhere145]

After 50 years, I can now play it right! Thank you for the tips. 🙏🏻

[@FamSisher]

Thanks for this Rob. I’m glad I stumbled on your channel this year, you’ve really made the learning process enjoyable. Everyone else simplifies songs for beginners, I like that you take the actual recording and break it down simple enough for beginners to understand. It feels so much more rewarding being able to play the actual song.

[@whaustin]

Thank you for this! Great lesson for a beautiful song. Isn't it funny that classical musicians tend to look down on rock and folk musicians, when really they are all just glorified cover bands in the end! I truly appreciate your lessons and ease of instruction.

[@brianjames5685]

You are one of the best teachers I've seen on KZbin and I have seen a lot. I'm not knocking their skills they are mostly great players but the way you convey the information is impressive.

[@jimfenski3111]

Great lesson Rob. Also worth mentioning is the foot tapping Paul does throughout the song to keep time. I always appreciated that being part of the recording-pretty easy to duplicate…all you need is a shoe on your foot and a hard floor! Btw I saw Paul McCartney live at Fenway Park in Boston Massachusetts several years back and he mentioned exactly what you said about people playing the song incorrectly! Peace

[@fennahrob6934]

Good point! I used to think it was a metronome.

[@NDFlyFisher]

Great lesson! Thanks Rob. I always thought this song would be too hard but you have debunked that. Off to get my guitar and work on this wonderful song.

[@fromtheblonx]

You're such a great teacher Rob, thank you so much! I'm currently suffering from chronic illness (long covid 2 years) and I still can't pick my guitar up. But when I can, I'll go straight to this video. I adore The Beatles. Thank you again mate🙏💚

[@Wanderingsomewhere145]

The ending is a metaphor of a setting sun…. Thank you. Great lesson. 🙏🏻

[@darrenfranklin1214]

Not played this for many years. Time to revisit and learn to play it properly this time around (not the "classical" way I was shown before). Top notch tuition from FR as always 😊

[@tuna22lm]

I agree it definitely sounds better the way you play it ,you can really tell the difference the way you play it does sound like the original way Paul would and did play it.

[@larshenrikfabrin7640]

I have been trying to play this for over 40 years, but I never got the fingerpicking right. I think I have a chance now of getting it right, thanks to your excellent lesson. A huge thank you for sharing this!

[@triples4good]

Absolutely love this song. This is the best lesson on this on KZbin. Brilliant!

[@MenschGebliebenerUnmensch]

Your "idiot proof paperwork" is pure gold. Thank you, Rob.

[@alanjohnston2743]

Great lesson Rob , thankyou 🙏Are you tuned down by any chance ?

[@parneypots]

👍👍 great tone on that guitar

[@TheCSteve]

Thanks .. For help with Jolene begin riff and this song .. These are my lessons to learn and your channel helps me out if i am a little stuck .. I play since a half year without plectrums to get more out of my guitar playing .. Thanks :-)

[@rogerthorley2044]

Brilliant Rob I have been struggling with this for so long and couldn’t get any rhythm.. my guitar teacher hadn’t taught me the pick 😂🥱🥱🥱

[@mobiledevsteve]

Beautiful sound and playing

[@richardstones6445]

Thanks for the great tutorial Rob. As usual, you do it so well... Isn't it interesting that James Taylor uses a similar "index finger brush" technique when he recorded "Carolina in my Mind", which was recorded in the Beatles Apple studio in London the same year that "Blackbird" was recorded for the White Album. It's difficult to imagine that Taylor wasn't influenced by McCartney's technique (or maybe it was vice versa?). Many people have commented that McCartney used this technique because he wasn't an accomplished fingerstyle player, but I've always thought Taylor is an absolute ledge of a fingerstyle player, and he loves this technique.

[@seanhallahan14]

Another great gift from Rob. Thank you so much, Rob!! Love 'n Light best & cheers, Sean

[@brianmccarthy6883]

Absolutely brilliant Rob. The great Paul McCartney would I am sure be impressed with your explanation of one of his many wonderful masterpieces.

[@eamonnquinn9585]

Brilliant lesson well explained. When listening to pick being done on the mutted string i kept getting Tusk by Fleetwood Mac ringing in my ears!

[@joppypoerawinata524]

thank you for the lesson Rob

[@chrisbergonzi7977]

Fantastic stuff here...thanks pal...

[@brynmorjenkins4376]

One of my favourites , I shall try it on classical guitar

[@michaelsicowitz362]

Seems like they each came back from India with some version of the Donovan thumb, finger, thumb, it's great. The results were timeless tunes on the White LP. Your lessons are just about perfect. Well done Sir.

[@stevedepace17]

I have to say that I absolutely LOVE your lessons and would like to thank you for everything you do👏👏👏

[@Andrew-ez9cp]

Great stuff Rob I was wanting to ask for a request Chuck berry Johnny be good the videos I've watched on it are crap and I would love to learn how to play it properly it would really make my day great song 👍

[@fennahrob6934]

I’ve done that one Andrew. 👍🏻

[@melissaflannery5913]

OK Rob its a hard song to learn 3 or 4 months for me, i learnt it watching Marty Swartz. Who admits he can't play it; how its play'd by macca But its because of him that i learnt to travis pick or what ever they call it never thought id get there and im still nowhere with it but ill be busting a nut till i get there if i wasn't so poor id be sending 'coffee cash' we love your work it's important.. thankyou Glenn & Melissa Melbourne Australia....

[@tonyhirtz4881]

Excellent teachings! I thoroughly enjoy your channel. So happy to have found you. Could you perhaps do a tutorial on Bob Dylan’s; ‘Don’t Think Twice’

[@robertreidy3116]

Love your teaching style , what make and model is your guitar 🎸 love the sound , will keep watching your channel Rob , thanks

[@bethcohen3151]

Looking forward to playing this one day😊

[@guitar-nut]

Great lesson as usual Rob. I am one of those that get the pick wrong, I shall follow your guidance as it does sound much better. The bit I struggle with is lifting my fingers off the strings to reduce string noise while sliding to the higher frets.

[@fennahrob6934]

Don’t worry about the finger noise when sliding. It’s the nature of the beast. 👍🏻

[@MrJasdog107]

Beautiful tone .

[@stevejpm1]

Seriously you are a genius .

[@fennahrob6934]

Nah, just been playing a long time. 👍🏻😎

[@stevejpm1]

@fennahrob6934 well I'm just learning guitar,at 63,and being a retired semi pro drummer for 40 years thought I would try a proper instrument,you are a very good teacher,thanks again.

[@bristolblue3884]

Thanks Rob, I’ve been playing it the ‘crap’ way for years, much prefer the flick way 👏👏👍

[@KerwacheNE]

🙌 Thank You, Thank You, Thank You 🙌

[@davidorgill6629]

Good lesson as always Rob Please consider doing a lesson on Mother Natures Son Another great Beatles song Thanks

[@vladartov2817]

Great! Thanks. McCartney is genius.

[@Jeronimo365]

Beautifully played as always. 👍 And what a song, wish I’d written it. 🤷🏻‍♂️😉

[@MsDenver2]

Very good thanks for sharing this skill I didn’t have a clue on that rhythm 😊

[@jeff3358]

Hi Rob, awesome, thank you. For all of us real plodders, who have only just got the hang of the basic Delta Blues Lesson, can you please put up a lesson on how you expanded your blues at the end of that lesson. I have slowed down and rewound the clip soo many times to try and copy your extras. A session on that would be fantastic. Pleeeeeease😅. Regards Jeff

[@fennahrob6934]

Yes, I’ll do that in a couple of weeks once people have got the hang of the basic picking technique. The bit your talking about it quite complex, hence my leaving it out of the first lesson. 👍🏻

[@jeff3358]

@@fennahrob6934 Hi, Thank you 😊. Really appreciate your time and patience 😊

[@eddydefanti7690]

bravo bravissimo

[@norbertb.]

beautiful

[@holgerdugnus6464]

He Rob, which guitar do you play in this Video ? It sounds fantastic 🙋🏽‍♂️Holger

[@legerlaurent9510]

There is another funny to play : bip bop ;))) Nice play Rob❤❤

[@stevejpm1]

Thankyou i can play this really well although i am struggling with the timing at the end of the chorus.

[@fennahrob6934]

Play along with the record whilst following the lyrics on the paperwork. You’ll get it. 👍🏻

[@topdoghouse4084]

Cheers Robert, not played this for donkeys years.

[@dougbolton5503]

Brilliant! (again) HEY, did you get a new camera and lighting or simply correct the white balance? Also, what guitar are you using? - I'm looking to "upgrade' from my entry-level acoustic.

[@fennahrob6934]

I now use an iPhone 15 pro max to record vids; no special lighting - no editing. I like to keep it ‘real’. The guitar for Blackbird is a Taylor. 👍🏻

[@GaryBook]

I pick with my pointer and middle finger, but you have it right, Paul McCartney strums the strings with his pointer finger. I play the banjo as well, so I just do that Earl Scruggs picking.

[@tuna22lm]

I probably won't be able to sing it though which does help in the learning process, oh well we must carry on with just humming it instead lol.

[@fennahrob6934]

Just play it as an instrumental. 👍🏻

[@Theacman55]

Hey Bob, I know your guitar is not a Martin but it has an excellent tone to it. What maker are you playing with?

[@passerbycmc]

yeah learning this the proper way was hard for me, hand wants to just fall into standard travis picking for it

[@edcrutchfield3447]

Do you have a book I can buy with this lesson? Thank you 😊 🎸

[@fennahrob6934]

No book, just the free paperwork by clicking the blue link under the vid in the description box. 👍🏻

[@dukeofearl4117]

I’ve watched multiple lessons on this song and no one talks about the 2 finger method used by Sir Paul.

[@gregchandler8001]

thanks mate

[@billwillis9015]

Hi Rob, Where is the blue link to download paperwork. great lesson as usual.

[@fennahrob6934]

Click the ‘more’ button in the blurb under the vid. You’ll see it. 👍🏻

[@warrensnelleksz5494]

Hi Bob, I live in Calcutta India, would you kindly do 2lessons songs by Keb mo, life is beautiful and love blues. Much appreciate it 4:28 appreciate

[@fennahrob6934]

I’ll give them a listen. ✌️

[@stevepresto]

Supurb!❤

[@RichardFeese]

Which strings are being flicked ?

[@frankblaue3872]

You Arena a verry good Thatcher. Lot of Greedings from Germany

[@martynonions6268]

Cool 😎 Rob 🙌 Can you play it left handed ? Just kidding 🤪 Thanks 4 fills 💯

[@fennahrob6934]

I’m left handed but play a right handed guitar. Will that do? ✌️🤣

[@richdayton9768]

How do I view the download

[@fennahrob6934]

Click the link in the description box under the video. If you can’t see it click ‘more’. 👍🏻

[@knoeppe]

💎🐦‍⬛💎

[@stevejarvis1366]

Great lesson but is Anybody else unable to print off the pdf, I’m just getting one sheet of blank paper?

[@fennahrob6934]

All working this end. Try this. drive.google.com/file/d/1JxmHBMpX84k7Lnypi3xRDuA5TE9WUqbD/view?usp=sharing

[@stevejarvis1366]

@ Cheers Rob, will try again in the morning, great lessons

[@stevejarvis1366]

Hi Rob, I downloaded the sheets ok thank you, loving it

[@martinlouden9005]

Written for Neomi Campbell.

[@mklnm]

perfect !

[@dukeofearl4117]

Thanks!

[@JDC-z7p]

Thanks

[@timthew8757]

Thanks!

[@trishboyington6220]

Thanks!

[@haemovideo9386]

Thanks!

[@bettyandfrankbruno9088]

Thanks!