Fred Sokolow teaches "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"

[@duchessofhazjack4878]

Fred got me started with fingerpicking when I was a teen! I'm in my 30's now. I love him he's so laid back and non-show off. Relaxed and patient. Beautiful music.

[@tomrandell7297]

Fred is an excellent musician and a first rate teacher. He explains clearly, understands what people need to gain skill and confidence. No baffling theory--simple, achievable, beginnings from which one can build one's own ideas. Thank you so much!

[@oreally8605]

I'm so Happy and glad to hear someone give homage to Bessie- instead of everyone thinking Eric Clapton did this song.

[@coltonberry985]

Gets even older than that man. 1923 if I am correct. But that version is also good

[@thesarcasicists]

Actually the song was composed and written by Jimmy Cox

[@johne1599]

Fred Sokolow is a great player and great teacher, on many genres of music!! Thanks for all you've shared over the years!

[@georgefrench1907]

Simple, elegant guitar and no-nonsense vocals -- a master class in " less is more."

[@mikel9735]

The song was written by Jimmy Cox, popularized by Bessie Smith, transformed into an acoustic blues piece by Scrapper Blackwell, and later redone by Clapton who nearly played Blackwell's version to a tee.

[@monkeyfunky157]

Scrappers version is great.i have an old Stella and it hurts to play... don't make hands like they use to.

[@gd1465]

Man. To PLAY asong is onr thing. But to PERFECT it is quite another. So many nuances in this great lesson.

[@graemethorne4540]

Thanks learned this song years ago,but your lesson brings it all together,the parts that was missing are what makes this tutorial worth watching,great lesson thanks .

[@richardmurzin5641]

I so appreciate Fred's generosity of spirit, musicianship and dedication to the American folkloric and standards songbook. I have a couple of Fred's teaching DVDs. I have learned so very much from him. Great arrangement!

[@jimwalsh2001]

It takes real soul to bring so much out of such simplicity. Fred is da man!

[@zanart21]

this song has intrigued me for years, even though I have a pretty good grasp of chord structure, thanks Fred, for showing the chords.

[@davidfranklin272]

Great lesson. Thank you. That is one beautiful looking and sounding guitar.

[@kingrobert1st]

Another all time classic I can cross off my bucket list! Thanks for not wasting my time with all this 1st finger on 3rd string 2nd fret bollocks! Subbed!

[@DennisAnthonis]

Best lesson on youtube for this song. Also, that's very interesting that you can play a diminished chord every 3 frets and it's the same chord.

[@trebortrahrebe2575]

Dennis Anthonis yep I was tripping out on that diminished thing myself.

[@kianleonard5379]

its because a diminished chord is made of a minor 3rd on top of a minor third.

[@james-gang]

One more Thak you Fred!!! from Berlin, Germany today, love it!

[@MegaWavesMusic]

Excellent lesson to a beautiful song...thank you Fred!!!

[@Jonathan-L]

Wow, the tone of that guitar!!! Sweeeeeeet!!!

[@curtzblues]

Fred, you play hell out this one. I try finger and whenever I think I've got it I come back here and see more work to be done. Thanks for showing me how to polish.

[@curtzblues]

finger picking

[@lakenokomis1240]

Thanks Fred. It was great attending your blues uke session in Minneapolis last week. I've been practicing this tune on the uke, and I found this site to check out the melody. Now I'm motivated to learn it on the guitar too. Tom

[@cheezyridr]

i like how you teach me blues history and trivia during the lesson. no one else does that. thank you

[@nicoguyot]

The performance made me come very emotional

[@ThreeChordMonte]

Excellent teacher. I own a number of Fred's offerings. Thank you Mr. Sokolow.

[@BigWillieWillHom]

Wow!! That's Awesome!! Big Huge Thumbs Up!! Blues On, Bro!! - Big Will / The New Super Universe

[@guitarbluz62]

How could anyone say anything negative about this video?! Fred is such a master of the blues...both as a performer and teacher. I love his DVDs...highly recommend them for guitar and uke.

[@kabalofthebloodyspoon]

This is such an excellent tutorial in every way. 🙏🙏🙏🤘

[@ernestscernestsc4673]

Fred, Great Job! I've been playing 55+ Years but always been a Flat Picker/Flat Picker with Fingers.. At 70 YO, I've just started doing some Total finger Picking. Normally, as soon as I hear a song, I can hear the chord progressions in my mind before I get near a guitar. Never heard this song before until last night on KZbin. Could not "Hear" that "F" (I think it was - will go back in a minute to verify) up on about the 4th Fret. I have a good command of the Fret board, chords, etc. but you just saved me possibly a bit of time relistening to this song without seeing You play that chord. BTW, I would like to apologize for those Idiots who Post Criticisms of any of your Videos. You spend your time and graciously share your Talent, Info, Tricks, Chords, etc without pay unless someone wants to subscribe. For what it's worth, if they don't appreciate ANYTHING You're providing, they have about 10K other Posters they can go too! I suspect the Critics are Self Entitled Mellinials! Mature Musicians - Beginners or Advanced - don't criticize selfless People like You! Keep up the Great Work! God Bless! Ernie

[@gilbertparra6325]

k

[@67buzzo]

Best tutorial of this song! 👍🏻

[@FrettieFingers]

Nice axe Fred. Your a fine teacher. Thanks.

[@andrescosta2992]

Love this song....nice break down amigo Fred. I will be ckng on your songs...... Gracias..!

[@martinlicht1969]

Thanks man, like your style and interesting stories on songs background.

[@SalaB-Rock]

Thanks! Master of the universe.

[@harrypalmer3481]

Big thanks to Fred Sokolow.

[@divedog59]

Thanks Fred, wonderful song and as always you played it so well. This ones going into my catalog with reference to your great approach & teaching methods.

[@christ6493]

nice guitar picking and good clearly explained lesson, thanks Fred. Any of those 32 'thumbs down ' guys want to post their own playing 'cos you must be so much better?

[@filmcrew1551]

I could just look at that guitar all day.

[@aidank2]

Thanks loved it but never got around to learning the song great lesson, look forward to many more

[@DavidDorenfeld]

this is just so awesome. thank you.

[@soulvaccination8679]

Wow.Great job right here..

[@jerseyjess6151]

Thanks a lot for the lesson, especially the intro, much appreciated.

[@corneliuslehane1120]

The Guitar is a New Era guitars creation and its model name Senorita. So now I will drool along with the rest !

[@bikersoncall]

I particularly like the D7 played on the 3rd fret, better than what I'd been using. I also really like the simple two note resolution with the G7 to C; 1st string 3rd fret 'g' , open e then full chord C, it has a pro feel without being complicated. Here's a thought for newer players if you didn't already know this, when you end a song , say in C , ending on C, for an added or double ending, mini encore , you can Hit that C chord like you're ending then pause , hit C7 strumming for a couple of beats, then Slam the C . That builds tension at the end moving the listener off balance the resolve with the C like staccato if you like. This is not particularly useful for this song, and not something you would want to over-do, maybe one song out of a set. And to be really annoying lol; C7 , C, then do the turnaround and end again, but this time, simply on C.

[@benbolton123]

For a wonderful study in dynamics look to Dave Van Ronk’s version performed at Sir George Williams University in Montreal. Excellent rendition

[@bobsyeruncle4841]

Cool guy teaches real nice

[@oldpaolo]

awesome musician and teacher !!!!

[@raymstf]

Thanks dude, this one is very great

[@derekthelimodriver5890]

That is a very nice guitar 🎸 Wow. Pretty

[@ThreeChordMonte]

Great teacher. Thank you.

[@jmforbes068]

great job,like you fretboard roadmaps book also. i learned alot

[@MrNonaste]

Love that hat, '40s era Fedora detective style, I think. That sure is a pretty guitar too.

[@milesmeow]

Great lesson!

[@crespo1965]

You should check out José Feliciano’s cover of this song. Quite soulful bluesy sound with Latin touch.

[@abdounnour]

just great, I'm a beguinner but with your method, I'm able to do it. Pierre (Belgium)

[@brandonthomas6602]

He's referring to a standard dim chord, thumb on 2nd fret 6th string, 1st finger 1st fret 4th string, 3rd finger second fret 3rd string, 2nd finger 1st fret 2nd string, pinkie on second fret first string.

[@1taylorgibson]

Loved it.

[@kingstumble]

The clue is in the title.He is teaching the song.It's not meant to be a 'performance.'

[@vincentverhoog8312]

This guitar is awsum. New era senorita. I had never seen one. But the price is of also beautiful. 5000 euro

[@normsky5504]

Great fingerboard inlays.

[@TBDguitar]

nice guitar and playin'

[@ricardowarner7481]

nice ax, great lesson

[@RobHaccou]

Thank you Fred!! Also like your Bluegrass Guitar book! (I really bought it!)

[@agnespinter7366]

Nagy tanár, és jól is énekel, tetszik

[@Bikewer]

Great stuff. I've been listening to this tune for many years; as you say a folkie standard. Now motivated to learn it.

[@mojo1994]

do I glimpse a mistake at 4:45? all good fun ofcourse. Many thanks for this tutorial it truly helped me improve my guitar playing.

[@andrewparker7016]

Love it

[@righturnonly]

I like this Man!!!RTO

[@lamper2]

can you show us Tampa Red's "The JITTER JUMP"?

[@CrappyFilms202]

this guy is cool

[@garysellars8914]

Those metal fingerpicks really do a number on the wound strings. The plain strings are ok but with the edge of the pick scraping the wound strings it destroys the wrap and causes buzzing and poor tone. If you use those a lot you would need to change strings a lot. They're better than plastic picks cos they're thinner and you can shape them but they do trash strings.

[@mikel9735]

Perhaps you should consider plastic?

[@billyclub56]

What is that GeeeTar?? It's Really Nice!!

[@katrinasundquist]

Awesome but....what is the diminished chord after the F at 6:34 ??

[@jackd.ripper7613]

If you haven't found out by now, it's F#dim7

[@katrinasundquist]

Thanks!!!

[@mojo1994]

it's actually an Adim7

[@TheOmeletteLover]

Really nice arrangement and easy to learn (and listen to) - but need some help. Fred mentions a diminished chord (last half of measure 5) Anybody know which dim chord this is (and the fingering) ?

[@johng2880]

D#

[@michaelhartung7322]

What is the guitar that's being played here, anyone know ??

[@binguhj]

He indicates it at the beginning of the video.

[@toneroable]

Fred..... have U ever try......the Cam from a different agle ????….lets say most of the time its on your left.....how about the Cam on your right & pointing your left hand....we may read U better...………………….Thnks for the Class...………………………………..Andres (NY)

[@jmforbes068]

damn good playing, especially with those Frankenstien fingers

[@jeloeb]

Cool guitar. What is it?

[@jeloeb]

+Harry Harshimoto thx Harry. Cool! (P.s. Saw tommy tedesdco for the first time a couple of months ago. All I can say is "wow". )

[@orbodman]

Have a look here for more info www.guitarbench.com/2010/08/06/1935-bacon-day-senorita-s-6-guitar-database/

[@Gr0nal]

I'm 17 and I'm learning this song, but it just doesn't sound as good without a gravelly voice... Maybe I'll just have a glass of whisky every night :P

[@Neonleeroy]

Hey old gravel voiced men wish they could sing like a sweet voiced 17 year old...ive been singing since i was 10 years old and at 37 im dreading the day i cant hit the notes i used to.....use what your blessed with sincerety is more important than style ;-)

[@supertalk1270]

Got to pay your dues... ;)

[@JohnJones-sg6hu]

PandaManMk2000 just go out and do a hard days labor type work (honestly) till you are so tired you can hardly stand up, then come home, sit down (before eating anything). Then pick up your guitar and think about your great grand parents having to do that Dailey to try and feed the children. Let your shoulders sag, breath kinda shallow. Now you will be getting close to feeling weary. Try to name someone who would do that with you every day for a few weeks. Now you are getting the idea. NOW slowly pick up that guitar and play the song like you feel it. You will be surprised how different it will sound. After you have played it a few times (and recorded it on your phone), take a good shower, eat a meal and rest. Come back and play it again in the morning and compare the two recordings. I bet you like the first one best.

[@raybloxsom2159]

Thank you Fred for a wonderful lesson,beautiful guitar could you tell me who made it

[@curtzblues]

Take the advice about laboring your butt off, then find out one day you have no job and no money.. the song is not for 17 year olds, no matter your voice.

[@stephencarpenteri2223]

Master this and you'll have "Daydream" by John Sebastian down!

[@steve6290]

Well done mate, although its gunna take a lot of viewing for me to get it right

[@lordfrap1046]

JIMMY COX WROTE IT IN 1923 ON THE PIANO

[@eLSyDro]

Imo doesn't matter prohibition vs 2020 can still buy bootleg liquor like some white lighting, so forth and so on

[@yangoo88]

You could use “top shelf” (instead of “bootleg” or “high priced”)

[@johntrevena4280]

one day im gunna sit learn how to play the guitar... wen I get 5mins im gunna give yhis a try.. thankx only wen yer poor broke and lonely can u sit on that doorstep and play this like yer.....

[@kevlavis8736]

How did that 5 mins go?

[@wadeolder7193]

Did you really need to show standard tuning?

[@kennethterrell7409]

Well, the first song Clapton learned was Crossroads, just like Page and Richards. Thank you though, a real presario, who understands guitar. Keys here. Art Tatum forever.

[@BlueBeetle1939]

10:20

[@oldmanflabby1]

that is a motherfucking flashy guitar

[@nobanjono]

Fred...love ya, but I prefer a more articulated chord progression...needs that flatted 6th man!

[@phipross]

I'm so irked by this video focusing on Fred's face. Holy moly. Who cares about his flippin' face. I'm trying to watch the fingers, especially since there's like zero help in terms of a bare bones tab/list of chords. That would've been a real step toward teaching this song. Talking about a song is one thing; I guess this "tutorial" is for folks who already play these songs and can already do 90% of what you're "teaching." I'll keep at it.

[@zanart21]

try Will Fly's video on it that should help you

[@sokolowmus]

I feel your pain, but in the 2nd half of the clip it's all closeups on the hands. Plus, if you buy the video it's all written out in tab & music & chord grids, plus a bunch more songs.

[@kmnva1]

Not bad, but no real Blues in his voice (my opinion). Hear the version of the german "Vince Weber" on piano.

[@jehovahuponyou]

HE TOO WHITE.

[@eldermikat]

jehovahuponyou, the proper way to say that is, "U 2 WITE!"

[@jehovahuponyou]

@@cbryandad HE TOO WHITE, YOU TOO WHITE, I TOO WHITE! AND DE LAWD KNOW HE TOO WHITE TO PLAY DE BLUES! PS - WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP EITHER! PS #2 - LMAO - YOU REALLY NEED TO GROW A SENSE OF HUMOR! PS #3 - I THOUGHT HE DID A DAMN GOOD JOB ON THAT SONG - NOW, GO AWAY AND WORK ON THAT SENSE OF HUMOR!!! PS #4 - NEITHER OF US ARE GOD, EVEN YOU FALL FAR SHORT OF THAT MARK!

[@rickmeadows686]

Metal finger picks on steel strings awful.

[@aiden4884]

Aint nothin wrong with that, Freddie King played like that, so does every banjo player haha

[@julianmuller9567]

The metal on your fingers really ruins the sound of the guitar. You can really hear them scratching along the strings, absolutely gives me the earrape

[@patrickclark3337]

The two things that make me change the video immediately are talking in the beginning especially a lot of it, and when they tune up. I clicked on the video because I want to learn the song not hear your life story and as long as you tell me you're in standard tuning or another tuning, I'm a guitar player and my guitar is tuned as soon as I pick it up.