Guitar Lesson: How To Play Head Down by Soundgarden

www.RyanLendt.com
IG: RyanLStudios
/ ryanlendt

[@Slogmann]

Couple of bonus-bonus tidbits that I also just thought of: Ben Shepherd wrote this whole tasty tune in one sitting. All the instruments. He then recorded the demo that same day. When he played it back to the other guys, Matt's comment was "you drum like someone falling down the stairs". They then tried to recreate this in the studio by recording 3 (three!) different drum tracks. Matt plays one, Chris plays another, and some other guy whose name I forget plays the third drum track. And that weird percussion thing in the intro? That's them playing ping pong. In the studio. Imagine that. Bringing a ping pong table into your recording studio. I love Ben Shepherd :)

[@RyanLendt]

those are very tasty bonus-bonus tidbits thank you Sloth :)

[@JF-rf9fx]

Holy fuck I just listened to the intro and it unmistakably sounds like people playing ping pong😂

[@strykr82]

Hi, I did some research, just because it's my SG's favorite song: Gregg Keplinger played the third drum track on the song. It's Matt Cameron's drum tech since SG. I didn't knew about that ping pong sound in the intro! Thanks for sharing that.

[@songsfromthecanoe]

You're not gonna believe what I just discovered! Turns out, Kim Thayil wrote the music to A Thousand Days Before, which means ALL FOUR OF THEM have written stuff in CGCGGE, lending more credence to my 'Soundgarden tuning' nicknaming of this wonkily odd tuning :)

[@RyanLendt]

you run circles around me in the who wrote which song among members of soundgarden department Rasmus. In fact, I'm appointing you Grand Poobah Of These Things (that's the official title. what the things are is a "you had to be there" kind of a thing...)

[@gianesbaby-blues7383]

Congratulations Ryan!! You are the man for a reason. I appreciate everything you've help me accomplish on the ole six string.

[@RyanLendt]

It's an honor and a privilege GBB - thank you!

[@dazeguru7326]

i had one of those tuners, loved that thing. nice work

[@anonymoususer2756]

5:07 It's 15/8, or one bar of 7/8 followed by 2 3/4 and a 2/4. It took me a while to work it out but it's easy if you go to around 3:24 in the song and count it on the drum beat. I find this interesting because that seems to be quite a common time signature on Superunknown as both Limo Wreck and The Day I Tried To Live both use it as well.

[@RyanLendt]

very astute figuring there friend - I found it easier just to not think about it, if I recall correctly :)

[@michaelball7830]

I have been searching for my favourite Soundgarden song to learn & thanks for bringing it to me. So odd but so brilliant & I think I can get this one down!

[@RyanLendt]

yeehaw! I'm very pleased to be the one to bring it to you Michael. Cheers and good luck!

[@ariffza]

I simply adore your taste in music.

[@RyanLendt]

and I duly adore yours ariffza :)

[@patprime7320]

Thanks to Mr. Sloth for the big assist. Bigger thanks to that cricket. I do so love the sound of crickets. And congratulations (again?! These big moments are popping up a lot these days) Ryan on 2 million. Bigger congratulations to the cricket though for keeping it real in the face of your lesson daring you with his own grungy tune of nature. Bas a$$ cricket right there!

[@RyanLendt]

haha, the cricket has had his fifteen minutes of fame. now we may all rest! It does seem that the trumpet moments are coming sooner and sooner... one million views took 30 months, and the second million only 7!

[@mollymaggieandmemollymaggi5189]

8/29/19. Low E tuned down to C, A string down 2 notes to G, D string down 2 notes to C, G string stays the same, B string lowered to same G, high E string stays E: CGCGGE(Notes of the Major C chord)... some discussion in this video in mixing of scales with the minor scale mixing with the major scale and the harmonic scale........ I listened to this Soundgarden song before watching your tutorial, and in the comment section there, someone wrote this Ralph Waldo Emerson quote: “ To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”.... Let’s face it , if you’re 70% yourself, then you’re doing really good. Sadly, a lot of people are 90% something else because of peer pressure. Take care, Ryan.

[@RyanLendt]

I love the connection and sentiment MM :) we were just having that conversation with our son

[@VideosdoMa_2015]

Congratulations from Brasil in 2022!

[@RyanLendt]

greetings Adalberto!

[@Slenderchunk]

This whole album was too good. Though badmotorfinger is my fave cuz it’s the heaviest and he hits Mariah Carey high notes like a champ on it. No singer can sing that whole album. Chris couldn’t even do it (live). Anyhooch rad tune lesson, be well.

[@RyanLendt]

you have to be REALLY good to make it that you're so good that not even you can do what you can do :) in the studio you have the luxury of doing many takes, and of course live you don't. cheers chunk :)

[@joejackson9986]

Best tutorial on this song. Also, you’ve got an awesome personality. Great vid.

[@RyanLendt]

Appreciate it!!

[@jay_sun_michael]

Wooohooooo!!! 2,000,000 Congratulations!

[@RyanLendt]

thanks JM!

[@DarthEcoli]

Soundgarden's alt tunings, man . . . . I almost didn't bother but I have guitars all over the house and don't play half of them. I decided to just retune my Artcore semi hollow which sounds really cool doing this. Thanks for the lesson, it's pretty spot on and easy to follow. Less than 5 mins in and I'm pretty sure you can tell what I'm playing if you know the song.

[@michalkrzywdziak2547]

thanks for this great one. back in the Superunknown days i didn't know, that Ben is the badass writer behind this little masterpiece.

[@laynethomasstaley1698]

I love your enthousiasm

[@RyanLendt]

thanks DFD :)

[@Caitanya]

great great lesson!! Thanks a lot man.

[@redhotone1]

Killing it as usual Ryan. Good work

[@RyanLendt]

thanks Ben!

[@baco2778]

Thanks Ryan and Slot for this cool Soundgarden's song!

[@RyanLendt]

you're most welcome Oscar :)

[@funkyredhot]

Perfect! Thank you so much! Really helped a lot! Great video, as always!

[@RyanLendt]

I'm so very happy you're happy Jonas - cheers!

[@martinsteiger5039]

Congrats Ryan!

[@RyanLendt]

thanks Martin!

[@Slogmann]

Your choice of super secret code has my full and complete support. Whoa, 2 million! Now that's a bugle to be proud of :) I'm convinced the intro slidey-uppy-downy thing is 1 and 2s, not all 1s. I'll fight you! (no I won't). But if you're totally, utterly, completely certain it's all 1s, then I'm inclined to believe you. After all, your earballs have been proven better than mine before :) Oh we'll share a canoe ride one day, that's for sure. It may not happen today, might not be tomorrow, but one day, certainly. And when we do, we'll share a horn of my brother and I's homebrew mead as well :) I watched this on a balcony overlooking a beautiful mountain lake in northern Italy. The idea of having to cut my pack-on-the-backing trip short and then being able to do nothing at home with a hand that doesn't work, was too much. I'm sure you can imagine :)

[@Slogmann]

Bonus info that I just thought of: I have played Head Down live many times. Some were on an electric, some on a steel stringed acoustic, and once on a nylon stringed acoustic. The nylon stringed version was far better received than any of the other times. Make of that what you will :)

[@patprime7320]

Good job Sloth. Appreciate the time.

[@RyanLendt]

haha yes I am completely and utterly certain :) we can still fight though, don't worry. Way to make the best of a sub-ideal situation Sloth - please say hello to northern italy for me!

[@Slogmann]

@@RyanLendt Hehe, but I am too much of a pacifist to fight you :)

[@jesse7205]

I think you're right about the intro thing, 111, 222, 111, 000. I googled a tab of it and it reads 122 233 122 000, then agsin but 121 232 121 000. But after hearing and playing what you heard, i do agree with you.

[@klohr26]

2 million views, congrats!

[@RyanLendt]

thanks Kevin!

[@deafvegetables4874]

thank you so much bro i love this song

[@RyanLendt]

you're so very welcome mister vegetables :)

[@gavinclark9179]

Ah...just got to 9 mins...a friend of ours went to the film set in NZ-looks amazing

[@RyanLendt]

Australia, new zealand... i mean what's the difference :P

[@myaaustin1704]

Congratulations Ryan! Could you do a tutorial for Bring Yourself by Days of the New?

[@RyanLendt]

Thanks Mya! and thank you for the request :)

[@D0Nmega666]

Wow too cool man thanks for all the good times

[@RyanLendt]

thanks for being here for them Derek :)

[@neilmclaughlin2347]

Hi there Ryan. As a budding guitarist I’d recently stumbled across your channel and it’s excellent. I also grew up on 90’s alt-rock & grunge and it’s great being able to learn a lot of my favourite songs. Any chance of doing a lesson on Down on the Upside outtake, ‘Bleed Together’. I’d like to learn that one if possible. Thanks and keep up the good work.

[@RyanLendt]

Greetings, welcome, and thanks for the shout Neil! I'm glad you're having a good time here. Bleed together is on the consideration list for you - I think we'll strive to do everything chris ever did right after we do everything pearl jam ever did.

[@brandoncalloway8779]

YES SIR !!! Thank you very much. Love those weird tunings.

[@RyanLendt]

hehe yay!

[@gavinclark9179]

Congratulations big man...I’m surprised your patreon bell is still working!!!!

[@RyanLendt]

hahaha it seems to have healed :)

[@Evan94045]

😬 Congratulations Ryan! Now for 2 billion! Also good job you got my last name right, very few do that haha

[@RyanLendt]

thank you Evan :) that's funny, i can't even think of another way one might pronounce your last name

[@Slogmann]

Alright, I just watched some footage of Chris playing all 1s for the intro... You win this time! Hehe :)

[@RyanLendt]

getting to the bottom of things together :) let's write a theme song.

[@Slogmann]

Yes! You pick the key, I'll come up with a wonky tuning for it.

[@Slogmann]

It has to be in a wonky tuning, otherwise I'm out... :)

[@backlom]

🎺 🎺 🎺 Congratulations on 2M views

[@RyanLendt]

thank you so much, oh northern Rhino :)

[@blackholesun1498]

Right Turn And also, solos of all the other ones requested.

[@RyanLendt]

right on buddy

[@songsfromthecanoe]

I've just discovered that there is yet another Soundgarden song in wonky CGCGGE and so the tabbing has commenced. A Thousand Days Before is the one :)

[@RyanLendt]

woo hoo!

[@JimmayTheHuman]

woooh 2 MIL love head down and next you should do head up by Deftones

[@RyanLendt]

that would have been such a good idea!

[@KowboyUSA]

2,000,000 eyeball congratulations. *Super cool riff ! **Aw man. Finally bought a battery for my tuner and it doesn't appear to have a "C" on it.

[@RyanLendt]

what!? is there a chromatic mode? just get a tuner on your phone. I use d'addarrio tools

[@KowboyUSA]

@@RyanLendt no chromatic, just the standard bass & guitar E, A, D, G, B, E. Is d'addarrio tools free for android? The phone company just made me trade in my flip phone, don't understand the apps thing yet.

[@RyanLendt]

you'll find plenty of free tuners, but they all suck. shell out the $2 for a tuner that works - I've had my $2 tuner app purchase for like 8 years and I use it every day :)

[@KowboyUSA]

@@RyanLendt according to free with ads one I just installed I was only off a tiny fraction on two strings by tuning to yours on the video. Had a been a fluke, 'coz I know my hearing stinks 🤣

[@KowboyUSA]

@@RyanLendt Is that a chromatic tuner clipped on your guitar's headstock?

[@taylorbarnhart8295]

Can u do rotten apple by A.I.C please sir would be greatly appreciated.. keep it up you've helped me come along way. Thank you

[@RyanLendt]

thanks for the AIC request Taylor - and for the kindness, I'm really glad to hear that!

[@taylorbarnhart8295]

@@RyanLendt thanks again for what u do and how you break things down so they can be understood. What all instruments do you play by the way?

[@JustinTaylor1098]

Congratulations Ryan, I think I may have half those views trying to nail the rhythm on Nutshell.....

[@RyanLendt]

haha, i'll take it however it comes, thank you Justin!

[@mydailyyogapractice9696]

I love your new pet cricket. Have you decided on a name?

[@RyanLendt]

no, but LIlyann ate a whole pack of ranch flavored crickets last night. unrelated.

[@blackholesun1498]

Halfway There, Taree, Rowing, Black Saturday, Eyelid's Mouth

[@konradisik5142]

King Animal is so underrated

[@RyanLendt]

thanks guys!

[@brianhurt3801]

The reason your ears lie to you , remember Ben shepherd wrote the song the arrangements are split bass leads

[@RyanLendt]

ben is a true savant

[@robertflanagan1364]

Amaze balls

[@RyanLendt]

:)

[@carsonford9601]

How about Ty Cobb!!!!!! 🤘🤘🤘

[@RyanLendt]

good idea!

[@FarazKhan-oe1pf]

Time measurement will be from Indian classical music. You can thank Thayil for that in A LOT of Soundgarden songs. Research that.

[@RyanLendt]

thank you for this nugget of wisdom!

[@dickflinghammer7643]

Ok don't let your head get big man 1 million came from me on the same song till I got it😲🙃😕😁🤤😅😆

[@RyanLendt]

well, Justin Taylor said one million was from him and nutshell, and now we've got the other half accounted for :P

[@Spankydoodle]

I wish I stuck with playing so I could understand the musical terminology better.

[@RyanLendt]

no time like the present!

[@gavinclark9179]

...lord of the rings was filmed in New Zealand.....😬

[@RyanLendt]

:P

[@sasharasty2890]

I think in the beginning 202 303 202 000