Guitar Teacher REACTS: Johnny Marr "How Soon Is Now" | LIVE 4K

[@_uncredited]

Johnny's been on countless records as a session guitarist. Several artists have repeated the story that he likes to turn up cold and hear the track for the first time while he improvs the first take - which is often the one they use. He's one of those guys.

[@stonewallmedia4314]

Fender issued Johnny Marr’s signature Jaguar in 2012 and it’s still in production. Some argue the best spec’d Jaguar since the original’s introduction in 1962. Johnny got it right.

[@RalphReichts-jp5ge]

best playable & sounding Instrument! Johnny is a Wizzard

[@cve5731]

I have one, albeit with a replcaed bridge, because like many I can not keep the e-strings on the fretboard as is

[@radinamarca]

It seems like Johnny Marr has a future as guitar player 😅

[@samsonjpedroza]

Johnny Marr !!!! the SMITHS GUITARIST ... TOO MANY CLASSICS BRO !!!

[@jonathansteadman7935]

How can you not know Johnny 'fuckin' Marr !!!

[@adriantyler6911]

Guy is a teacher, plays a PRS....Never heard of Johnny Marr? Yeah right! ......So fake it's obviously aimed at new born babies!!

[@seansmith4880]

Lies for the prize

[@germantoenglish898]

I thought the same...Marr is a living legend.

[@britishrocklovingyank3491]

THANK YOU!

[@germantoenglish898]

@@britishrocklovingyank3491 no problem

[@mark240862]

I was never the biggest Smiths fan.. But.. I always loved this song ... And hearing it again on here I've not changed my opinion. It's a bloody epic tune.

[@mountaingoat3012]

Same here, Morrisey put me off The Smiths but How Soon is Now is a beauty and Johnny's vocals have replaced Morrisey's perfectly

[@landonharris3660]

@@mountaingoat3012 Smiths have some amazing records tbh

[@deniswatts4574]

You don't know one of the most influential guitar players over the last 40yrs? Good lord

[@HOWYOUDOIN884]

I play guitar and I didn't know either... until I saw him on Portlandia. But I always knew about this song, but I found it perhaps too spooky and haunting. Now that I'm older, I've had time to research :)

[@nataliecarlin9088]

The outro to ' some girls are bigger' is one of my favourite bits of music ever. Hypnotic and heavenly. Also , did anyone else notice that Michael kept somehow stumbling into ' this charming man' parts whilst looking for how soon is now? Great stuff Michael, i love your channel.

[@davidburke2132]

Johnny Marr is an absolute legend… he’s come up with some of the most interesting and innovative songs and guitar parts going and he’s one of the greatest guitarists ever to come out of the UK. The players and bands he’s been the inspiration for over the years are too many to count… And the even crazier thing is just how young he was when he created much of the music he’s famous for with the Smiths… he was 18 when he formed the band and 24 when they disbanded 😱

[@dannyharrisonn_]

Wrote This Charming Man when he was like 19

[@JimDuggan-tq2lv]

@@dannyharrisonn_ Also the entire Smiths catalogue before he was 24. Incredible really.

[@ChrisLawton66]

Respectfully, you could probably name 100 more musicians who wrote or co-wrote classics at the same age.

[@davidburke2132]

@@ChrisLawton66 go on then 😉

[@ChrisLawton66]

@@davidburke2132 I said you.

[@smithy0009]

A real pleasure to see somebody so competent who can ably unpack and appreciate Marr's playing at such a technical but also stylistic level.

[@l.sueszabo9618]

Check out Johnny Marr's playing when he was in The The. Just amazing.

[@matty206000]

I was lucky enough to see them on the Mind Bomb tour. They were just brilliant.

[@l.sueszabo9618]

@@matty206000 super jealous!

[@mushjul]

@@matty206000 I saw The The supporting Depeche Mode. Effing awesome concert.

[@bronzedog5090]

​@@matty206000 Ah mate; Johnson, Marr, Eller and Palmer? The absolute best The The line up, if so. No wonder it was mind-blowing (pun intended)

[@jamesbashford1693]

Johnny Marr is one of GOATs Michael. Enjoy discovering

[@JCKtube]

Love your videos, Michael!!! This song is probably one of the best songs in existence!

[@92eMPTy]

Johnny marr is the reason i play guitar. This track is great but there are many amazing riffs - Girl afraid being my favourite :)

[@DomSalmon]

This. I spent months as a teenager learning GA. There was (and is) nothing like it. Johnny rewrote the book on guitar and he wasn’t even 20 at this point?. All his work was out of this world, but GA is 60 years of guitar history in about 1 minute 30

[@cve5731]

You are an amazing teacher. No ego when you don't immediately get it. Much respect

[@DavidKRoebuck]

You don’t know Johnny Marr??

[@JohnViguerie]

Marr created his own sound at 19yo and it's unmistakably brilliant - apart from all contemporaries.

[@contentioushackery]

He probably recognizes a bunch of bands that Marr played in though.

[@badgasaurus4211]

Not many Americans do.

[@rcieszkowski]

Sounds like someone needs to do a deep dive on The Smiths

[@TheJamesCambridge]

This is mad 🤣 at least he's aware now

[@Razzmata77]

Love your reaction, analysis and enthusiasm. Those Brits didn't shy away from not doing things the way they were supposed to. A logical follow up to this for me would be Suede - Animal Nitrate. Bernard Butler is a genius, and this is an amazing piece. The original studio version would probably be best suited for a reaction - but there's also an interesting video floating around from may years later with some of the story and instructions from the man himself, that I bet you'd get a kick out of seeing afterwards.

[@erickrause381]

Suede was awesome. had the album, loved the song so young on that also.. so many great bands in the 90s.. a lot of them were from the UK. Charlatans, Stone Roses, Catherine Wheel, Lush, Ride to name a few.. Suede live in '97, the guitar is SO loud :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYG5oXyZh7WBpqs

[@jamiem7114]

Johnny Marr is a LEGEND!!!

[@5yearsout]

I remember seeing/reading a Johnny Marr interview about this riff, said it was a take off of the Bo Diddley riff, at least that's where it started out, ended up as The Smiths.

[@tjrenn]

That’s what I came here to say…once I heard Johnny say that in an interview, I can never unhear the Bo Diddley.

[@contentioushackery]

When Palmisano plays at about 6:45, it seems like he caught on to the Bo Diddly without really recognizing it. He keeps calling it "So British."

[@jacko717]

Iirc I think Marr said it was "Disco Stomp" by Hamilton Bohannon that was mostly his inspiration.

[@5yearsout]

@@jacko717I guess we can argue about the inspiration or what the riff was based on. Disco Stomp had the Bo beat for sure, and Marr realized later that it was based off Bo's beat, "how cool is it to have the beat named after you?" Paraphrasing Marr. Either way I'm happy that Bo Diddley and Bohannon created what they did so Marr could create this killer track to discuss.

[@jacko717]

@@5yearsout agreed, and arguably Bo Diddley was the first champion of the tremolo pedal, which is also the effect that makes "How" so memorable (although it was added at the board and not a pedal.)

[@troubleondemand7703]

Love me some Johnny Marr. The work he did with Matt Johnson of The The is actually my favorite work of his. Amazing stuff.

[@RealAadip]

Love THE THE and Johnny too. Great combo.

[@neilashton9459]

Ooh didn’t know that - was Johnny on Uncertain Smile etc?

[@troubleondemand7703]

@@neilashton9459 Mind Bomb and Dusk albums. Even plays a bunch of harmonica on them iirc.

[@chris45rpm]

@@neilashton9459 It's not. He joined later for Mind Bomb and Dusk.

[@davidgormley7990]

Was never a fan of The Smiths, but I adore The The. Johnny's work on Mind Bomb and Dusk is the best he ever was IMO. Wonderful guitar player. For those of you who might be interested you should check out his interview with the guys from That Pedal Show on YT. It's guitar porn at its best.

[@johnpbh]

Loved the working out of this... as I aways do when I dip in. The Smiths were a band that came up when I was 30 and some would have said I was "too old" for it, but I was well versed in the Beatles, Stones, and guitarists like Thownsend, Hendrix, Clapton, Green, Gilmour, Howe, Hackett, Trower, Frampton... etc, etc, etc.... so when I heard this I knew it was something special. As is all Johnny Marr's work. The guitar work on the original recording of this is all Johnny... in this version Johnny obviously has a support guitarist to give the full effect. Keep on Rocking.

[@JoshPaterson]

Takes me back to the 80s. Love this tune!

[@BubbbaZ]

The legendary Johnny Marr i will always remember when and where i first hear this song!

[@l.sueszabo9618]

I've always loved this song.

Bo Diddley foundations by design, Johnny Marr chords and arpeggios edifice, topped off with Morrissey's melancholic words and melody. Typical Smith's song given a live solo Marr guitar workout. Marr was the antidote to hair metal guitar in the 80s - a guitar hero without the soloing bombast of sweeping, the Floyd-Rose and tapping. A gifted songwriter. His major influences included British folk guitarists (as were Paul Simon's) like Bert Jansch and Martin Carthy. Listen to the guitar on This Charming Man for typical Marr chords and arpeggiation approach. Slightly surprised you didn't know Marr but another top video Michael. Music - the gift that NEVER stops giving. Barry McMurdock 7/V/24

[@luekerider]

Thank you for the courage to show the true process of learning -- struggling, reaching, finding, experimenting -- a tune. Many might think it comes automatically, but it's work

[@DavidUK64]

Great analysis - you might want to check out other JM guitar masterpieces like This Charming Man, William It Was Really Nothing, Bigmouth Strikes Again, Girl Afraid, Accept Yourself, Back To The Old House, Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now.....!!!!

[@verite]

Love this. Marr is wizard - such an inventive and original player. People should check out Bert Jansch one of Marr’s biggest guitar influences and a genius on the guitar as well.

[@craigo1981]

If you really want to hear Johnny flex his guitar playing muscles try William It Was Really Nothing by The Smiths. Just an incredible song and guitar playing is spectacular.

[@simon-ec5kv]

Hand in Glove!

[@NumbnutSounds]

Love your videos but particularly love this one…Johnny Marr is my all time favourite guitarist…truly original and a great interviewee . Would love you to look at more of his stuff….more specifically his writing with The Smiths ❤❤

[@markhenderson6389]

Heard this song dozens of times and somehow never noticed the strong Bo Diddley influence. Great breakdown and analysis!

[@jeffwolinski2659]

Johnny Marr did a great version of The Smith's There is a Light That Never Goes Out with Neil Finn and his Seven Worlds Collide project with some of the Radiohead guys. It's so damn good, well worth checking out if you haven't seen it.

[@evandonghue2]

Johnny is my favorite guitarist ever!

[@professoryaffle]

There’s a wealth of good interviews with Johnny. He’s got some great stories. If you want to geek out guitar wise watch the one from That Pedal Show. And check out his book Marr’s Guitars.

[@alittlebitgone]

One of the most famous guitar riffs in history... "I don't know if I know this song"...... I cannot even right now. ;)

[@1683clifton]

Welcome to Marr town! What a bloke.

[@geoffsimpkins7650]

Dude, how can you be unaware of the Smiths? Some of the most unique rock music ever written.

[@glenngastonjonsson7954]

Fantastic entertainment for anyone who's ever spent time rehearsing a song, Thank you, sir!

[@JohnNeal]

I’m actually going to see Johnny Marr this Friday, and I’m going to refer your video to him if the opportunity presents itself!

[@scaljas]

This is a fascinating breakdown of the song. There’s so much going on here! And JM playing every single fret! Damn.

[@alanhuffman5328]

Funny that you’re doing this tune…a month ago I was crushing hard on this same live version. Killer tune and so much fun to play with the hard tremolo!

[@louiscassis3426]

I’m a huge fan of The Smiths first two albums. My brother turned me on to Meat Is Murder then I bought The Queen Is Dead when it came out. Both great albums. Johnny also played with The Pretenders.

[@gordonhaswell4639]

For the slide part i think the b string is tuned down to b flat. Love Johnny marr, thanks for the vid.

[@bernie_smith]

That harmonic behind the nut bend was a frequent Rory Gallagher move. Johnny is a massive Rory fan! Johnny relates a story in a Rory TV documentary when he saw Rory at Salford University change a broken string whilst still playing the song and not missing a beat. I was there that night too. I might have been stood next to Johnny and not known it. The gig was 19th Nov 1981! Here is a Rory video you might like to analyse! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnTPp6SDa8mdba8si=ttjQRKXYftGJKd14

[@haughteyify]

Great job mate ,much love from the UK!

[@richardadesmond]

Such amazing melodies and chord progressions he's composed in his career. I only recently found out, he played the guitar parts for the score of Christopher Nolan's Inception.

[@brightpavilions]

I’m glad someone hipped you to Johnny Marr but of all the songs for the guitar teacher, my word, you’re just scratching a little surface with this particular song. I suggest “This Charming Man” or my personal favorite “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now.”

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

I LOVE to play “Heaven knows..” on guitar. One of my favorite songs to play.

[@redcpt3791]

He doesn't know Johnny Marr.. fucking 'ell. Only one of the biggest British guitar legends

[@James-wj8eq]

Johnny Marr, George Harrison, Paul Simon and Robert Smith were my guitar references for teaching myself from back when i was a teenager. Um now 54, stil dont read any music but have had plenty paid gigs with two bands and paid by an amateur talent show to transpose for singers in any key they suit. Only problem to this day i dont know any names of chords i play as i learnt by listening, so i can play How Soom Is Now but i can'tt tell anyone the chords!

[@edster612]

Johnny Marr, how soon is now...amazing amazing song. love his work with the smiths.

[@Guitargate]

Always keep it if it sounds good!

[@csn10]

Daniel Ash is another legend with so many previously unheard styles and effects i'd love to hear your thoughts on. He formed Bauhaus in '78, Tones on Tail as a side project in '82, then Love and Rockets in '85. So ahead of his time. Bela Lugo is Dead is an iconic one by Bauhaus played live at Riverside (BBC) where you can see how he creates those unusual sounds. The full length studio version was recorded in their first take, but live at Riverside is perfect for a review. Love your channel, though I can barely play the triangle.

[@13StJimmy]

Got to check out Marr’s playing on other Smiths songs some of the most sneakily complicated licks and runs I’ve ever attempted to play this while being arguably the best Smiths song it’s simple for them. Songs like “William it was really nothing” or “Some girls are bigger than Others” He also played with The The and Modest Mouse!

[@chrisgoulding4892]

I learned how to do an acoustic version of this song last year and it took an age. I sing the part with the slide. It's one of my fave tunes of all time. I can't believe you viewed this cold. It's one of the Smiths' biggest tunes. Classic. I actually just live up the road from where this video was recorded as well.

[@willcooper7345]

Johnny Marr - Brilliant! Check out his work with the Smiths on… “You just haven’t earned it yet, Baby”

[@mynameispaul0530]

Marr added a lot of extras in this performance.

[@ththejackjumper]

Love this, thank you Michael. I have to learn it now

[@williamkampert1475]

Loved that you did this video! Big time marr and smiths fan (every smiths fan should read Johnny’s book btw). But yes isnt the harmonic too hand bending the string above the nut a wicked move 11:16?!

[@rickb.4168]

I walked past him in my Local Tesco a couple of weeks ago, (Portwood in Stockport) it left me beaming like an idiot the rest of the day.

[@JimDuggan-tq2lv]

A lot of Marrs guitar work isn't the most technical, but most of his songs DEFINITELY How Soon Is Now, are absolutely iconic.

[@JimDuggan-tq2lv]

@@YoungMaster_626 Yeah but if you compare him to someone like Allan Holdsworth, he isn't the most technical you get what I'm saying? Of course his song writing is good, I said most of his songs are absolutely iconic, how does that not make sense to you?

[@ThatKa5p3r]

Huge Morrissey/whole Smiths fan myself but this is a killer version of this tune.

[@MrMooooole]

I spent years as a teenager trying to get the slide guitar part to sound anywhere near close, glad to know it's not immediately obvious to people ^.^

[@weets69]

Damn, just brought me back to my college days. Long live the 80’s. Smiths

[@sn95_mustang_garage]

That's the best live Marr song. He actually does it just as good as Morrissy. Him playing with the tuning at the end is classic. Nobody has the balls to grab knobs.

[@DavidKRoebuck]

Even Johnny wouldn’t say he does it as good as Morrissey , get real

[@alansouthall8221]

his songs where he layers arpeggios are gorgeous. he has such a distinctive playing style. this song isnt the best example of it to be honest. but its still iconic love marr❤

[@bamadave83]

Such a great song

[@bassmati62]

I love it how he appreciates him

[@JeromeDukes]

If I was ever going to teach "how to write a song", How Soon is Now would be at the top of my list. The song is chalk full of instrumental hooks, that keeps the listener engaged throughout the song. An absolute masterpiece imo. In regards to Jonny Marr's guitar, you need to get the right effects to sync up with the correct guitar rhythm. I'm not sure what effects are used, but when I try to play the song kicking around at home I use a tremolo effect. There's information on YT on how to actual get the correct voicing for the guitar. On a separate note, I was checking the Canadian guitar content you have on your channel and noticed you haven't reacted to Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush. Before SRV or Van Halen, there was Frank Marino. FM hit the music scene around the time of Hendrix's passing (early 70's). Highly influenced by Jimi, FM was a monster on the guitar. One of my favorite songs of his is, "It's Begun to Rain" live at the Agora Theatre. It would be cool if you could break down the verses, would be a great song to learn. There are two guitar solos. The first solo fall inline with the song. The second solo is a jazz scatting solo sorta.

[@edubfromktown]

Such a great song. U2 used a similar f#min vibe on occasion and tbh, the overall rhythm is quintessential Bo Diddley in my twisted mind.

[@FSMnoodle]

Enjoyed that. 😎 hard to imagine someone not knowing JM though. 🤔

[@SkipTwo]

“When you say it’s gonna happen now, what exactly do you mean?”

[@luteburgett]

Ole 60, Brother Joe! You'll love it!

[@clayt2k]

Great podcast with Adam Buxton and Johnny Marr from 2017 where he talks about coming up with some of the Smiths tunes 🤗🤗 well worth a listen 👍

[@StarDarkAshes]

I suggest listening to the whole Hatful of Hollow album. The whole album is bloated with epic guitar work in all various flavors. 🔥

[@hotchd1]

Check out his guitar on "This Charming Man". Check out the guitars on "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" and "Cemetry Gates" and "Rusholme Ruffians" etc etc etc

[@AB-sy5hb]

Johnny Fuckin’ Marr! Awesome reaction, more of Johnny please

[@cve5731]

Thanks!

[@EclecticInstinct]

You, Sir, are brilliant. I enjoyed your reaction very much. I loved your "so British" comments. I am British btw.

[@Dreyno]

Ironic because “Marr has said that he does not consider himself English or British, saying, "Anyone who looks back on the past 30 years of my career will know that I've always described myself as Mancunian Irish. I was the first of my family to be born in England. I've never described myself as British or English. I'm either Mancunian or Mancunian Irish - that is a culture and a nationality that is a thing unto itself."

[@jono_tv]

How can a guitar teacher not know who Johnny Marr is?

[@AllenEvanWright]

😆

[@Mark-oy9lw]

Because he isn’t anything special. Very average

[@stewartmitchell8007]

Off all the people in the world, i can guarantee Johnny didn't just luck on that slide riff in the studio, lol.

[@ftlpope]

He alone kept guitar playing alive and real for most of the eighties. Bit of Fire on the Mountain?

[@norzamirza408]

barbarism begins at home really shows Marr's genius

[@britishrocklovingyank3491]

THANK YOU!!!

[@phile3741]

I just watched the video as he released the video.

[@lucassobris]

That was fucking awesome

[@dangray]

Love it. Thanks

[@petestottsberry1133]

I learned a new term today, isolate. Didn’t even know that’s what I was doing when I was figuring out a tune!! 😎

[@michaellawlor5625]

He done the guitar on the live version of the calm tune Time.

[@erickrause381]

the trickiest part is the amp for the rhythm guitar with delay/tremolo. i heard trying to sync the timing up for the recording was difficult.. the tempo of the song has to follow a certain pace so the slap back on the delay is in time..

[@HalfBlindAssassin-i5q]

i think he wrote this , please let me get what i want and another song (i forget which) , all at once while staying in a london hotel for the weekend on a portastudio . took the demos to the band and said 'i've got this like swamp blues riff i dunno what to do with' all 3 became classic smiths songs

[@nickshields1011]

Kicked off British jangly guitar style. Did last Bond film. Legend.

[@Grogy14]

Hey Mike - review Love Spreads - Stone Roses (John Squire)........................please

[@rmiraflor]

That’s an incredible and underrated guitar song

[@sammydavej]

He gave an interview showing how he grabbed bits of Bo Diddley for the rhythm parts.

[@garethhawkins4710]

For more British bands try out Big Country, track Porroh Man. Twin guitar parts, very hipgnotic.

[@cten1407]

I was this many days old when I realized Johnny is paying homage to Bo Diddley in the verse

[@LodvarDude]

The Smiths classic. The "topline" is probably just as much a Morrissey-part as it is Johnny Marr. Amazing song, amazing guitar player and songwriter.

[@johnpeterson3386]

Yeah, maybe Johnny is the luckiest guitarist in the world, randomly coming up with amazing extended chord voices *so many times on so many songs.* Or, you know...maybe he's just amazing.

[@RobFarley74]

You might be unware, but Johnny Marr plays guitar!

[@Ewan-Argo]

Surprised you've never heard of Johnny Marr. He's a real guitar pioneer so I would recommend diving into his work from The Smiths and everything else.

[@FoodforSpecialEvents]

You my friend have just been 'Johnny Marr'd'

[@mrake1000]

Do i hear a little Bo Diddley in Marrs guitar? Great song, brilliant guitarist.

[@TeleTonemonkey]

Every day is a learning day. 😉