Deconstructing the “My Best Friend's Girl” Lick

[@desisernaguitar]

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[@boomerdell]

I know it’s Ric Ocasek who plays rhythm guitar on this track and most Cars’ tracks, but this is a nice opportunity to say Eliot Easton is a brilliant guitarist and not mentioned enough in discussions about rock guitar greats. Thanks, Desi!

[@desisernaguitar]

Every note Elliot Easton ever played is memorable.

[@jon2386]

The reason he’s moving up the neck is because there are implied chord substitutions. Rather than I-IV-V (E-A-B), the implied substitutions are I-VI-II-V (E-C#min7-F#min7-B7).

[@rexxengineering8333]

Both Easton and Ocasek tended to bar the whole chord even when they were only picking a fraction of the chord. They were old school. Ocasek also preferred playing bar chords higher up on the neck, even as high as the 12th fret. They came up with some of the most inventive and complimentary two guitar songs you will find. Love these guys.

[@leskobrandon691]

The thought crossed my mind that maybe he developed the barre chord to get a different tone than that of the open strings & essentially mute the unused strings which when playing live at high volumes, the strings can have a tendency to ring out. Thanks for a great video.

[@leskobrandon691]

In watching more of your video, I noticed you, as well as me, frets the full E chord, while primarily playing the bottom three strings. Hence, for the same reason he plays the full barre chord at the 4th fret.....habit!

[@nicholaswoolfenden5254]

Excellent thank you. Elliott is playing 1625 partial over 145, the old jazz approach. It's rich sounding. The reason for the changing chords but same notes is different tones on the strings.

[@paulquin3639]

I think you've hit on a new theme for your channel: Guitar lick mysteries. :-) I'm guessing that Eliot Easton played the lick like this because he wanted the slight tone or timber difference and muting quality between the ringing open strings and the fretted strings to give the lick a bit more colour. Great episode!

[@desisernaguitar]

Possibly. I did notice after the fact when I was editing this video footage that there was a difference in the sound when I fret the E and B notes as opposed to using open strings.

[@objectiveobserver2792]

@@desisernaguitar It think that is why he went to the trouble. They don't sound the same. I don't know if you would fully call it a muted sound on that bar chord fingering but it is somewhere between a fretted and muted note.

[@wsurfn]

Wow. This is one of the best videos for me I have discovered by pure chance. I am a mostly self taught beginner, although I have learned to play over 100 songs mostly thanks to the generous contributions of many on YT. I have no musical ear, and I gave up guitar quickly self teaching myself in the 80s. I am now addicted to guitar, but I still struggle with my deficient foundation. This was an amazingly well thought out approach of how to use current resources. I will check out your site. I am sure for many, this is obvious. For the lost like me? Thank you!

[@desisernaguitar]

Glad it was helpful. Let me know if you need help with anything.

[@paso193]

Wow! One of the best diagrammed and tutorials of a quirky guitar solo I've seen on YT. Look forward to more of your unique content, mate.

[@desisernaguitar]

Thanks. I'm glad you like it.

[@walkerson943]

I was hooked when I first heard "Just What I Needed." Great track and of course "My Best Friends, Girl." Thanks, Desi!

[@desisernaguitar]

My pleasure!!

[@agotingco]

Desi, this is a great lesson! Thanks for breaking this down in extreme detail. I have to learn this song in a hurry for a cover band I just joined and this helped me extremely. I also like how you discuss the various other resources available on the internet to "investigate" and really nail how the original was played by Eliot Easton and also that are available for learning parts.

[@desisernaguitar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@RoosterStone]

Originally recorded a tad to slow for the producer, they sped the tape up slightly thus increasing the pitch. The song originally is suppose to be in E.

[@wowOKlol]

The reason he plays this that way is because of the song it was inspired by. Can't remember the name or the band, but theres an interview somewhere with him talking about the inspiration behind that lick. Its based on a chord from another song. So if you are used to playing that other songs chord, it'd be more natural to just keep doing that.

[@souperdave2009]

I Will ..Beatles

[@alanwarren4587]

Yeah I think you’re spot on why he played it that way just force of habit playing the chords 💪👍🏻

[@RFToob]

Well done and helpful. Thx. The only reason that I can offer about him playing that lick, fretting those 2 notes it up the neck that way, might be to help ‘dampen’ the picking effect? But one can dampen with the heel of the pick hand. So I dunno? Great catch. I’ve always wondered about that. Also, the clean twangy lead ‘sound’ was a bit uncommon (and brilliant choice) for a rock pop lead at the time. (Yes Ahead of the Stray Cats). Just more testament to Eliot’s smarts. You could probably call Elliot directly and ask him questions, LOL he seems pretty friendly. Cheers.

[@norseman61]

Ho lee carrrapp! Yes, I know this video is two years old. I just saw it now, and I can’t go back in time. But if I could, I would say that this breakdown Is EXACTLY the one I needed to learn this incredibly unique and creative display of guitar virtuosity that only Elliot Easton would come up with (Warning: run-on sentence alert). Put on virtually any Cars song and listen to the guitar composition that Elliot contributes. Genius. Thanks for your video that allowed me to learn this song in the format that connected with me.

[@desisernaguitar]

I agree. Elliot Easton was brilliant!

[@BreadandFaxes]

I think Elliot moves the chord shape and fingers the entirety because of force of habit. He is just playing what is natural, and making that whole chord is natural

[@joshmorison7191]

This has been killing me for years. You've put together the research perfectly--I was missing some pieces. Thanks!

[@desisernaguitar]

you're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@warthog5562]

Elliot Easton is a tremendously underrated guitarist

[@desisernaguitar]

For sure.

[@SaxJockey]

Desi, nice to see such a thorough analysis of this great part conceived and played by Elliot Easton. I have been learning this part, but never picked up on those muted notes...things like that make such a difference in striving for that original (brilliant) sound! The justifiable points you make about alternate positions is the reason I distrust tabs (that often simply go for pitch rather than tone/timbre). I have previously seen the videos with Elliot playing the bar chord up the neck, it confused the hell out of me 😂.

[@desisernaguitar]

www.sheetmusicdirect.com is usually accurate.

[@ronniewrong1539]

Xlnt break down. Xlnt! Possibly my new favorite KZbin guitar teacher. Thorough research, tediously thorough. A+ I love it. You've got me playing it!! How about Sails of Charon by the Scorpians. But just as thorough as this video. Lol. That'd be worth a Patreon donation. Subscribed!

[@richardersek6845]

My guess is that Eliot is using the bar shape for the lick because later in the song, he extends that lick into a solo and it looks like he's moving that up and down the neck.

[@desisernaguitar]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@Rockshredder]

I see him demonstrate this solo and he uses the full barre chord to play this solo but this approach makes a lot more sense to me.

[@twoputt5]

Music Speed Changer app changes pitch & speed independently also has balance eq & Looper a must have for breaking down songs

[@idolhanz9842]

Oh man...thanks a million. Now lets go look at that lead break.

[@brucemcgregor22]

Really great video. Love to geek out to this level of detailed plying analysis. I was working on a similar process when I came across your video. Elliot has since posted a video where he explains he was using chord substitutions of the relative minor to play over the basic chord progression. This explains his changing of positions.

[@desisernaguitar]

Yes, I now realize that originally the part was played over a 1625 chord progression but then was adapted to fit the plain 145.

[@MikeMiranda777]

Great job with this analysis!

[@mikeross5494]

Easton was educated at Berklee College of music. I'm sure he knew what he was doing. Maybe just a habit he picked up and stayed with him.

[@bwalsberg]

Nice breakdown, I like to think of this lick from a Travis picking standpoint……..I personally think this is what he is doing, but in a different way. It is easier in the Travis picking method as it retains the chord shapes……my 2 cents.

[@matthewcasey892]

Maybe he barred to remind him where he’s at in the changes and to mute if plying sloppy live, created it as an arpeggios? Thanks, I enjoy how you teach.

[@desisernaguitar]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@brucemcgregor22]

Could also be his training. He went to Berklee and the positional playing taught by berklee does not use open strings when not playing in the open position. 2nd position would use the fretted notes for sure. Jazz musicians would probably play it this way. Also the G# muted on 4th could be a function of him changing back to 2nd position as he was arpeggiating the notes in the C#m and the G# was muted as he lifted his finger created a ghost note. Just my two cents.

[@Mo_Ketchups]

Elliot Easton confirmed this track was sped up per Roy T. Baker in an interview not long ago. ✌️

[@ericthompson2018]

Easton talks about the mystery of that lick in this video, at about the 8:30 mark . He confirms that it's about chord substitutions, and I think a part of the reason he does it (though he doesn't say) is he sometimes throws in some of the other notes of these relative minor chords. For example, in this vid, the first time he demos it I hear him adding a *double-stop* on that first note in the C#m position - he plays the G# below in addition to the E. I hear this in other variants and live versions he's done.

[@ericthompson2018]

I see people have posted that video before. But listen right at 8:34, I hear a double-stop there.

[@MuyGordito]

Ok I love this song. I was watching the little clip. Concerning the Ab/C#min7 shape. I think the rest is actually a first string muted note on the 7th fret. Repeating a quick B???

[@desisernaguitar]

Someone has pointed out to me (thanks, Jason) that instead of playing a muted open first string, Easton is actually playing a partially muted G sharp note at the fourth fret of the first string, which explains in part why he moves up to that position. But it still doesn't explain why he barres across the rest of the strings and even gets his third finger involved.

[@arielweinerth9259]

I believe he’s actually playing a high B note with his pinky (8th fret, High E string) and quickly releases because he has to change position again.

[@arielweinerth9259]

I meant 7th fret

[@arielweinerth9259]

Great channel btw!!!!

[@arielweinerth9259]

so I think your earlier reader got it right, it's a G# note he's hitting/muting, not a high B.

[@desisernaguitar]

@@arielweinerth9259 Yes, although after listening carefully to the recording and a few different live versions, the G# note is not always apparent. It often just sounds like a muted string.

[@erikpacheco_]

A great video!

[@desisernaguitar]

Glad you think so!

[@jeffharrison1140]

Moving up I think gives it a little thicker tone.

[@IggyPelman]

The 3rd note he plays in that position on the 4th fret is the G# on the 6th string. Watch his picking hand.

[@desisernaguitar]

Yes, good catch. I noticed that afterward. On most recordings, though, it's so muted I didn't recognize the G# note.

[@IggyPelman]

@@desisernaguitar I guess that I meant the 1st string lol but I'm with you on why he chooses to barre there. That's easily accomplished with a simple D-shape. It's probably what he's comfortable with. There are a few other places where he hasn't chosen the easiest way to play it, IMHO. Great lesson, BTW. Love your work!

[@desisernaguitar]

@@IggyPelman In another video that I found later, Elliot Easton explains that he originally played the chord changes as E C#m G#m B. That explains why he barred. He used to play C#m but the band stayed on E.

[@IggyPelman]

@@desisernaguitar Ah. Interesting. The band must have had a 3 chord rule in those days ;)

[@desisernaguitar]

@@IggyPelman Haha. I think Easton adapted the part to fit over the standard 145 in the song but retained some of the fingerings anyway.

[@sdevino]

I had a chance to sit with Elliot in person when I worked at Line 6 and he told me most guitar players miss the C#m in the turn around. He was emphatic that it is really a I, vi, IV, V progression and most guitar players miss the vi.

[@desisernaguitar]

That's correct. He originally composed it as I vi ii V but the band changed it to I IV V. Elliot retained his fingerings.

[@sdevino]

@@desisernaguitar Since he is playing partial triads, the C#m still makes it in there depending on how you look at it.

[@Ronno4691]

Nice guitar!

[@desisernaguitar]

It's a $400 guitar but I put a couple hundred dollars into upgrades.

[@Ronno4691]

@@desisernaguitar I've done that with my Squier Standard Strats and Teles. Huge improvement.

[@neastguy]

when he goes up to that C#m7 he hits that high G# after the e and the b.. listen again on the amp demo

[@desisernaguitar]

Yes, I heard that after the fact. 👍

[@fpicc8807]

I don't understand why Easton played a barre chord. I find it easier to just do open notes. But he is the legend and expert, I'm just a novice. I wonder how George Harrison would have played "I will" since it is such a similar riff..

[@Guitaroverkill]

I always thought this sounded like a George Harrison lick.

[@desisernaguitar]

That's because it is!

[@revgo4624]

Enough about the tuning aaaaagggghhhhhh! I can bear it any longer.

[@quiksilver78]

Here's Elliot Easton himself playing it on an acoustic guitar: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5ukp62bhqqFaq8 - the quality isn't great, though

[@desisernaguitar]

Yep that's a great video

[@quiksilver78]

@@desisernaguitar I love he fumbles through this own lick like the rest of us! As a lefty myself, he's my hero (and McCartney, and Hendrix, and Cobain 😁)

[@mr.tibs1334]

Elliot says he trys to conform his lead to the chord changes. Might be the reason. Kinda of meshing of the two.

[@brucesickles5667]

Regarding the conversation between 10 and 14 minutes: Consider that he may be muting. I am in no way an expert or masterclass player but I do this technique a lot so I don't have to be so precise with my pick.

[@peterfarrell66]

Great exploration! Personally I just thought staying in the first position was too boring for some guitarists but a few months ago Elliot did a webstream where he explained and demonstrated the lick and solo (on an acoustic!). As for changing position in the lick, he says he was throwing in the C-sharp minor for the E chord, and the F-sharp minor for the A chord. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5ukp62bhqqFaq8

[@desisernaguitar]

Great video! Thanks for sharing. This definitely makes sense. I see what he's thinking now. However, he never plays any notes out of the C#m or F#m that aren't also in an E and A chord. There's no need for him to barre across the fretboard on the C#m because he never plays strings 4 or 5 in the chord shape. Perhaps he composed the part with more of the C#m in use but later omitted the strings that would conflict with the rest of the band, but never changed his fingering. Whatever the case, it's a great part and there's no need for him to change how he plays it. That said, I only fret the notes played in the part. I don't barre.

[@backtoshallabal6662]

Desi can you also play this with a capo?

[@desisernaguitar]

You mean like capo at the first fret to play in the key of F, capo at 2 to play in F#, and so on?

[@TheLegobug]

Elliot explains his fingerings here kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5ukp62bhqqFaq8

[@desisernaguitar]

Yes, someone else also pointed that video out to me. I see what he's thinking now. However, he never plays any notes out of the C#m or F#m that aren't also in an E and A chord. There's no need for him to barre across the fretboard on the C#m because he never plays strings 4 or 5 in the chord shape. Perhaps he composed the part with more of the C#m in use but later omitted the strings that would conflict with the rest of the band, but never changed his fingering. Whatever the case, it's a great part and there's no need for him to change how he plays it. That said, I only fret the notes played in the part. I don't barre.

[@bwalsberg]

@@desisernaguitar …..it’s in the C# position. He omits pinky finger….which are the same 3 notes as the open E.

[@walkerson943]

I have read that Elliot Easton was first a right-handed guitarist, but his manager suggested switching to a left-handed approach because Paul McCartney was a leftie as the visual looked great on stage as Easton was a Beatles fan. Hmmm...pretty impressive feat switching from right to left. I have enough challenges mastering the right!

[@desisernaguitar]

I don't think that is the case. www.gretsch.com/2002/04/elliot-easton-exclusive-interviewpicking-up-the-guitar-at-age-3/

[@walkerson943]

@@desisernaguitar Hi Desi: Check out this video: 'Cars, Guitar, and Elliot Easton" at around the 14:30 minute mark. He mentioned he played right-handed a number of years but because of his manager he made the switch. He is being interviewed by a lady in a red dress/shirt in his studio/house. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYOUq6KMfNakmKc

[@desisernaguitar]

@@walkerson943 This is so strange. He made some conflicting statements that still leave me confused. At any rate, you can see clearly in this following video that he's a lefty because he's signing autographs left-handed. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIa1nZtvmdCkbJo

[@walkerson943]

@@desisernaguitar Strange indeed! The main thing is that he left a legacy of incredible fretwork while with the Cars and that work will live on. Thanks again for posting this "Deconstruction Lesson" and if the mood hits you, please take a look at the Cars mega hit "Just What I Needed."

[@donnasweetpurplejune6335]

@@walkerson943 He is making a joke in that video footage. He has confirmed in many interviews that he was born left-handed and has always played that way.

[@marty7wizard7]

he's picking notes off of the relative minor to the major chord

[@marty7wizard7]

so E...C#m

[@desisernaguitar]

Right. Well, he's fingering the relative minor chord but he doesn't actually pick any of its notes that are not in the relative major cord. That's what throws me off. He didn't need to complete that whole barre shape because he didn't even pick the minor notes it contains. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@waltertriesch2560]

Mixed feelings on this video. It's nice to know where the information came from, but tabs are blurry and barely visible and he doesn't talk through fret numbers or notes much. 42 minutes for a 15 second riff. I'd have to transcribe what he does if I wanted to learn this. Tabs on the screen would be a huge plus.

[@desisernaguitar]

Not the point of this video. You can purchase the tabs very inexpensively online. See the following link. www.sheetmusicdirect.com/en-US/se/ID_No/88603/Product.aspx

[@Lilliputian63]

Sounds to me like he's muting the notes slightly in fingering the barre chord, and he also gets a muted pull off when he returns back to the root. Listen very closely to the clip of where he is demoing his method.