How I Play "Curtis Loew" by Skynyrd (Tutorial)

Here's a lesson vid for how I play "The Ballad of Curtis Loew." Had a lot of requests for this one, which kinda went viral for a minute.
• Curtis Loew - Lynyrd S... - Original video for reference
• Curtis Loew - Lynyryd ... - Full band version, from a big outdoor gig my band did opening up for the KY Headhunters
countryrebel.c... - Article about the video which Lynyrd Skynyrd shared on Facebook

[@mbrawthen]

Geez man, that’s a beautiful interpretation of a classic tune!!! It’s hard, almost impossible to improve on the original. You’ve come closer than anyone has. Nobody does It better than you except Skynyrd themselves.!! How Sweet it is! 😘

[@davidinga2364]

The truth is that I had been waiting for this lesson for years. I really liked your version. Greetings from Barcelona, eres un crack 💪💪

[@charlesford157]

Curtis Loew Tutorial - "That's What She Said" version is awesome. Thanks for posting this, it's insanely good. I tried to learn how you play this from the cover you posted and got close. Now this. I have arrived. Thanks bud for your time, much appreciated!

[@jimmywagstaff190]

Absolutely great lessons! Glad I found your page. Thanks!!

[@billtrainer2087]

I think your videos are what the authors had in mind for their music. Especially Ronny VZ.

[@ginamcclure463]

That was a great video! So excited you are teaching us. Thank you!

[@markfritts6336]

U are also teaching the older gen. Im 63 i love it

[@raymondfryar1533]

Thanks it was helpful and great job.

[@DerBastel01]

Thanks for the tutorial. your interpretation sounds awesome. Greetings from germany

[@Cody-Blues]

Thanks a bunch! I learned this song because of your video. Now I can add a little more flavor to it.

[@GuitarSwan]

Hell yeah man

[@TheFlameTop]

I return here for more of this note worthy effort here by you !

[@donaldwalker6353]

Sounds awesome

[@johnrussell5301]

Just watched you again... Phenomenal. Will be workin on this tune...

[@in2livinit]

Absolutely love this song tough to lose Gary this year, but we all gotta go sometime. Brilliant Rendition 👍

[@thomasmorano7779]

Im 54 grew up a skynhead..this is the best lesson ive seem.accurate

[@grissom72]

Fantastic video and killer cover. Well done and thanks for taking time to walk us through your magic.

[@doughooper9918]

I love all your interpretations. You do such a nice job of making full sound for solo guitar playing.

[@smithrobert2070]

Just put some new strings on my guitar. Bending to stretch. Sounded like Curtis Loew for a second. Here I am now. Thanks so much. Chattanooga

[@integralogic]

Im on a roadtrip and Im learning this song. Beautiful accoustic cover my man

[@WestVirginiaJames]

Such a great job! Please continue teaching!!

[@TheFlameTop]

Sounds beautiful man ! I say this in a most respectful way when I say, this song is a song of the South. It's 50 years old now , but you keep the spirit alive and well in your kind offering here good sir'. Good tidings to your future efforts in music and life ! `LIKED'

[@TheFlameTop]

I am grateful for your positive response here sir'! It's like music from England makes me think of life in England , but songs from the south land makes me think about things like the heat that them folks endure and critters you like to look out for . You can't just stick your hand down in a bush without checking it out first `cause you don't know what is lurking in there when your down South. That is what the southern folk means to me , they ``Endure'.

[@jacksonv672]

We need to get you a million subs brother.

[@joesexton1560]

Very nice work. Thank you.

[@kluper1157]

very nice! thank you for all your time! one of my fav's!!!

[@hfenn803]

Thanks for doing this! It's very gracious of you!

[@70snuttodd95]

How cool is this !!! You make it look easy, now I'm going back to find your performance of Curtis Lowe

[@missbknodel]

I’d say that is a true honor and well deserved one as well.

[@johnrussell5301]

ABSOLUTELY KILLER... THANK YOU!!!!

[@Brynden-Rivers]

Its a metal slide on the original recording not a glass one. Thanks for the video yours is the best version for us solo acts!!!!

[@jdalend]

Very nice...

[@BakerBaker1-9]

Fantastic bro , thank you - I'm coming back

[@donaldcassel33]

Awesome bro.

[@jeffro.]

I like the way you've done the chords with the open strings. And yeah, i agree about the rhythm, you just have to feel it. Prolly different tech time, lol. (BTW, It couldn't have been Lynyrd Skynyrd (the real band) that posted on their FB page, cuz FB wasn't in existence before the plane crash. Musta been the "replacement" band. I know there were a few "surviving" members the 2nd time around, but the 2 main stars were already gone. THAT'S why i don't think of them as the " real" band, by that point the magic was gone. No more big hits, just the same songs that were already recorded. Don't get me wrong, i enjoy tribute bands a lot, i like all the original songs (when played the same way), and i learn & play then myself! But it was Ronny & Steve, and Ed that were the spark of creativity to write the lyrics and catchy tunes. Anyway, sorry, small point, nuttin' todo with what this video is about.) Great song, excellent rendition of a classic song that has soul. I like your licks!

[@GuitarSwan]

I don't think anyone (here, anyway) is confusing the current lineup with the 70s band, but it was a cool moment for me, whether it was the band or their social media person.

[@antlerking69]

That's great Nick Thanx

[@lukewood77]

Hey Swan I just wanted to comment on your not drinking a beer or whiskey or whatever was your drink of choice at the time. Although I’m still sipping/slamming a beer and tequila while watching your videos I respect the fact that you no longer start your videos that way. Respect brother! Whatever gets you thru the night! It’s alright. Alright!

[@GuitarSwan]

Thanks dude! I haven't gone tee-total or anything, but I am drinking way less these days and trying to work more on my voice. Getting older is a bitch! Cheers.

[@vergeyt2961]

This is perfect

[@taylor214ce2]

Thank you so much for sharing this; years later I go back to your cover. I really enjoy my GS mini, unfortunately, never picked up an LX that sounded as good as yours. Not sure why, and therefore I've never bought one.

[@GuitarSwan]

Thanks! Those Taylor’s are great too. I think Martin started using some different tone woods in those guitars since I got mine, and the newer ones don’t play as good to me, though they still sound cool.

[@spudnickle1]

Dam good job. I wish you great success!

[@chrisd5294]

Good shit brother.

[@modusartsgroup]

Lynyrd Skynyrd's music transports me back to the late 1970's church camp I attended for a week every summer. That was the place I first heard of them, Led Zeppelin etc. I was the oldest kid in my family so it was a spiritual privilege of no small measure to hang out with kids who had older siblings - and just as often, cool parents - who listened to rock and roll. I got the crash course that first year. The Ballad of Curtis Lowe is one of my favorites. I just love the way Ronnie tells the story and how the guitars are right there to add the texture and feeling. Anytime some asshat tries to say Lynyrd Skynyrd were racists (being from the deep south and flying the stars and bars and such) I laugh in their faces. And if it doesn't come to a fist fight I might play them this song as all the evidence you would ever need to understand that Ronnie Van Zant was not a racist. I just love this song, man. It really is funny for people to say they don't like hip-hop but prefer rock and roll because they are white, not black. They just don't know where this music was born, or much else in many cases. Thanks much!

[@duaneholcomb8408]

Its a southern thing. Lynard skynard was a bunch a Fla, boys. Who grew up in the deep South. I did too this song. Reminds me of my youth. I like your guitar picking. Very good. You do one find job of it,,,ps I can't read music or tab. I play strictly by ear. And placement only. So this helps. I know a lot a chords and couple a scales but that all the music theory I know. I play a lot a country but love that old southern rock too I grew up on it. Like the marshal tucker band and almond bros,, hey thanks. God bless you and. Take care now ,,,,ya hear,,,

[@gregmeeks2753]

do you have a video on coming home ? thanks ...great video sir !

[@GuitarSwan]

Nope never done that one, but it's a great song and I may do it in the future!

[@gregmeeks2753]

@@GuitarSwan THANK YOU ...

[@pagerhoads1531]

I love your Martin my whole house is guitars and American flags I'm getting ready to learn this because I can sing exactly like Ronnie but I always thought it was slide but I still like being able to play without tuning different. I learned how to play slide by learning Jimmy Page in my time of dying and when the levee breaks it's basically the same tuning it's just levee is recorded slower making it sound in C verses D in in my time of dying

[@GuitarSwan]

There's definitely slide on the record but for playing solo acoustic I find this works a little better. I believe Ed King is in standard tuning but it could be done in open E as well like "Four Walls of Raiford"

[@snowman374th]

Hi Swan. Man it's been a very long time since we last talked. Getting recognized is indeed the most greatest thing a Cover Artist and musician and creator/writer, That sure would be awesome. GJ man. Keep jamming. Snowman

[@710isoilupsidedown3]

Great video.. 👍👍 sliding on that g string😁

[@mbrawthen]

Ya, that’s how I play it also! Just kidding …🙂 That’s how I WISH I could play it! If I stick with this tutorial, well maybe I could come close someday, what do ya think? 🤔 Have a good one Swany.!!! ✌🏽

[@GlycogenCycling]

What is the finger placement of that B chord? I have tried looking it up and I can't figure it out...it looks like you are barring with your pinky what is your ring finger doing?

[@GuitarSwan]

Yep barring the d, g and b strings with the pinky. Ring finger is just along for the ride. Could just as easily use it to bar those strings. Muting the 2 E's.

[@bills1779]

What size strings you got? You bend em easy lol ....

[@GuitarSwan]

Usually 11's on the acoustics

[@nessearthbound9864]

What is the model of thé guitar?

[@GuitarSwan]

It's a Little Martin - LXM. Obviously I customized this one a bit.

[@gousgous7734]

am i the only one that read "this machine kills the bl@cks"? instead of "blues"

[@GuitarSwan]

Yes.

[@mikevaluska7313]

ON BUCK OWENS' GUITAR🥴🥴🥴

[@lonnieschultz5234]

ASMR warning. Don’t eat candy when talk in the mic.

[@GuitarSwan]

If you're using this for ASMR, I feel bad for you...

[@rudedog34]

Awesome tutorial. My only criticism is: don't chew gum during commentary and / or use a pop filter. The mouth smacking is annoying.

[@guitarman0154]

GuitarSwan...I think you found a calling...I have watched your vids for yrs...I play acoustic guitar ...Classic Rock...I have used your arrangements for at least 8 songs...I like the grit in your singing and playing...Sympathy of the Devil-Stones...What a great edgy version...Richard

[@GuitarSwan]

Thanks, Richard. That Sympathy cover is another I'm thinking of doing a tutorial on. It's def one of my favorites.