"Hard Times" (Ray Charles) Blues Guitar Solo on a Gibson Custom 1963 ES-335 Nashville

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Blues guitar solo over the changes of "Hard Times" by Ray Charles.
Backing Track taken from the book "Master Trax Blues" by Steve Trovato, published by Alfred Music
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/ ludociprianiguitarist
Gear:
Gibson Custom 1963 ES-335 Historic Block Reissue (made in Nashville)
J. Rockett Audio "Archer Ikon"
Strymon Timeline (Slapback Tape Echo) & Flint (80's Reverb)
Two-Rock Custom Reverb Signature V.3 50W Head
Two-Rock 2x12 Cabinet with Celestion G12-65

[@derekec]

Playing over 50 years always trying to improve, I started late with Blues so for the last 20 years I've struggled to find those sweet notes. Everything I play sounds the same...boring. Wish I knew what's going through your mind to find those notes...just knowing the idiom well enough to find the sounds?...or some thinking ahead with the chord changes? It just remains a mystery to me. You play with great touch too but the notes themselves, very touching to the soul.

[@ludocipriani]

First of all, thank you so much for your beautiful words. Everything I play sounds the same to me too. It’s hard to say what is going on in the mind while improvising. The mind shouldn’t be there at all, which is something I keep working on, cause it’s pretty hard for me. You know, this video is the most seen of all my videos, but the fact is it was just a lucky day. I wasn’t thinking about doing something good, I was fooling around and it came out this way. And I get why people like it, cause it came out with no expectation and it just flows naturally. The more you think, I guess, the more your improvisation will sound mechanical and repetitive. It is just about letting it go. Not easy, I know that very well… it is also a lot about muscle memory. We shouldn’t think about chord changes, but practice them until they are natural. So repetition is great to really digest lines and changes. And the more you can sing those lines the better it is. One tip I can give you, something I do is learn lines from singers, I love Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin, you can’t really get much more bluesy than that… and I try to replicate somehow vocal articulations on guitar, cause that’s probably the main thing… expression and articulations. Sax and trumpet players too…

[@ludocipriani]

I should also add that, most of the times, we think we love some notes but what is really catching our emotions is not the notes… it’s the timing and the depth of those notes. You get timing from transcribing and repetition and you get depth by letting it go. Notes are not that important… your hands will handle that.

[@derekec]

@@ludocipriani Well... you're kind and humble. I am aware we can be out own worst enemies, restricting what might otherwise be. But I am quite certain you are on a different plane. I cut myself some slack in that I grew up quite closed minded musically and what I loved and chose to play I learned fast and very well, and either nature or life's distractions make advancing very difficult later on in life. I appreciate the advice, things I've known and certainly forget to practice. I will though. Thank you. Best....

[@sandrosadhukhan]

@@ludocipriani Great insights, thank you for sharing🙏

[@CyroSchmidt]

@@ludocipriani Great advice, mate.

[@Michael-zz7nt]

So nice to hear a tasteful guitar solo without ear fatiguing distortion and cliche blues licks. Well done

[@TheDahveeed]

I mean plenty of these are classic blues licks..but I hear what you're saying. And this is fantastic

[@Pastor58]

Thats the TRUTH!

[@gerardojoel2526]

I know im asking the wrong place but does anyone know of a method to log back into an instagram account? I was stupid lost the password. I would appreciate any assistance you can give me!

[@kanegannon5705]

@Gerardo Joel Instablaster ;)

[@gerardojoel2526]

@Kane Gannon i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and im trying it out now. I see it takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@timbrundage3745]

That was slick at 00:35 Sweet.

[@joserra79]

My unaffordable dream guitar 😍

[@CyroSchmidt]

I listed to your take on this song from time to time. Every damn time you amaze me, mate. Thank you.

[@prkeene]

Man, that turnaround from 0:38 - 0:45. *Chef's Kiss*.

[@majikmuzak6385]

WHO IN TF GAVE A THUMBS DOWN. THIS HAS TO BE FROM JEALOUSY. THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND SOULFUL PLAYING !!!

[@mitchgawlik1175]

This is something you listen to when you're home alone on a Friday night. Sweet sounds.

[@emilysmith7788]

This.....this is how blues should be played.....

[@drieslambrecht8611]

That tone is unbelieveably good.

[@CBGypsy03]

Damn man, I have been watching your videos all weekend. Very talented !! 👏 ❤ Inspires me to practice more. 🍻

[@revelationsoundstudio]

Great playing, not too busy, tasty, and of course the beautiful 335 tone. Its the best overall guitar in my opinion.

[@tangojack5229]

The people who gave this a thumbs down are simply not musicians...good stuff bro..nice guitar too!

[@ericsmadis]

Couldn't have said it better, Jack!

[@LeoTheLion66]

Wonder why they did it - but I shouldn't

[@majikmuzak6385]

JEALOUSY

[@rhmayer1]

No, they just have perfect ears. (no holes)

[@bobbyjonkey13]

@@rhmayer1 Exactly!!!!!!!!!

[@bobbyroland6350]

That is like a smooth mellow drink

[@ludocipriani]

+Siegfried Since I noticed you are taking your time to reply to almost any comment here, giving wrong informations, let's do some clarity: 1. This backing track is taken, as I wrote in the description, from a very popular book by Steve Trovato, in which MANY great blues guitar players, including Robben, play over some CLASSIC blues chord progressions. IT WAS NOT a Robben Ford book. Yes, Robben Ford IMPROVISED on this one, and a couple of other tracks of the book, and for sure it wasn't him transcribing his solo but the guys working on the book. I took the backing track and IMPROVISED on it so THERE'S NO TAB of my solo. I would NEVER PLAY A WRITTEN BLUES SOLO, unless for instructional purposes, which is not the case. Obviously Robben's version is on another level, but what's the point? If you think music is about making comparisons all the time then you definitely are on the wrong track. 2. There's NO VIDEO of Robben's improvisation on this progression either. 3. There's NO YELLOW JACKETS version of this song. 4. Russel Ferrante DIDN'T WRITE this chord progression cause it is a Ray Charles tune written by Ray himself. It is so famous that everybody knows that. Eric Clapton did many versions of this too and there are countless versions of this tune by so many artists. As everybody knows, maybe you don't, when you use famous chord progressions on instructional books you better change the title if you don't want to have problems with copyright, that's why Steve Trovato called it "Deja Blue". 5. I guess you are confusing it with something else, probably "Revelation"... strange thing you are not even recognizing the song since you suggested me to outline the chords, which by the way I did. I love Robben Ford and studied him since I was a kid. For me, he’s a God. Stop giving wrong informations to people. This is my take on this tune, without any claim. If you don't like it, it's totally fine for me, just skip it.

[@paddyodriscoll8648]

This is my favorite solo on KZbin.

[@km1842]

Bravo!! Nothing more beautiful than hearing a MUSICIAN who technique AND knowledge.

[@samedgar2283]

That first lick is just something special

[@jefhoeberichts1003]

Rings the Peter Green bell for me , great !

[@emadismusic]

I just have to say, I never get tired of watching and listening to this video. Encore, Ludovico!

[@cymbaline87]

I've been listening to this jam at least twice a week for about 1 year, every time I do it still amazes me like the first time, your playing and tone are just exquisite. Thank you for sharing this. Take care.

[@ButternoteBackingTracks]

This is a top class example of how to tasetfully and melodically play over a jazz/blues chord progression - beautifully accenting the changes along the way! 🙌

[@cliftontorrence839]

Sweetness

[@bradb17]

ya frikin made me cry 👍👍😎

[@tonyindio2287]

Che meraviglia............ Ludovico

[@markmcmyn8967]

fine playing-followed the form perfectly-arpeggios-jazz - and last but not least some BB King

[@tonynsabimana6059]

Yes some BB King at the end...

[@desmo999]

Whoouuuwww!!! What a great music. Playing, Sound, Guitar and I don`t want to forget Ray Charles really wonderfull, fantastic, great............... Thank you!

[@charleshoernemann8661]

Excellent! Love how you integrate be-bop lines at 2:02 into the blues, but the ll - V - l progression asked for it, doesn't it? MORE, please! 😊

[@SunbiBlues]

Your're singing your guitar. so sweet!

[@sadwatsadwat4065]

I can listen to this over and over again.Very relaxing. I hear this every these days.Thanks from Tokyo.

[@Racoldgin]

ES 335 Block, one of the most beautiful guitars ever made, and the tone of the 335, 345, 355 Gibsons is what dreams are made of. Great tasteful playing as well.

[@papabash]

If i had one wish beside good health and the blessed life and family i have ,it would be to play my guitar like you just played this. That was outstanding my man every note and bend you made that 335 talk

[@ajsmusic2561]

I used to rent Ray his back line gear years ago in Vegas. Great shows!!!

[@ludocipriani]

🤩

[@ajsmusic2561]

Very tasty playing my man!

[@ludocipriani]

@@ajsmusic2561 thank you so much! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@ajsmusic2561]

@@ludocipriani I just call them honestly, as I see and hear them...

[@Ledprostate]

If only I had that guitar I could play this good!

[@sigberg1]

Really? Congratulations! - I argue. You should do this on any guitar (a joke). - Robben Fords Viedeo could be of great help! look out for it. There are all the chords and solos inhärent.

[@terrycollis1381]

So pure!

[@underglassmoon]

Quando un bravo musicista suona una chitarra straordinaria, non serve altro.

[@Thebluesguy]

Nice playing

[@jeanpierrehodelin5827]

you had me on the first sweet note!

[@juanmlarios]

this is absolute fire! I love the ascending bends right from the initial intro section! very tasteful and lots to of motifs to chew on. I’ll be working on playing this out in the next few days! thanks it sound great!

[@andrewwazagow9120]

Mr Cipriani , I apologize that I asked you for a tablature to this wonderfucl exibition of your talent - now I know my place. Let it be your way.

[@ludocipriani]

Hi Andrew, thank you for you nice words, but why would you apologize? There’s nothing bad in asking for a tab! The only problem is this is an improvised solo, so I should transcribe it first and I never did that… sorry…

[@andrewwazagow9120]

@@ludocipriani Hi Maestro , my problem is in that to learn this wonderful piece of music of yours , I have to make the tab for myself first - which I am not entirely equipped for. That is the main reason , that in my mind you , as a creator of this litle marvel , would have incomparably less trouble with transfering it to more accessible form - and then , by putting it on the INTERNET it would be paying you off nicely - which also would make me feeling less guilty of troubling you. For there are hundreds of thousand of lovers of great solos , who once having gotten to your tablature , would be hooked for life. You see , the demonstration of skills and talent on the internet does not do much for you (or anyone equally talented) but the lesson given is a gift never forgotten or lost. Maybe even millions are right now sailing on the net , looking for someone who after listening to your playing , was good enough to make the tablature to it. I have done it , and I am no different than the rest of us - a bit less musically developed. BTW : to play as you do , it is very obvious that you are NOT the lazy one - you have worked long and hard to be that good - the problem is that you do not like the tablature itself , probably. Too bad. I really wish that you 'd have changed your mind ! God bless you ! Sincerelly yours.

[@mattswannie6651]

Beautiful classy turnaround at 1:13 👌

[@GregsGuitars]

very nice!

[@HiramekiDojo]

Beautiful playing! I can listen to this over and over again.

[@sleepyjeannie501]

Very Beautiful, Thank you for sharing your music, 🎶🎸💞🌠

[@markv.5962]

awesome and refreshing beautiful guitar, thanks

[@benjaminharris1342]

There is so much feeling in your playing that it was emotionally moving to hear, solid solid playing 😄👌

[@JohnMcDougall1]

Beautiful. Playing along on my Les Paul but can’t wait to get a 335 and try again.

[@ericsmadis]

Wonderful playing, great improvisation, great chops and great blues feel (chorus after chorus!) while navigating the chord changes on this old 32-bar gospel blues ballad. Really a great video. Thanks, Ludovico!

[@ludocipriani]

Thank you so much man! I loved the “testify” thing you removed!

[@ericsmadis]

I had written much more in response to some of the comments below, but I knew that it is futile to correct everyone on KZbin. But I am glad that you corrected some folks in here. Incidentally, I have a live recording of "Drown in My Own Tears" (another gospel blues ballad, of course) on KZbin. It's just a short one of my solo in the middle of the tune, since I sung the tune. Anyway, Ludovico, you're excellent!

[@ludocipriani]

Thank you again... love that song! I’ve got a video soloing on “Drown in my own tears” too here!

[@sergiozingale221]

Excellent Play!! Extracting the best of that 335!!

[@LAUptegrove]

I've now been playing since 1965. I've played in the USA from coast-to-coast and everything from beer joints to football stadiums. Unlike some of the commentary attached to this video, I find it refreshing to listen to an accomplished musician who is NOT DEPENDENT upon stomp boxes or other artificial sounds, and who understands that so much of the "tone" and "personality" of your instrument comes from nothing more than your fingertips and how they are wired to your brain. I like the bag you're into with this presentation. Keep posting and sharing with us and remember, ALL COMMENTS (good or bad) have some element of truth to them (at least as far as those making them) and when you're in the entertainment business, you quickly learn that not all people can dig where you're coming from. But don't necessarily dismiss them because they don't. Dig deep and analyze what they are getting at and then figure out if any of it matches your desired direction. In the end, unless you're onstage in front of a cash-paying audience, the ONLY person you have to satisfy is yourself. Then, you're an artist. But when you're attempting to satisfy those ticket-holding audience members, you're suddenly an "entertainer".....and there's a BIG difference between the two. Go where you want, doing what you do best.....and then decide which side of that coin fits you best....artist or entertainer. Keep us informed of your actions, as many of us seem to be really impressed with your approach.

[@ludocipriani]

Thank you very much for your nice words! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 I always accept criticism and most of all different tastes… and I believe we can learn from anybody and that everybody has a unique voice. I am not that young too 😅 I am 46 now (been playing for 36 years) and I have developed through the years the idea of music as a spiritual act. I have learned to always listen to others people opinion. Said that, some comments are not healthy criticism, certain people are just haters hiding behind fake names and a monitor, vomiting shit just for the fun of it, with this urge to offend people and deny their work. They don’t even slightly hurt my feelings, I just smile reading them… there’s no element of truth to be considered but the problems burning in their soul.

[@sandrosadhukhan]

what a great perspective Big Al! you answered some of the toughest questions I have pondered upon for years. Thanks and greetings from Kolkata, India!

[@edgemooratsunrisepoint8410]

I think what I like most here is the rapid soloing over chord changes, and when I slow this down in GB, every note is tasteful and fits. This is how to get out of ruts in blues guitar playing, in my opinion. Nice going. Wish I could take lessons from you. I have a 2013 Memphis 1959 VOS sunburst and you give me hope. Thanks for posting not just the music but a clear view of your fingers!

[@nickbouvy8851]

Nice

[@jeffyranks3054]

Magnifique....dextérité et feeling blues 👌

[@nelsonkerr1119]

So cool/nice lead...I forgot I have this backing track - it's an oldie but a goodie. 😁🎶😎

[@StringsUp58]

Very nicely done. Just got an ES 335, so I had to click on this, lol.

[@philbluesjamtracks7184]

Wonderful feeling. Sounds great. Thanks a lot.

[@mohitmukhi]

Beautiful playing man!! Also that guitar looks and sounds amazing ❤️

[@grade21]

Thank you Ludovico for a great rendition of this song--I'm enjoying learning how to play it.

[@josecardenas4013]

This is Awesome!!!!!

[@gregkoelling615]

Thank you

[@ElyJaffeMusic]

I watched this like ten times. man I LOVE your playing! thank you :)

[@spencerdieck1665]

outstanding tone, outstanding playing...a pleasure to listen to, thoroughly. well done.

[@christianweeling4331]

Dear Ludovico! Such a nice solo, amazing! Tried to copy some things from you. And what a luck for me, that you cleared up some things for this "Siegfried". So I bought the book from Steve Trovato and listened to Robben Ford (one of my Heroes) playing over this backing track. Real good basic informations in the book to work further on. Thanks for both bro!

[@TheNuma191]

Very, very musical solo, simply magnificent!

[@sandrosadhukhan]

Crazy good. I am gonna have fun learning!

[@helloVorld1212]

very impressive. Blues with the perfect amount if jazz.

[@MythicGuitarCompany]

Ooooooooooooo daaaaaamn that's pretty.... adding es335 to my list. My dad has a 125 that he wont give me, but I don't remember it sounding that pretty.

[@hillbillygibbons7552]

Man that’s some nice chops. That’s the way I like it. Simple but big! Nice sound too. Not too clean but not dirty.

[@donaldday4183]

Well done, absolutely spot on!!!

[@arthurkluver]

Very true!

[@alexanderwhittaker3622]

Stunning.

[@jtbutlerjr]

Nice touch, Ludovico! It is a great bluesy take on a classic Ray Charles song. Keep on playing man, don’t pay attention to detractors, they can post their own stuff anytime, but (as you notice) they don’t.

[@jtbutlerjr]

Dhruv Erry No, I’m not. But, neither are you or the detractors. Let us not debate about peripheral things. Ludovico did a fine job. That is what matters.

[@henripernod9713]

Bravo Ludovico sei grande !

[@bjdee1437]

2:35 or so....holy crap that's so tasty. You are a helluva player.

[@jimmyshowers4204]

Beautiful, there are so many wonderful elements in your improvisation-it sounds like many years of practice and a passion for making music. Thank you!!

[@robbinsonjustin5047]

Awesomeness Brother.

[@topografer]

The feelgoodness in this is overwhelming. Well done sir well done

[@luisalextorres]

this is a breath of fresh air..i love it

[@hater38100]

nice guitar gibsons are the best

[@blixxy1320]

beautiful

[@darrenwhelan2479]

That's some baby making music Ludivico!! 🎶

[@ludocipriani]

😂😂 thank you man!

[@giuseppe963ify]

Amico mio mi hai fatto commuovere !!! Sei molto ma molto bravo e scegli i brani con classe ! Grazie.

[@ludocipriani]

Grazie a te Giuseppe! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@DirkAlexanderMusic]

Fantastic playing!!! Really wonderful!

[@bobsyeruncle4841]

tasty and measured so very well done i enjoyed it immensely thanks man

[@secretreleases]

This is so good, it's unreal! Always coming back to this!

[@gshefer11]

I honestly wasn't expecting something this good. WOW.

[@davidg5629]

That was great. You nailed the changes, sir.

[@giuseppeportelli2340]

azzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz complimenti

[@TheTribute410]

Beautiful tone and Playing.

[@nimrodaruatz4967]

amazing tone

[@robertoetojo5861]

Reminds me Larry Carlton style with less too much Jazzy .. this is Blues how should be played.. awesome

[@j.r.goldman3279]

Great solo

[@romcarpentier95]

Excellent and perfect, great instrumental play. Congratulations ++.

[@John-d6k7t]

この音が1番好き。

[@anthonymarin8072]

Fabulous thank you

[@telecaster-ns3vr]

hit play, hit refresh repeat

[@paullord2025]

This is nice... damn nice indeed!

[@Ledprostate]

Beautiful. Makes me want to revisit the Ray Charles performance.

[@hdfd971]

That’s got awesome sauce all over it

[@nlmal4]

Really clean tone, very precise playing. 👍🎸